One Tail at a Time is an all-volunteer dog rescue that depends on individual animal lovers to care for and help spread the word on our dogs in need. If you would like to do your part to save a life, contact elizabethOTAT@gmail.com to receive a Volunteer Information Form.

Next Volunteer Orientation
Sunday, March 18th 9:30am – 11am
Canine Crews – 1616 N. Washtenaw, Chicago
Email ElizabethOTAT@gmail.com to RSVP

[Just missed the training?  Email ElizabethOTAT@gmail.com for details on the next, or to personally get up-to-speed so you can volunteer right away!]

Join our mailing list to be kept up-to-date on volunteer opportunities!

Foster a Dog, Save a Life
One Tail at a Time does not have a shelter space, and so we depend on foster homes to care for our dogs.  Give a dog a second chance at life.  Become a Foster Parent.  Learn more by clicking here.

Animal Transport and Playtime
Have a free hour to take a sick foster dog to the vet?  We are greatly in need of volunteers that are able to transport to/from vet appointments, grooming, boarding, or events.  Volunteer transporters are reimbursed at $.25/mile for gas and play a huge part in helping to run our primarily volunteer-coordinated rescue smoothly.

Want to have some fun after work playing with a pup who’s waiting to find their home?  We occasionally need people to give individual attention to our dogs staying with our Humboldt Park and Rogers Park boarding partners.  Playtime is important in the transition of our dogs from the shelter to their forever homes. As our resources and ability to care for more animals grow, so does our ability to rescue more animals!

Adoption/Foster Counselors
Dog savvy volunteers can play an integral role in getting the wonderful, deserving pups of One Tail at a Time into the best home.  Match potential foster and adoptive homes with the best dog for their lifestyle, conduct introductions with dogs and potential families, act as a resource for foster homes and new families.

Dog Handling at Adoption Events
Spending as little as a few hours on a weekend afternoon can make a difference in finding a dog his or her new home.  Volunteers provide the invaluable service of handling and introducing dogs to interested families. You are also helping to inform the public of the movement to make Chicago a no-kill city and the importance of spaying/neutering in lowering pet overpopulation.  Events are held at least once monthly.  Click here to view our calendar of events.

Court Case Dog Program
One Tail at a Time has teamed up with Safe Humane Chicago’s Court Case Dog Program at Chicago Animal Care and Control to give our volunteers an opportunity to spend more time with dogs in need.  Click here to read more about this collaboration.

Events Committee
Want to help raise some much-needed funds for dogs in need, but don’t necessarily have money to give?  Then consider joining our Events Committee!  We’re looking for creative, detail-oriented volunteers to help put together exciting events like our Annual Family Reunion, winter Calendar Release Party, bar fundraisers, and more.  Committee members can choose their own level of involvement, whether it is helping to gather raffle prize donations, securing event spaces, getting new event sponsors, or throwing your own event with friends!

The Committee will meet once every couple of months, or as needed, to plan One Tail’s events for the year.   Email HeatherOTAT@gmail.com to learn more.

Marketing Team
The Marketing Team coordinates publicity and outreach for One Tail at a Time. Marketing Team members help create effective marketing campaigns and materials to bring attention to dogs available for adoption, and the foster and volunteer programs.  Team members work with the public at outreach events, assist with press releases and contacting the media, create and pass out flyers on hard-to-place adoptable dogs, keep One Tail’s social media updated, and assist with various other projects such as accompanying and transporting dogs to adoption events.

The Marketing Team is currently transitioning to a new coordinator.  If you’re interested in learning more, please contact ElizabethOTAT@gmail.com to receive a volunteer info form and sign up for the next volunteer orientation.

Beyond these options, different types of events require a myriad of various volunteer activities. These activities seem simple, but in reality a large part of what makes a rescue function is having people in these positions that care about animals, are willing to give some of their time, and who know that together we can make a tremendous difference in the lives of countless animals.