Position Description:
Dog Caregiver and Kennel Support – Level 1 volunteers assist staff in providing care, enrichment and training to shelter dogs, and ensure living environments remain safe, clean, and as comfortable as possible. Following protocol and the guidance of staff, volunteers will support our dogs by maintaining consistency and routine as much as possible during an animal’s stay with us.
Although walking and socializing with approved dogs is part of this role once certain training steps have been successfully completed, volunteers should expect the majority of their time to be spent cleaning kennels and assisting with other support tasks such as dishes, laundry, distributing food, and cleaning up after dogs in outdoor and indoor areas. We do not offer an option for volunteers to walk or socialize dogs as their only tasks.
Due to the advanced nature of this volunteer position, applicants must meet all criteria and demonstrate such on their application. For the safety of staff, volunteers, and our dogs, only applications meeting all criteria will be considered.
Responsibilities:
- Using appropriate equipment and following our sanitization protocol, clean and disinfect enclosures which are often soiled with urine and feces.
- Prepare and pass out meals.
- Provide clean water in kennels and, seasonally, in designated outdoor areas.
- Provide appropriate enrichment and bedding in kennels, according to each dog’s behavior plan and needs.
- Complete a variety of tasks to support the Adoption Center. Tasks may include but are not limited to laundry, dishes, cutting up hot dogs and cheese, restocking supplies, and keeping indoor and outdoor areas tidy.
- Record behavior and limited health information.
- Read daily emails and other email communications regarding dogs in our care.
- Participate in ongoing volunteer training as required for role.
- Once a L1 mentor session is passed, interact with, socialize with, and exercise dogs at your handling level in accordance with behavior plans. You are eligible to try to attain L1 after a minimum of a month of weekly volunteering in support tasks such as kennel cleaning.
Physical Requirements:
- Staying active the full duration of a shift, with variable amounts of standing, walking, bending, reaching and stooping.
- Must be able to safely use a stepladder to access food and linen storage
- Walking dogs who require physical strength and skill to handle safely as they may display a variety of behaviors.
- Able to control animals on a leash weighing up to 100 lbs.
- Ability to lift, push, pull or carry objects and/or animals weighing up to 50 lbs.
- Ability to perform these duties in variant temperatures and elements including extreme heat, extreme cold and inclement weather.
Emotional Requirements:
- Able to maintain composure during challenging and/or emotionally charged situations.
- Able to remain open-minded and understanding of decisions for euthanasia that consider the animal’s physical and emotional well-being and the safety of the community.
- Able to keep information confidential.
- Able to receive constructive criticism from staff related to interactions with our dogs.
- Able to work with staff, fellow volunteers, and clients in an empathetic and supportive manner
Required Skills and Attributes:
- Ability to work well and communicate effectively with the public, staff, and fellow volunteers.
- Able to work both independently and as part of a team.
- Ability to be judgment-free in challenging situations.
- Ability to multitask, prioritize, and use good judgment in a fast paced, high stress environment.
- The ability to use basic math, including fractions.
- The ability to remain aware of your surroundings, and use good judgment with animals of all sizes.
- Able to be self-aware of body language when working with or around animals.
- Applicants must be able to adhere to rules regarding infectious disease quarantine and other important safety matters.
- Previous experience with dog husbandry.
- Familiarity with rewards-based training helpful but not required.
- Proficiency in using a computer without assistance, and learning new programs. All volunteers digitally log hours and use an online scheduling function. Dog volunteers additionally use software to record information from dog interactions.
Other:
For this role, volunteers must have a valid driver’s license and their own personal vehicle. Exceptions will only be made for those aged 16 or 17, with parental confirmation they are able to drive their child weekly at the shift time.
Time Commitment:
- Minimum of one shift per week on a set day and time. Shifts are 2-4 hours in length, and fall between the hours of 7am-5pm. Please note, weekday shifts are not compatible with a traditional high school schedule.
- Our greatest need at this time is for Mondays 9am-11am and 11am-2pm; Tuesdays 2pm-5pm; Wednesdays 11am-2pm and 2pm-5pm; Thursdays 2pm-5pm; and Sundays 7am-9am.
- We have a number of open shifts in addition to the high-need shifts detailed above. However, our only weekend openings are Saturday 7am-9am, Sunday 7am-9am, Sunday 11am-2pm, and Sunday 2pm-4pm.
- If selected for an interview and accepted, shifts open at the time of your interview will be discussed and your weekly shift will be set at that time.
- We are unable to accommodate requests for alterations to the schedule. Please ensure you will be available for the full duration of a shift before applying. Thank you!
- Minimum of 6 month commitment. We ask that you ensure you have 6 consecutive months available for a weekly shift before applying.
- Some weekday evaluation and training will be required as part of the application and onboarding process.
We receive a high number of applications for this role. Please ensure all criteria is met before applying. Click here to apply
