Volunteer

• Adoption Clinics – Volunteers are needed to assist with off-site adoption clinics by meeting the public, handling and showing animals for adoption, keeping cages clean, walking the dogs and transporting animals.
• Baking / Cooking - Volunteers are needed to bake or cook for bake sale tables, dinners and events.
• Corporate Solicitations - We know that there are big corporations that will give donations of money or goods to charitable organizations. We need volunteers that can make these contacts.
• Fostering  - We need volunteers that can foster animals for short periods of time. No sick animals will be put in anyone’s care without their knowledge and you will not be abandoned with that animal. Needs are especially great during the Spring kitten and puppy season.
• Fund Raising / Special Events - Planning and implementing new and annual fund raising projects such as the Spay-ghetti Dinner and Putt for Mutts.
• Grounds And Maintenance - Help with the flower beds, lawn mowing, painting, minor repair and other projects to keep our facility in shape.
• Kennel Help - We need volunteers that can come in the mornings and evenings, weekdays and weekend, to feed, water, clean and socialize.
• Nursing Home Visits - This program takes pets to nursing homes and convalescent homes for interaction with patients and residents. As a volunteer you would bring your pet and interact with the nursing home residents.
• Office Work - Assist our office staff with various duties including telephone duty, computer input, etc.
• Petsmart Cat Cleaners - Volunteers are needed to clean cages, feed, water and play with the cats available for adoption.
• Public Speaking - Occasionally we need volunteers that are available to make speeches and presentations to civic and non-profit groups.
• Raffles / Door Prizes - We need volunteers who can solicit businesses for donations of raffle items and door prizes.
• Resale Shop - Like to plunder and sort through rummage? Want to arrange store merchandise and displays? Pick any day to volunteer - once a week, twice a month, whatever suits you. Hours are flexible. No need to dress up - jeans/shorts and a t-shirt are fine.
• Rummage Sale - Volunteer opportunities include sorting and pricing rummage year-round, setting up before the sale and working the days of the sale.
• Rummage Pickup - Volunteers with trucks and muscles are needed to pick rummage year round. You must coordinate with the donor, pick up rummage and deliver it to the MSPCA office.
• Saturday Volunteers - Volunteers are needed to work in the office on Saturday with duties that include everything from answering the telephone to socializing animals.
• Spay/Neuter Committee - Volunteers are needed to man the spay/neuter booth at many different venues and talk to people about and encourage spay/neuter.

The Mobile SPCA recognizes the importance of educating our youth on animal welfare issues. As such, youth volunteers 14 - 18 are welcome and now able to volunteer! Through volunteering with the Mobile SPCA, teens learn that one person can make a positive impact on the world around them. Teens will get to see first hand how their compassion and dedication can change lives. Participating teens will determine their commitment to the organization without any obligation.

Parents must complete a volunteer application for all youths between 14 and 18 years of age. Additionally, parents and teens must sign a code of conduct agreement specifying that the youth volunteer will behave according to MSPCA standards. Parents will also sign a waiver/release that they understand and take responsibility for any accidents or injuries that might occur during volunteer times. All forms must be signed before participation.

Requirements are as follows:

• Minimum age requirement is 14 years.
• Parental permission required.
• Supervising adult over the age of 25 must work with you at all times.
• Must be physically and emotionally capable of caring for animals of all sizes.
• Must have prior pet experience! You must either have owned a pet, currently own a pet, or have worked with pets, i.e., pet sitting or dog walking.
• $10 donation required to cover cost of a volunteer t-shirt.
• Membership is encouraged.

Benefits:

What does a teen have to gain by volunteering?

• A feeling of gratification knowing they gave their own time to make a better life for a pet in need.
• Those who are unable to have pets in their own homes will have time that they can spend with a pet in the program, whether it be an afternoon in the park or helping bathe the pet before adoption.
• Learn leadership skills by developing new programs, such as a fundraiser or humane education lecture to be presented at their school.
• Become a mentor to a younger child through example.
• Accumulate needed community service hours for graduation.
• Receive letters of recommendation from Mobile SPCA when applying to colleges.

