Volunteer Stories Stories

A couple adventure buddy program participants with a pug wearing a bandanna

Adventures abound for adoptable dogs

Dogs from the Best Friends Pet Adoption Center in L.A. share fun-filled outings to...
Adventuring with purpose
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Jonathan Ramirez next to his mural of a dog with the word, Adopt

One special dog inspired this artist to give back

Adoption gave a dog named Russell a second chance, but it also inspired his adopte...
Artist creates mural at Florida shelter
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Volunteers Rich and Linda Yates with a dog beside some crates

Volunteers hit the road to help animals in need

Rich and Linda Yates combine road trips with rescue work, lending their hands — an...
Now they're steady and spirited fixtures in the Best Friends family
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Volunteer working with a dog

All for the animals: Volunteers share their ‘why’

Each Best Friends volunteer has their own reason for giving their time to help ani...
Volunteers believe that together we can Save Them All
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Two people petting a happy puppy

Celebrating the heart of Best Friends: Volunteers

Volunteers with Best Friends give their time, energy, and love to help animals thr...
Recognizing the incredible individuals who give so much
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Two smiling people volunteering with cats

The givers: Volunteering for the animals

From fostering to remote work, Best Friends volunteers help save thousands of live...
Every hour given makes a difference
Best Friends Magazine
Tara Pope on a rock cliff with arms outstretched

L.A. fire evacuee finds hope at Best Friends

When Tara Pope fled her home to escape the L.A. fires, she found an unexpected hav...
Best Friends offers hope
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Alex Mestres volunteering by bringing meals to pets at Best Friends in Los Angeles

Volunteers power efforts to help pets amid L.A. fires

Best Friends volunteers from coast to coast are using their time and talents in so...
People help in California and from afar
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Person with a brown dog outside Pinellas County Animal Services following Hurricane Milton

Love of pets unites helpers in hurricane aftermath

Best Friends team members headed to Florida to provide relief to animal shelter st...
Offering selfless service to people and pets
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Sweet Pea the cat wearing her crocheted ears

A new set of ears for an injured cat

After everything Sweet Pea had been through, her foster volunteer wanted to do som...
Look at her now
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Athena holding a smiling Gremlin the dog in her lap

From shy to safe: Dog with megawatt smile goes home

Gremlin needed a friend to help calm his nerves, which ended up leading to the mat...
Now he's all smiles
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Emilie and Haley holding a litter of kittens

Helping hands for pets in 2 Florida shelters

Respite for animal shelter staff who have been working nonstop to care for pets im...
Read about this much-needed assistance
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Smiling volunteer from the MenHealing group with a goat

Finding healing through kindness to animals

Group's volunteer visits to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary have a therapeutic ...
Service work helps heal animals and people
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The Williams family outside in Angels Canyon in front of a blue sky

Kids pay it forward to the animals

This dynamic young duo goes the extra mile to save animals through volunteering, d...
Their experience of a lifetime
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Volunteer Bill Coaker holding Rio the cat

Volunteer’s devotion to animals brings kindness to all

A volunteer’s 40th visit to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary highlights his dedicatio...
What brings him back
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