If you’re a dog lover reading this, chances are you’ve felt the familiar tug at your heartstrings when passing an animal shelter or scrolling through photos of adoptable pets online. Perhaps you already have a full house of four-legged friends, or maybe your current lifestyle doesn’t allow you to adopt right now. The wonderful news is that adoption isn’t the only way to make a profound, lasting difference. Volunteering to help dogs is a deeply rewarding way to give back to the creatures who give us their all.
The Transformative Power of Volunteering
When you volunteer with dogs, you aren’t just giving up an hour or two of your Saturday afternoon. You are literally saving lives and improving the well-being of animals in transition. According to the ASPCA, approximately 3.1 million companion dogs enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every single year. That staggering number means shelters and rescues are in constant need of extra hands, open hearts, and ongoing community support to keep their operations running smoothly.
But the magic of volunteering is that the benefits are undeniably mutual. The human-animal bond is a proven mood booster, and science backs up what dog lovers already know: spending time with animals is good for the soul.
Physical Health Benefits: Volunteering to walk dogs gets you outdoors and moving. Studies have repeatedly shown that interacting with dogs can lower blood pressure, decrease cholesterol levels, and increase your daily cardiovascular activity. If you need a workout buddy, a shelter dog is always ready to hit the pavement.
Mental Health Benefits: Time spent petting and playing with dogs increases levels of the feel-good hormone oxytocin in both humans and dogs. It acts as a natural stress reliever, combating anxiety and depression. The simple act of brushing a dog or sitting quietly with them can center your mind.
Building Community: Volunteering introduces you to a wonderful community of like-minded, compassionate people. You’ll form connections, share stories, and make new friends who share your deep appreciation for the canine world. It is a fantastic way to meet people who care about the same causes you do.
Finding Your Perfect Fit: How You Can Help
One of the biggest misconceptions about volunteering is that it requires a massive time commitment or highly specialized animal handling skills. The truth is, there is a role for absolutely everyone. Whether you have one hour a week or ten, your contribution matters. Here are some of the most impactful ways you can volunteer to help dogs:
1. Shelter Volunteer (Dog Walking and Socialization)
Shelter environments can be highly stressful for dogs. The noise, the confinement, and the lack of a predictable routine can lead to anxiety and behavioral deterioration over time. Volunteer dog walkers are the absolute lifeline for these animals. Taking a shelter dog out for a walk gives them a vital break from their kennel, allows them to stretch their legs, sniff the grass, and decompress. Furthermore, socialization—just sitting with a shy dog, offering high-value treats, and speaking softly—helps them learn to trust humans again, making them significantly more adoptable.
2. Fostering a Dog in Need
Fostering is quite literally life-saving. By opening your home to a dog temporarily, you instantly free up a kennel at a shelter, meaning the rescue can pull another dog to safety. Fostering provides a dog with a comfortable, real-world environment where their true personality can shine without the stress of a shelter. It’s also incredibly helpful for puppies, senior dogs, or dogs recovering from medical procedures who need a quiet space to heal. Many organizations cover all expenses, including food, crates, toys, and veterinary care; you simply provide the love, patience, and a soft place to land.
3. Transporting Dogs
Did you know that in some parts of the country, shelters are severely overcrowded, while in others, there are waiting lists for adoptable dogs? Rescue transport volunteers help bridge this geographical gap. Transporters often sign up for “legs” of a journey, driving a dog a few hours to meet the next volunteer driver until the pup reaches their destination rescue or forever home. It’s like a road trip, but with an incredibly heartwarming purpose.
4. Skills-Based Volunteering
Not all dog volunteering involves direct animal handling. Shelters and rescues are essentially non-profit businesses that desperately need professional skills to stay afloat and thrive.
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Photography: A great photo can be the difference between a dog sitting in a shelter for months or getting adopted in days. If you know your way around a camera, volunteering to take flattering, happy photos of adoptable dogs is an absolute game-changer.
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Social Media and Writing: Can you write a catchy, charming bio or have experience with social media? Rescues constantly need help writing creative descriptions of their dogs and managing their online presence to attract potential adopters and donors.
