HCAS Programs: Pick your Poison!

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Below are just some of the many things you may choose to do as an HCAS Volunteer!

 

Digital Photography :  The photography Team takes photos and uploads them to our websites.   The goal of the program is to increase the number of adoptions and RTO’s (  pets Return to Owners).  This program runs daily. Prerequisites:  Orientation ~ Shelter Safety

Foster Home Program:  Foster homes provide a temporary home for  homeless, sick, abused or injured pets.  These pets are offered a chance to heal, recover or have extra time to find a permanent home.  This program runs as needed.   Prerequisite: Orientation ~ Shelter Safety ~ and Complete a Foster Home Questionnaire.

Lost Pet Escort:  Assist pet owners who are looking for a lost pet. Escort them through the shelter. Provide them with the Lost Pet Packets.  This program runs daily, 7 days a week.   Prerequisite: Orientation

Dog and Cat Adoption Escort:  Provide information about our adoption program. Guide customers during the animal selection process. Provide Pet Information about our Adoption Program. Guide customers during the animal selection process. Provide Pet information, breed information and answer ‘new owner’ basic questions.  This program runs daily, 7 days a week.  Prerequisite:  Orientation

Shelter Support:  Work in dog/cat kennel area. Help clean, do kennel checks, stock supplies and assist kennel staff.  This program runs daily.  Prerequisite: Orientation and  training under a kennel supervisor.

Investigation Dog Walkers:  Exercise our long term investigation dogs and cats. Provide training, social time, play time and social interaction.  This program runs daily.  Prerequisite: Orientation ~  Shelter Safety . Must ‘shadow’ a senior IK handler for the required 15 hours.

A.D.O.P.T Dog Training:  Learn how to train our “Amazing Dogs on Positive Training”. Work with our ADOPT dogs at the shelter and help them pass the “Canine Good Citizen” test.  Prerequisite: Orientation ~ Shelter Safety ~ Must ‘shadow’ a senior handler for the required hours.

Adoption Transportation:  Transport adoption pets to our adoption partners and rescue groups.  This program runs ‘as needed’.  Prerequisite:  Orientation ~ Shelter Safety ~ Drivers license check ~ (MAV training for our Adoption Bus).

Reserve Animal Control Officer:  Support field operation as trained reserve Animal Control Officer.  This program runs as scheduled.  Prerequisite:  Orientation, Animal Training and Reserve Officer Training Classes.

Vet Services:  Support Vet Services Dept.  Clean kennel area, handle animals and assist with vet exams.  This program runs daily, 7 days a week.  Prerequisite:  Orientation, and Shelter Safety.  Train under Vet Techs.

Administrative Support:  Assist with any administrative duties through-out Animal Services.  This program runs daily.  Prerequisite:  Orientation.

Community Events:  Provide support, public information at off-site community events.   This program runs as scheduled.  Prerequisite:  Orientation and Training per Event.

 

HCAS Pit Crew:  Help by working together in the communities and building a bigger base of foster “transition’ homes for Pit Bull Terriers.Hosting events where we offer education to potential new forever homes.Attend, Transport and handle our PBA’s at events.Help make flyer boards and other promotional materials.

Help at the HCAS/HSTB/Best Friend’s shot clinics, adoption events including “Bark in the Park”

Keep an updated Face Book pageDog Handlers to attend our training classes to help our PBA’s obtain their CGC’s

Prerequisites: Orientation ~ Shelter Safety ~ Customer Service ~”Shadowing” the required amount of dog handling hours.

“Lost and Found” Project:  Be part of a team that matches missing and found pets by comparing online ads-newspaper ads against each other, and animals that come through the shelter.  Mail out “tip sheet’ and ‘support’ emails to those who have lost or found pets within Hillsborough County. Most of this project can be done at home with a weekly ‘walk through’s’ of the shelter. Prerequisites: Orientation ~ Shelter Safety ~ Customer Service (must have basic computer knowledge)

Community Events:  Provide support, public information at off-site community events.  (As scheduled)  Prerequisites: Orientation,  Training per Event, Shelter Safety and Customer Services Classes.

Jr. Volunteer:   Work in dog and/or cat kennel area. Help clean, do kennel checks, stock supplies and assist kennel staff.  Lost Pet Escort. Prerequisites:  Orientation, Train under Kennel Staff, Customer Service and Shelter Safety Classes.

E and F Kennel Walkers:  Provide exercise, playtime and social interaction for the dogs  in “E” and “F” kennels, which are the kennels that do not provide any outside access.  Prerequisites: Orientation ~ Shelter Safety ~ “Shadowing” of a lead handler for required amount of hours.

Cat Ambassadors:  Showcase our cats and kittens. Help the public with “Meet and Greets”. Provide helpful information about adopting and cat care.  Prerequisites: Orientation ~ Shelter Safety