Volunteer Handbook - Lenawee Humane Society

705 W. Beecher St., Adrian, MI 49221 | Phone: 517-263-3463 | Web: lenhumanesoc.org
Volunteer Handbook
Contact Information
Lyzz Fertig, Volunteer Coordinator
After Hours Emergency
517-263-3463, Ext. 108
[email protected]
Marcie Cornell, Executive Director
734-652-0126
Important Notes
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You must go online and complete a volunteer questioner prior to volunteering
with us. If you do not have access to the internet, please visit our shelter during
business hours and you will be granted access to our volunteer computer.
You must be 16 years of age or older to volunteer with the Lenawee Humane
Society without an adult volunteer chaperone.
All volunteers under the age of 16 MUST be accompanied by a parent or
guardian.
All volunteers under the age of 18 must turn in a signed Parent or Legal
Guardian Release before volunteering.
The Lenawee Humane Society performs a background check on all potential
volunteers. This helps to ensure the safety of our staff, volunteers, and animals.
The Zoonotic Disease sheets at the end of this handbook are to be reviewed.
Please understand that these are diseases/parasites/viruses that you could be
exposed to while working in an animal shelter environment. Furthermore,
understand that contracting these diseases/parasites/viruses is very rare.
Sign up for your shifts online via the Vic Net system through our website. After
your Volunteer Application is approved you will be sent a temporary password for
this system. Simply log in and sign up for your shifts.
Don’t forget to log your hours! A computer is available for all volunteers to use in
our lobby. During your orientation, you will be shown how to use our Vic Touch
system to log in and out.
Please read this handbook in its entirety prior to your first day volunteering.
Organization Basics
Our Mission Statement:
Our mission is to save the lives of animals while enriching the lives of humans.
Our Vision Statement:
Our vision is that every animal have a safe home and a family to love them.
Who We Are:
The Lenawee Humane Society (LHS) is a private, non-profit, tax exempt organization,
dedicated to caring for unwanted animals and providing them with necessary medical
treatment, food and shelter until we can find them a new home. Founded in 1921, the
Lenawee Humane Society is incorporated by the State of Michigan but receives no
government support. The Lenawee Humane Society is supported solely by donations
and membership dues. As a Society, we believe that all life should be revered and that
all living creatures should be treated with kindness and respect.
Animals entering our shelter are loved and cared for until they are placed in
forever homes. Euthanasia is never considered an option unless humanely necessary
to relieve undue suffering or the animal is deemed a threat to the community.
How do animals come to live Lenawee Humane Society?
Each person and animal we meet has a unique story, but here are some of the most
common ways we receive our dogs and cats:
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Strays: Many of the animals residing at our shelter are strays brought to us by
Lenawee County Animal Control. By Michigan law, Lenawee Humane Society
(LHS) must hold a stray animal for at least 4 business days to allow owners time
to claim their lost pets. We make every effort to reunite lost pets with their
families, but many remain unclaimed and are placed up for adoption as soon as
possible.
Owner Surrenders: Some animals are surrendered to our facility by their
owners for a variety of reasons. These pets are evaluated and placed up for
adoption as soon as possible also.
Safekeeping: These animals have a known owner and are temporarily housed
at LHS. These animals are not available for adoption during their safekeeping
time. Some are returned to their owners, and others are surrendered at a later
date and then put up for adoption.
Volunteering at LHS
In addition to caring for animals housed at the shelter, volunteers can support the
Lenawee Humane Society mission in a variety of other ways:
 Shelter Opportunities - working onsite with animals and the public
 Administrative Assistance - mailings, letters, filing
 Adoption Events - at off‐site locations
 Community Outreach - school visits, humane education, etc.
 Fundraising Events – Howl-o-ween Ball, Walk ‘N Wag, bottle drives, etc.
