Ventura County Animal Services - Ventura County Health Care

Ventura County
Animal Services
Volunteer Orientation
• Desk line – 805-388-4345
Brooke Novak
• Cell Phone – 805-765-5890
Manager of Volunteer & Program Development
• Email – vcar.volunteer@ventura.org
Why You’re
Here
• You LOVE animals!
• You want to learn what you can do to
help animals
• You may not have pets, but want
interaction with them
• You have an interest in animal welfare
or animal issues in our community
It takes a Village, & we ARE a
Village!
• Thank you for your interest in the VCAS Volunteer Program!
• Your time is the most valuable thing you can offer & you are now a
part of our ever growing #VCASVillage!
• Our success is only because of you and people like you in our
community
• It’s because of your heart, skills, and commitment that we will make
an enormous difference in the lives of the animals
We need you!
• Limited funding
• Grow our network
• Bring unique skills and talents to our organization
• New energy & excitement
• Help staff get the job done – saving lives!
What You Get
• The joy and satisfaction of saving lives
• Education for yourself and friends
• Resume builder
• Make new friends and meet lots of fun, like-minded
people
• It’s FUN!
Agenda
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The Power of Compassion video
History of Ventura County Animal Services (VCAS)
Requirements for volunteering
Volunteer opportunities
Training
Volunteer Application
Questions & answers
The Power of Compassion
Who is VCAS?
• Ventura County Animal Services is an
open-admission municipal shelter and a
division of Ventura County Public Health.
• VCAS:
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Provides compassionate care to stray and abandoned
animals
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Promotes animal adoptions
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Reunites pets with their owners
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Rescues stray and injured animals
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Processes new and renewal pet licenses
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Hosts low-cost rabies vaccination clinics
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Educates the community about animal welfare and proper
pet care
• There are two shelter locations –
Camarillo & Simi Valley
• We have an annual intake of over 13,000
animals.
• We service all of Ventura County except
Thousand Oaks & Santa Paula.
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Including Fillmore, Ojai, Oxnard, Camarillo, Ventura,
Port Hueneme, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Agoura Hills,
Oak Park, Meiners Oaks, Mira Monte, Oak View,
Lockwood Valley, Hollywood Beach, Silver Strand,
Bell Canyon, Lake Sherwood, and all unincorporated
county areas
Our Philosophy
• No healthy or adoptable animal
is euthanized
• Reaching a 90% or higher live
release rate (LRR)
• Making sure every animal’s stay
is adding positive growth to the
animal – enrichment, behavior
modification, socialization, or
proper health care
• Spay & Neuter!
• Working to make adopting at
our shelter a positive, enjoyable
experience – not something to
be sad about!
• Proper terminology:
• VCAS, Ventura County
Animal Services, the
Camarillo/Simi Valley
Animal Shelters, the
Camarillo/Simi Valley
Adoption Centers, Animal
Control Officers, Animal
Officers, ACO’s
• Not appropriate:
• The pound, County, animal
jail, dog catchers
Volunteer Commitment
Be honest with yourself & us about your needs, concerns and availability.
• In order to provide the animals in our facilities the best care and support, we do require
volunteers to commit to a full year of volunteering on a regular schedule. This requirement is
needed to ensure quality training and to maintain a consistent level of volunteer coverage. We do
allow for vacations and needed days off. Due to limited resources and the required training for each
volunteer position, we are not able to offer short-term or summer volunteering experiences working on
site.
• Volunteers are scheduled a minimum of one shift every other week. What happens if I want to
go on vacation?
• We understand that life can be busy and have made our scheduling process as flexible as we are
able. To make scheduling easy to manage, volunteers have a set schedule working the same shift
time on the same day of the week. Volunteers manage their own schedules and we allow for
regular vacations and pre-arranged shift adjustments. When removing themselves from the
schedule, volunteers are welcome to pick up a make-up shift, but it is not required.
• If you find you will be unable to volunteer for three or more months within the year, our foster
program does allow for longer breaks if needed.
Age Requirement
18 years or older
• Do you allow youths under 18 to volunteer if they are accompanied by a
parent who is also a volunteer?
• Due to the nature of the work at VCAS, and often confined physical space, we are unable
to accept partnership volunteering teams. For safety reasons, all volunteers must meet
our general requirements and be able to work independently. Individual volunteers
must also individually complete the application process.
