Volunteer Program Information

Volunteer Information

All Volunteers must complete the Brevard County Animal Care and Adoption Center volunteer application form.
A waiver must be signed that includes the name and address of the person to reach in case of an emergency involving the volunteer.
All volunteers must be at least 16 years old to volunteer at the center. However, volunteer opportunities are available for younger people provided a parent or guardian is also a volunteer.
All volunteers must attend our orientation and training programs as part of their volunteer experience.
Background check must be completed.
Within two weeks of receiving your application, the Kennel Supervisor will contact you for an interview.

Please feel free to view our volunteer manual for more information on our volunteering policies and procedures.

To view our volunteer manual click here.

To view our volunteer application for the Brevard County Animal Care and Adoption Centers click here.

To view our volunteer orientation classes click here.

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Dear Past, Present, and Future Volunteer:

I want to introduce myself before our welcoming meeting on February 10^th. I have had the opportunity to meet only a few of you over the past two weeks since my arrival in Florida from California, and I must say the volunteers I have met are as dedicated and enthusiastic as any I have had the pleasure to work with.

I want to assure each of you that as the new Director of this agency I am committed to having a viable and effective volunteer program that will directly make the lives of the animals that find themselves in our shelters a better one. I am also committed to helping our residents become better animal care givers and pet owners. For us to move to an organization that no longer ends the lives of our pets simply because there is no home will require each of us to work together for this singular purpose.

I want to assure each of you that I am dedicated to this common goal, and though we may disagree from time to time on how we achieve this goal the bottom line is we will always agree on the end results of no animals’ life being ended simply because of having no home. We will work together to engage the entire community in this goal. I will work with all and any organization that is dedicated to this purpose. I will not concern myself with who receives the credit for making our communities more humane and caring, for we each have the responsibility to make Brevard County and its’ cities a more animal friendly place. I will work with responsible rescue groups that mandate the spay or neutering of all adoptable animals. I will work with foster homes in making it easier for them to assist us in our mission of placing more animals. I will work with organizations beyond the borders of Brevard County to find our animals quality homes. We will have no limits placed upon us in working for our common goal.

We all know that we do this in the reality of today’s world. One with financial limitations and stretched budgets. But I can assure you that the resources that truly make the difference are those provided by people such as yourselves……volunteers. Our organization will be open to all types of volunteers, ones that wish to work directly in the care and housing of our animals, ones that want to walk and exercise our dogs, ones that want to make our cats of all ages and colors more adoptable because of the socialization and love they receive from you, even those who do not wish to enter our shelters will have a place in our organization to improve the quality of life of the animals.

In closing I want to you see this as a new day for our animals, our volunteer program, and our agency. The past we cannot change, but the future is of our own making. Let’s make it a better one for you and the animals you want to help. If you are a past volunteer that for whatever reason has left us, give us another opportunity, if you are a present volunteer share with my staff and I how we can do better in making your experience more rewarding and more helpful to our animals, and if you are willing to become a future volunteer we will do our best to welcome you.

Thank you for all you have given of yourself, and thank you for all you will give.

Welcome Meeting: Date:          February 10, 2010
                                         Time:          6:30 PM
                                        Location:     Viera Government Center

For more information call our Volunteer Coordinator, Mary Thompson at 255-4327 or email her at m.thompson@brevardcounty.us

Mike McFarland
Director
Brevard County Animal Services

Volunteer Job Descriptions

Animal Care Volunteer: Weekdays and Weekends

-Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 7:00 am to 5:00pm

-Tuesday and Thursday 7:00am to 7:00pm

-Sunday 8:00am to 12:00pm

-General dog, puppy, cat and kitten kennels assigned by shelter staff.

-Assisting kennel staff with cleaning dog kennels and cat cages, dishes and laundry. This position requires lots of stooping, scooping and lifting. Volunteers should plan on a minimum of four hours per visit.

-Requirement: Volunteers must learn and practice safe animal handling according to Brevard County Animal Services cat and dog guidelines at all times, and be able to bend, lift and tolerate exposure to loud noises, heat and cleaning agents. Volunteers must also be able to lift 35 pounds.

-Training: Volunteer orientation, cat and dog training, on-the-job training by shelter staff.

Customer Service Greeters: Weekdays and Weekends

-Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10:00am to 5:00pm

Tuesday and Thursday 12:00pm to 7:00pm

-Front lobby and adoption dog and cat areas

-Greet guests at the door and/or assist them in adoption areas, answering questions concerning animals and the adoption procedures.

-Requirements: Volunteers must have excellent customer service, and be able to multitask effectively, and professionally represent Brevard County Animal Services at all times. Volunteers must learn and practice safe animal handling according to BASE cat and dog guidelines at all times, and be able to bend, lift and tolerate exposure to cleaning agents. Volunteers must be able to lift 35 pounds.

-Training: Volunteer orientation, cat and dog training, on-the-job training by the front desk staff and greeter, adoption procedures.

Dog Exercise Program: Weekdays and Weekends

-Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10:00am to 5:00pm

Tuesday and Thursday 12:00pm to 7:00pm

-Public dog area and designated puppy area

-Volunteers provide exercise and socialization for pre-screened dogs and puppies. The extra attention calms the animals and eases their tension, which makes them more adoptable. Volunteers will walk dogs in designated areas on adoption row and puppies in the designated area. As a pet exerciser, your first responsibility is to assist all customers with adoptions. All customers are required to interact with the dog or puppy before submitting an application.

Requirements: Volunteers must have excellent customer service skills and learn and practice safe animal handling according to BASE cat and dog guidelines at all times. You must be able to bend, lift and tolerate exposure to loud noise and cleaning agents. Volunteers must be able to lift 35 pounds.

-Training: Volunteer orientation, cat and dog training, adoption procedures. Additional training will be provided by the volunteer coordinator or an appointed volunteer mentor.

Cat Cage Attendant

-Weekdays and Weekends

-Cat Condo and Cat Cages

-Volunteers will assist with cleaning and maintaining cleanliness of cat housing area, scoop litter boxes, provide food and water cats and kittens. Wash dishes, sweep floors, and stock all supplies that are low.

Training: Orientation, cat and dog training, adoption procedures. Additional training will be provided by volunteer coordinator or an appointed volunteer mentor.

Special Events

-When scheduled. A description and requirements will be provided at the time of sign-up. Volunteers will be properly trained by the appropriate staff.

VOLUNTEER DUTIES INCLUDE:

· WALKING, SOCIALIZING, AND/OR BATHING SHELTER ANIMALS

· ASSISTING SHELTER STAFF

· CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ESCORTING ADOPTERS TO KENNEL AREAS

· COMMUNITY OUTREACH AT SPECIAL EVENTS AND ADOPTION DAYS

· TAKING DIGITAL PICTURES OF ANIMALS

· PROVIDING TEMPORARY HOMES FOR ANIMALS IN NEED

CONTACT INFO
M.THOMPSON@BREVARDCOUNTY.US
MARY THOMPSON
321-255-4346 OFFICE 321-426-6048 CELL

Thank you for your interest in serving as a volunteer. Participation in the Volunteer Program supports Animal Services in the operation of the Animal Care Centers and the ultimate goal of humane treatment and adoption of animals.