We would love to have you join us as an Animal Services Volunteer!
Volunteer Orientation Meetings are held once a month at our Martinez Shelter, 4800 Imhoff Place. NOTE: a few orientation meetings will take place at our Pinole Shelter; please call 925-335-8330 to confirm location and time. There is no fee to attend a Volunteer Orientation Meeting.
Pre-registration is not required, just show up to a meeting! The minimum volunteer age is 18 years old.
2008 Calendar
Volunteer Orientation Meetings will resume in February 2008 and will be held on the third Saturday of each month (barring any unavoidable last minute changes). Meeting times are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
February 16
March 15
April 19
May 17
June 21
July 19
August 16
September 20
October 18
November 15
December 20
We always need volunteers to help with our programs. If you are interested in becoming part of the Animal Services Volunteer team,
please read about our program below. We would love to hear from you.
For more information, please call:
Cindy Smith, Volunteer Program Manager, 925-335-8335.
Volunteer Opportunities
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with us! The following are descriptions of the areas where your volunteer efforts are needed most. Although volunteers are trained to work mainly in one particular area, the skills volunteers need often overlap in different areas. For example, all volunteers will be working with the public as well as the animals, so good communication skills are important. Volunteers will need to access and correctly interpret computer information stored in our shelter management database. Training is the key to it all!
LOST AND FOUND
The adoption gallery was designed with volunteers in mind. Lost and Found volunteers take reports from the public regarding their pets, assist people in the shelter and help people who wish to adopt a pet. These volunteers also interact with many of the recognized animal rescue groups, providing animal information to their representatives.
SHELTER DOCENT
Volunteer docents provide an important services to both the community and the department. They are often the first to greet the public who arrive at the shelter, many of whom have not been to our new facility (opened since May 2005). Docents spend their time mainly in the adoption gallery, helping people navigate around the shelter, monitoring the cat rooms, assisting the clerical staff with paperwork, and answering questions about the adoption process.
CANINE COMPANION / PLAYTIME COACH / SHY DOG ORGANIZER
The work volunteers do with our shelter dogs is important to keeping them adoptable. All positions working with dogs require specific training. These positions vary from outdoor active interaction to work inside the kennels. Volunteers may groom and bathe dogs, help people find their way around the shelter, and assist them in making the right choice in adopting a pet.
TEMPERAMENT TESTING / BEHAVIOR ASSESSMENT
This is the most difficult volunteer position in working with dogs. It is difficult both physically and emotionally. Volunteers will evaluate a dog's behavior to determine its adoptability. Volunteers must have prior semi- to professional experience in dog behavior and training, be able to handle rambunctious dogs with little leash experience and have an open mind to working with misunderstood breeds, such as pit bulls.
CAT SOCIALIZER
This program offers volunteers the opportunity to work with cats to help reduce stress levels and maintain sociability and adoptability. Volunteers spend time interacting primarily with cats that are housed in cages, although interaction with cats in our community cat rooms is also done. Time spent includes social interaction with cat toys, grooming, and providing a calming, comforting presence to the cats.
ADOPTION FOLLOW-UP CALLS
Volunteers make follow-up telephone calls on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis to adopters to see how the new pet is working out. Volunteers may provide resources for handling various behavioral problems new owners may have with their pet, as well as noting the overall contentment of the new owner. Good phone skills and recordkeeping are essential for documenting information and assisting the new owners with questions regarding the care of their pet.
HUMANE EDUCATOR
Volunteers help with classroom and community presentations about responsible pet ownership, pet safety, bite prevention, and choosing a pet. Volunteers help organize and handle educational pets used in the classroom as well as assisting with newsletter mailings, flyer distribution and special informational events. In addition, volunteers may chaperone groups of children, give shelter tours, and assist in other educational activities.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Volunteers are needed for various community outreach programs, such as mobile adoptions, fairs, and special events. Volunteers assist with setup activities, including organizing animals and supplies, providing information to the public, and helping with other activities, such as entertainment, paperwork, and transporting animals. These events are usually scheduled on weekends and require approximately 3 to 4 hours commitment. Volunteers must be multi-taskers and have fun in all types of weather and locations.
FOSTER PROGRAM
Volunteers are needed to foster dogs and cats until they are ready for placement or have recovered from surgeries or other medical issues. During warm months, cat, kitten and puppy foster parents are desperately needed. To ensure the health of the animals, volunteers must agree to isolate fosters from their own pets and must not be a foster to another organization.
ASSISTANT PHOTOGRAPHER
Animals that come to our shelters are photographed at the time of intake and when placed up for adoption. We need volunteers to assist the shelter photographer with dog and cat handling during photo shoots. Volunteers will participate in posting animals to lost and found websites and naming adoptable animals. Volunteers are also needed to help photograph our special events, mobile adoptions, and our participation in community education campaigns.
SCHEDULE FOR SPAY/NEUTER & VACCINATION CLINIC
Volunteers are needed to help schedule and/or confirm appointments for animal vaccinations or surgeries. As this is a Saturday morning position only, this is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys working with the public, wants to help the clinic with their scheduling needs, but has little time to commit during the work week. Good phone skills and organizational abilities are essential to this volunteer position.
PETSMART CAT & RABBIT CARE
We have a remote cat and rabbit adoption
program with PetSmart stores in Concord, Pittsburg, and
Richmond. This successful program has increased our adoption
rates! Volunteers are needed to visit the stores, socialize the
cats and rabbits, clean the cages, and report any behavioral or
medical issues to Animal Services staff. Volunteers must be
responsible for their own transportation and be willing to
follow the guidelines set forth by both PetSmart and Animal
Services. This is a great position if you have very limited time
to give!
Home
Spay/Neuter Vaccination Clinic
