The QAS Volunteer Commitment
We ask all volunteers working with animals to:
- Commit to a minimum of 6 months, working at least one 2-hour shift per week (the same shift and time weekly). For volunteers working outside the shelter (e.g., Events, Foster, etc.) the schedule is more flexible and on an as-needed basis.
- Bring the same level of responsibility for showing up for assigned shifts and performing your work as you would for any paid position. Both the animals and your shift team depend on you to show up and do your part.
- Regular attendance is required. Cancelling or rescheduling your shift should be done rarely. While we understand that things come up, we ask that you make a weekly commitment to show up for your shift.
- Always be kind and courteous to members of the public and each other.
- Respect and adhere to all the policies that we have in place. This is essential to ensure the safety of our animals and our team. Many of our policies are required by regulation so it is very important that you follow them consistently.
Skills, Ability and Experience:
- No prior animal experience is required. We provide training.
- You must be physically able to handle cats or dogs of all sizes and breeds.
- Be comfortable lifting 50 lbs. (Animals, Food, Litter, Crates and Cages)
- Cat Care: Climb and work on a step stool or ladder.
- Must has access to email and texting.
- Follow instructions. Accept feedback. Work well in a team environment
- A super positive attitude is a plus!
Adoptions: Our Adoption team works to match prospective adopters with animals ready for new homes. This role includes light office work, answering the phone, accepting donations data entry, greeting the public and offering tours of the facility.
Dogs: Our Canine team is responsible for feeding, cleaning and walking dogs every day, which can include training, enrichment activities and behavior modification protocols put into place by our Canine Manager.
Cats: Our Feline team is responsible for feeding, cleaning and caring for our cats, which may include socializing with shy cats by providing enrichment and behavior modification protocols put into place by the Feline Manager.
Medical Care: Our meds team is responsible for ensuring that animals receive all required medication during shifts. They work with the medical manager to ensure all protocols are followed.
Foster Care: Volunteers may foster our animals in their homes. There are many reasons that animals are placed in foster care. Typically, it is due to age as puppies and kittens are not kept at the shelter. Senior animals may do better in foster care. Other reasons include socialization, medical recovery and hospice care.
Community Cats: This role requires working with the community to care for truly homeless cats. Setting up and maintaining outdoor feeding stations, working with caretakers by supplying food and setting up appointments for spay and neuter. Managing a Trap, Spay/Neuter and release (TNR) program.
Housekeeping: Everyone who volunteers at the shelter must help keep the shelter clean. This lowers the risk of infectious diseases which can endanger our animals. Volunteers are asked as part of their duties to do the laundry and the dishes, sweeping, discarding trash and recycle when possible, etc.
Marketing, Fundraising, Grant Writing and Event Planning: There are many ways to help us promote the great work that we do such as social media, web design, photography, writing articles for our newsletter, The Scoop, leading fundraising campaigns, or event planning and execution.
