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Additional Ways to Help: Volunteer or Donate

WHY VOLUNTEER?

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Most animal rescue organizations rely on volunteers to run effectively. If you are unable to adopt or foster but still love animals and are willing to donate your time, then you should try volunteering! There are so many different volunteer opportunities available. You can volunteer to walk dogs, help transport animals, help at adoption fairs, and much more. Although many organizations require volunteers to be of a certain age, there are opportunities available to younger people as well. If you are interested in volunteering, then please see the list below for available opportunities in the area! Also, feel free to contact any other animal rescue groups that you may be interested in to search for more volunteer opportunities that suit your needs. (Rescue groups can be found in the Local Rescue Group Directory and Breed-specific Rescue Group Directory)

WHY DONATE?

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Donations are another major need of animal rescue organizations. Groups will accept items like toys, food, and supplies as donations. Many groups have donation lists located on their websites with specific items that they have the highest need for. You can also donate money to rescue organizations, which allows them to purchase anything that they may need to take care of the animals and run the organization properly.

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Friends of Homeless Animals (FOHA), an organization that I am working closely with for this project, has a good example of a donation list located on their website. Feel free to view it to get a better idea of the items that are commonly donated to animal rescue organizations:

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http://foha.org/index.php?id=50

LOCAL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITES

Friends of Homeless Animals (FOHA)

FOHA always welcomes new volunteers and has various opportunities available:

  • Volunteer Dog Walkers:  We need dog walkers!!! There is no time commitment!  All new volunteers must attend volunteer orientation (minimum age is 18). Afterwards you can come to the shelter during adoption hours on Saturdays and Sundays, even an hour or two once per month helps tremendously.  Contact:  volunteer.foha@hotmail.com

  • Cat Snugglers and Socializers:  Play with and pet kitties waiting to find their adoptive homes. Help brush the cats, trim their nails, and administer meds. No time commitment, but you must attend a 1-hour cat snuggle orientation. Persons under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the orientation and when volunteering on site. Cat snuggling will NOT qualify as community service hours. After completing orientation, you can come to the shelter during adoption hours on Saturdays and Sundays or join our weekday afternoon Snuggle Corp (purr-fect for retired individuals or folks who work weekends). Contact: volunteer@foha.org

  • Home Visit Counselors – Cats or Dogs:  these take place on weekdays or weeknights.  Please email Sue for more details: fohasue@gmail.com

  • Dog Transport:  typically needed on weekdays.  Please contact Tamee at admin@foha.org

  • Cat Transport:  typically need on weekdays (vet visits) or weekends (incoming cats and kittens).   Please contact adopt-a-cat@foha.org

  • Foster Care – Dogs:  Foster a dog in need of medical care, socialization, or a break from the shelter in your home. Short-term and long-term fosters needed.  Please contact: fosteradog@foha.org

  • Foster Care - Cats and Kittens:  Foster a cat in need of medical care or socialization. Foster a kitten or a litter of moms and kittens. Short-term and long-term fosters needed.  Please contact: adopt-a-cat@foha.org

  • Maintenance Work:  Groundskeeping, facilities, and trail maintenance work volunteers needed -- whatever time you can commit. One-time project volunteers also needed. Please contact Mark:  sheltermanager@foha.org

  • Volunteer at Off Site Adoption Events on Saturdays or Sundays.  For dogs, contact: dogadoptionevents@foha.org.  For cats, contact Alex: afelix616@gmail.com 

  • Volunteer at The Treasure Hound:  FOHA’s upscale resale shop is in Chantilly! Volunteers are needed for the following: staffing the store, sorting and pricing inventory, advertising, staffing, or collection / transportation of items to the store.  Please contact Gloria:  purnpaw@verizon.net

 

SPCA of Northern Virginia

  • Phone Assistance - Retrieving cat-related phone calls from voice mail, returning the calls, and assisting callers one day a week.  Contact:  volunteers@spcanova.org.

  • PetValu Assistance - Feeding, setting up/cleaning cages, exercising/playing with kittens, screening adoption inquiries etc. at PetValu in Falls Church, VA on weekends.  Contact:  volunteers@spcanova.org.

