Do I need experience working with animals?

No prior experience is required. Our team will help train volunteers on how to safely handle and care for animals.

Can I volunteer for school hours or community service?

Yes, many volunteers join us to complete school service hours.

How often can I volunteer?

We welcome both regular volunteers and those who help during special events.

Volunteer at Runaways Animal Rescue

Volunteers are the heart of Runaways Animal Rescue. As a nonprofit animal rescue based in Port Richey, Florida, we rely on dedicated volunteers throughout Pasco County and the Tampa Bay area to help care for animals and support our rescue efforts. Whether you love working directly with animals or prefer helping behind the scenes, volunteering with our rescue is a rewarding way to make a difference in the lives of dogs, cats, rabbits, and other small animals in need.

If you are looking for volunteer opportunities at an animal rescue near Port Richey or Tampa Bay, our team welcomes compassionate individuals who want to help save lives. Below you can learn about the different ways to volunteer with Runaways Animal Rescue and how to get started.

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Volunteers caring for rescued animals at Runaways Animal Rescue in Pasco County Florida

volunteer Information

Who Can volunteer

volunteers must be 16 years old (or accompanied by a parent/guardian if younger)
must be dependable and compassionate towards animals
must complete a volunteer application
must follow rescue safety and handling guidelines

volunteer opportunities

animal care - feeding, cleaning enclosures, & socializing.
dog walking and enrichment
adoption events - helping at community adoption events
transportation - helping transport animals to specialty appts. or foster homes
fundraising and community outreach

help from home

provide a temporary foster home for animals until they are adopted - help them become comfortable around people and household environments
provide short-term emergency fostering for animals recovering from surgery or during natural disasters

Volunteer Click Here

Foster Click Here

hear from our volunteers

I started volunteering at The Runaways Animal Rescue because I love animals and I wanted to do something positive and give back. I started once a week helping with dog care, because I’ve had dogs all my life and I am comfortable with dogs, and it has grown into a passion for me. I love playing with the dogs and walking them, but I also enjoy cleaning their kennels and making their rooms comfy and clean. I can’t express the joy I feel when I see one of these sweet souls being adopted!

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I have been volunteering at Runaways for two years now. I originally started because I wanted to step outside of my comfort zone and give back to the community in a meaningful way while being able to see the direct impact of that work.

From being able to do the little things—making sure the dogs have a clean and comfortable place to stay and call their temporary home, walking and playing with them, to watching them slowly come out of their shells and no longer look so afraid has been incredibly rewarding. Fostering has been especially meaningful, as it allows me to show them what a home, patience, and love can feel like, even if it’s only for a few days or weeks.

It has truly been one of the most rewarding experiences, and I’m incredibly grateful to Runaways for the impact it has had on me.

I been volunteering at the Runaways for a few years now. I needed something to do to help dogs. I had volunteered at a large shelter up north and really enjoyed it. So it was time to find someplace. I heard about the Runaways and thought I’d check it out. It’s a smaller shelter but they do so much for the animals. Dani and Alyssa work so hard to help so many. I’ve fostered 3 times now and I joined the foster failure club too. I adopted beautiful Zena, a 8 year old cat. We would love to see more volunteers to come join us. It’s very rewarding to help so many animals and to see them get wonderful homes.

dog rescue volunteer in tampa bay runaways animal rescue

Volunteering fills your heart and soul with a smile. You are doing your good deed for the day! You mellow out and find joy because You are sharing love and getting healthy yourself. You meet the best people and see awesome adoptions! Free entertainment, daily fun, snuggles and free therapy from the critters! You are an essential part of rescue! The need is great and You have the power to make a difference! Thank You! I Love the Runaways!

dog rescue volunteer runaways animal rescue tampa bay, florida

I started volunteering because I wanted to give back to the community and I have a love for animals. Thank goodness my neighbor told me about The Runaways Animal Rescue. I've been volunteering for the past 6 months. This experience has been wonderful from the start. The Runaways Animal Rescue is amazing. They are very organized, knowledgeable, and appreciative of all the volunteers. My favorite part of volunteering is working with the dogs, showing them love, giving them treats, taking them on walks, and exercising them in the yards.

I'm very thankful for the opportunity to volunteer at this rescue, I always leave with a full heart seeing the amazing work this rescue is doing for all their animals and knowing while I was there, I brought joy to the animals as they wait for their furever homes. I'm happy to be a tiny part of this village of heroes.