Partial List of Volunteer Opportunities
Pet Pals
Dogs Lovers can take a leisurely walk with one of our dogs in our big field or just sit out in the garden with the dog at your side. Volunteers who want more of a challenge can work with our trainers learning to make the dogs more adoptable. Cats Lovers can either engage a kitten in some frisky play exercise with our basket of toys or simply let an older cat enjoy your lap. Animal Lovers can spend a little time with the dogs and a little time with the cats. And there's more - For those who are interested, additional pet pal responsibilities can include grooming and bathing the dogs and cats or cleaning animal adoption rooms. Transporting animals to the veterinarian is an additional opportunity.
Foster Care Parent
During the late spring, summer and fall we are inundated with orphaned kittens, pregnant cats and mother cats with young kittens. We are in need of volunteers to open their homes and hearts to these animals until they are of age to be adopted out. The Potter League provides the food, equipment and medical supplies. On occasion, we need to foster an ill or injured dog.
Front Desk Help & Adoption Counseling
Greet the public, answer questions and assist with adoptions. Computer know-how and good customer service skills are helpful.
Computer & Clerical Assistants
Help us get organized. Do you have a working knowledge of Word, Excel, Access or Dreamweaver? How about word processing skills? Help is also needed for bulk mailings.
Love to talk on the telephone?
Volunteers are needed to answer phones at the shelter during our hours of operation and route the calls to staff members. Volunteers are also needed to make Adoption and Spay/Neuter follow-up calls.
Animal Assisted Activities
Bring your own pet or a shelter pet to a local nursing home or the hospital to visit with those who can no longer enjoy the company of an animal.
HeadStart
The HeadStart program gives dogs with little or no training a jumpstart on learning. Dogs are evaluated by our staff and given a training plan that our volunteers follow. HeadStart volunteers get specialized instruction and work as a team training our dogs on a regular basis in a consistent manner. HeadStart Volunteers also work with prospective adopters. This is a very challenging but rewarding program, which results in many successful adoptions. Dogs are also better able to cope with the stress of shelter life because of all the individual attention they receive.
Paws to Pet
Amazingly – just pausing a few minutes to pet and gently converse with a frighten kitty makes his or her day. We have seen dramatic results from this simple program. Volunteers are assigned to our neediest cats. Interactions between cats and volunteers have helped cats adjust to shelter life much more quickly – making them more relaxed and attractive to our adopters.
Committees
Interested in serving on a committee? From time to time there are opportunities for members of the community to serve on a committee. Click here to find out more.
If you are interested in learning more about our program and how you can get involved, contact Joyce Barton, Director of Volunteers at 401 846-8276 or JoyceB@PotterLeague.org