Helping out
There are many ways you can volunteer to help out with the Southern
California Labrador Retriever Rescue, Inc. organization. If you are
interested, please fill out our Volunteer
Application and mail it to us. You can also contact us
at 888-554-ALAB.
What Can I Do?
This is by no means a comprehensive list, but this should give you an
idea of what kinds of work we have for our volunteers. There are many
ways to volunteer -- if you don't have time, donate money; if you don't
have money, donate time! Every little bit helps.
Family Representative
The Family Representative checks out each new home that applies to adopt
from SCLRR. Homechecks are necessary so that we may have the
information we need to decide on a good match between family and dog.
In some cases Family Reps do only homechecks; most will homecheck and
then help the family search for a good match.
This person acts as a liaison between the dogs we have available and a
prospective adoptive home. Using the application, a phone interview,
and home visits as appropriate, the Family Rep decides what sort of home
this family would make for a dog, and what type of dogs would fit in best.
At that point, the Family Representative forwards information about suitable
dogs available and the family can make its own decision as to which dog
they like.
Dog Representative
For dogs that the SCLRR lists as available but are not fostering, this
person evaluates the dog as best as can be done, through observation
and/or further interviewing of the family. This person helps coordinate
with area representatives to match interested families with the dog.
The Representative ensures that all paperwork (dog listing form,
vaccinations, spay/neuter certificates) are filed with SCLRR, and that
pictures and a descriptive "biography" are made available to advertise
the dog on our web pages.
Shelter Representative
The SCLRR is interested in keeping an updated list of Labradors
available in local shelters, recognizing that we can't take them all
but if we can refer folks to the shelters, every little bit helps.
In addition, SCLRR feels that good relationships with local shelters,
welfare organizations and rescue groups are valuable links in the quest to
make a difference for Labradors in this area. The Shelter Representative
is a person who regularly visits at least one shelter in their immediate
area. The Representative informs the SCLRR of available dogs who are
then referred by the Family Reps to adoptive homes. Depending on current
resources, the Representative may also arrange to remove Labradors
from the shelter on their last day. This will not always be possible,
so the Representative's job is not always easy. The decision to take
a dog out of the shelter is made in consultation with at least one of
the SCLRR officers to ensure that there is foster space for that dog.
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Foster Representative
Families that agree to foster dogs will foster one dog at a time at
their expense. Foster families are expected to keep the SCLRR completely
apprised of the dog's physical and mental condition. They are expected
to treat the foster dog as they would their own pet. Foster homes must
cooperate with various Family Representives who have selected potential
adoptive families for the dog. SCLRR does reimburse for basic veterinary
care (spaying or neutering, worming, etc) but not for food or equipment
(collars, crates, etc).
In some cases, a dog is fostered by a foster home, with a Foster
Representative who is not actually fostering the dog themselves. In
these cases, the Representative's responsibility is to coordinate
between the foster home and interested families. In some cases, the
Representative
will relay infomration about the dog to other volunteers (if the foster
home is not online, for example).
See also:
Fundraising and Donations
The SCLRR is in need of volunteers to work in fundraising efforts.
We need ideas for items that can be sold to raise money -- examples
could include T-shirts and other small Labrador related items. We also
need people who have ideas about where we can solicit donations. We need
people who can staff informational booths at various dog shows and public
events both as means of publicizing the organization, selling fundraising
items and soliciting donations.
Working with Animals
SCLRR is in need of volunteers to help with a variety of tasks.
For exmaple, transportation of a dog to the vet, from shelters to foster
homes, etc. People who can help with obedience training of particular
dogs. Folks willing to monitor lost and found ads in their paper.
People who are willing to sponsor/contribute toward a specific dog
in foter care (donations of this type are used for veterinary care
and dog food). "Babysitters," people who can take a foster dog for a
weekend when the foster family is out of town or for a few days when a
dog is being transferred to a foster home. Some of the folks who adopt
from us need a little help with getting the dog settled or retrained,
with things like housetraining, barking digging, and volunteers who can
help the adoptive home with these issues are always welcome
Outreach and public relations
An important part of our work includes reaching out to the public.
Not only do we need to let people know we are here, we need their support
in the form of donations. Mannong adoption booths at fairs and dog shows;
writing thank you notes to donors; photography, artwork & articles for
the newsletter; writing brochures, news releases; fundraising ideas;
planning raffles, the list is limited only by the imagination -- and
the volunteers!
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