Volunteering with K9 Friends
About K9 Friends
K9 Friends is one of the longest-running dog rescues in the UAE. It was founded in 1989 to rescue and rehome abandoned and stray dogs, and it has been at it for more than three decades. The charity is a registered non-profit through Dubai’s Community Development Authority, and its motto says a lot about the mood on site: “We believe there is a home for every dog.”
Since 2009 the team has worked from a purpose-built shelter in Jebel Ali, on land provided by the Dubai government. Before that, the dogs lived in a warehouse in Al Quoz. Every dog is looked after by staff and volunteers until the right home comes along, so there is always plenty to do.
What volunteers do
Adult volunteers help in two places: the office and the kennels. Office help keeps adoptions, enquiries and paperwork moving. Kennel help is the hands-on side, which means time with the dogs themselves. Both matter, and the charity says plainly that it relies on its volunteers to keep going.
Teenagers have their own routes in. There is a dog walking scheme for students over 14, and an in-shelter programme that suits school service requirements. More on both below.
Who can volunteer
- Adults (18+): K9 Friends asks for a couple of mornings a week for at least six months. That steady commitment helps the dogs, who do better with familiar faces.
- Students aged 14 to 18: the in-shelter programme runs twice a year over six Saturdays at the shelter. It counts towards the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award or IB CAS hours.
- Student dog walkers (over 14): walkers must be accompanied by an adult and need their own transport. Each walk can earn up to two service hours.
How to get involved
- Start with a Coffee Morning. Adults who want to volunteer are invited to a Coffee Morning at the shelter. These are held regularly, and you can call the office to join the next one.
- Book dog walks by phone. Walks run Monday to Thursday and on Saturdays during the cooler months. Dogs are collected between 9.30am and 11.30am and must be back by 5pm. Spaces are limited and bookings are taken by phone only, not by WhatsApp, email or social media.
- Watch for the student programme. The next in-shelter dates are announced on K9 Friends’ social media, so follow @k9friendsdubai if you have a teenager keen to take part.
Fostering and adoption
If you cannot adopt, a short-term foster home is a real help. Fostering shows the team how a dog behaves in a home and gives long-stay residents a break from kennel life. Call the office to talk it through.
Adoption starts with a phone call. A volunteer explains the process, then you book a shelter visit to meet a homing volunteer and dogs that might suit your household. Visits are by appointment, Monday to Thursday, 9am to 1pm. A dog can only be reserved for a few days after your appointment.
A few rules to know in advance:
- You must be 21 or over and the home or lease owner.
- Renting an apartment? Bring written permission from your landlord and building management.
- Bring everyone who lives in the home, plus any dogs and helpers. K9 Friends calls this vital.
- Young puppies are not usually rehomed to apartments, as house training is hard there.
Published fees, including VAT, are AED 1,250 for a mixed-breed dog, AED 1,750 for a mixed-breed puppy (12 months or under), AED 2,250 for a pure or designer-breed dog and AED 2,950 for a pure or designer-breed puppy. Fees cover microchipping, first vaccinations, flea and worm treatment and neutering. Anyone adopting a puppy under six months signs a neuter agreement.
Other ways to help
Membership is the charity’s main supporter scheme, and it helps pay for vet care, food and shelter upkeep. You can join through the Get Involved page. Companies can also ask for a quote to take on essential maintenance at the shelter.
Schools and groups can book Talks and Tours, held Monday to Thursday, 10am to 12pm, for 10 to 25 people. School tours are AED 50 per person plus a AED 220 group booking fee. Adult social and corporate groups pay AED 150 per person plus the same booking fee.
Good to know before you go
- Weekends and school holidays are the busiest times for adoption visits, so book early.
- Dogs cannot be guaranteed to be on site, so check before you set off.
- Kennel work is active. Wear closed shoes and clothes you do not mind getting dusty.
- Bring water, a hat and sun cream, especially early and late in the season.
- Walkers should plan a dog-friendly car journey, as you collect and return the dog yourself.
Contact and links
- Website: k9friends.com
- Volunteering and support: Get Involved
- Adoption: Adopting a Dog
- Talks and tours: Talks & Tours
- Phone: +971 4 887 8739 or +971 50 274 1949 (use the phone for adoption, fostering and dog walking)
- Email: info@k9friends.com (general enquiries)
- Instagram: @k9friendsdubai
- Facebook: K9 Friends Dubai