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Help animals find homes — from home 

You can positively impact the lives of animals alongside Best Friends staff at our sanctuary and lifesaving centers, without ever leaving home.

As a member of the National Operations Volunteers and Ambassadors (NOVA) program team, you'll volunteer to lend a virtual hand in real time to Best Friends' lifesaving centers, working to help animals find homes (and stay in homes) from anywhere you have a secure internet connection.

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What to expect as a NOVA volunteer

You’ll be supporting Best Friends’ work in our lifesaving centers and at our sanctuary, all remotely from a computer.

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NOVA Volunteer Tasks

Depending on the role, NOVA volunteers connect adoptable animals to potential adopters, support other volunteers who are fostering pets, provide medical care support, help with record management, and offer pet behavior support.

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Time Commitment

NOVA volunteers are asked to commit to volunteering two hours per week. You can expect the onboarding experience to take about two weeks. 

During this process, we’ll give you the training needed for the role, give you access to the software we use, and connect you with your fellow NOVA volunteers.

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Volunteer Requirements

A few things you’ll need as a volunteer in this program: a willingness to learn new software (you’ll be using software like Shelterluv, Trello, and Airtable), a computer (PC or MAC with antivirus protection), a stable internet connection to access our software, and the time to commit to a regular weekly shift (two hours minimum).

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Join the National Operations Volunteers and Ambassadors (NOVA) program

If you want to make a direct impact on the lives of homeless pets, the NOVA program is the perfect volunteer opportunity for you.

Last year, Best Friends’ lifesaving centers welcomed more than 13,000 pets in need. That wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our amazing NOVA volunteers. 

The NOVA team has five distinct volunteer roles, each of which is essential for helping dogs and cats find loving homes.

Adoption ambassadors

Help adoptable animals stand out and connect them to potential adopters.
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Foster mentor

Share knowledge with folks who are new to fostering pets or who want more support to be successful.
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Medical care support volunteers

Provide the support needed to help pets find homes as quickly as possible.
Person holding a tiny kitten in a clinic setting

Record management volunteers

Take care of all records to keep operations running smoothly for the animals.
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Behavior support volunteer

Provide one-to-one support and guidance to adopters and foster caregivers.
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Ready to save lives and sign up to join our national team of volunteers?

Sign Up to Volunteer

Find a Best Friends network partner near you 

The Best Friends Network is made up of thousands of public and private shelters, rescue groups, spay/neuter organizations, and other animal welfare groups, all working to save the lives of dogs and cats in communities like yours across the country. 

Each and every one of our network partners needs caring people like you to volunteer, transport, adopt, foster, donate, and advocate to help save the lives of pets where you live.

Find a network partner near you today:

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More ways to save pets from home

Whether you love writing photo captions, have legal expertise, or want to call our supporters on behalf of Best Friends to say thanks, you can make a difference for homeless pets.
See more ways you can volunteer

Lifesaving in action

Volunteers from around the country are working together every day to save the lives of homeless pets.

Person snuggling and kissing the top of the head of a dog lying on his hap

13 stories of volunteers who save pets’ lives

They’re all amazing, and they all show up time and again to pitch in and help pets go from shelters to homes.
Showing appreciation for all their help
Feature
Troy the dog lying on the floor of a room with two other dogs

Super volunteers for animals

Best Friends NOVA volunteers support dogs and cats from the comfort of their own homes.
Read about the virtual volunteering
Best Friends Magazine
Group of Southwest Airlines Southwest Animal Transport Team (SWATT) members holding puppies beside the open door of an airplane

Rescuing animals, one flight at a time

The SWATT program has been creating rescue-friendly skies through Southwest Airlines, helping thousands of animals go home.
A great resource for homeless pets
Best Friends Magazine
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Looking for other opportunities to help the animals?

As thousands of animals looking for families of their very own remain in shelters around the country, one of the most valuable gifts you can give them is your time.

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Volunteer at our animal sanctuary

Stroll with a dog, spruce up a rabbit run, or simply keep a shy cat company. There are plenty of ways to make a difference at our animal sanctuary.
See sanctuary opportunities
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Volunteer in your community

There are countless opportunities to help save the lives of homeless pets, no matter where you live in the United States.
See opportunities near me