Help dogs by volunteering - a great way to get active!

Don't want to take on a dog long term?

Can't have a dog at all?

Here are some ways you can enjoy having a waggy tail and happy smile by your side

Help care for a dog whose owner is elderly or terminally ill, or offer to walk a dog for a friend who is sick, or going through a tricky patch (such as a divorce) or an elderly neighbour who is beginning to find it hard to walk their dog daily. Your help can make the difference between the pet owner keeping the dog and giving him up. The Cinnamon Trust needs reliable volunteers who fully understand the magic of the animal-human bond to help with dog walking for owners who are elderly or terminally ill.	Helping to Train an Assistance Dog. Canine Partners for example look for bed and breakfast situations for their dogs, where the animals in training are based in their Sussex-based headquarters during the working week day and you pick them up at 5 every day to take them home, dropping them off at in the mornings. They are also on the look out for puppy parents who are willing to train pups to become assistance dogs.
Even if you cannot take a dog permanently, perhaps you could offer to FOSTER a dog i.e. offer temporary accommodation for a dog who is looking for a home but not doing well in kennels in a rescue centre. An example is the Pet Foster Support Service in Scotland at http://www.pfss.org.uk/	Help out at your local animal rescue centre. There are hundreds small and large centres around the country and they all need help. Even if they do not need hands-on-fur help, many will welcome your efforts to raise money for them through sponsored walks, runs, swims, slims and helping with all sorts of activities to help keep them going. See below for examples.
Dog Walking - a new business, perhaps? Walk dogs while their owners are at work - great exercise for you and a potential new opportunity. Why not combine it with a franchise to sell pet food by delivery?	Dog Grooming - a new career or business of your own? Once again, franchises abound and you could find yourself with a mobile opportunity, or setting up in a salon. All hands to the pump and fur!
Pet sitting. Many people prefer their animals to stay at home while they are sunning themselves on holiday, hence the growth of pet sitting services. Some companies (such as Homesitters) are always on the look out for reliable, trustworthy people to sit.	Caring for dogs who have retired from their careers Many dogs give their lives in service to others, whether they are assisting someone with a disability, doing search and rescue or playing their role in the security services. Could you give these well trained and professional animals a well deserved retirement?

You could see if these charities need your help; some have branches or shops all over the country, while others are one-offs. Dog Rescue Pages below will take you through to many small charities.

The Dogs Trust http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/	The Blue Cross http://www.bluecross.org.uk/
Greyhound Rescue Centres	The Dog Rescue Pages http://www.dogpages.org.uk/
The Oldies http://www.oldies.org.uk/	Specialist Charities caring for a breed eg. Border Terrier Welfare
Birmingham Dogs Home http://www.birminghamdogshome.org.uk/	Battersea Dogs and Cats Home http://www.dogshome.org/
The RSPCA http://www.rspca.org.uk	Spread the word. Friends and family throughout the world may be able to help. Volunteering could be just the thing they are looking for!

Local rescue charities - do a search here for yours

Volunteering for Dogs