Join VIDA as a dog rescue volunteer in Los Angeles and make a difference in the lives of rescue dogs and the families who love them. Our volunteer opportunities include hands-on dog care, helping at adoption events, providing transport, and offering support to families in crisis. Every hour you give helps a dog find safety, comfort, and a new beginning.
1. Join VIDA’s Volunteer Community
“VIDA is a solely volunteer-based collective brought into being by small of group of Los Angeles and Southern California residents from both the human rights and nonhuman animal advocacy communities. In a region that cares deeply about both the vibrancy of our immigrant communities and the welfare of our companion animals, the devastating effects of the recent immigration raids have left many of us feeling powerless to help in any capacity.
VIDA is a volunteer community doing their small part to lessen the trauma of deportations by supporting the final family members left behind- family pets. In short, VIDA is a passionate and driven collective of volunteers from all walks of life bringing a multitude of talents to the issue of rescuing the pets of the deported.”
2. Why Volunteer With VIDA?
Make an Impact in Los Angeles Helping Animals and Immigrant Families
“Quite simply- whatever your talent, VIDA needs you! VIDA sits at the unique intersection of human rights and companion animal welfare, and we believe that everyone who cares about making the world a better place has a unique gift that they can bring to their local community. Whoever you are, whether you have decades of volunteering experience behind you or have never volunteered before (and maybe even find the idea a little out of your comfort zone!), we know you have a special voice that you can use to help us spread awareness and hope for the animals who have lost their families to deportation. We need your ideas, your particular insights, and most of all, your compassion.”
3. Volunteer Roles Currently Available
Fostering, veterinary, legal aid, logistics.
“VIDA is currently entirely run by volunteers. Simply put, if you can imagine an organization needing it- we probably do!
Fostering Dogs: Our most urgent need is for foster homes for displaced dogs in the Los Angeles and Southern California area. Without a temporary place for these animals to find safety, the rest of VIDA’s mission cannot continue.
Veterinary For Dogs: VIDA is building a grassroots network of volunteer veterinarians and animal health workers who can contribute vaccines, spay and neuter, routine exams, and specialized care for animals in our foster network. There are also requests for travel certificates and the vaccines that complete them from families who feel that they must self deport and want to bring their pets with them.
Legal Aid: VIDA is need of legal professionals with experience in immigration law, animals rights law, property law, legal waivers, and fostering and adoption contracts.
Social Media and Filmmaking: Are you a Tik Tok superstar? A YouTube ninja? VIDA will soon be in need of new volunteers to assist in assuming duties from our current stellar team. If you have a passion for storytelling and some filmmaking prowess, we will need your help in collecting stories from the field and helping us create awareness campaigns and PSAs.
Animal Training and Behavioral Therapy: VIDA is searching for compassionate animal trainers to work with our foster homes and pets to help them adjust to their new lives and to help prepare them for their new forever homes.
Fundraisers and Fundraising: VIDA is searching for volunteer grant writers to help us discover grant opportunities and potential donors. We are also looking for volunteers who would like to plan fundraisers of any size, from silent auctions to lemonade stands, to raise much-appreciated funds to help us continue to support animals and families in need.
Wild Card: Don’t see your special skill listed here? Reach out! We want to meet you and hear your ideas. We know everyone who cares about immigrants and their animals has something to share.”
4. How to Become a VIDA Volunteer
Application steps and onboarding process.
“To become a VIDA volunteer, reach out to us at: info@vidaallianceinitiative.org”
5. Training and Orientation for Volunteers
Programs, safety, mentoring.
“VIDA will contact you by phone and/or by email to discuss your specific gifts, areas of expertise, and levels of comfort. After our introduction, we will place you in the area(s) and with the teams that best suit your abilities.”
6. Volunteer Requirements and Expectations
Hours, background check, communication.
“Hours: Time requirements will vary according to the type of volunteering offered. For our foster homes, the necessary length of stay will vary for each dog. Some fosters may only be necessary for an overnight or for a few days, while others may be needed for indefinite periods while the legal status of both the pet and the deported owner are determined. Our first goal is always reunification with the pets family of origin when possible. If this is determined to be unavailable, the process of finding a new forever home for these pets will begin. VIDA is operating in an unprecedented space with no exact template.
Background Check: An evaluation of each foster home will be a collaborative process between VIDA and each potential foster, with the foster families’ previous fostering experience, living space, foster pet temperament, work hours, family members, other pets in the home, pet history, breed familiarity, and length of commitment time to be factored into finding the right match for both the family and the foster pet. For our other volunteers, we may inquire as to past experience.
