Thank you, Lisa, for your "encouraging" response lol. I can't imagine how you can do your work with so many animals to care for.
Our work is mainly remote, as we are from the Northeast and rescue dogs from the South. No meeting with the animals unless they are fostered in our area. So I thought we were not very attractive.
We're also posting that we need help. We offer a big selection to choose from, so they'll be excited about what they do.
They usually last about 10 days, if we're lucky.
I guess volunteering is not attractive anymore.
------------------------------
Tammy F
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 05-14-2026 04:28 AM
From: Lisa Burns
Subject: How to find "good" volunteers to help the rescue
Hi Tammy,
I wish I had some words of wisdom for you but we have the same issue regarding volunteers. Many of the local rescues and sanctuaries in our area are also finding it difficult to find and keep volunteers. We are a farm and exotic animal sanctuary with almost 200 animals at the sanctuary. We are volunteer run but there are only a handful of volunteers that come out weekly,so most of the day to day work falls on my husband and myself. The few volunteers that come every week are wonderful but most are retirees who travel or are "snowbirds" and are gone during the summer, which means many weeks we can go several days in a row with no help. We currently have free listings in a local newspaper and a local pet magazine advertising our need for volunteers. We've reached out to local high schools and create social media posts asking for volunteers and sharing our volunteers, showing how rewarding the work is. Many people will appy to volunteer, go through training and we never hear from them again because they just wanted to come out and see the animals. One of our volunteers came up with an idea to "bring a buddy" when she volunteers. She invites a friend to come volunteer with her. Out of the nearly dozen friends she's had come out, three have become regular volunteers. I would love to hear what others are doing to recruit good volunteers.
------------------------------
Lisa Burn
Co-founder/VP
Farmhouse Animal & Nature Sanctuary
Myakka City, FL
https://farmhousesanctuary.org
Original Message:
Sent: 05-13-2026 06:19 PM
From: Tammy Fabian
Subject: How to find "good" volunteers to help the rescue
We are a small rescue, and most of the work is done by just a few people. We are burned out, and some are talking about leaving and even closing the rescue.
If that happens, it will be a terrible loss to the animals we help in the South.
We tried adding volunteers, but so far, not one of them has been helpful.
Where should we post, search, or look for help?
How can we find people willing to lend a hand and feel part of the mission?
------------------------------
Tammy F.
------------------------------