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Join the Crew. Change Lives.

A big heart.
A little time.
A lifesaving difference.

Join the Crew

Choose How You’ll Make a Difference

Every person who joins the Crew helps save a life.

Select the path that’s right for you —
whether fostering, volunteering, or joining an event —
and we’ll guide you through the next step.

  • Foster a Pet

    Fostering saves lives. Provide temporary care and comfort to a dog or cat in need while they wait for their forever home. We cover supplies, veterinary care, and ongoing support — you give love, time, and hope.

  • Volunteer

    Be part of the Crew that keeps rescue running. From events and transports to admin and marketing roles—there’s a place for every passion and skill.

  • Attend an Event

    Meet our Crew, celebrate rescue, and see lives changing in real time. Attend one of our adoption or community events to learn more and connect with other animal lovers.

Why We Need You

Every animal we rescue, every adoption we celebrate, every second chance we give —

it all begins with people like you.

Whether it’s opening your home to a foster pet, volunteering behind the scenes, or helping at our events, there’s a spot for you in this lifesaving mission.

As a volunteer-operated, foster-based organization, The Rescue Crew relies entirely on individuals who step forward to help. Together, we provide safety, healing, and hope to the dogs and cats who need it most — especially those at greatest risk in shelters across Minnesota.

When you get involved, YOU become the difference between surviving and thriving for a homeless pet.

~Ways to Get Involved~

~Ways to Get Involved~

A person with short hair wearing a maroon shirt hugging a happy golden retriever outdoors with a blurred mountain landscape in the background.

Foster a Pet

Fostering opens your home — and your heart — to a dog or cat in need. You give love, care, and a safe space until they find their forever home. We provide supplies, vet support, and guidance.

Each foster home saves a life and makes room for the next pet in need.

Quick facts:

  • Adults (18+) within ~4-hour radius of Twin Cities are eligible. 

  • We provide orientation (~20 minutes), you provide space, care and transport to the vet as needed. 

  • Daily time varies based on the animal’s needs: from ~1 hour for healthy adult dog/cats up to 8+ hours for neonatal kittens.

Become a Foster
A woman with long curly hair holding a tabby cat with green eyes, close-up of the cat's face.

Volunteer Your Time

Our volunteers are the heart of The Rescue Crew — turning hope into homes, care into comfort, and time into lifesaving moments.

From processing adoption applications and transporting pets to capturing their best photos or helping at events, every hour you give makes a real difference.

Whether it’s an hour a month or a day a week, your time changes lives.

Sample Roles:

  • Adoption Crew: process applications, follow up with adopters. 

  • Marketing & Communications: manage social posts, take photos, write stories. 

  • Animal Care Crew: assist foster caregivers, coordinate vetting.

Become a Volunteer
A sign for an adoption event shows four pets: a black and white dog, a gray tabby cat, a golden retriever, and a gray striped cat. The sign has a logo for The Rescue Crew and the text "Adoption Event. Find Your New Best Friend!"

Learn More by Attending an Event

Join us in the community and see rescue in action! Whether you stop by an adoption event, meet our Crew at a fundraiser, or attend one of our community gatherings, you’ll see firsthand how lives are being changed.

Every event is a fun way to meet fellow animal lovers, learn more about what we do, and discover how you can get involved.

See Upcoming Events
A puppy with white fur and light brown spots, blue eyes, and floppy ears being held outdoors on a sunny day with a wooden fence and trees in the background.

What to Expect

When you join The Rescue Crew, you’re never on your own.

We’ll provide training, supplies, ongoing guidance, and a community of animal lovers who’ve got your back.

I’ve had the privilege of fostering through five different rescues, and I can confidently say that The Rescue Crew stands out like no other. It’s not just about providing the essentials like food, toys, treats, and beds — although they do that exceptionally well. What sets The Rescue Crew apart is their genuine care and support.
— Shayla, Foster Caregiver

Just because they ended up in a shelter doesn’t mean they’re damaged.

It means they’re ready.

Shelter Pets Are Not Broken, They’re Just Waiting for You.

Fostering gives them the bridge they need from shelter life to home life — and that’s where you come in.

Every day, dogs and cats find themselves in shelters through no fault of their own — a family move, an owner’s passing, a landlord’s “no pets” policy, or simply being overlooked. These animals aren’t flawed; they’re full of love, personality, and resilience.

Being a “shelter pet” doesn’t make them undesirable — it makes them available, love-ready, and waiting for a second chance to belong.

Meet Pets in Need of a Foster
Small black dog with pointed ears and a blue collar sitting on a cushion outdoors, next to a plush toy, with a light-colored pillow behind it and blurred greenery in the background.
A fluffy, long-haired kitten with a black, brown, and white fur pattern, sitting on a green textured blanket with a plain gray background.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Nope! We’ll teach you everything you need to know. Enthusiasm and a caring heart are what matter most.

  • It varies—sometimes a few weeks, sometimes a few months. We’ll match you with an animal that fits your lifestyle.

  • No problem! Many volunteer roles are flexible and can be done from home or on your own schedule.

  • Absolutely. You’ll have a team ready to answer questions, provide supplies, and cheer you on every step of the way.

Ready to Get Started?

Ready to Get Started?

Join the Crew

Thank You

Your time, heart, and compassion make everything we do possible.
Together, we can Save a Life Today. Because every life matters.

Two cats, one with light-colored fur and the other with orange tabby fur, cuddling and snuggling together on green grass outdoors.