Become a Volunteer ‘Rock Star’ with Helping Paws!

Want to make a paws-itive impact? Join Helping Paws and help give homeless animals a second chance! Whether it's walking dogs, cleaning cat cages, or assisting at events, we need volunteers like YOU to make a difference.

Who can volunteer?

• Anyone can volunteer, with just a couple of friendly guidelines!

Got a few hours to spare each week or month? Fill out the volunteer application and start making tails wag today!

Under 18 Volunteer Guidelines

At Helping Paws, we want all volunteers to be safe and have a great experience! Here’s what you need to know:

• 18+ to walk dogs.

• All minor volunteers need a parent/guardian to sign the waiver.

• Under 16? You’ll need a parent or guardian with you while volunteering.

For questions, contact the Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@helpingpaws.net. We can’t wait to have you on the team!

Court-appointed Community Service: Volunteers completing court-ordered hours can assist with cleaning, laundry, dishes, and more. Call 815-338-4400 to schedule.

Foster Care

If you love pets and are willing to foster an animal we NEED you!

Foster care allows pets to live in a home environment temporarily while awaiting permanent placement through the shelter. While Helping Paws does have a large shelter where the majority of the pets are housed, we do have circumstances that require animals to be in foster homes.

The animals we typically look to place in a foster home are pregnant dogs, young kittens that need socialization, or dogs and cats that are recovering from a medical issue or surgery. Being a foster parent is a fun and rewarding experience. The foster family’s knowledge of the pet allows Helping Paws to learn more about the pet’s personality and needs. This helps us to better place them in the right home. As a foster you would need to reside in the McHenry County, IL area. Our organization covers all expenses for the foster animal(s) including food, all veterinary care and even a crate if you need one. Once a foster is ready for adoption he/she will come back to Helping Paws for adoption.

We need caring, responsible adults to join our licensed foster home group by opening their homes and their hearts to dogs or cats in need. If you interested in fostering, please contact Helping Paws at info@helpingpaw.net