  • Dog Wranglers - Volunteers are needed to oversee dogs at twice a month/Saturday adoption fairs (e.g., walk the dogs and talk with prospective adopters). We need volunteers who can commit to attending adoption fairs on an ongoing basis, ideally at least once a month. For more information, contact us Dog_Committee@spcanova.org.

 

Fairfax County Animal Shelter

We are currently looking for experienced small animal room volunteers who are comfortable handling rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, birds, and snakes, and have availability during the week from noon - 7 p.m.  Email ASDVolunteer@fairfaxcounty.gov to learn more about current openings. 

 

Humane Society of Fairfax County

  • Thrift Store:  If you want to volunteer, but don’t feel comfortable working with shelter animals, the thrift store is a great option. We need people to help customers, accept donations, stock the store, and keep everything neat and attractive. You’ll work with a fun and dedicated group of staff and other volunteers.

  • Cat Socializers: Help cats get adopted faster by keeping them clean and healthy. You’ll exercise, socialize, bathe, and groom our feline residents so they can be at their best for potential new families.

  • Cat Adoption Visits (Pre- or Post-Adoption): We want to make sure our animals go to safe homes and adjust well to their new families. As a volunteer, you may conduct home checks prior to adoption or follow-up shortly afterward to ensure a smooth transition to the new home.

  • Animal Transporter: If you have reliable transportation and proof of insurance, consider helping us take animals to and from vet appointments and adoption events. You may also help move incoming animals from other shelters and rescue organizations.

  • Small Mammal Socializers: Help small animals like rabbits and guinea pigs get adopted faster by keeping them clean and healthy. You’ll exercise, socialize, bathe, and groom our littlest residents so they can be at their best for potential new families.

  • Kennel Upkeep: We’re very proud of our new dog facility. Volunteers like you can help us keep it clean and well organized for our furry guests.

  • Dog Socializing and Care: Help dogs get adopted faster by keeping them clean and healthy. You’ll exercise, socialize, bathe, and groom our pups so they can be at their best for potential new families.

* Volunteers must be at least 15 years old. And those under 18 need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.   To sign up as a volunteer, email volunteer_coordinator@HSFC.org.

 

Homeward Trails Animal Rescue

  • Conducting home visits – Ensure a potential adopter’s home provides a quality environment for our animals

  • Application Screening – join our dynamic cat and dog adoption teams and help us save more animals by screening adoption applications or assisting our Adoption Coordinators by doing vet and rental reference checks!

  • Transportation – Drive animals from our shelters partners, to and from adoption events, and take our animals to medical appointments

  • Events – Provide support for adoption events and/or special fundraising events throughout the year

  • Homer’s Helpers Youth Volunteers:  make signs or flyers for upcoming events, bring flyers to local businesses and request permission to post them, help publicize events on social media

Contact volunteer@homewardtrails.org, or for youth volunteers: homershelpers@homewardtrails.org.

 

HART (Homeless Animal Rescue Team)

  • Dog Adoption Days - The weekly Dog Adoption Days are the best opportunity for our dogs to meet their new owner and find their forever home! We need volunteers who can attend an Adoption Day and hold a dog on a leash for the event. The more volunteers we have - the more dogs that have the possibility of finding their forever home! It only takes a few hours of your time and it makes a huge difference in a dog's life! We have adoption events each weekend.

  • Helping with Cats – we have many wonderful opportunities including helping on Adoption Days, cleaning cages at Petsmart, bottle feeding kittens, transporting cats to our vets, and assisting with cat adoptions. 

To volunteer, please visit the HART website (www.hart90.org) to fill out a volunteer form.

 

A Forever Home Rescue Foundation

AFH is a 100% volunteer-run organization and we need your help!  In particular, we need:  foster homes, transporters for adoptions and vet visits, handlers at adoption days, and helpers at fundraising events.  If you would like to help, please contact:  volunteer@aforeverhome.org.

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*Volunteer opportunities found on each organization's website*

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