Code of Conduct:

• I will respect all adult volunteers.
• I will respect my fellow teen volunteers.
• I will set a good example for other teen volunteers by behaving respectfully.
• I will talk with a Mobile SPCA adult volunteer about any problems I observe or concerns I may have.
• I will embrace the inclusion of all teen volunteers, regardless of their age, grade, gender, etc…

Dress:

• Please wear jeans or pants and a shirt with sleeves (sleeveless shirts and shorts are permitted during warm weather but be aware that dogs jump and scratch bare legs and arms). No "Daisy Duke" shorts are ever permitted.
• T-shirts must not contain any inappropriate messages or graphics. MSPCA volunteers must wear a purple volunteer T-shirt at all MSPCA events (available for purchase for $10 each).
• No low cut shirts, crop tops or low riding jeans that show skin at the waist are permitted.
• Sturdy shoes covering the entire foot are required. Flip-flops, sandals, clogs, and open-toe shoes are not acceptable.
• For safety reasons, any member that comes with the wrong clothes will not be allowed to spend time with the animals.

Language:

• Friendly, respectable and helpful language is always welcome.
• Rude, disrespectful or profane language or gestures are not allowed.

Personal Boundaries:

• There will be no exchange affectionate overtures with your romantic interest.
• Members are to respect each other's personal space. Anybody that touches another person in an inappropriate way will be asked to leave.

Electronics:

• I-pods, MP3 players or other electronic devices may not be used
• Turn cell phones to vibrate while volunteering. Please restrict personal phone calls and texting while volunteering.
• Do not text or talk on the phone while handling our pets.

Behavior:

• Do not engage in any inappropriate behavior while on MSPCA property or at a MSPCA event.
• Underage smoking, taking drugs, drinking or bringing alcohol or any illegal substances on MSPCA property is forbidden. Conversation about use/abuse of these items is inappropriate.
• Smoking is strictly forbidden inside the building, around the animals or near people who don't smoke.
• Be self-controlled, reasonably quiet and non-disruptive.
• Be polite and respectful to staff, customers and fellow volunteers and their property.
• Set a good example for other volunteers by behaving respectfully.
• Understand that the Board of Directors holds all volunteers as important and encourages everyone to communicate all ideas, concerns or problems directly to senior staff.
• Embrace the inclusion of all volunteers, regardless of their age, grade, gender, etc.
• Uphold confidentiality in dealing with customer information and the MSPCA
• Promote and present MSPCA in a positive, professional manner, both in communication and presentation, verbally or through social media and emails.
• Do not engage in horseplay.
• Do not intentionally make or leave messes for others to clean up.
• Do not talk or cause distractions when other volunteers are speaking to the group, potential adopters, etc.
• Do not interrupt or "chime in" while MSPCA staff or adult volunteers screen a potential adopters

Animals:

• Treat all animals in a humane, compassionate manner and ensure their safety at all times.

Volunteer Opportunities:

Youth volunteers may participate in volunteer opportunities such as adoption days, outdoor events, fundraising, grooming, dog walking, and humane education. Parents and supervising adults will accompany their minor children and participate in all volunteer activities. The Presidential Service Award and other Mobile SPCA volunteer awards are presented at the annual Volunteer Dinner. Presidential Service Awards require a minimum of 100 hours service during the calendar year.

Service Hours:

• Youth volunteering for community service hours are required to track their own hours and provide any documentation that needs to be signed to the volunteer coordinator upon completion of their volunteer service.Please complete the application, waiver, and code of conduct if you would like to volunteer. A MSPCA volunteer will contact you once the application is received. Please contact us with your questions.

  I understand that participating in volunteer activities with the Mobile SPCA is a privilege. I vow to conduct myself as explained above. I understand that if I am behaving inappropriately on a continual basis, I may be asked to leave an event early, miss an event or two, or leave the group all together.