 Foster Care Program - volunteer your home to help shelter animals in need of
additional care
 Adoption Ambassadors – Ambassadors make it their mission to advocate for
an animal that may have more of a challenge finding a forever home, for a variety
of reasons. Ambassadors promote their animal in many ways. They can take
them home and network with friends or leave at the shelter and promote through
Social Media outlets.
 Become a Member of a Committee – Currently there are 3 Committees to
choose from: Finance – Fundraising and Outreach.
Many volunteers devote their time to working in the shelter, some focus on a single
off‐site event, and others try out a number of activities. Regardless of your personal
preferences, we are all working toward the same goals, and we thank you for your
interest and your involvement!
Our online Volunteer Information Center (Vic Net) will provide you with a list of volunteer
opportunities available with LHS. To remain an Active Volunteer, we ask adult
volunteers to contribute a minimum of 20 hours per year. A volunteer is considered
Inactive by their own declaration, or by not volunteering over the course of one year. To
be “reactivated,” a volunteer must contact the Volunteer Coordinator and may be
required to attend an orientation session before resuming volunteer activities.
What does it mean to be an Active Volunteer?
Being an active LHS volunteer means rolling up your sleeves and pitching in at the
shelter, or taking a role at events that benefit the shelter. Being active also
encompasses the following:
 Be a Positive Advocate! Tell people about LHS and what we do. Display a
Lenawee Humane Society flyer at your work place, or ask if your favorite store or
local business would be willing to do so. Flyers advertising events and our Wish
List are available in our Pawpourri Store lobby.
 Be an Adoption Ambassador! Join our team of dedicated volunteers. Through
this program you will work one on one with an animal that needs extra help
finding their forever home. Sign up with the Volunteer Coordinator and then you
will be assigned an animal in need. We strongly encourage you to share your
progress on social media and #AdoptLenawee.
 Be an Attendee! By attending LHS fundraising events, you are showing your
support for our shelter and helping animals in need! A calendar of our upcoming
events is available on our web site.
 Get your company involved! Many companies support employee volunteer
efforts through a variety of initiatives, such as matching‐gifts programs where
they will match their employee donations. In some cases, your dollar donation
may be doubled or even tripled! Other companies offer incentives for their
employees to volunteer their time.
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Stay Informed! Things happen around here fast! You can check our web site or
follow us on Facebook and Twitter to see the latest news at LHS. You can also
sign up for our E-newsletter on our web site.
Shelter Basics
Policies and Procedures
Working with the animals is a responsibility and privilege that the Lenawee Humane
Society takes seriously. As such, we ask that you follow the policies and procedures
outlined in this handbook. Failure to follow the rules may result in your dismissal as a
volunteer of our organization.
Attire: Wear comfortable clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty! You may be working
with bleach and disinfectants, so old jeans are ideal. Ripped or revealing clothing is
not acceptable. Tennis shoes or other rubber‐soled shoes that will not slip on wet
floors are recommended. For your safety, Volunteers wearing open-toed or other
inappropriate shoes or clothing will be asked to go home and change. Dog
walkers should dress according to the weather. Please remember to wear your
volunteer lanyard or if you have one wear your volunteer t‐shirt when working at the
shelter or off‐site events.
Parking: When you arrive, please park to the far right of the parking lot along the side
of the building. The front parking lot needs to be available for customers and potential
adopters.
Signing Up for Volunteer Shifts: All active volunteers and community service workers
are required to sign up for their volunteer shifts through our Online Volunteer
Information Center (Vic Net). This is done simply by signing in through our webpage at
www.lenhumanesoc.org and going to “get involved” and then “volunteer” then over to
“Vic Net login.” You will receive a temporary password after your Volunteer Application
has been approved. This is the password you will use to log in for the first time. Once
you have logged in, you can change your password to something you will remember
easily. Once logged in, simply go to “My Schedule” and see what days we need help!
Signing up is easy and helps us know what areas we need to recruit more help!
