Your Time Changes Lives
Whether you open your home, lend your hands, or bring your expertise, there's a place for you in this mission.
Open Your Home, Save a Life
Fostering is the bridge between the street and a forever home. When a dog needs a home, we connect them with our network of trusted rescue partners who find fosters, manage the adoption process, and support new families every step of the way. You apply through them — we make the introduction.
Our rescue partners: Fur Angel Foundation, K9 Kōkua, Kat Charities, Paws of Hawaiʻi, Poi Dogs and Popoki, OSPCA, and Hawaiian Humane Society.
How it works:
- Our rescue partner handles the application process — whether you have a specific dog in mind or want help finding the right fit
- All supplies, food, and veterinary care are provided
- You'll have ongoing support to help your foster dog thrive
- When the time comes, our partner helps find the right forever home
Show Up for the Animals
Our outreach runs on volunteer power. Whether you can give one Saturday a month or want to take on a regular role, there's meaningful work waiting for you.
Volunteer roles include:
- Monthly outreach team: food distribution and wellness checks
- Transport: driving animals to and from vet appointments
- Event support: fundraisers, adoption events, community clinics
- Administrative: social media, data entry, donor outreach
Visiting the Island? Lend Your Skills.
If you're a veterinarian or vet tech visiting Hawaiʻi, we'd love to connect. Our community clinics always need skilled hands for spay/neuter surgeries, wellness exams, and emergency care. Even a single day of your time can change dozens of lives.
Partner With Us
Local businesses, veterinary clinics, and organizations can make a direct, visible impact by partnering with AAO. Whether you sponsor a spay/neuter clinic, donate supplies for a monthly outreach, or add your voice to our advocacy work, your support goes straight to the field.
Every partnership is recognized on our website, social media, and at events. Every dollar is tax-deductible. And every contribution goes directly to the animals and the people who love them.
Can't Volunteer? You Can Still Help.
A monthly gift of $30 feeds a dog for a month. Your $100 funds a spay or neuter surgery. Every dollar makes a difference.
Donate NowFrequently Asked Questions
Where does AAO's funding go?
Every dollar goes directly to the animals. AAO is 100% volunteer-run with no paid staff, which means your donation funds food, vaccines, flea prevention, spay/neuter surgeries, and emergency vet care — nothing else.
Do I need experience to foster or volunteer?
Not at all. We provide full training and ongoing mentorship for every foster and volunteer. All you need is compassion and a willingness to show up.
What if I already have pets at home?
Many of our fosters have resident pets. We carefully match foster dogs with homes where they'll thrive, and we always do a temperament assessment first.
How much time does volunteering take?
Totally up to you. Our outreach events are typically 3 to 4 hours on a weekend morning. Transport and admin tasks can be as flexible as your schedule allows.
Can I volunteer if I don't live on Oʻahu?
Yes! Remote volunteers help with social media, fundraising, grant writing, and donor communications. We also welcome visiting volunteers who are on island temporarily.
Is there a minimum commitment for fostering?
Most foster placements last 2 to 8 weeks, but we're flexible. We also offer short-term "sleepover" fosters for dogs who just need a break from the shelter environment.