Dogs are pros at making you feel better when you've had a bad day or you're couch-bound while sick, and they can help other people feel the same expansive dog love with a little training. Training your dog to be a therapy dog means they will be able bring joy to children who are stuck in the hospital, provide companionship for older folks, and comfort those with disabilities.

This week alone, people in Syria have been gassed and then bombed. After years of horror, the pictures of suffering children even got through to the American president's cold heart. If you feel the same way, here are some things you can do to help.

We've all had moments in which we've felt completely hopeless and helpless. During those moments, you struggle to figure out how to move forward. Sometimes it doesn't seem like there's anything you can do to move forward. When all else fails, try helping someone else.

Getting fired or laid off can be a frustrating, emotional experience. You're not sure what to do with your time, and worse, sometimes you start to question your value. Volunteering gives you a productive outlet for coping with the situation.

If you're trying to save money, social activities like brunch or drinks can derail your efforts since they tend to be expensive. Switching a costly activity for volunteering is also a great way to make sure you regularly see your friends and do some good.

Volunteering is a great way to give back, but it can be difficult to do if you're focused on your own stuff. Here are a few ways you can volunteer without disrupting your current lifestyle.

iOS: As you can imagine, even the simplest decisions without visual cues can be extremely challenging. Be My Eyes connects sighted people with the visually impaired through a live video feed to, as the name implies, be their eyes and help read objects or navigate their surroundings.

Volunteering is a great way to learn new skills, but it can also fill in large gaps in your resume between jobs.

Most people use LinkedIn to connect with coworkers old and new, meet new people in their field, and search for jobs or networking opportunities. Now, the service can help you find volunteering opportunities too, and match you up with charities and non-profit organisations that need your skills and can offer you valuable experience in return.

Dear Lifehacker, I'd love to give to charity, but I don't have a lot of spare cash. How can I get involved in a way that really helps people?

Volunteering is a great way to gain experience as well as give back to a community. When you're done with an event or project, make sure to get a letter of recommendation to go along with your resume.

As long as you're willing to do a little work, you can get into many concerts, plays and conventions without paying a cent. Just sign up to be a volunteer, suggests personal finance blog Wise Bread.

ProBueno is a new web app that lets you put your talents to good use. Whether your talents involve playing video games, coding and app development, baking biscuits or something else, you can volunteer your skills in exchange for charitable donations to the non-profit organisation of your choice.

Volunteering in your spare time isn't just a good way to help the community. It's a free opportunity to learn the skills you need to make a career change or get promoted.

We already know that volunteering can improve your life expectancy, but it also turns out it can increase your chances of getting hired. A recent LinkedIn survey reinforces the usefulness of letting potential employers now about your volunteer activities.

If you have the time, volunteering is an excellent way to keep yourself busy and positive. According to a new study in Health Psychology, it turns out if you're volunteering to help others and not yourself, it might help you live longer.

Sparked links talented professionals with non-profit organisations for micro-volunteering opportunities. Have five minutes a day to copy edit? Five minutes to help with a web design problem? Sparks matches you to a non-profit that shares your values.

Want to do some volunteer work in your area but don't know where to start? GoVolunteer lets you search for volunteer opportunities within 10 kilometres of your postcode.