It’s easy to become a volunteer and takes only a few minutes to sign up. You can volunteer at our beautiful sanctuary in Kanab, Utah; in your community, or right from your own home.
To get started see Creating an Account. Then, visit My Volunteer Menu found in the blue bar (this will only be available after you log in) and select Edit My Profile. Once you have updated and saved your volunteer profile, you can return to My Volunteer Menu and begin searching for volunteer opportunities.
If you are interested in volunteering locally in one of our outreach volunteer opportunities or with one of Best Friends' Network Charities, you can find additional information by clicking on the options listed on the left side of this page.
If you’re planning to volunteer at the sanctuary, hop over to Scheduling Volunteer Time after you’ve completed your profile. Planning your visit as far in advance as possible makes it easier for us to schedule you according to your preferences. You can also contact our Volunteer department at the sanctuary at volunteers@bestfriends.org or at (435) 644-2001, ext. 4119.
Visit Working with Animals to learn the many different ways you can help animals as a Sanctuary Volunteer. When you arrive at Best Friends, you’ll be greeted by wagging tails, purrs and friendly faces!
Working with Animals
We invite you to participate in the regular routine of animal care -- feeding, cleaning, grooming, walking, etc. Spending time socializing with the animals is also important, as it gets our animals used to people and makes them more adoptable. For the safety of both people and animals, children 5 years and under may not volunteer with our animals. In addition, some of our animal areas have age restrictions for those between 6-17 years old and each animal area has a maximum number of volunteers it can accommodate daily, so please contact us to make arrangements prior to your visit. For more information about volunteering in the many different animal areas, please read the General Guidelines
Volunteer work with the animals is available at the following times:
Cats: Mornings from 8:15am to 11:30am. Afternoons from 1:15pm to 4:00pm
Dogs: Mornings from 8:15am to 11:30am. Afternoons from 1:15pm to 4:00pm
Bunnies: Mornings from 8:15am to 11:30am. Afternoons from 1:15pm to 4:00pm
Horses: Mornings from 8:15am to 11:30am. Afternoons from 1:15pm to 4:00pm
PLEASE NOTE: For the safety of our horses/farm animals, if you have been outside the U.S. in the past 14 days, you will not be permitted to volunteer at Horse Haven.
**In inclement weather, particularly during the winter months, volunteer opportunities may be limited in our Horse Haven area
Pot-bellied Pigs: Mornings from 8:15am to 11:30am. Afternoons from 1:15pm to 4:00pm
PLEASE NOTE: For the safety of our pigs, if you have been outside the U.S. in the past 14 days, you will not be permitted to volunteer with the pigs.
Birds: Mornings from 8:15am to 11:30am. Afternoons from 1:15pm to 4:00pm
The Parrot Garden (inside birds)
Wild Friends (outside birds) -- Adults only
Because our animal area volunteer coordinators and caregivers need time to get volunteers set up, it is important that you arrive on time at the beginning of each session (mornings 8:15am and afternoons 1:15pm). This allows us to begin caring for all of our animals in a timely manner. Please also be aware that if you arrive after the beginning of a session you may not be able to volunteer in that particular animal area.
As well as working directly with the animals, other volunteer skills are welcome. If you are adept in particular areas such as maintenance, or landscaping, for example, and if you can let us know a few weeks before your visit, we may be able to arrange for you to be involved in a specific project.
