VOLUNTEER

Volunteer With A Dog’s New Life

Your time can make a difference for dogs in need. Whether you can help at the shelter, volunteer at community events, or accompany an adopted dog on a flight, there are several ways to get involved.

Explore the opportunities below, then complete our volunteer application. Tell us what interests you and when you’re available—we’ll be in touch to discuss the next steps. Please add volunteeradnl@gmail.com to your contacts otherwise our response may go to spam.

📢GETTING TO THE SHELTER‼️The shelter is outside public transportation limits, so alternative transportation is required. To protect the animals, our address is not publicly disclosed—this helps prevent dogs from being abandoned after hours. When possible, we help coordinate volunteer drivers.

Volunteer Application

Ways to Volunteer:

Morning Shelter Cleaning
Fundraising Outreach events
Airport Pet Area upkeep (refill bags, clean bowl) Must be able to get yourself to/from airport
Shelter Assistance (maintenance, laundry)
Flight Angel for dog needing to travel - Go here to learn more- https://www.adogsnewlife.org/flightangels

Morning Shelter Cleaning

We need volunteers to help clean at the shelter and keep the dogs’ living spaces clean and comfortable. Your help supports the daily care of the dogs and makes a meaningful difference to our shelter team.

Time commitment: Approximately two hours in the morning. Please include your available days in your volunteer application.

fundraising outreach events

Can you commit to two or more days a month?

Join our volunteers at local markets and resorts during our November–April busy season.

You’ll help sell merchandise, share our mission, explain adoption and flight angel opportunities, and show how donations support the dogs. Some events also feature adoptable dogs.

📍 NUEVO VALLARTA
• Mondays: Marival Emotions Resort | 8:15 am–12:15 pm — Adoption event with dogs
• Tuesdays: Riviera Joya Market | 8 am–2 pm — Merchandise sales & outreach
• Wednesdays: Marival Distinct Resort | 8:15 am–12:15 pm — Adoption event with dogs

📍 BUCERÍAS
• Thursdays & Saturdays: Kensho | 8 am–1 pm — Merchandise sales & outreach

📍 LA CRUZ
• Sundays: La Cruz Market | 8 am–2 pm — Merchandise sales & outreach

AIRport Pet Area

We go weekly to make sure that the pet area is clean and looks good for the visitors with pups. If you have transportation or are good with using the bus, this is something that takes 10 minutes and is a huge help.

Become a Flight Angel

Help an adopted dog reach a new beginning

Flying from Puerto Vallarta? You may be able to accompany a dog traveling to an adopter.

Visit our Flight Angels page to learn how it works and submit your booked flight details. Learn About Flight Angels

Dog Walking - Existing Approved Volunteers only

For everyone’s safety, we are not accepting new dog walkers at this time. Only volunteers who have already walked dogs with our team at least three times may continue.

Many of our dogs are strong, reactive, or recovering from trauma. The walking route is uneven, rocky, and physically demanding. Existing walkers must be physically able to manage the dogs and familiar with both their behavior and the terrain.

Supportive, secure shoes are required. Sandals and flip-flops are not permitted.

For everyone’s safety, we are not accepting new dog walkers at this time. Only volunteers who have already walked dogs with our team at least five times may continue.

Many of our dogs are strong, reactive, or recovering from trauma. The walking route is uneven, rocky, and physically demanding. Existing walkers must be physically able to manage the dogs and familiar with both their behavior and the terrain.

Supportive, secure shoes are required. Sandals and flip-flops are not permitted.

Ready to Help?

Complete the application and be a part of our mission to help dogs in need. Our coordinator will contact you and set up a rewarding experience. Please be patient, our coordinator is also a volunteer and will contact you as soon as possible.

Apply here to volunteer