Cleaning Dog and Cat Kennels is always #1 priority. Community Service Workers are
asked to ONLY sign up for shifts that are labeled as “Community Service Opportunities.”
These include, Cleaning Dog Kennels, Cleaning Cat Kennels, and Washing Dishes.
Signing In and Out: Don’t forget to sign in and out on the volunteer computer! Our Vic
Touch module is user-friendly and will keep track of your service hours for you. This not
only helps you but helps us know when our volunteer help has arrived! You can view
your service record any time by logging in to our online Volunteer Information Center
(Vic Net).
Personal Belongings: Do not bring valuables to the shelter. Lenawee Humane Society
is not responsible for items lost or stolen. Please place any items you do bring in the
designated areas.
NOTE: Tobacco, alcoholic beverages, narcotics, or intoxicants of any kind are NOT
allowed on shelter property.
Cellular Phone Use: For your safety and the safety of our animals, we ask that you
keep your cellular phone in your vehicle while volunteering with us, which will allow your
focus to remain on the task at hand.
Our Adoption Process
When showing an animal many people will ask you about our adoption process. If
someone is interested in adopting one of our animals, direct them to the Adoption Desk
to fill out an adoption application.
If a pet has an Application Pending sign, this means that there has been at least one
application submitted for the animal, but we still encourage people to fill out an
application. As a precaution, we can never guarantee that an animal without pending
application or adoption sign doesn’t actually have something in progress. Have the
potential adopters check with the Adoption Desk for an animal’s availability.
All adoption fees include sterilization (spaying/neutering), up to date vaccinations, fecal
test and de-worming, and a microchip. All dogs aged 6 months or older have been
tested for Heartworm Disease, and all cats have been tested for Feline Leukemia and
FIV. Adoption prices are posted on each animal’s cage card.
You and the Public
Securing forever homes for the animals at LHS should be the #1 priority for all
volunteers. Therefore, your job as the liaison between LHS and potential adopters who
visit the shelter is very important. The staff will handle the actual adoption process, but
you may be asked to show the animals to potential adopters. It is a wonderful moment
when you pair a dog or cat with his/her new parents. As a new volunteer, you may feel
unsure about talking to the public. In the beginning, focus on being friendly and
pleasant, and making visitors feel welcome. The more you visit the shelter, the more
familiar you will become with the LHS policies and procedures, as well as the animals.
Some basic rules:
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If you are unable to answer questions posed by potential owners, please consult
with a member of the staff. Never give out incorrect information.
NEVER allow the public to open a cage, enter a cage, or walk the dogs for
everyone’s safety.
DOGS: You may show a dog to a potential adopter by taking him/her for a walk
outside or visiting with him/her in the adoption room, but you must be in control of
the animal at all times. If you are uncertain about the dog, please ask a staff
member to show the dog to the potential adopter.
PUPPIES: The adoption room is a good place to “show” puppies, but please
clean up any accidents and make sure that you keep a very careful eye on the
puppy at all times. Puppies can get into mischief in a heartbeat!
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CATS & KITTENS: A cat or kitten should be shown in the adoption room across
the hall from the Cat Room. A potential adopter may hold a cat in the adoption
room, but only after you have removed the cat from the cage and determined that
he/she is at ease. Take only one cat or kitten to the adoption room at a time. If
the potential adopter is interested in adopting two cats or kittens, please find a
staff member to assist them.
How to Handle the Animals
Being a responsible volunteer means keeping your eyes and ears open and using
caution and common sense. We want the shelter to be a safe environment for our
animals, staff members, volunteers, and visitors. Tetanus shots are recommended for
all volunteers, but not required.
Please see attached resources outlining canine behavior and signs of infectious
diseases.
Please DO:
 Report any signs that an animal may be ill to a staff member right away.
 Report all bites, scratches, or injuries to the Shelter Manager, Jena Theunissen.
Please DO NOT:
 Open a cage that has a warning sign on it.
 Stick fingers into cages.
