Volunteer Stories Stories

Catman holding an orange tabby cat

‘Catman’ is a hero for homeless felines

A northern California husband-wife team is a shining example of how people can step up to help animals in their own communities.
See how they help
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Volunteer Jeff Harris sitting on an orange seat hugging a black and white dog in front of him

From strategic planner to traveling volunteer

Jeff Harris took a sabbatical from his career, so he could help both people and pets.
Read how he helps
Best Friends Magazine
Volunteer Cathy Berry wearing a mask and holding an orange tabby kitten

A cat lover’s legacy

We’ve said goodbye to a beloved volunteer, but the impact she made endures.
Honoring Cathy Berry and her impact
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Abdul and Shamiyan holding kittens in front of a window

Saving kittens and raising awareness with social media

Abdul and Shamiyan are kitten-fostering superstars, sharing their fuzzy feline friends on Instagram and getting them adopted.
Learn about fostering and their Sanctuary visit
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Volunteer Karin Hamilton walking Curly Sue the horse in some woods

Curly-coated horse gets a personal trainer

Curly Sue was having trouble standing up after she lay down, but with a volunteer to help her gain strength, she’s back on her feet.
Making exercise fun
Best Friends Magazine
Volunteer Ben Richards holding a black and white cat in front of some kennels

Labor of love: serving pets and people

Ben Richards has dedicated his life to service and channels his faith into helping homeless pets in Salt Lake City.
Learn what motivates him
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Volunteer Heather Mahood holding a tabby and white cat in front of kennels

Rock star volunteer helps hundreds of cats

Volunteer Heather Mahood, who helps the tiniest kittens and wisest senior felines, also has a soft spot for cats with ringworm.
Learn more about her
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A dog being spayed or neutered in Houston

Surgical superstar volunteers help with pet spay/neuter

More Houston pets are being spayed or neutered each week, thanks to help from an amazing volunteer team.
See the different ways they help
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Ginny and Kenny Popvich with posing on a loveseat with a dog

Mother and son help dogs get adopted, one hike at a time

Volunteers Ginny and Kenny Popovich have been hitting the trails with dogs from Best Friends in Los Angeles for more than seven years.
Learn why they volunteer
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Volunteer reaching down to pet a brown dog in a kennel

Unique volunteer roles at Florida animal shelter

Pasco County Animal Services in Florida welcomes volunteers to help with everything from driving animal control officers to making TikTok videos.
See their innovative opportunities
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Jennifer Ronzello with three orange kittens surrounding her face

Inspiration from a kitten foster volunteer

Jennifer Ronzello is a hero for kittens. Read about how she got started fostering and why she keeps going.
Read about her rescue efforts
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Alida and Gary Oldham with Cleopatra the cat, who is nose-to-nose with Gary

5 men making a difference for homeless pets

This Father’s Day, tip your hat to the men in your community who are helping pets in their own way.
Read about their efforts
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Erik Smith and a woman adopting Nash the dog, holding a 'I saved my best friend' sign

Dog inspires radio DJ to promote pet adoption on the air

Erik Smith and ‘Best Friends Friday’ on 100.3 FM The Bull in Houston help pets go home, thanks to a special dog named Nash.
Learn more
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Alida and Gary sitting with a cat in his lap

Two volunteers, helping animals in countless ways

From transporting pets to fostering cats, Alida and Gary Oldham are always ready to help.
Read how they help
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Group of volunteers holding the items they sewed for Best Friends

4 volunteers helping animals in unique ways

From teaching cats to “talk,” to creating videos that inspire others to get involved, these volunteers prove there are many ways to support pets in shelters.
Meet these volunteer dynamos
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