Animals are often the most neglected and/or abused members of our society. Volunteer projects with animals benefits you and your family by teaching valuable lessons such as compassion for others and a respect for nature. For more information on the importance of caring for animals, click here.

• Provide foster care for new kittens or puppies before they find a permanent home
• Help clean up at a local animal shelter
• Help with a yard sale, bake sale, or lemonade stand and donate the money you earn to an animal organization
• Adopt an animal from your local shelter or rescue
• Socialize animals that will help people with developmental disabilities
• Make items, such as magnets, scarves, or other special animal artwork that you can sell, and donate the proceeds to animals in need
• Groom, care for and lead horses that give therapy to people with developmental disabilities
• Pet sit for neighbors, family, and friends
• Protect habitats for endangered animals (see also list of suggestions for helping the environment)
• Have a birthday party where your guests bring presents that are toys, dishes, blankets, and other necessities for cats, dogs, and bunnies and other animals in shelters
• Have a dog or cat food drive
• Make a birdbath or birdhouse
• Pass out leaflets about local animal shelters
• Spread the word about spaying and neutering services in your area
• Clean cages for a shelter in your area
• Attend a community event that benefits animals
• Put together stories (including photos) for local papers about animals who are ready to adopt
• Join an activist network
• Encourage vegetarian diets in schools and distribute materials
• Walk or run to raise money for animals
• Contact legislators and companies about issues affecting animals
• Sponsor a party or festival where friends and the community can learn about animals in need, have fun, and donate money to help them out!
• Adopt an endangered species
• Research and teach others about a local shelter, its needs, and ways people can help!

Do you have another idea for us? Let us know! Send an email here.

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Want to help animals but need more ideas for fun projects with your children? Here are a few ideas to get you started, broken up by age group.

Ideas for appropriate volunteer projects for families with children under 12
Additional ideas for families with children and youth ages 12 and older
Additional ideas for families with youth ages 14-16* and older

Ideas for appropriate volunteer projects for families with children under 12

• Talk to friends, family and neighbors who have pets. Animal-sit for neighbors and friends while they are on vacation.
• Bring your own dog (or other pet) to go on walks or visit residents in a nursing home or older seniors in the community. (They need to pass a certification first. Link here (www.caringcanines.org) for more information about helping your animal be certified to visit.)
• Learn important educational facts about the animal of your choice or a nearby shelter. Share this information with family, friends, and groups through a presentation you make in the community.

Become informed about animal basics.

Learn the facts about animals and the amount of time, money, and care they require.

Find out if you have allergies before you get a pet.

Do your research.

• Adopt a puppy with your family (but only for the weekends!) that will be trained to help people with disabilities (primary handler of the puppy needs to be at least 18 but this opportunity works great for families).
• Provide a foster home for an animal that is waiting to become adopted. Some animal shelters may simply need families who would be able to provide temporary care and shelter for an animal waiting for adoption into a home.
• Adopt an animal – this could be literally one that you are able to keep in your home. (Perhaps if you aren’t able to keep one you could get special food and toys for an animal in a shelter.)
• Help out an endangered species.

Additional ideas for families with children and youth ages 12 and older

• Help care for horses that provide therapy for children and adults with developmental disabilities or who are recovering from a sickness.
• Help out with yard sales or bake sales that a shelter is already having, or host your own!
• Help transport animals to veterinarian appointments.

Additional ideas for families with youth ages 14-16* and older

• Help groom cats, dogs, and even bunnies at an animal shelter.
• Become involved in a 4-H program.
• Feed cats, dogs, or other animals.
• Take dogs for walks.
• Clean cages.

*While the exact age varies, many shelters will allow high school age youth to help directly care for the animals. Check with a local shelter for more specific details.

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 Find a volunteer opportunity in your community