At Wellness Pet, we believe that every pet deserves a life of total wellbeing. We know that every home is better with a pet, but until every four-legged, furry friend finds their forever family, local animal shelters and rescue organizations are some of the heroes holding the leash.

Whether you’re a lifelong pet parent or a first-time advocate, volunteering is one of the most impactful ways to give back. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to get involved and highlight some incredible shelters across the country where our own “Wellies” have rolled up their sleeves to make a difference.

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Why Volunteer at an Animal Shelter?

Many people hesitate to volunteer because they fear shelter pets are “broken.” In reality, most animals are in shelters due to factors like owner financial issues, changes in family dynamics, or moves.

Volunteering isn’t just about the animals, it’s about the community. By giving your time, you help:

• Socialize Pets: Making them more adoptable for their future families.
• Support Staff: Freeing up shelter professionals to focus on medical care and operations.
• Educate the Public: Breaking the stigma around shelter animals and promoting adoption.

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How to Get Started: A Step-by-Step Guide

Getting involved is easier than you think, and most shelters are actively looking for a helping hand.

1. Find Your Local Shelter: Look for organizations in your community. You can start with national partners like Best Friends Animal Society to find a network of shelters near you.
2. Submit an Application: Most shelters require a basic background check and an application to match your skills with their needs.
3. Attend Orientation: You’ll learn the facility’s safety protocols and “paws-on” procedures.
4. Start Training: Many shelters provide mentors to help you learn the ropes, whether you’re walking dogs, cleaning habitats, or assisting with administrative tasks.
5. Be Flexible: You don’t need a 40-hour week to make an impact. Most shelters will work with your schedule, even if you only have a few hours a month to spare.

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State-by-State Shelter Highlights: Where to Volunteer

During our annual Wellness Global Service Day, over 250 of our team members spent time volunteering, including at shelters across the U.S. and around the world. Here are some of the fantastic organizations we’ve personally partnered with that are always looking for volunteers:

Massachusetts (MA)

• Lowell Humane Society (Lowell): A dedicated team focused on finding homes for a wide variety of species.
• MSPCA at Nevins Farm (Methuen): A unique facility that cares for both small domestic pets and barn animals like horses and goats.
• Cape Ann Animal Aid (Gloucester): A non-profit, no-kill organization that relies heavily on community support.
• Northeast Animal Shelter (Salem): One of New England’s largest non-profit animal adoption centers.
• Paws (Wakefield): Focused on the rescue and adoption of cats and dogs in the local area.
• Animal Rescue League (Burlington): The first female-founded animal welfare organization in Massachusetts providing rescues, adoptions, veterinary care, and law enforcement for animal cruelty cases.
• Operation Delta Dog (Burlington): In addition to their well-known mission of training rescue dogs as service animals for veterans, this facility welcomes volunteers for organizational support to help keep operations running smoothly.

New Hampshire (NH)

• Salem Animal Rescue League (Salem): Provides temporary care and medical treatment for animals until they find permanent homes.
• Animal Rescue League of NH (Bedford): A community resource center that helps more than 2,000 animals annually.
• Operation Delta Dog (Hollis): A wonderful organization that rescues shelter dogs and trains them to be service dogs for veterans.

Illinois (IL)

• PAWS Chicago: A pioneer in the No-Kill movement, offering extensive volunteer opportunities from foster care to event support.

Utah (UT)

• Best Friends Animal Society (Kanab & Salt Lake City): One of the nation’s leaders in animal welfare, their sanctuary in Kanab is a world-class destination for animal lovers.

Indiana (IN)

• Humane Society of St. Joseph County: A great place to start your volunteering journey if you’re in the South Bend area.
• South Bend Animal Rescue: Focuses on rehabilitating and rehoming pets in need.

Minnesota (MN)

• Carver-Scott Humane Society: Dedicated to connecting pets with people through adoption and community education.
• Pet Haven Minnesota (South St. Paul): Minnesota’s first foster-based rescue organization and trailblazer in the no-kill movement. 
• Animal Humane Society (South St. Paul): Support day-to-day shelter operations by walking dogs awaiting adoption and assist with facility cleaning, giving staff more bandwidth to focus on animal health and placement.

North Carolina (NC)

• Humane Society of Eastern Carolina (Greenville): A staple in the community for pet advocacy and rescue.

New York (NY)

• Pets Alive Animal Sanctuary: Provides a soft landing for animals that have been neglected or are in danger of euthanasia.

Arkansas (AR)

• Bella Vista Animal Shelter (Decatur): A compassionate organization dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating lost and homeless animals in the city of Bella Vista. Providing food, shelter, and medical care, helping pets find their way back home or into loving new families. 

California (CA)

• Best Friends LA: A high-impact center focused on making Los Angeles a no-kill city through adoption and volunteerism.

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Ways to Help (Beyond the Kennel)

If you aren’t ready for “paws-on” work, there are plenty of other ways to support your local shelter:

• Donation Drives: Organize a drive for newspapers, blankets, or high-quality pet food.
• Outreach Teams: Help at community events to educate the public and raise much-needed funds.
• Children’s Programming: Many shelters offer youth opportunities to teach the next generation of pet parents how to care for animals.

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Join the Movement

When you volunteer at an animal shelter, you aren’t just giving your time—you’re giving a pet a second chance at a healthy, happy life.

Ready to start? Reach out to one of the shelters listed above or find a local rescue in your neighborhood today. Together, we can make sure every pet is a well-fed, well-loved Wellness pet.

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