Hi All,

I am interested in volunteering my time with a local Lab Rescue Group. I pretty much know what to expect and even if it just means cleaning kennels all day, I'll still do it! I submitted my application to a So Cal Lab group and am just waiting to hear back from them.

But I would love to hear feedback from others that volunteer their time. What do you like best? What does a typical day look like?

A lot of rescues don't have a place - like a shelter -the dogs are housed in foster homes. They still need tons of volunteers even if you can't foster - like people to drive dogs to vet visits, do home visits, call and check on application information, help at adoption days, help transport the animals, post fliers, etc.

I foster for www.woofwagon.com an all breed rescue. We really enjoy it - we get to meet a lot of great dogs who otherwise would have died. We get to meet the new families usually, so we know they are going to a great home. I also post fliers of dogs currently up for adoption in pet stores, and at my work. I do home visits, vet checks, etc also.

Good luck! I hope you enjoy it, and find your 'niche' of where to volunteer. It is so worth it!

Adopt A Lab IN, Inc. also does not have a shelter but there are other ways that we need help that does not involve being a foster parent. Such as:

making photocopies of forms and brochures to pass out at events

helping man the information booth at events

doing home visits on potential applicants

following up via phone or e-mail on adoptions to provide support

maintaining the rescues website

various clerical needs like maintaining volunteer database, adoption database, foster/available dog database, etc,

doing transports from shelters to the new foster home

"pet sitting" for a weekend to give foster family a short break

$$$$$$

oh and did we mention $$$ the regular vet bills ADD UP QUICKLY not to mention the "surprise medical needs" that sometimes show up

some have dogs in emergency kennels until foster homes are available - these dogs need frequent visitors to socialize , play with and bathe

Canvasing people & businesses for donations

There's probably more that I haven't thought of