 Allow members of the public to stick fingers into cages.
 Put your hand into a cage when an animal is eating.
 Go into the isolation areas or intake areas, or any office area where you have not
been instructed to go.
 Rough playing is NOT acceptable in a shelter setting.
Preventing the Spread of Infection:
 Wash your hands after handling an animal and before you touch another.
 Do not allow animals to share toys unless they are housed in the same cage.
 Do not let animals come in contact with each other unless they are housed in the
same cage.
 Do not let an animal touch another animal’s waste.
 Take a plastic bag and or poop scoop to clean up after the dog you are walking.
 Always clean up after an animal immediately (especially outside).
Care of Dogs
Handling Dogs: Volunteers are only permitted to handle dogs that have been
temperament tested and medically evaluated.
While you should not feed the dogs unless directed to do so by a staff member, the
dogs should always have fresh water unless noted otherwise (due to post‐surgical
needs, medical needs, etc.) If you are doing a quick watering job, use the plastic
watering can located in each dog room. The watering can is also handy for adding fresh
water to kennels where the dog inside may be difficult to handle.
While walking dogs, do not let them get within reach of each other. Please keep dogs at
least 5-10 feet apart at all times. Do not encourage dogs to jump on you or bite at their
leash. Parents, volunteering with small children should always have control of the
animal. Many of our dogs are strong and can pull a child down. We encourage you to
take treats with you on your walk and practice basic training and manners. Please notify
our staff on any progress you make so we can update their cage cards for potential
adopters to see.
Always assess a dog before entering its cage. Notice its body language and read the
cage card carefully. Check with a staff member before entering the cage of a dog that
does not have a cage card. DO NOT walk a dog that makes you uncomfortable, or a
dog that may be too strong for you to handle. If the dog does not want to come out
of its cage, leave him/her alone and inform a staff member.
Dogs must have a secure collar in order to be walked. If you would like to walk a dog
but notice it has no collar, or that the collar may not be the appropriate fit, please ask a
staff member to assist you.
Keep your dog close to you and on a short leash while walking through the shelter and
when entering and exiting the back door. They are excited about being outside and will
pull you and want to interact with other people or dogs.
Dogs are walked on the sidewalk in front of the shelter. You can take dogs for a long
walk down the sidewalk but you MUST have permission from the Shelter Manager
before leaving the premises with any animal. Off-site dog walking and play groups may
become available from time to time. Inquire with the Volunteer Coordinator if interested!
Dog Kennel Cleaning:
All kennels have to be kept clean and disinfected to prevent the spread of disease
among the dogs. Please see the Volunteer Coordinator for any questions regarding the
cleaning process.
Please see the Volunteer Coordinator with any questions regarding cleaning
procedures. Each morning, dirty bedding , toys and dishes should all be removed and
replaced with fresh linens , toys, dishes and food. All dogs should be fed according to
the feeding chart on the wall in the food prep area.
Each kennel area has a hose and cleaning supplies available. Please never spray or
clean in a kennel with the hose if a dog is present inside it. In order to disinfect a
kennel, fill your bucket with ½ cup of bleach, and 1 gallon of water in order to fight
bacteria and any disease that may be present. Scrub brushes and squeegee’s are
available for cleaning the kennel thoroughly. Please make sure the kennel is free from
any waste before placing the dog back into the kennel.
If you see a dog in a dirty cage after cleaning hours, please scoop and mop the waste. If
the dog makes you uncomfortable, please tell a staff member about the condition of the
kennel.
Dog Grooming:
If you think a dog needs a bath, check with a staff member who will explain how to
properly bathe dogs. Do not attempt to bathe a dog on your own until you have been
shown how by a staff member.
You may brush a dog in the adoption room if it is available. If you are brushing a dog
outside, please keep the dog on his leash or in an outdoor run. Be sure to clean and put
away all brushes or combs after use, and clean up the area after brushing dogs.
