CLEANING HELPER:
If you have selected “cleaning helper” on your application, thank you! We will either be in touch with you directly regarding days we need help, or we may send out a mass email to all active volunteers with requests. Feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] if you’re excited to get started with this opportunity right away!
Due to the training involved in this position, we ask for a 2 month commitment for this opportunity. If there is a day of the week that works for both yourself and the shelter, you would come on that specific day every week, from 8:00-10:30 a.m. Ex. If we needed help in kennels on Mondays and it worked for your schedule, you would come every Monday from 8:00-10:30 for a minimum of 2 months. This volunteer position is available for helpers 16 years old or older.
DOG WALKING:
Dog walking shifts must be scheduled in advance, online. The scheduling link will always be live. If we have enough walkable dogs, we will update the link on Fridays for shifts that weekend and the following week. If we don’t have many walkable dogs, we will not update the link, as we can utilize staff to walk the dogs.
When you arrive for your shift, our front door will be unlocked, leading into our foyer. Knock on the second door (if it’s locked) and a staff member will let you in.
SIGNING IN: You will find an “Active Volunteer Log Book” on the front counter of the office. If you have never volunteered before, you will need to make a sheet for yourself by writing your name on the top of a blank form (found in the back of the book). Please write your last name, comma, then first name. Ex. Clark, Keira. Sheets are kept in the binder in alphabetical order by last name. Each time you come to volunteer, please sign in and out in the appropriate box. Once you have signed in, please make yourself a name tag and place this on your shirt. Nametags are kept next to the log book.
Tell a C.A.R.E. staff member (usually someone in the office) that you are here to walk dogs. We will either bring the dog outside for you, or hand the dog to you in our foyer area. When you come back from your walk, knock again and a staff member will bring the dog back to it’s room. Please abide by all dog walking rules listed in the volunteer orientation and manual.
Sign up for dog walking shifts HERE. If the link says “no appointments available”, that means we don’t have enough walkable dogs and have not updated the link for that weekend/week, or all shifts for that week have been filled. If a date is grayed out that means there are no shifts available that day.
CAT ENRICHMENT AND TLC:
Cat Enrichment and TLC shifts must be scheduled in advance, online.
When you arrive for your shift, our front door will be unlocked, leading into our foyer. Knock on the second door (if it’s locked) and a staff member will let you in.
SIGNING IN: You will find an “Active Volunteer Log Book” on the front counter of the office. If you have never volunteered before, you will need to make a sheet for yourself by writing your name on the top of a blank form (found in the back of the book). Please write your last name, comma, then first name. Ex. Clark, Keira. Sheets are kept in the binder in alphabetical order by last name. Each time you come to volunteer, please sign in and out in the appropriate box. Once you have signed in, please make yourself a name tag and place this on your shirt. Nametags are kept next to the log book.
We have taken some time to rethink our “Cat TLC” volunteer opportunity, and made some slight tweaks to ensure each cat is receiving the daily enrichment they need, in addition to being pet. Our solution was a weekly “Cat Enrichment Log”. Each cat will have an enrichment log sheet. The animal’s specific enrichment needs will be highlighted on the sheet. Some of the enrichment exercises can be completed only once per day, while others can be completed twice, or possibly more. Before interacting with the cats, please check the enrichment sheet! Our goal is to ensure that enrichment exercises aren’t being repeated too many times, or being skipped altogether between volunteer shifts. If you complete an enrichment, please make a check mark on the sheet. That way the next volunteer who comes in knows what’s been done and what still needs to be completed! The enrichment log lives on the kitchen island counter in the downstairs kitchen. There is a cat enrichment key on the board behind the kitchen island that explains what each enrichment exercise is (details can be found in the volunteer manual). If you need assistance, our staff will be here to help.
Sign up for Cat Enrichment and TLC shifts HERE. I recommend bookmarking this link for future use, as it’s always live and we do not typically send it weekly like the dog walking link. If a date is grayed out that means there are no shifts available that day.
DAY HIKE WITH A DOG:
Please call the shelter at 970-947-9173 the morning of the day you want to do your hike to ensure we have a dog that can go. There are times that we don’t have a dog that would be good on a hike (dog-dog aggression, stranger danger issues, etc.). If it’s your first time taking a dog on a hike from our facility, we will need a copy of your driver’s license the first time you come.
When you arrive, our front door will be unlocked, leading into our foyer. Knock on the second door (if it’s locked) and a staff member will let you in.
SIGNING IN: You will find an “Active Volunteer Log Book” on the front counter of the office. If you have never volunteered before, you will need to make a sheet for yourself by writing your name on the top of a blank form (found in the back of the book). Please write your last name, comma, then first name. Ex. Clark, Keira. Sheets are kept in the binder in alphabetical order by last name. Each time you come to volunteer, please sign in and out in the appropriate box.
Tell a staff member that you are here to do a day hike. We will either bring the dog outside for you, or hand the dog to you in our foyer area. When you come back from your hike, knock again and a staff member will bring the dog back to it’s room.
You can pick a dog up anytime after 10:30 a.m. and they must be back to the shelter at least 45 minutes prior to closing.
Our shelter hours are:
Monday CLOSED (but you can still take a dog for a hike if we have one. The dog would need to be back by 3:45 on Mondays)
Tuesday-Saturday 10:30-5:00
Sunday 10:30-3:00
The dog must always remain on leash, and we ask that you keep the dog away from any other dogs you might see while on your hike.
FOSTER CARE:
Our Foster Care Program is somewhat separate from the rest of our volunteer opportunities. If you are interested in fostering and haven’t already filled out our Foster Care application, please do so HERE. Our Programs Director will get back to you with more information!
EVENT HELPER:
Although we haven’t been doing as many in-person events since covid, we are starting to do small adoption and community outreach events again! We always need help with these. Now that you have completed our online orientation, you will be placed on the “active volunteer” email list, and I will send out emails as we have events that we need assistance with. If you have the time to help, please just respond to the email. If you don’t, there’s no need to respond, you can just wait for the next opportunity!
TRANSPORT:
The transport position involves traveling to other shelter/partner locations within Colorado (and sometimes beyond) to pick up animals and bring them back to C.A.R.E. for adoption. These partners usually ask for our assistance if they are having trouble placing animals or have a large population. You can drive one of our transport vans, or your own vehicle if it is large enough for the specific transfer we are doing (we’ll reimburse you for gas). When we need assistance, we will either call/email you directly to see if you are available, or I’ll sometimes send out a mass email.
If you are interested in participating in this position, please fill out the brief questionnaire HERE asking basic details regarding your availability, travel distance preferences, and vehicle size.