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Event Planning and Fundraising: Rescues run on donations. If you have a knack for organization, helping coordinate adoption events, silent auctions, or online fundraisers is an incredible way to support the mission from behind the scenes.
5. Donations from Home
If you have limited mobility, live far from a shelter, or have an unpredictable schedule, you can still help from the comfort of your living room! Many shelters deeply appreciate donations of gently used blankets to give dogs a cozy, comforting bed in their kennels. You can also donate food, supplies, or even monetary contributions. A little goes a long way when we all pitch in!
Photo courtesy of Asheville Humane Society
Where to Start: Resources and Organizations
If you’re ready to get started on your volunteering journey, the best first step is to look up the animal shelter or local rescue groups in your specific county. Most organizations have a dedicated Volunteer tab on their website outlining their specific needs, age requirements, and orientation processes.
Here are a few fantastic national resources to help you learn more:
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The ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals): Provides comprehensive information on volunteering, national advocacy, and animal welfare.
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Best Friends Animal Society: A pioneer in the no-kill movement, offering resources to find local rescue network partners near you.
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Petfinder: You can search for rescue groups and shelters by zip code to find organizations operating right in your own backyard.
For our wonderful guests who visit us here in Western North Carolina, we are surrounded by incredible organizations doing heroic work for animals. If you’re local to the Asheville, Hendersonville, or Brevard areas—or simply want to support the community that makes your Barkwells vacations so special—consider checking out:
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Asheville Humane Society (Asheville, NC): Providing one-on-one adoption counseling, behavior classes, education, and ongoing care, they offer extensive support for people and pets even after adoption.
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Pilots and Paws: By connecting volunteer aviators with animal rescuers, Pilots N Paws provides a crucial lifeline, transporting dogs out of high-kill facilities and into the safety of no-kill shelters. These pilots generously donate their time and aircraft to fly pets across the country, ensuring that a dog's chance at survival and a forever family isn't limited by their local shelter's capacity.
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Brother Wolf Animal Rescue (Asheville, NC): A true staple in our community dedicated to saving the lives of companion animals.
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Blue Ridge Humane Society (Hendersonville, NC): Offering extensive volunteer programs, from direct animal care to community outreach and pet food pantries.
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Charlie’s Angels Animal Rescue (Fletcher, NC): A wonderful local organization focused on rescuing abandoned, homeless, and senior animals.
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Mountain Pet Rescue (Candler, NC): A non-profit, foster-based animal rescue focused on finding loving homes for every companion animal possible.
Recharging Your Own Batteries at Barkwells
Both volunteering and shelter work are deeply emotional activities, and compassion fatigue is real. To be the best advocate for dogs in need, you have to take time to recharge.
That's where a getaway to Barkwells comes in. Escape to a place where the joy of dogs is the central focus of every day. Our fully fenced acreage lets you relax and watch dogs simply be dogs — no leashes, no kennels, no stress.
Whether you're looking for a romantic retreat in our Asheville cabins or a peaceful lodge experience in Brevard, our properties are designed to melt away stress. Soak in your private hot tub while your dogs explore the fenced yard, or enjoy a coffee on the porch and take in the views after a stroll with your pup through the open meadows. Many guests even use their stay to celebrate a rescue milestone — like a "Gotcha Day" or giving a foster dog the ultimate vacation before finding their forever home.
A Heart Full of Dog Love
Dogs ask for so little, yet they give us absolutely everything. Volunteering your time, opening your home, or lending your professional skills is a beautiful way to honor that profound generosity. Every hour you spend walking a shelter dog, every photo you take of an adoptable pup, and every blanket you donate bring a deserving animal one step closer to a warm bed and a loving family.
At Barkwells, our mission has always been to create a sanctuary where the bond between dogs and their people is celebrated, nurtured, and cherished. We know our guests are among the most compassionate dog lovers in the world. If you haven’t yet, we encourage you to look into local volunteering opportunities. You might just find that in trying to change a dog’s life, they end up completely changing yours.
