How to Volunteer
Make a Difference — Become an ADL Volunteer
Your time is one of the most powerful gifts you can give. By joining our incredible team of ADL volunteers, you’re helping us expand our reach, save more lives, and create brighter futures for the animals in our care.
Volunteering at ADL is more than just lending a hand — it’s about building lasting connections with fellow volunteers, our community, and of course, the pets whose lives you help change. With your passion and commitment, we can continue finding loving forever homes for the amazing animals who need us most.
Please Note: Our General Volunteer Program does not fulfill Court-Ordered Community Service requirements. Additionally, we are unable to offer volunteer opportunities to individuals with felony convictions. For court-mandated service options, please visit our Court-Ordered Community Service page.
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How to Become an ADL Volunteer
Step 1: Explore Volunteer Opportunities
We offer a variety of ways for you to get involved! Take a look at our Volunteer Opportunities to learn about the different departments and activities where you can make an impact.
Step 2: Sign Up for Orientation
Ready to get started? Register for a new volunteer orientation session! After signing up, you’ll receive a confirmation email with instructions to create your personal volunteer profile.
Junior Volunteers (Ages 12-15) must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is also a registered ADL volunteer. Both junior and adult volunteers must create their own profiles.
Orientations are offered at both of our ADL locations, with virtual options available upon request. Once completed, your volunteer profile will be activated, allowing you to track your hours and check in/out when volunteering at any of our three ADL campuses.
Step 3: Attend Orientation
During orientation, you’ll learn everything you need to know to get started — including a behind-the-scenes shelter tour, a chance to ask questions, and your official ADL volunteer T-shirt!
Before attending, please review our Volunteer Handbook and sign our Volunteer Waiver.
Nacogdoches Campus Orientation
Virtual Volunteer Orientations will become available throughout the winter months when weather does not permit on-site orientations. Virtual orientations will be posted as they become available.
Age Requirements
Ages 3-11: Pet Champions
This is a great opportunity for younger pet advocates to learn about our life-saving mission, discover what responsible pet ownership entails, and spend time with our dogs and cats while volunteering with their parent/s on campus.
Ages 12-15: Junior Volunteers
Must be accompanied by a parent/guardian volunteer while on campus.
Ages 16-18: General Volunteers
May volunteer independently with a signed waiver from a parent/guardian. If attending orientation without a parent/guardian, please download the waiver and get it signed in advance.
After completing 12 volunteer hours and additional training, volunteers aged 16-18 may participate in additional volunteer activities like dog walking and ADL Hospital assistance.
Ages 18+: General Volunteers
After completing additional training, volunteers aged 18 or older may assist in the ADL Hospital isolation and surgical areas.
Information for volunteers with physical and intellectual disabilities: ADL is happy to provide volunteer opportunities to any individual who is capable of performing tasks independently or with the assistance of a caretaker, parent, or guardian. Please note a caretaker, parent, or guardian must also be a registered volunteer who has attended an orientation class. Our top priority is to ensure the safety of all staff and volunteers working with the pets at our facility.
Service Groups
Attention clubs, students, youth groups, and businesses - are you interested in volunteering at the Animal Defense League?
Foster Volunteers
Help provide critical care for a shelter pet or just a needed break from shelter life. Often, fosters are needed for pets who are too young for adoption, or need time to recover from a health issue. Fostering will provide 5 volunteer hours per day.
Other Ways to Help
Immediately impact the lives of the thousands of abandoned, abused, or neglected dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens by providing needed medical care, food, shelter, safety, and materials.
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