Care of Puppies
Puppies under 4 months of age are NOT walked outside. They have immature immune
systems and we must limit their exposure to diseases.
Puppies can be socialized in the adoption room. Socializing = gentle cuddling and
playtime. Do NOT handle puppies roughly or encourage rough play. Please clean up
any accidents using disinfectant.
Puppy cages need to be cleaned frequently throughout the day. You should sweep out
puppy cages, replace bedding that is wet or dirtied, and replace toys that have become
soiled.
Care of Cats and Kittens
While you should not feed the cats unless directed to do so by a staff member, the cats
should always have fresh water unless noted otherwise (due to post‐surgical needs,
medical needs, etc.) If you are doing a quick watering job, use the plastic watering can
located in the cat room. The watering can is also handy for adding fresh water to cages
of cats that are difficult to manage.
Handling Cats:
Always assess a cat before opening its cage. Notice its body language and read its
cage card carefully. If an animal does not have a cage card, please tell a staff member.
Do NOT attempt to take a cat out of his cage if he appears frightened or upset.
Sometimes it is enough just to stroke his/her head and talk in comforting tones.
Cat Cage Cleaning:
All cages have to be kept clean and disinfected to prevent the spread of disease among
the cats. Please see the Volunteer Coordinator with any questions regarding cleaning
procedures. Each morning, dirty bedding should be removed and changed. However, if
the bedding is clean it should NOT be removed. This is also the case for the litter box
and food dishes. Removing these things too frequently can be stressful on the cats
during their stay. It also causes us to have unnecessary amounts of dishes and
laundry!
Between cleanings, the cages may require some maintenance. Make sure water dishes
are clean and free of food and litter. Scoop litter boxes when necessary. Litter scoopers
need to be disinfected between uses.
If bedding is wet or dirtied, remove it and replace it with fresh bedding. You may need to
move the cat into a cat carrier or have another volunteer hold the cat while changing the
bedding.
Cat Grooming:
You may brush a cat in the adoption room if it is available. Be sure to clean and put
away all brushes or combs after use, and clean up the area after brushing cats.
Upkeep of General Areas
A clean shelter is a mark of a successful shelter. If the animals are kept in a clean
environment, they stay healthy and happy. If the cages and general areas are clean, the
shelter is a pleasant place for the animals, the workers, the volunteers, and potential
adopters.
Dishes: With so many animals to care for, it seems there are always dishes to wash!
Please ask a staff member to show you the correct cleaning procedures before washing
dishes, toys, litter pans, etc.
Laundry: There is always laundry to do here at LHS! Please ask a staff member if you
have any questions regarding the laundry procedures. All wash is done in cold water.
The settings on the washer and dryers should never be changed. Volunteers not
formally trained in the laundry should not attempt laundry.
Sweeping and Mopping:
Periodically throughout the day, the shelter floors may need to be swept and mopped.
Brooms, dust pans, and mop buckets are available for use in the Food Prep area.
Please ask a member of the staff to teach you how to prepare a bucket for mopping,
and always make sure a Wet Floor sign is placed in recently mopped areas.
In-Shelter Work Priorities
Not sure what to do? When volunteering at the shelter, your priorities are as follows:
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Your most important task is to ensure that all cages are clean and dry.
Make sure all animals have fresh, clean water.
Walk, exercise, and play with the dogs throughout the day.
Make sure all the animals are given love and socialization. Pats, strokes on the
head, soft words, cuddles, and praise go a long way. The more the animals are
positively conditioned, the more adoptable they become!
5. Assist potential adopters by making them feel welcome and showing them
available animals.
6. Help keep the general shelter areas clean. This includes the halls and rooms
inside the shelter as well as outside where the dogs are walked for potty breaks.
7. Be sure to ask staff member if any other work needs to be completed. There is
always a job to do at LHS!
Thank you for choosing to volunteer at the Lenawee Humane Society!