Put your love for dogs into action.

Volunteer Roles

Whether you’re looking for something in-person or behind the scenes, there are many ways you can help bring hope to dogs in need. All volunteers must be 18 & older.

ADOPTION EVENT VOLUNTEER - Local to San Diego: Adoption Event Volunteers represent TCF at adoption events by greeting visitors, sharing information about our dogs in need of adoption or fostering, helping with event set-up or break-down, and ensuring an overall welcoming experience. They may also assist with dog/puppy handling or transport when a foster is unable to attend.
ADOPTION EVENT LEAD - Local to San Diego: The Adoption Event Lead helps create a positive experience for volunteers, partner businesses, and the general public. This includes delegating event tasks, handling logistics during the event, communicating event details to the team, and coordinating event supply pick-up. Prior volunteer experience with TCF is required before moving into this role.
TRANSPORT - Local to San Diego : If you have a car in San Diego, this is a great role for you! Transport can include driving dogs to & from local adoption events or vet visits, as well as bringing dogs across from the Mexico border to their new foster home.
PUPPY PARTY LEAD - Local to San Diego: The Puppy Party Lead will be on-site during the party to ensure everything runs smoothly. They’ll manage party logistics, including event-day setup, communication with party volunteers and fosters, and coordination of puppy drop-off and pick-up. The goal of this role is to help everyone—people and pups—have a great time! Prior volunteer experience with TCF is required before moving into this role.
PUPPY PARTY COORDINATOR - Remote: The Puppy Party Coordinator helps make every party a success from start to finish. As the main point of contact with the client, they’ll reach out via email and text to those who interested in booking a TCF puppy party, as well as confirm all the party details. They’ll also ensure the party contract is sent out, organize party volunteers and fosters, and follow up with the client after the event.
ADOPTION TEAM PROCESSOR - Remote: Adoptions are the heartbeat of our rescue. Come help animals find their forever homes by assisting in processing incoming applications by conducting virtual home checks, as well as checking in with references, landlords and veterinarians!
FOSTER TEAM PROCESSOR - Remote: Our Foster Team Processors are critical to finding temporary homes for our rescue dogs (so that we can continue to rescue while our dogs are being taken care of!). You’ll help process foster applications by conducting phone interviews with references and landlords.
ADOPTION TEAM COORDINATOR - Remote: As an adoption coordinator, you’ll be assigned to a dog that is ready for adoption. Your main job will be to set up meet and greets through email and follow up until your assigned dog finds his/her forever home.
VETTING COORDINATOR - Remote: Vetting Coordinators help keep track of records, send records out to adopters, and email records to vets.
BIO WRITER - Remote: Once our dogs are ready for adoption, bio writers are in charge of writing their adoption bio to post on our website and social media.
SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM - Remote: Help plan, organize, and coordinate content for our Instagram and Facebook, as well as assist with creating posts and reels.

Apply to Volunteer

Volunteer FAQ

See our role descriptions at the top of this page for ways to help, both in San Diego and remotely. As a foster-based rescue, our dogs are split between foster homes across San Diego and our sanctuary in Rosarito, Mexico, where they are provided with their daily activities such as feeding, walking, grooming, cleaning, etc.
All volunteers must be 18 & older.
Hours can range, but it is ultimately up to your discretion and schedule.
Since we are a certified 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, we can provide a customized letter confirming volunteer work.
Most adoption events are in the surrounding San Diego area; however, there are occasions where we plan group trips to our sanctuary in Rosarito, Mexico.
Remote volunteer work can be done anywhere you have access to the internet, including out of state.
Our Events calendar is shared at the beginning of the month. Feel free to reach out about attending a specific day already in mind. Event Directors will follow up the week of each event to get an idea of volunteer coverage.
We may need help with the set-up/breakdown area, transportation of pups to and from events, handling pups if a foster can’t attend, cleaning up after pups of all ages, photography for our social media, and interacting with the public about our rescue and the foster/adoption process.
Supplies are provided by the foundation. Just grab your water bottle and wear your comfiest clothes and shoes.
As much as we love all pets, it’s preferred to leave them at home. We want to avoid any stressors and additionally, give our pups a chance at finding their fur-ever home.
Of course! Please submit an application and our adoptions team will be in contact.