Adoption and Community Events
Join the fun! Rescue Ranch partcipates in adoption events around the region. We also occasionally put on our own community events. If you're a "people person" who loves dogs, we're sure you'll enjoy helping out at events.
At adoption events volunteers man the tables, walk the dogs, facilitate interactions between dogs and potential adopters, hand out literature and more. They also help with loading, transport, set up and take down.
Rescue Ranch events offer similar opportunities. In addition, volunteers often sit on the organization committe, help create signage and other materials, or otherwsie help with planning and preparation.
Read about some of our 2021 events
Dog Walker
Walking not only provides exercise and distraction, it builds confidence and provides opportunities for training and soclialization. Volunteers and staff walk dogs daily on ranch grounds.
Some people develop a special bond with a dog but are not in a position to adopt. They donate their time visiting regularly and spending quality time with the dog. Eventually they sometimes even take their four-leeged pal for hikes or a special treat away from the shelter. You can read about one of those relationships here.
Fostering
When you foster a dog, you're saving a life. There is no doubt about it. The fact is that Rescue Ranch is also a network of devoted fosters who help with puppies, mothers, seniors and other special cases.
When you add up all of the foster dogs, the total number of animals Rescue Ranch is responsible for nearly doubles! Right now our facilities have gone from an average of 35 to 40 dogs, to an average of 45 to 55. We've even reached 60 at the adoption center alone. Now double that. Fostering saves lives, period.
Volunteer fosters go through a different process than for our other volunteer opportunities. To apply to become a foster click below to learn more about the fostering program then follow the indications under "Next Steps."
- Click here to learn more about our foster program ( you can apply to become a foster from this page).
- Click here to read about Linda Kusaka's experience as a foster for senior special needs dogs.
Driver
Do you like to drive? Rescue Ranch often needs help with rescue transports and vet runs. Depending on the circumstances, volunteers might use their own cars, on other occasions they drive ranch vehicles.
Kennel Sanitation
Our volunteers and staff take pride in the cleanliness of the shelter, both inside and out. A clean shelter keeps the dogs healthy and inspires visitors to stay longer to meet the dog who will be the perfect match for their family.
Daily tasks like doing the laundry, washing the dishes, mopping the floor and scooping poop may not seem glamourous, but they are essential to the well-being of our dogs. Some volunteers just come in to wash dishes or clean kennels for an hour or two. Others combine these tasks with other activities like dog walking.
Kennel Enrichment
Happy , well-adjusted dogs get adopted! Enrichment helps minds and bodies stay active, reduces stress and brings joy to the dogs during their stay at the shelter.
You can help by stuffing Kongs® with treats, making pupsicles, or playing tug and fetch. Or you might teach yourself and a dog to do nose work or spend time with them engaging with a puzzle. Join our team and help enrich the lives of rescue dogs.
Office Support
Help the office manager and program coordinators with data entry, scanning, filing, printing and other office related tasks. Do you think you might like to help with these essential activities?
Playgroup Assistant
Socialization and play are essential to a dog's development. It builds confidence and helps them become good citizens. As a volunteer, you can assist our dog handlers with introductions and supervision during play time, especially when there are more than two dogs involved.
It's also a great way to get to know the dogs and to learn how to "read" a dog's body language, identify potential issues anddiffuse situations before they escalate.
Photography and video
There are many opportunities for photographers and videographers to use their skills to help Rescue Ranch get the word out. You can promote individual dogs to distribute on YouTube and social media, cover events, and take pictures of our dogs for the Adoption page on our website. You can also help build our photo library and work with Communications on special projects.
The video at the top of our volunteer page is one of many created by volunteer Eric Anderson about our dogs and ranch activities.
