Volunteering

As Ireland's leading dog welfare charity, we have every breed of opportunity for you to get involved with, to match all manner of interests and skillsets.

Why Volunteer with Dogs Trust

At Dogs Trust, we believe that every dog deserves to live life to the full - and our volunteers help make that possible every single day. By giving your time, skills and compassion, you become an essential part of a community that’s committed to changing the lives of dogs in need.

Volunteering with us isn’t just about walking dogs or lending a paw - it’s about being part of something bigger. Whether it’s comforting the dogs in our care, supporting our rehoming work, assisting with events, presenting educational workshops to schools or helping behind the scenes, every action you take plays a vital role in our mission.

Our volunteers bring kindness, energy and love to our organisation - and in return, they gain unique experiences, new friendships, and the joy of making a real difference.

Together, we can create a better future for dogs.

I would like to say that as a new volunteer all the staff are amazing and treat me like one of their own and I love getting to know each and every dog and how rewarding it is.

Aileen, Volunteer

The reason I love volunteering is the anticipation of what my shift will bring & the overall gratifying feeling I have when I'm leaving that I helped the dogs in Dogs Trust today. It's one of the best decisions I've ever made in becoming a volunteer.

Lorraine, Volunteer

I've only been volunteering a short time but I'm hooked. The staff are wonderful and the dogs are so loved and well cared for.

Patricia, Volunteer

Volunteering at Dogs Trust has been a fun and rewarding experience. It's been great getting to know, work with, and see many of the dogs go to good homes. It's also been a pleasure getting to know the staff who work there - they genuinely care about the work they do and are friendly with the volunteers.

Yong-Jie, Volunteer

Types of volunteering roles

Maintenance & Gardening Volunteer

Reception & Shop Volunteer

Canine Carer Volunteer

Dog Training Volunteer

Event & Function Volunteer

Current Vacancies

Unfortunately, we are not currently recruiting for new volunteers.

Please keep an eye on this page for future openings.

Transition Year placements

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer volunteering positions to people under the age of 18 and we do not offer TY placements.

Corporate Volunteering video — From April to September 2026, we have allocated six full day volunteering opportunities for corporates and their employees to volunteer their time and offer their supports to Dogs Trust Ireland.
You will see first hand the vital work our operations team and canine careers do every single day to ensure the dogs and pups in our care are as happy and healthy as possible.

Corporate Partnerships

FAQ

What is the minimum age to volunteer?

You need to be 18 years old or over to volunteer with Dogs Trust.

Can I volunteer to walk dogs in your rehoming centre?

Unfortunately, we do not have a volunteer role solely for walking dogs however if you go to the 'Our Volunteering Opportunities' section, this will show you what volunteer roles are available and what each role entails

Do you have a Transition Year Programme?

No, we do not offer TY programmes at Dogs Trust Ireland

Can I volunteer just once or on a casual basis?

Most of our roles require ongoing commitment of a minimum of 4-hours per week, but we do have occasional one-off opportunities like events or corporate volunteer days.

Can I bring my own dog when I volunteer?

Unfortunately, we do not allow volunteers to bring personal pets during shifts for safety and welfare reasons.

Do I need previous experience working with dogs?

No experience is necessary for most roles. We provide full training and support. A love for dogs and a willingness to learn is what matters most. If a role does require previous experience, we will let you know in the role description

Will I get to work directly with the dogs?

Many roles involve hands-on interaction, but some are more focused on behind-the-scenes support. All roles contribute to the dogs' wellbeing.

Are volunteers supervised when working with the dogs?

Yes, especially in the beginning. Safety and welfare are our top priorities. You’ll always have support nearby.

Online training courses

Sponsor a dog