How long would I need to commit to volunteering?
Our program is modeled for recurring, long-term volunteering, with the volunteer schedule operating from 8am-7pm, 7 days a week, in a variety of different areas. Volunteers are asked to commit to a 2hr, weekly time slot, for a minimum of 3 months.
What are the next steps after I submit my application?
New volunteers will sign up for orientation session at which time they will be scheduled for their first training session. All volunteers start out as Shelter Support, where you will learn to directly assist the Animal Care Technicians, who manage all kennel cleaning, charting, and medicating of the animals. Tasks of the Shelter Support volunteer include dishes, laundry, housekeeping, organizing donations and bagging food for our Pet Pantry ~ All of which are critical to ensuring we are providing our animals with the highest standard of care!
While this work is the least glamorous, it is the fastest, and easiest, way to familiarize yourself with shelter operations, the staff, and your fellow volunteers!! After the initial 30day introductory period, you will qualify for additional training opportunities into new areas of the shelter, such as Cat Socializing or Dog Handling.
What happens if I have to miss one of my shifts?
We know how busy life gets and understand when a volunteer is unable to attend an assigned shift from time to time. With an online scheduling app, it is easy to add and remove yourself from shifts due to semester breaks, holidays, vacations, and appointments.
Volunteers who cannot maintain consistent attendance for their assigned time slot will be asked to find a more reliable time slot or make alternative arrangements with the Volunteer Coordinator. Inconsistent attendance and no-shows will result in the volunteer being removed from the schedule and/or the Volunteer Program.
If you have a rotating schedule, or inconsistent availability, you will work with the Volunteer Coordinator to schedule 4 visits per month on days that you are available.
Do you allow children to volunteer?
No, we do not have a Junior Volunteer Program. We are fortunate to have a large foster base, which allows us to place our most adoptable animals into temporary homes. The animals in the shelter are usually a mix of new arrivals or long term, harder-to-place animals, which unfortunately, are under a lot of stress and do not make good matches for our younger supporters to interact with.
Donation drives and fundraisers are great alternatives to volunteering on site! We love to celebrate their efforts & contributions by offering your youth a short tour to see the animals and, when possible, we will take a photo of them with an animal as an extra special thank you!
Can large groups volunteer for a day?
We offer several different types of group volunteer options. However, due to the size of our building, our staffing model, and existing volunteer rotations, we are extremely limited on the size of the groups we can accommodate, and the time frames we can offer them.
For on-site sessions, the preferred group size is 4-6 people. Ideal time frames are 9am-11am, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays. Projects include housekeeping tasks, laundry, donation sorting and bagging food for our Pet Pantry. Outdoor tasks include groundskeeping, organizing storage sheds, and other weather pending projects. (Animal socialization is not an option, however, we offer a tour of the building and always allow for some furry friends to say thank you and pose for some photo opps.)
What happens if the weather is too cold outside to walk the dogs?
The dogs still need attention, no matter the weather. In extreme conditions, volunteers are asked to hang out with the dogs inside their kennels after brief bathroom breaks. Upon arrival, volunteers should check with the staff if they have weather concerns. For inclement weather, we follow the direction of the city and will close the shelter for the day, cancelling scheduled volunteer shifts. Staffing will be kept minimal, but someone will always be here to care for the animals on days that we close.
What does a cat socializer do?
Cat Socializing involves one on one time with cats, providing patience, compassion, and play time. Our cats are under stress and require people that have experience working with a number of different cat temperaments. Volunteers will be offered training to work with our cats once they have completed the initial 30-day trial period as Shelter Support.
What does a dog handler do?
Dog Handlers work with the dogs providing them outdoor walks, mental enrichment, training, and attention. So many of the animals have experienced negative interactions with humans and other animals, or none at all, and the time spent with a volunteer is critical to earning their trust and setting them up for success in their forever homes.
Due to extreme limitations on indoor space, dog handlers spend the majority of their time with the dogs outdoors, regardless of the weather. This is a physically demanding role! Dogs are rarely good on a leash, often reactive towards the other dogs, and they are excited to get outside! Volunteers are trained to safely maneuver the dogs within and outside of the building, how to work through common misbehaviors with patience and positive reinforcement, and how to avoid putting themselves and their dog into potentially dangerous situations.
We rarely have small breeds or puppies in the building, with most of them quickly finding loving foster or adoptive homes. With the majority of the dogs weighing between 50-120lbs, Dog Handlers must have experience working with dogs of all sizes, temperaments, and breeds. Training for the Dog Handling role is available to volunteers following the completion of the 30day trial period as Shelter Support.
Have a Special Skill set or Unique Experience?
If you have other skills that you think would be useful to our organization, such as Photography, a Specific Trade, or a Jack of All Trades, previous please submit a Special Skills Application.
Questions can be sent to: volunteer@homewardonline.org