• Our foster program is a great way for youths and parents to have a rewarding
volunteer experience together. Although the primary volunteer must be 21 years
of age, the entire family can participate in the fostering experience.
Volunteer Qualifications
No prior experience is needed to volunteer in our entry level positions, but we do require all volunteers to
be/have:
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Good communication skills
Comfortable with technology
Willingness to learn
Not squeamish
Common sense
Follow directions
Respectful to others
Always with a positive attitude
• Support policy
• Good listeners
• Self‐motivated & independent
worker
• Safe & sensitive
• Understand their commitment
• Ability to accept our
Veterinarian’s choice on
euthanasia decisions
Volunteer Opportunities
• Dog Squad
• Callaway Cats
• Bunny Brigade
• Office Support
• Professional Photography
Dog Squad Job Description
• Must have basic comfort level with dogs and must know
your own limits
• Must be physically able to walk dogs
• Always greet & help adopters
• Clean kennels, fill water bowls, give blankets and toys, do
laundry, help with dishes, sort donations
• Socialize, exercise, and promote available dogs
• Educate the public on proper dog care
Dog Squad Opportunities
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Dog Walker
Canine Cardio
Lex Enrichment
Play Pen Parties
Puppy Room
Video Promotions
Biography Writer
Adoption Counselor
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Hound on the Town
Dog Bather
Dog Handling Trainer
K9 Confidence Crew
Pit Crew
Photography
Day Lead
Pet Pantry
Callaway Cat Job Description
• Must have basic comfort level with cats, no allergies
• Must be physically able to bend to clean kennels or pick
up cats
• Always greet & help adopters
• Clean kennels, fill water bowls, give blankets and toys, do
laundry, help with dishes, sort donations
• Socialize, engage, and promote available cats
• Educate the public on proper cat care
Callaway Cat Opportunities
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Cat Rehab
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Video Promotions •
Biography Writer •
Day Lead
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Cat Cuddles
Pet Pantry
Cat Groomer (brushing)
Cat Handling Trainer
Photography
Offsite Cat Care
Adoption Counselor
Bunny Brigade Job Description
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No rabbit experience necessary
Must not have allergies to rabbits, cats or hay
Always greet & help adopters
Clean kennels, do laundry, help with dishes, sort donations
Socialize, exercise, and promote available rabbits
Educate the public on proper rabbit care
Bunny Brigade Opportunities
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Rabbit Socialization
Video Promotions
Biography Writer
Day Lead
Pet Pantry
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Photography
Offsite Rabbit Adoptions
Adoption Counselor
Rabbit Training
Office Support Description
• Must be very comfortable with computers
• Must be a self-starter and independent worker
• Prefer someone with an upbeat attitude, creative mind and someone
with a strong attention to detail
• Enter information about animals, name animals, create biographies about
animals, organize and sort various projects, help plan events and reach
out to the community, create adoption packets
Volunteer Process
• Attend orientation
• Turn in application
• Attend specific group training
• Dog Squad: Welcome Wagon (3 hrs) & Basic Dog Handling (3 hrs)
• Different sub-groups for Dog Squad require further training with a mentor
• Callaway Cat: Two training sessions on consecutive Saturdays (6 hrs total)
• Different sub-groups for Callaway Cats require further training with a mentor
• Bunny Brigade: One training session (3 hrs) and then volunteering under a mentor until both feel
comfortable
• Office Support: Two training sessions (6 hrs total) at times convenient for both the volunteer &
trainer, and then work under a mentor until both feel comfortable
Simi Valley Adoption Center
• Smaller location
• To volunteer at the Simi Valley Adoption Center you must:
• Have a positive attitude
• Enjoy working with a team
• Be comfortable working without constant supervision
• After orientation, please attend the basic training at
Camarillo, and then you will head to Simi Valley to be
mentored until you and your trainer feel comfortable.
We’re social!
• Please visit us on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/VCAnimalServices
• Twitter: @VCAnimalService & @VCLostPets
• Instagram: @VCAnimalServices
• You can also find us at www.vcas.us & on our
NEW APP!
• Search for Ventura County Animal Services Pet
Adoptions
Volunteer Application Time!
Questions?
Stick around for the Foster Orientation!
• Dogs, cats, rabbits any
age!
• 21 years or older (for the
primary care-giver)
• You supply the food,
water & love
• Anywhere from a 1
weekend to 7 weeks time
commitment