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At the Florida East Coast Humane Society, our
most important resource is our volunteers. Without them, we could not do
anything! We are in great need of new volunteers to help us carry on our
important mission. If you love animals, especially dogs and/or cats; then
our shelter is the perfect place for you to serve your community. Don't
worry if you are inexperienced. We have orientations and on-the-job
training! Anyone interested in volunteering must attend orientation prior to
working at the shelter. The Orientation schedule will be posted on the
Announcement Board in the shelter lobby. Please RSVP prior to orientation
scheduling.
Our volunteers usually pick a regular shift
that they can adhere to consistently. In order to volunteer, you must
be at least 16 years of age and be
able to commit to volunteering for at least 6 months.
Minors between the ages of 12-15 can
volunteer with a parent or adult guardian present.
We have many parent-child teams that
volunteer at the shelter, as it is a rewarding way to spend family time.
HOW TO VOLUNTEER
1. Pick up a volunteer application from the
shelter or fill one out on-line
volunteer application.
2. Complete the application, mail or bring to
the shelter. Please note that the application must be notarized (and
signed by parents for minors) before
submission.
3. Contact Volunteer Coordinator, Marc
Bellefontaine at 829-2737 ext 20; or email
marcb@fechs.org to register
for an orientation class.
4. Arrange for a one-on-one meeting with
Volunteer Coordinator.
5. Attend Volunteer Orientation Session
(schedule is posted on Announcement Board in Lobby).
6. Sign Volunteer Agreement.
7. Schedule Initial Training session with
Volunteer Coordinator within 1-2 weeks of orientation (this is often in a
small group setting).
VOLUNTEER POSITIONS
Volunteer Service Descriptions
LEVEL I
a) Animal Care-"Cat Cuddlers"/ "Bark Buddies"
(cats and/or dogs): basic cleanup, love and care, wash dishes and food
preparation for animals.
b) "Critters" (non-dog and cats): basic
cleanup, love and care, wash dishes, food preparation for animals.
c) Digital Photography-"Shutterbugs": take
photos of our wonderful animals; choose which ones will be appropriate for
our publications, and think of catchy captions to fit with the photos.
d) Dog Walking-"Get Fit with Fido": provide
shelter dogs with daily exercise, release stress, learn basic commands and
leash training.
e) Dog Washing-"Dog Beauticians": bathe,
groom and make sure our four legged friends are looking their best.
f) Greeter/Front Office Assistant-"Shelter
Ambassadors": help answer phones, assist front office staff with various
needs, including: retrieving crates for incoming animals, helping owners
seeking lost pets with lost pet applications, and wish book applications.
g) Special Events Volunteer-"Party Animals":
bring animals to weekly off-site events, help set up, man, and break down
booths.
h) Thrift Store-"Fashionistas": help
customers find desired items, work the register stocking/organizing, put
away and organize donations, keep the store clean, and create interesting
displays.
LEVEL II – Advanced Training (Volunteers
need to complete 40 volunteer hours in 3 months to be eligible for Level II)
a) Volunteer Assistant-"Yapppers": Assist
Volunteer Coordinator with Volunteer Orientation, volunteer events, and
assist volunteers at the shelter
b) Vet Tech (program under development/not
available at this time): Assist with walking post-surgery dogs, cleaning
kennels, cutting surgery drapes, helping with laundry and grooming animals
as they recover. Must be proficient in shelter animal safety.
c) "Matchmakers": Assist potential adopters
as they enter the shelter, give them a tour and help they identify their
questions and concerns.
volunteer application |
