Published on: 2026-08-21
Source: Moscow Government – Правительства Москвы –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Resource Center “Mosvolonter” On August 22 and 23, six trips to animal shelters are being organized. 160 volunteers are invited to participate. The participants will walk the dogs, interact with the pets, and help them get used to humans. For the animals waiting to meet their future owners, such interaction is an important stage of socialization. On any weekend, Muscovites can spend time with shelter residents and help them adapt to life in society. The schedule for the September trips until the end of the month can be found on the website mosvolonter.ru.
“Helping animals does not always require special skills — sometimes the most important thing a person can give is time, attention, and care. Regular walks and communication help pets become more confident and feel calmer around people. Beginners on site are accompanied by experienced curators who explain the rules and help get acquainted with the animals. This is a good format for those who have long wanted to try animal volunteering but did not know where to start,” said Alexander Levit, director of the Mosvolonter Resource Center.
Six trips in two days
On Saturday, August 22, volunteers will visit three shelters. The first group of 30 people will head to “Domashniy, Annino”, 10 volunteers will go to the shelter “Super Dog” in Khimki, and another 30 volunteers will be sent to the shelter “Solnechnogorsky”.
On Sunday, August 23, 30 people will depart for “Veles” in Pushkin, another 30 — in the city center “Wet nose” in Zelenograd and 30 — to the shelter “The Way Home” in the Ramensky district. You can sign up for the event on the “Mosvolonter” website; a separate application is required for each trip. Before registering, you need to check the age restrictions, which are indicated in the trip description.
A walk, play, and a few hours of attention
Volunteers’ tasks depend on the shelter’s needs, but the main thing is interacting with the animals. Volunteers walk the dogs, play with them, groom their fur, teach them to walk calmly on a leash, and obey commands. If there are cats in the shelter, they also spend time with them.
Thanks to regular meetings with volunteers, pets who have been in the shelter for a long time gradually begin to trust people. They get used to walks, stop being afraid of strangers and new places, which means they become better prepared for life with new owners.
In addition to interacting with pets, volunteers assist shelters with household tasks. Their duties may include cleaning the grounds and rooms, washing bowls, feeding animals, as well as small landscaping tasks.
Information support for shelters is no less important a part of volunteer work. Photo and video materials that volunteers post on social networks help potential owners learn about the pets. It is precisely such posts that become the first step towards meeting and rehoming the animals.
You can also support pets remotely: in volunteer centers “Good Place” and project headquarters “Moscow Helps” They accept food, treats, equipment, care products, and other items. Everything collected is passed on to shelters and organizations that help homeless animals.
What a beginner needs to know
Before going for the first walk, it is necessary to undergo a briefing. The coordinator explains the shelter rules and the characteristics of the pets. It is important for participants to listen carefully to the recommendations: keep the leash firmly, maintain distance between the dogs, and walk only in the designated area. Clothing for the trip should be chosen considering that the dogs sincerely welcome guests and are unlikely to miss the chance to leave traces of their paws on them.
Even a few hours of interaction with animals is already a full-fledged assistance. For those who are just preparing for their first trip, a free course is available on the educational platform “Mosvolonter” online course out of five lessons.
“I wish everyone to meet their person”
Since 2020, Anna Chernyshova has been regularly helping shelters: together with her daughter, she visits the animals, walks them, plays, cares for them, and performs household tasks. Today, she has five dogs at home, one of which she adopted from a shelter. The volunteer photographs the pets and tells about them on social networks — this is exactly how she once found her mongrel. Anna notes that regular interaction with people helps animals become calmer and more confident.
She especially remembered a three-legged dog named Terminator from the “Nika” shelter. Despite the injury, the dog was so active that Anna could barely keep up with him during the walk.
“When I come to the shelter, I myself get great pleasure from interacting with the animals. I mentally wish each dog to soon meet their person, and when leaving, I always say: ‘May you be lucky.’ To those coming for the first time, I advise not to be afraid: the coordinator will tell and show everything. Your attention and care are truly very much needed by the pets,” noted Anna Chernyshova.
To be ready to return home not alone
Dmitry Lavrov has loved animals since childhood. His first dog Misha joined the family after a puppy at the dacha started following him and his mother. Later, Dmitry began helping shelters and regularly participating in volunteer trips. Today, his family has several dogs and cats, some of which were found on the street. During trips, he helps with cleaning and repairs, but he considers walks and interaction with the pets to be the most important.
Dmitry Lavrov recommends checking what the shelter specifically needs before the first visit and choosing comfortable clothing. He emphasizes that the most important thing is to spend time with the animals themselves, especially elderly dogs. The volunteer warns: one should be prepared for the possibility that one day they might leave the shelter with a new family member.
You can learn more about volunteering on the website of the resource center “Mosvolonter,” on its social network page “VKontakte”, as well as in in the messenger “Max”.
The work and functional development of the resource center website on the mos.ru portal are overseen by the Moscow Department of Information Technology and Committee on Public Relations and Youth Policy with the support of the Public Chamber of Moscow.
The organization of volunteer activities and the involvement of young people in participating in city events correspond to the objectives of the national project. “Youth and Children” and the federal project “We Are Together.” More information about Russia’s national projects and the capital’s contribution can be found at special page.
Get the latest news from the official channels of the city of Moscow in messengers promptly “Max” and “Telegram”.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the information source. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.