Make a difference
ARF is a group of volunteers in Canberra and the surrounding region who are dedicated to rescuing dogs from euthanasia and fostering them in their own homes for as long as it takes to find them permanent loving homes.
Not everyone can adopt or foster a dog, but there is still plenty you can do to help ARF find loving, permanent homes for our foster dogs. We rely on volunteers and donations to continue our life-saving work. Any help you can provide, financial or otherwise will be very gratefully received.
Here are just a few suggestions for making a difference:
Become a member
You can become a member of ARF.
Your interest and involvement goes directly to helping the dogs. You can choose your level of participation in ARF activities.
ARF Members’ Code of Conduct can be found here
Help to spread the word
ARF is on Facebook and Instagram. You can help by ‘liking” our Facebook page following us on Instagram and sharing our foster dog profiles with your friends. If you see a dog in our gallery that really takes your fancy, you can ‘like’ them too, which will post their profile to your Facebook page.
Word of mouth is a great way to help!
Events and fundraising
ARF hold regular fundraising events throughout the year which we always need help with. If you work or have family and friends you can help us by selling calendars and raffle tickets. Our market stalls are always popular. If you’d like to volunteer to help out for a few hours, bake doggy treats or perhaps sew goods for sale, please contact our fundraising coordinator
Make a donation
Next time you go grocery shopping throw an extra chew toy, packet of dog treats, polar fleece blanket or bag of dry dog food in your trolley, it all helps. Our costs for things such as flea treatments, good quality collars and leads and crates are large, so donations of these items are greatly appreciated. Unfortunately we are unable to accept donations of pillows or doonas due to the difficulty of washing them.
You can also help by making a one off donation or setting up a weekly, fortnightly, or quarterly donation.
What our Volunteers say?
Eleni Butler – Trainer
How did you start volunteering for ARF? I started volunteering with temperament testing at Domestic Animal Services. What is your role as a trainer for ARF like? What does it involve? As a trainer for ARF I am asked to help out in a variety of areas such as private
Nerida Winters – Foster carer
How did you start volunteering with ARF? I was introduced to ARF by my sister Raelene Stewart around 18 years ago. Goodness where have those years gone. She had started rescuing through the group and I thought we could also help to make a difference for the dogs. We had
Katie Radojkovic – Graphic Designer
How did you start volunteering for ARF? I started volunteering at ARF while I was working at HerCanberra as a Graphic Designer. Amanda Whitley, the founder of HerCanberra, attended one of ARF’s events and the conversation came up that ARF was in need of a Graphic Designer. Amanda knew I
Aine Dowling – Editor for ChinWag magazine
How did you start volunteering for ARF? I started volunteering with ARF around 2004-2005. A lady I worked with also started volunteering and fostering at the same time and we used to organise a Christmas dog giving tree in our workplace, where people could donate tinned or dry food for
Darren Porter – Adopted an ARF rescue!
How did you hear about ARF? The family was looking for a companion for our 20 month old Staffy X, using the old faithful Google ARF came up. Tell us the story about how you adopted Floki? I was searching through the dogs available on the ARF website and came
Joh Dunn – Foster carer who adopted her ARF dog
How did you start volunteering as a foster carer for ARF? I started fostering for ARF back in 2014. I had decided I wanted to foster as I didn't want another dog as I wasn't coping with the thought I'd have to make ‘the decision’ in regards to my dog
Kally Monaghan – Foster carer
How did you start volunteering for ARF? For us, fostering was a goal we had set for about two years before we actually started. We chose ARF as they seemed to have the most established process and we could read up on heaps of information on the website. We worked
Raelene Stewart – Foster carer
How did you start volunteering with ARF? Initially I was rescuing and rehome dogs from the Queanbeyan Pound privately. The Pound would let me know when there was a dog that they really wanted to find safety for. Shortly after ARF started in 2001, the Pound let me know about
Longest Serving Volunteers
Carol Anderson
Long serving stalls volunteer
Role(s): Carol managed ARF stalls between 2006 and 2019. Thousands of people discovered the work of ARF through the tireless work of Carol and the dedicated stalls team. Carol was also previously a foster carer, member of the Communications Sub-Committee, and supported ARF to coordinate the sale of the ARF calendars, raffles and Christmas cards.
Time with ARF: 15 years
Questions:
Lyn Boyer
Long Serving Foster Carer
Role(s): Currently a Member of the Rescue Sub-Committee, Queanbeyan and Yass pound Liaison, Member of Approvals Panel, Foster Carer Support Person, Foster Carer, Equipment and Donations Coordinator. Previously a Public Officer and Events & Fundraising Coordinator.
Time with ARF: 20 years
Questions: