ADOPTION COORDINATORS
Overview: Adoption Coordinators assist with adoption hours at either the Ellington CT shelter or Patterson NY kennel or offsite adoption events on Saturday mornings. Coordinators talk to possible adoptive families and let them visit with our animals needing homes. If they are interested in adopting, Coordinators help the families to make the best match possible.
More Detail: Adoption Coordinators are the front line in sending our animals home to the right families. There are times when the animal they have chosen is not the best pick for their home. For example – a bouncy terrier might not do best in a home with small active children or a shy puppy might need a quieter environment. It is your responsibility to help them find another animal that would make a better match. In addition, not every person wanting a pet should have one.
Who should be an Adoption Coordinator: Because Adoption Coordinators have a great deal of responsibility, we look for a special type of volunteer to fill this position. The ability to talk to people in an informative manner, ability to assess people’s personalities and the suitability of their homes for our animals, knowledge of dog behaviors and issues, ability to deal calmly and efficiently with crowds, etc. Due to liability, Adoption Coordinators must also be 21 years of age.
Training: Previous animal experience preferred.
Commitment: about 4-5 hours once or twice a month.
Interested or have questions? Contact us!
ADOPTION EVENTS
The following helps is always needed at adoption events
–Greeters help control the crowds at adoption events and make sure each family is assigned to an adoption coordinator.
–Coordinators make the magic happen. You’ll use your knowledge of dogs to help families meet the dogs they are interested in, guide them toward dogs that would be a good match, and answer general questions on the dogs in our care or dog care in general.
–Software Techs are trained on our adoption software and assist the adopters with the final part of the adoption process.
–Sitter/walkers take care of the dogs during adoption events and help keep our doggies clean and safe.
–Puppy / Supply Transporters help get the dogs, puppies, and supplies from our shelters to and from the offsite events.
–Site Leaders take charge of an adoption event from start to finish and make sure all volunteer positions are filled. They will be onsite for the event and the go to person leading up to it as well.
Interested or have questions? Contact us!
FOSTER HOMES (canine!)
Overview: A foster home is a temporary home in which our dogs and puppies can live like they are supposed to live – as our companions – until they are adopted. Foster homes provide a safe and loving environment for animals in our care that are either waiting for their new families to find them or while on any additional days of medication.
More Detail: After picking the dog or cat up from a PawSafe volunteer it will be your responsibility to give them a clean and comfortable place to stay, administer any needed medications, and provide love and attention. By keeping their living quarters clean, we are keeping the animals healthier. Foster homes need to feel comfortable performing an adoption to a fully screened family. That can happen at either your home or a more public location. You are even welcome to take the animal to the adopter’s home if you’d like that type of interaction with the new family.
Puppies: Many of our foster families work full or part time. When that is the case we suggest that you take 2 puppies so that they can entertain each other. We can provide a crate or x-pen so that the puppies have a save place to stay during the day. Most of our foster homes prefer x-pens since they are easier to clean and give the puppies more area to play and still be safe.
Foster Home duties consist of:
- Picking up a dog from a volunteer or kennel where they are boarded (Ellington or Eastford CT/ Patterson NY)
- Providing them a safe place to stay while you are out.
- Providing fresh food and water. We can provide the food.
- Being available to a potential family to come and meet them.
- Completing an adoption should the family be a match.
- Returning them to be adopted or bringing the puppy/dog to an adoption event.
Who should be a Foster Home: We look for people who love to interact with animals and truly understand that you are helping to save their lives. Our foster families have all kinds of schedules and busy lives, but they enjoy the little bit of heaven saving a life can provide.
Training: Previous animal experience preferred.
Commitment: The average time from foster to placement is normally a week or two.
Interested or have questions? Fill out our foster form or contact us if the foster form misbehaves for you.