Homeward Trails has rescued tens of thousands of animals through an amazing network of dedicated volunteers who perform a variety of lifesaving tasks. Volunteers are critical to our success. We could not do what we do without our wonderful volunteers!
You will find a number of opportunities that allow you to participate in a meaningful way with the flexibility to participate as your schedule allows. Please note that most of our volunteer opportunities require volunteers to be over 18 years of age. If you are under 18 and looking to help out please refer to our Youth Volunteers page.
Shameless... we know. But there are tons of ways you can help!
Volunteer Opportunities
Help us with filing, scanning, data entry, and all the other tasks that help us keep our operation going! Contact volunteer@homewardtrails.org.
Our Adoption Center houses up to 60 adoptable dogs and is located in Fairfax Station, VA. Help our staff care for, socialize, and clean up after our resident dogs. You can also volunteer to take a dog on aT ails Out adventure or hang with a dog in our Peace Out rooms. We have hours available 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Contact centervolunteers@homewardtrails.org.
Spend time on the weekends at the Adoption Center helping match adopters with their new furry friends. Adoption Counselors screen adopters and finalize adoptions — a fun and rewarding job!
Join our dynamic cat and dog adoption teams and help us save more animals by screening adoption applications or assisting our Adoption Coordinators by checking vet and rental references!
Support adoption and special fundraising events throughout the year. To check out some of our upcoming events, visit our Events Page. We also need Event Coordinators to help run our cat and dog adoption events.
Provide a temporary home for a rescued animal until an adoptive home is secured. If you’re interested in fostering, please check out our Foster Program.
Help us raise needed funds to keep going! There are plenty of ways to support our fundraising efforts such as:
- Organize an office donation drive.
- Accept donations in lieu of gifts for birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries.
- Host an event at your home, at your favorite bar, at your church—anywhere you enjoy spending time.
- Hold a bake sale.
- Create an online giving page (these are easy to make on Facebook!).
We love large groups of volunteers who can help us accomplish big projects at the Homeward Trails Adoption Center located in Fairfax Station, VA. If you would like to schedule a volunteer project for your office of civic organization, please contact rebeccag@homewardtrails.org.
Meow Palace is our temporary cageless home for kitties located in Fairfax Station! Help socialize, cuddle & clean up after our resident adoptable cats. Morning and evening shifts are available 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Contact kelseym@homewardtrails.org.
Enrich the life of a shelter dog (and maybe yours too)! Our Peace Out Rooms are equipped with comfy couches, chairs, rugs, TVs and desks or you to come and chill, study, nap, meditate, cuddle with a pup or just escape for an hour or two with one of our awesome dogs who can also use a little PEACE in their lives. Learn more about the program here.
This is a super fun volunteer opportunity that will save lives. Are you traveling to Puerto Rico for work or fun? Contact us and bring a puppy or kitten back with you. It's easy and will cost you nothing. Literally! We will provide you with all the details you need. Contact intake@homewardtrails.org.
HT puppy parties offer puppy happiness to hosts, vital socialization for our pups and raise vital funds for our sick and injured animals. To learn more and volunteer, contact puppyparty@homewardtrails.org
TAILS OUT! is our dog and human enrichment program to get our Adoption Center dogs out and about into the community and your homes to have some FUN while they patiently await their adoptive homes. Learn more about the program here.
Drive animals from our shelter partners, to and from adoption events, and medical appointments. Contact volunteer@homewardtrails.org
We are contacted every day by amazing young people who care about animals and want to help and we have many opportunities for you to get involved! Here are a few ideas of how you can help. For more information please contact homershelpers@homewardtrails.org
If you have an idea for volunteering, share it with us! We love new ideas. Contact volunteer@homewardtrails.org.