Volunteer

Thanks so much for your interest in volunteering with Bonaparte’s Retreat. Even though we are a small foster-based nonprofit rescue group, we have volunteer opportunities that help us and our shelter dogs to thrive. If you can volunteer one hour a week or one day a month, please let us know. We ask that you first complete and submit ourvolunteer applicationand we will contact you after receiving your application.

Volunteer Opportunities
  • We have four (4) daily “shifts” at which we use volunteers: Breakfast, Midday, Supper, and Bedtime. Volunteer dog walkers, socializers, and basic obedience trainers are most needed for our mid-day shifts, 7 days of the week, which usually last from 2 to 2-1/2 hours and occur between 10am and 1pm. It’s helpful if mid-day volunteers can take a dog to local parks or other locations, off site, to walk or hike with the dogs in a variety of environments.  
  • Be an event “assistant” at special events and at meet and greet adoption events throughout the year. Event assistants help with set up and breakdown and learn about our dogs and programs and answer questions from visitors.
  • Be a dog “transporter” or “handler” for our events. Transporters pick up and return a dog for us. Handlers are the leash holders of the dogs during events or meet and greets, walk the dog, and introduce the dog to visitors.
  • Be a shelter helper by cleaning facilities and spreading mulch and pine straw in dog play areas.
  • Are you a super photographer who wants to volunteer your time? We can always use your expertise to take photos of our adoptable dogs for posting on our website and social media.
  • Host a sleepover, a bow-wow breakout, or very-short-term fostering. Give our dogs opportunities to spend time with new people, in new environments, to have a sleepover in a real home, and to benefit from the best kind of socialization there is: quality home time (or trip time, or camping time), no matter how temporary, with pup-lovers who can shower them with love and individualized attention.
    • Planning a one-night or weekend “stay-cation,” time to chill at home? An adoptable pup who doesn’t usually get the chance to be in a real home could make your stay-cation unlike any other.
    • Taking a short weekend trip? Ever thought of taking along a furry friend, one who spends most days and nights in a shelter environment? Take one of our adoptable dogs along for the trip!
    • Going camping? Maybe one of our adoptable dogs would be just the ticket for the best camping trip you ever imagined! A camping, hiking, and sleeping partner all in one.
OTHER WAYS to HELP 
Purchase from our AMAZON WISH LIST and items are shipped directly to us.
Or DONATE any of the much-needed items below.
GIFT CARDS to Home Depot, Lowes, Nashville Pet Supply, PetSmart, Staples
Durable dog toys, squeaky balls for fetch, interactive dog toys
Bully sticks
Kuranda dog beds
New or gently used towels and blankets
Flea/tick treatments 
Paper towels, Liquid dish soap
Garbage bags, Hand sanitizer, Ziploc bags
Bales of straw and bags of mulch
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