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.
Position Description:
Level 1 Dog Caregiver and Walker volunteers assist staff in providing care, enrichment, and training to shelter dogs, and ensuring 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 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.
Responsibilities:
- Use appropriate equipment and follow our sanitization protocol and clean/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 email communications regarding dogs in our care.
- Participate in ongoing volunteer training as required for role.
- Once an approved walker; interact with, socialize with, and exercise dogs at your handling level in accordance with behavior plans.
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 150 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:
- Previous experience with dog husbandry.
- Familiarity with rewards-based training helpful but not required.
- Previous animal handling or training experience preferred.
- Knowledge of animal body language.
- Ability to work well and communicate effectively with the public, staff, and fellow volunteers.
- Ability 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.
- As this role requires frequent verbal and written communication, applicants must be fluent in English.
- 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.
Qualities:
- Must be 18 years or older
Time Commitment:
- A commitment of at least 1 year
- Weekly 3 hour shift on a set day and time.
- A phone interview, in-person working interview, attendance at a virtual orientation, and on-the-job training
- Some weekday evaluation and training will be required as part of the application and onboarding process.
Available shifts:
- 7:30am-10:30am, 10:30am-1:30pm, or 1:30pm-4:30pm, 7 days a week
- Shifts that are not available: Sunday 1:30pm-4:30pm and Tuesday’s 10:30am-1:30pm
- 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!
Apply Now!
If you do not currently meet the qualifications to walk dogs, our Dog Caregiver and Kennel Support role may be a good place to start! While we cannot guarantee that you will be able to walk dogs later on; we will be happy to discuss the potential to walk dogs with volunteers who demonstrate the ability to be a team player, use good judgement, and show up consistently for their initial 6 month commitment.
