Get Started!

      1. The first step in becoming an OTAT volunteer is to complete our self-paced Volunteer Orientation course! Follow the steps detailed in the course to complete your onboarding and join our awesome community of lifesavers!
      2. After your orientation above, you will create a Volgistics account so that you can access our volunteer portal!
      3. Next, you will receive an email to complete your online Maddie’s Fund Dog and Cat Trainings. This is a requirement for all volunteers.
      4. Sign up for a shift! If you have any questions during this process, email us at [email protected]!

Things To Know

  • We ask that you complete your first volunteer shift within 3 weeks of becoming a volunteer
  • We ask that you be available to volunteer at least once every month.
  • All volunteers must be 18 years of age or older, be able to lift 30 lbs (approx. bag of dog food!), and attend an orientation.
  • Looking for community service hours? We can help! Simply get started with steps 1-4 listed above.
  • Accessibility note: Our facilities are not currently accessible to all, but we would be happy to work with you to find a place you can volunteer safely and comfortably. Contact our Volunteer Manager if you would like opportunities with animals.

Volunteers can help by

  • Volunteering at our Bucktown Adoption Center, Everyday Adoption Center in the South Loop, or our ISO House in Logan Square (feeding pets, walking dogs, cleaning kennels, laundry/dishes, socializing with pets, introducing pets to potential adopters)
  • Foster animal transportation
  • Pet Mutual Aid support at community events
  • Donor appreciation such as writing “thank you” notes
  • Dog handling at adoption events
  • Assisting with high-quality photography, videography, graphic design, etc.
  • Dog walks or field trips with dogs at our facilities and in foster care
  • Help with intake when dogs come from transports

Looking to volunteer as a group?

We have very limited number of group volunteer opportunities during the year, and reserve those for businesses and companies that sponsor our rescue work! Head here for those opportunities and more ways to get involved.

Looking for opportunities for kids and teens?

To see how youth can best support OTAT pets, visit this page!

One Tail at a Time Committed Club

Congratulations to our Committed Club volunteers who each dedicated more than 100 hours to our animals in 2025! We couldn’t do this work without you 🩵

Caitlin O’Keeffe, Candice Burgess, Carla Schwender, Courtney Blackwell, Dana Mueller, Dennis Martin, Elisa Harris, Ella Pestine, Erik Pearson, Jane Higgins, Jenna Reardanz, Jon Davis, Karen Pirog, Keenan Foley, Laura Whiteis, Lisa Tuszl, Liz Bomgaars Czarnecki, Maria Cantú, Mary Bookman, Melanie Compton, Misako Yancy, Nancy Liljedahl, Nicole Feldman, Nicole Underhill, Rebecca Zeni, Susan Schendel, Terrie Wendricks

 

And to our Program Support volunteers, who spend countless hours keeping our programs running behind the scenes!

Andrea Wendlandt, Anne Lombaer, Antoinette Huber, Bianca Johnson, Brigid O’Keefe , Caitlin O’Keefe, Candice Burgess, Cathy Lesmeister, Courtney Blackwell, Elisa Harris, Elise McKenna, Elizabeth Hernandez, Erica Torelli, Erica Torelli , Gabriela Gomes da Rocha, Haleigh Ehmsen, Jane Higgins , Jenna Reardanz , Jenny Puzio, Jess Straka, Jessica Jones , Jessie Reeves , Kara Ratcliffe, Karen Pirog, Katie Vasquez, Koren Power, Laura Whiteis, Liz Youngblood , Madeline Galassi , Maggie Reagan, Melanie Compton, Nidia Acosta, Rachel Barnes, Shoshi Shapiro, Shrinidhi Rajesh, Stacey Verne, Stephanie Kaufman Wolken, Sue Saxinger, Taylor Corneiller, Tina Deeke , Yin Lu