🚐 Transport Crew: Be the Bridge to a Better Life
The Road Trip of a Lifetime (Literally!)
The Mission: We have the dogs; our partners in the U.S. have the adopters. We just need a way to get them there! As a member of the Transport Crew, you are the final link in a dog’s journey to their forever family.
How You’ll Help:
What You’ll Need:
Our Promise: We know your car is important to you. We provide the crates and protective blankets to keep things as clean as possible. It might get a little “dog-scented,” but there’s no better feeling than seeing a rescue pup arrive at their destination!
🏡 Foster Coordinators: Our Life-Saving Matchmakers
The Mission: We rely on fosters to take our dogs into their homes, and we need your help to make those connections happen! As a coordinator, you’re the friendly voice that helps us find out which dogs are the best fit for our amazing foster families.
How You’ll Help:
This is for you if: You’ve got a good knowledge of both dog and human behavior and love being the bridge between the two.
Why it’s great: You can make a massive impact on our rescue’s success right from your own home! If you enjoy chatting with fellow dog lovers and helping pups get out of the sanctuary and into a house, we need you.
🩺 Veterinary Wellness Team: Essential Care & Comfort
Helping our pups feel their very best
The Mission: Health and wellness are the foundation of every rescue story. We rely on volunteers with basic skills and a passion for animal care to help us maintain a happy, healthy pack. By sharing your time and “know-how,” you directly ensure our dogs are comfortable and adoption-ready while helping us save on essential costs.
Ways you can jump right in:
This is for you if: You already have the basic skills needed for these tasks (like knowing how to safely clip nails or administer a bath) and are ready to put them to use! While we don’t provide formal training, we provide all the supplies, you provide the hands-on care.
Why it matters: There is nothing more fulfilling than seeing a dog go from “scruffy” to “shining.” Your care helps our dogs feel loved and looked after, which is exactly what they need to find their forever homes.
📸 Doggie Photography: Lights, Camera, Action!
Capture the click that leads them home
The Mission: Every dog at our sanctuary is a star, and they just need the right “headshot” to prove it! Great photos are the first thing potential adopters see. By capturing a dog’s personality; whether it’s a goofy grin or a soulful stare, you are helping them get noticed and adopted faster.
The Fun Stuff:
This is for you if: You love dogs and know how to capture a great moment. If you can stay patient for that perfect “head tilt” and want to use your creative side to save lives, this is the role for you.
Why it matters: A single photo can change a dog’s life forever. Come treat our dogs to the photoshoot they deserve. It’s fun, casual, and one of the most effective ways to help our pups find their families!
🎾 Dog Training: Setting Our Pups Up for Success
Teaching the basics that open new doors
The Mission: It’s no surprise that dogs with a little “schooling” find their forever homes much faster! By teaching our pups basic manners and good behavior, you’re giving them the confidence they need to impress potential adopters and transition easily into home life.
How You Can Help:
This is for you if: You have a solid touch and a good sense of dog behavior. Whether you’re a professional trainer, an experienced dog walker, or just someone who has successfully taught their own pups the ropes, your experience is exactly what we need.
Why it’s so rewarding: You are literally giving these dogs the “resume” they need to get adopted. Seeing a dog go from rowdy to refined because of your time and patience is an incredible feeling, and it’s one of the best ways to help them move from the sanctuary to a sofa!
🛠️ Handy? Help Us Build a Better Sanctuary
Big projects, small fixes, and everything in between!
The Mission: Running a busy rescue means there is always something that needs a little TLC. Keeping our sanctuary safe and sturdy is vital for our dogs. If you know your way around a toolbox, you can help us keep things running smoothly and safely!
Ways You Can Help:
This is for you if: You’re a DIY enthusiast or a seasoned professional who isn’t afraid to get your hands dirty. If you know how to use tools and are willing to help with the physical side of sanctuary life, we have plenty for you to do!
Why it’s so helpful: Every hour you spend repairing a pipe or fixing a gate is money saved that goes directly toward food and medical care for the dogs. You are the reason our facility stays safe and functional for the pack.
🌍 Be Their Window to the World
Positive Exposure & Confidence Building
The Mission: Help our dogs prepare for life after rescue! We need volunteers to assist with positive exposure to the world beyond the sanctuary walls. By introducing our pups to new environments and people, you reduce their stress and significantly increase their chances of being adopted.
How You Can Help:
This is for you if: You have a love for dogs and a patient, steady vibe. No expert experience is required—whether you’re going for a stroll or just sharing a quiet spot in the shade, your presence is exactly what they need.
Why it matters: Every bit of positive exposure helps a dog become more well-adjusted. You are giving them the confidence to transition from the sanctuary to a home, one peaceful moment at a time.
💰 Fundraising Team: Help Us Keep the Lights On!
Love our dogs but better with people than poop bags? We need you!
The Mission Every penny we spend on food, medicine, and rescue flights comes from people like you. We are 100% donor-funded, which means we are always looking for fresh ways to bring in the funds that keep this place running. If you like the idea of “friend-raising” and getting the community involved, come join the fun.
Ways to jump in
This is for you if You have the “gift of gab,” a background in development, or you’re just really good at getting people excited about a great cause. Don’t worry, this isn’t some stiff board-of-directors gig. We are just a group of dog lovers looking for someone with the spark to help us grow.
Why it’s a blast You get to see exactly where the money goes, from an empty bowl to a full belly. You aren’t just raising money; you are literally making every single rescue possible.
🏠 Open Your Home, Save a Life
The Mission Foster families play a massive role in getting our dogs ready for their forever families. By opening your home for a little while, you give a dog a safe place to relax and learn what it feels like to be part of a family. Fosters provide the love, care, and basic training that help our pups transition from the sanctuary to a home.
The Ultimate Reward There is honestly nothing like the feeling of watching a dog you have cared for walk into the arms of their new family. It is a huge contribution, but the reward of seeing that tail wag in a real home for the first time is even bigger. You provide the space and the heart; we provide the support.
🐕 Dog Walking: Get Your Steps in with a Best Friend
The Mission Our dogs have plenty of energy and love to explore! We need reliable walkers to help our pups get the exercise and fresh air they crave. It is the perfect way to spend a couple of hours making a dog’s day a whole lot brighter while helping them burn off some steam.
How it Works We head out for walks a couple of times each week. Since our schedule can shift, the best way to get started is to reach out and see when the next group is heading out. We typically walk on Tuesday and Thursday mornings 9-11. Whether it is a power walk or a slow sniff-about, your time on the leash is the highlight of their day.
Ready to hit the pavement? Drop us a line at volunteers@sanfelipedogrescue.org to find our current schedule and get started. We would love to have you out for a couple of hours of fresh air and tail wags!
