Volunteers make an impact for animals
73,540 volunteer hours in 2024.
were taken in the U.S. in 2024.
Essential partners in our work
Humane World for Animals embraces volunteers as essential partners in our lifesaving work. We engage volunteers in supporting staff at every level to amplify our efforts across the globe. We welcome and respect our volunteers' unique identities, diverse backgrounds and experiences to build an inclusive animal welfare movement. Together, we work to end animal cruelty.
To ensure the safety of our organization’s people and property, and the animals in our care, we conduct a criminal background check for most volunteer roles. Please note that our organization will consider volunteer applicants with a criminal record on a case-by-case basis. However, crimes against people or animals, or crimes of a more recent nature, may be cause for us to decline a volunteer application.
Testimonials
Learn some of the reasons people love to volunteer their time with us!
"This is hard work, but the people who show up to serve are incredibly kind and helpful, and at the end of the day you have made a positive difference in the lives of these animals!"
"As a proud phone banking volunteer, the most rewarding part of my job is getting to connect with constituents from all over who take time out of their day to voice important issues to their policymakers."
"I’ve gained life-changing experience and feel empowered to advocate for animal welfare. I plan to pursue a Master’s in Animals and Public Policy to continue my commitment to making a positive impact for animals."
"This is hard work, but the people who show up to serve are incredibly kind and helpful, and at the end of the day you have made a positive difference in the lives of these animals!"
"As a proud phone banking volunteer, the most rewarding part of my job is getting to connect with constituents from all over who take time out of their day to voice important issues to their policymakers."
"I’ve gained life-changing experience and feel empowered to advocate for animal welfare. I plan to pursue a Master’s in Animals and Public Policy to continue my commitment to making a positive impact for animals."
Find volunteer opportunities
Ways to get involved
There are lots of ways to help animals! Apply for a volunteer role that suits your skills, interests and schedule. We provide all our volunteers with guidance and training.
Interested in being on a core team for legislative advocacy?
Interested in direct care of animals?
Are you in the veterinary field?
Interested in a flexible role you can do from home?
Want occasional alerts on federal legislation?
Eric Kayne/AP Images for The HSUS
Volunteer for our animal rescue program
Animal rescue volunteers work with our Animal Rescue Team to help save animals from cruelty and disasters. Apply now to get trained so we can count on you when disaster strikes.
More about volunteering
How volunteering for animal shelters, rescues and nonprofits improves your mental and physical health
Your ability to vote (and mobilize other voters) is your superpower in the lawmaking arena.
Elizabeth has been volunteering for animals since the 1950s, and is still going strong.
Frequently asked questions
We have several volunteer roles that involve direct animal care (Black Beauty Ranch, Animal Rescue Volunteers, Rural Area Veterinary Services, etc.) however, if you are looking for a regular, ongoing volunteer role that helps companion animals in your area, please reach out to a local shelter or rescue group near you. To locate those local groups in the United States, please visit Adopt a Pet and contact each group to find out what opportunities exist.
Currently we are only able to engage minors under the age of 18 as phone banking volunteers.
Yes, we encourage everyone who cares about animals to get engaged on policy issues affecting animals in your community. And if you live in the United States, we encourage you to consider applying to join as a Policy Volunteer, where you’d receive guidance on how to engage your elected officials on key issues at critical times.
It's important that legislators hear from their voters and constituents on animal protection issues. The more people who speak on behalf of animals and urge their legislators to enact pro-animal protection laws and policies, the more attention elected officials will pay to those issues. If legislators don't hear from those who want to protect animals, they are only hearing from people who don't have the animals’ best interests at heart.
Contact us at 1-301-258-1555.
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Accredited as a Service Enterprise organization
We’re proud to share that, in the United States, we are accredited as a Service Enterprise organization! Service Enterprise is a research-based program focused on effective volunteerism. Organizations that gain this recognition are among the top 11% of nonprofits in the country in volunteer engagement and organizational performance. This means we successfully engage volunteers to help achieve our mission and that our volunteers are an essential part of our overall strategy. It helps us save money and work more efficiently and effectively, stretching our donors’ funding even further and protecting more animals.