A New Year, a New Purpose: The Life-Changing Joy of Volunteering with Rescue Animals
As the holiday season comes to a close, many of us look for New Year’s resolutions that lead to more healthy habits and add more meaning and joy into our lives. But what if you could make one simple resolution that covered all these bases? Volunteering with animals is an excellent way to start off the new year on the right foot, paw, or hoof without overcomplicating your life.
Helping rescue animals isn’t just good for them and the organizations that serve them; it also enhances your own sense of purpose, peace, and well-being. Here’s how volunteering as a New Year’s resolution can transform your life and fill your year with compassion, connection, and hope — and why opting to volunteer at a farmed animal sanctuary can offer unique rewards.
The Benefits of Volunteering With Rescue Animals
Giving your time at an animal rescue organization isn’t just about helping animals in need; it’s about creating a connection that heals on both sides. And although many people think first of pet animal shelters, you can reap all the same benefits of volunteering at an animal shelter and more on a farmed animal sanctuary.
These rural rescue nonprofits house and care for farmed animals who have or would have endured unspeakable cruelty as part of the dairy and meat industries. Working with animals in this context can change how you see the world — and yourself.
Emotional and Mental Health Benefits
Studies consistently show that there are considerable mental health benefits of volunteer work.
Reducing Stress and Increasing Production of Feel-Good Hormones
In general, helping others boosts serotonin and dopamine, the same brain chemicals that elevate mood and calm anxiety. People who volunteer tend to feel happier and experience lower levels of depression and anxiety.
When you’re volunteering with animals, those benefits multiply. Simply petting, feeding, and being around animals lowers stress hormones. In addition, research shows that kindness activates the brain’s reward system, releasing endorphins that lower stress and create a helper’s high similar to that of exercise. It also increases the production of oxytocin, the bonding hormone, which creates feelings of trust and relaxation. When you care for animals, your body mirrors their calm, gratitude, and trust.
Being Present in the Moment and Appreciating Nature
Arguably one of the best benefits of volunteer work is that it reminds us to slow down, listen, and show unconditional care — qualities often lost in the rush of everyday life. It helps us clear our heads and remember what’s most important to us. It’s also a great way to get fresh air and reconnect with nature.
Gaining New Skills and Fresh Perspectives
Working with animals rescued from egg, meat, and dairy farms teaches compassion, empathy, and mindfulness, skills that translate into improved mental resilience and emotional intelligence.
Caring for animals who have suffered neglect or abuse teaches perseverance and reminds volunteers that every small act of kindness adds up to meaningful change. Each animal’s story of survival reminds volunteers that healing takes time but is always possible. Many find that what starts as an act of service becomes a deeply personal journey toward hope, empathy, and renewal.
Physical Health Benefits
Volunteering is as good for your body as it is for your mental well-being. Donating your time in any capacity can lower blood pressure, improve heart health, and even help you live longer.
However, you can maximize the health benefits of volunteering by choosing a role that involves physical activity. Working at an animal rescue farm typically means cleaning enclosures, replacing bedding, cleaning food and water dishes, raking, and other invigorating tasks. All of this helps burn calories, strengthen muscles, and increase stamina, keeping both your mind and body strong.
Learning about what happens to animals on egg, meat, and dairy farms may even inspire you to adopt a vegan diet. Besides being a key part of a humane-minded lifestyle, there are a surprising number of health benefits to increasing your consumption of vegetables, grains, legumes, and other nutritious foods while eliminating many sources of fat and cholesterol.
Social Benefits
You’ll also enjoy the social benefits of volunteering. It gives people something essential that many are missing today: connection and belonging. Volunteers often gain new friends, expand their support networks, and feel closer to their communities. This can be especially helpful if you're new to an area, need a healthy distraction during difficult times, or want to meet new people for any other reason.
At a farmed animal sanctuary, you’ll meet people who share your compassion for animals and your commitment to making the world kinder. You’ll celebrate successes together, such as a rescued animal taking its first unafraid step toward a human hand. These shared experiences foster genuine connection, which in turn strengthens emotional well-being.
Where to Start
In Connecticut, The Riley Farm Rescue offers volunteers the opportunity to care for animals rescued from abuse and neglect in the farming industry. The organization provides a loving, educational environment where people and animals can heal together. By volunteering, you’re not only helping to rehabilitate animals — you’re also part of a compassionate movement that values kindness, sustainability, and empathy.
This January, start checking off multiple New Year’s resolutions for a better life in one simple step: volunteering at The Riley Farm Rescue or a farmed animal sanctuary near you.
Kick Your Year Off Right: Volunteer at The Riley Farm Rescue
People have been led to believe that farmed animals don’t have needs, emotions, or individual personalities in the same way pets and people do. At The Riley Farm Rescue in Canterbury, Connecticut, we challenge the status quo. We have rescued hundreds of animals — chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, goats, sheep, peacocks, reptiles, emus, mini horses, and more — from various situations, including factory farms and slaughterhouses.
If you live in the area, you can help us continue this important work by volunteering with us! Our volunteers play a very important role in our organization, and we rely on them more than ever to help us keep our rescued animals happy and healthy. Apply today!
Anyone can also become a powerful voice for the voiceless by going vegan, educating others about factory farming, and supporting our work.