Communication: While VIDA operates in a space that is certainly aware of controversy surrounding the issues of immigration and deportation, we remain committed to advocacy for both animals and their owners of origin. We ask that VIDA volunteers, while in their position as representatives of VIDA, refrain from any inflammatory or incendiary political remarks of any nature that could compromise outcomes for the communities we serve. We ask that while volunteering with VIDA, our volunteers remember our primary goal of pet reunification. We would be devastated if any remarks or behaviors by representatives of VIDA were to prevent that outcome for any family.”
7. Community Outreach Opportunities
Street teams, donation drives, public events.
“VIDA has a vision for community outreach. Our goal is to begin visiting potentially affected neighborhoods immediately, and familiarizing the families we serve with our mission in advance of any possible deportation events. To do this, we plan to build alliances with local churches, schools, neighborhood centers, grocery stores, district representatives, advocacy groups, and more. If you are involved with any of these groups, VIDA would like to collaborate with you on community-building events. Can we throw a pizza party in your church basement and spend some time learning about the particular challenges facing immigrants and their pets in your community? Perhaps we could come to your local high school and talk about getting your kids involved in community advocacy? Our volunteers have years of experience in community engagement and come from all walks of life. Reach out to us at info@vidaallianceinitiative.org and share your ideas. VIDA is entirely community driven and we can’t do it without you.”
8. Professional Volunteer Tracks
Legal, veterinary, social services, communications.
“VIDA has need of professional volunteers in the following areas:
Legal: VIDA is in need of donated legal services in the following areas: immigration law, animal rights, contract law, safety agreements, liability, and personal property. If you have any professional experience or education in these specialties, please contact us.
Veterinary: VIDA is building a grassroots network of volunteer veterinarians and animal health workers who can contribute vaccines, spay and neuter, routine exams, travel certificates, and specialized care for animals in our foster network.
Social Services: VIDA is building a grassroots network of advocacy professionals to connect pets of families in need with the appropriate resources. If you are a foster parent, a social worker, a school teacher, a hospital or clinic worker, a member of local clergy, or their wise involved in the communities and amongst the families of pets currently being affected by deportations, please contact us.
Communications: VIDA is searching for professionals and students in the communications field to assist with messaging, social media, media appearances and outreach, language translations, video production, and blogging. Please reach out to us at info@vidaallianceinitiative.org to get involved.”
9. Student and Youth Volunteering Programs
Service learning, internships, credit hours.
10. Corporate and Group Volunteering
Team days, CSR partnerships, sponsorship options.
“Team Days: Would your office like to promote team building by participating in a community outreach event? VIDA will help you coordinate an opportunity either in the field or in-office.
CSR Partnerships: VIDA welcomes any company or institution wishing to volunteer in their CSR networks, or wishing to collaborate with VIDA to meet CSR minimum requirements.
Sponsorship Options: Pending awarding of our 501(c)3 status, VIDA welcomes sponsorships from schools, businesses, families, and individuals.”
11. Volunteer Impact Stories From the VIDA Network
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12. How VIDA Supports Its Volunteers
Emotional support, training, recognition.
“VIDA appreciates all of our volunteer efforts, both big and small. We know everyone in our community brings what they can, and we would love to recognize you on our social media pages and at our volunteer appreciation events. Would you like to host a volunteer appreciation event at your home or business? Reach out to us at info@vidaallianceinitiative.org.”
13. Upcoming Volunteer Events in Los Angeles
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14. FAQs About Volunteering With VIDA
Age limits, time commitment, virtual options.
“Q: Is there a minimum age requirement to volunteer with VIDA?
A: VIDA knows that advocacy knows no age limit. While we cannot provide personal supervision over volunteers, younger volunteers are the backbone of many supply drives for food, toys, bedding, and collars. Your lemonade stand can help displaced pets in need!
Q: Is there a minimum time commitment to volunteer with VIDA?
A: No, there is no minimum time commitment. While the longer time commitments are the most helpful, even an hour of community outreach or phone calls to help build up our resource networks can yield huge results.
Q: Can I volunteer virtually?
A: Absolutely yes! If you are out of area, have virtual expertise, or are just shy, VIDA can use you for social media, communications, volunteer outreach, and technical assistance. Reach out to us at info@vidaallianceinitiative.”
15. Become a VIDA Volunteer Today
“We are excited to meet you. Contact us at info@vidaallianceinitiative.org to get started.”
Discover rewarding dog rescue volunteer opportunities with VIDA in Los Angeles. Join our compassionate volunteer community to foster pets, support immigrant families, and make a real impact on animal welfare across Southern California.