We need your help!

Safe Paws is operated solely on a volunteer basis. If it wasn’t for all the amazing volunteers that support us, we wouldn’t be able to save as many animals from death row as we do. We do not require a minimum amount of volunteer hours or specific tasks, so you’re free to choose how and when you’d like to help! 

Here are some ways you can support help support us:

Home Visits: We get a lot of applications every day and each of these applications needs a home visit in order for their application to keep moving towards approval. We are always looking for volunteers who willing to go into prospective adopters homes and complete a home visit or do a virtual home visit if in person isn’t an option. This is typically a 30 minute commitment.

Adoption Events: Each month we attend different events throughout the Central Iowa area and can always use help to bring awareness to Safe Paws, the amazing adoptable animals in our care, and our programs! Transporting and handling foster dogs at events for other volunteers that may not be able to attend is a great way to get involved! This is typically a 2 to 3-hour commitment.

Transportation:  There’s two types of transports that are constantly needed. Local transports, such as those for medical appointments, events, or meet and greets and extended transports for helping them get to/from a partner rescue or shelter or a portion of their freedom ride. This is typically 1 to 2 hour commitment.

Grooming: Who doesn’t love a fresh looking, clean smelling pup? Take one of the dogs out for a spa day! Bath, blow dry, nail trim, the works! This is typically a 1 to 2 hour commitment.

Dog Walking & Socialization: We have a lot of dogs spread around that love walks, cuddles, and pup cups! We can find a foster dog near you to take out for some fun in the sun! This is typically a 30-60 minute commitment

Plus a number of other ways to help…

  • Grant Writing
  • Foster Coordinator
  • Donation Pickup (from Safe Paws partners)
  • Testimonials: Contacting Adopters, Getting Stories, Doing Videos
  • Animal Bio Creator
  • Perform Meet & Greet Adoption Intros
  • Social Media Cross Posting
  • Photographer
  • Shelter Runs
 
A couple notes before starting the application:
 
  • You must be 18 years or older to volunteer by yourself. Any volunteer under the age of 18 years must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
  • Please fill out a separate application for each person individually.
  • Please fill out the entire application to the best of your ability. Incomplete applications or applications with incorrect information will not be processed.

– PLEASE NOTE – Our main communication tool within our organization is through our private Facebook groups and through Facebook messenger. If you do not have a profile and are unwilling to create one for the purpose of volunteering, it will be very difficult for us to communicate our volunteer opportunities with you.