Thank you for your interest in helping Atlanta Pet Rescue & Adoption, a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization located in Atlanta, Georgia.  We are dedicated to finding great homes for purebred and mixed breed homeless dogs and cats.  We appreciate that everyone has something unique to contribute, and we are very thankful to our hardworking staff of volunteers that work many hours of their free time to help further our mission. 

Please join this group of dedicated individuals who are the true heart of the organization. Because Atlanta Pet Rescue & Adoption is a volunteer-based organization, we are always looking for new volunteers to join us in our rescue efforts.  The precious gift of your time makes all the difference!  There are numerous ways to volunteer with Atlanta Pet Rescue, some of which are listed here.  

If you are interested in joining our wonderful family of volunteers, please fill out our online volunteer application. Once we recieve your completed application, we will respond to you via email as quickly as possible. If you are invited to attend one of our volunteer orientation sessions (mandatory for anyone wanting to work at our shelter), they are held on the second Monday of every month at 6 p.m. at our shelter.

Ways to Help

1 – Donate something from our wish list  

2 - Become a foster parent

We need foster homes for our dogs and pups. What this means is that you would take one or more dogs to your home and nurture them (we provide food, medical attention, etc.) until they are adopted into a good, permanent home. If you would like to become a foster parent or learn more about it, please click here.

At the present time, Atlanta Pet Rescue and Adoption has been overwhelmed with the number of wonderful dogs and puppies needing to be rescued. Current foster homes are also full to capacity. 

You can help! Even if it is for a short time.

Some of our wonderful dogs and pups are very shy and need TLC. As you no doubt know, we often rescue animals from abusive situations, and these animals need to have human affection to overcome their fear of humans.

This is your chance to make a real difference in these animals' lives. Without you, they will become a part of the terrible statistics of the killing of innocent pets.

As a foster parent, is it hard to give them up when they are wanted by an acceptable adopting home? Sure. But it is also a great feeling that you are helping this wonderful animal become an important and loved member of the adopting family. A little pain at parting. A lot of pleasure in knowing you have made a difference! And another life is saved! Read more about becoming a foster parent>>

3– Volunteer at our weekly adoptions

We hold adoptions on Saturdays in the Midtown Atlanta, GA.  We ask volunteers to either stay the entire day from setup to breakdown (10:30am until 4:30pm), or choose a shift: setup (10:30am until 1:30pm) or breakdown (1:30 until 4:30pm).

**At this time we are fully staffed with volunteers at our Saturday adoptions.  Please review our other volunteer needs and complete the online volunteer form.  We can still use your help!

4 - Volunteer at the Shelter

Our shelter is located in Midtown, Atlanta, GA. You may help at the shelter by bathing newly rescued dogs and cats, offering your time to help keep the shelter clean, or by helping us organize records for our Saturday adoptions, etc. Additional volunteer work may be done at our rehab facility in Vinings, GA. We need people every day of the week and evenings, too. If this is something you are able to help us with, please complete the online volunteer form and note that this is your area of interest.

5 - Transport

We occasionally need assistance with transporting our animals to vet clinics for spay/neuter surgery, and return. If this is something you are able to help us with, please complete the online volunteer form and note that Transportation is how you can help.

6 - Fundraising

Assist in a variety of fundraising efforts throughout the year. Examples include helping to find donors for auctions or yard sales, assisting with our annual letter campaign, and posting flyers around town. If this is something you are able to help us with, please complete the online volunteer form and note that Fundraising is your area of interest.

7 - Charity Events

Our volunteers are the key to success at various events throughout the year. Charity events include our annual Paws for Cocktails party, our annual Wags To Riches sale, Barnes and Noble gift wrapping at Christmas and several other fun events during the year. Sign up to help for an hour or two. You will have fun and help homeless dogs and cats at the same time!  If this is something you are able to help us with, please complete the online volunteer form and note that Charity Event fundraising is your area of interest.

8 – Sponsor a pet

Many of our rescued pets need special care, such as heartworm or other extensive medical treatment. Others don't seem to sell themselves well at adoptions - even the sweetest pets can go unnoticed by potential adopters, simply because they are shy or too "average" looking. Or maybe you have fallen in love with a dog or cat that you saw on our picture pages or at an adoption, but you are unable to bring an animal into your home right now.

For all of these reasons, we have created the Sponsor-A-Pet Program, which allows you to donate money to help  a specific dog or cat at Atlanta Pet Rescue & Adoption.

Go to the Sponsor-A-Pet page to learn more about how you can help.  From here, you will be able to make a quick and secure online donation to sponsor the pet of your choice.

9 - Animal Professionals

We always need professional services from veterinarians, trainers and groomers to help our dogs get through those tough times. If you are a professional and would be able to give some of your very busy day (or evening) to a worthy cause, you have found the right organization! If this is something you are able to help us with, please complete the online volunteer form and note your area of expertise.

10 - Vendor Contacts

We use lots and lots of cleaning products like household bleach, laundry detergent, and paper towels. If you have any contacts with vendors of these items and can help us get them free or at a discount, please let us know. If this is something you are able to help us with, please complete the online volunteer form and tell us what you can about your contacts with vendors.