Help Homeless Dogs- Volunteer with K-9 Lifesavers

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ADOPTION EVENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

K-9 Lifesavers holds adoption events every weekend. We are always looking for volunteers to assist at events, staffing the table and showing off the dogs to potential adopters. If you wuld like to be part of the team to help these awesome dogs find loving forever homes, contact us!

All adoption events are from 12 - 2pm

• 1st Sunday of each Month - Petco - 1507 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Md
• 2nd Sunday of each Month -Petsmart -6100 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church,VA
• 3rd Sunday of each month- Petco- 6181 Old Dobbin Lane, Columbia, MD
• 4th Sunday of each month-Petsmart-20924 N.Frederick Rd, Germantown
• 4th Saturday of each Month-Petco-1412 S. Main Chapel Way, Gambrills, MD

Events are also held when there is a 5th weekend of the month at select locations

Handlers are the key for a successful Adoption Event! Here are some tips and guidelines to ensure a great day. Let's us know if you can join!

• Please do not bring your own dog. We want you to have time to cuddle and play with the adoptable dog you are handling for the day.

• Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of the event and sign-in at the Information/Volunteer Table. We will give you a name tag for yourself and information on the doggie you are handling for the day. Upon receiving a dog to handle during the event, please ensure you are given an Adopt Me bandana so people know that they are looking for a loving forever home!

• Adopters may ask our adoption process. Please inform them our process includes filling out an adoption questionnaire, an interview, landlord/vet check, and home visit. We also adopt the dog to the BEST fitting home, which may not be the first application. If asked, K-9 Lifesavers is a non-profit, 501c3 organization. We do not have a shelter but survive from loving foster homes and our boarding partners.

• When handling a dog, please do not drag or pull the dog. Use treats or a sweet voice to entice them to follow you. Some of our dogs are new on a leash and may need a little help. Thank you so much for coming out, they are also learning valuable manners from you!

• If the dog likes to pull, you may want to sit down and hold them. We also have harnesses for the dogs. Just ask and we will fit your dog for a harness to make things easier and safer for both of you.

• Please feel free to walk the dog around, the dogs love to meet other dogs and people! If you think your dog may need to potty, bring the dogs to grassy areas for them to relieve themselves. However, if an accident happens, please clean it up. We keep bags and towels at the Information/Volunteer table.

• You may allow potential adopters to hold, handle, and walk the dog but you are the dog’s buddy for the day. You’ll want to keep an eye on the dog so you know where the dog is at all times and try to have the dog stay near the group.

• If a child wants to walk, hold, or handle a dog, first make ask the parent/guardian is in complete control of the leash. We ask that all dog handler volunteers are ages 16 & up, and minors must be accompanied by an adult. If a young child wants to hold a puppy, please have the child sit down for safety. We love children but want to ensure they are safe and supervised!

• Anyone who meets a puppy MUST use hand sanitizer first. The health of our puppies are very important to us! To help keep them healthy, please ask everyone to sanitize their hands!

• If a dog is anxious or starts to become aggressive with other dogs, please quickly walk them away from the large crowd and away from the situation. Notify the main table of any dog bites, serious altercations, or behavior issues.

• We have lots of treats and goodies at the main table. Please feel free to grab a handful to pass out to the dogs during the event. We want to make an event a great experience for the dogs so don’t be shy to give them treats and lots of affection!

• We encourage you to talk to potential adopters and answer questions about the dog, based on the information sheet and your own personal observations. Direct potential adopters to fill out a questionnaire at the Information/Volunteer table. A trained Adoption Counselor (AC) can approve an adopter and will be available to help with the adoption process.

• Try to keep track of serious applicants. If you know an applicant is at the main table being screened to adopt the dog you are handling, we encourage you to still talk to new applicants and have them to fill out an application. Please let the AC screening the new applicant know there is an application ahead of them.

• If an applicant is approved and WILL be adopting a dog, please take off their bandanna, even if the paperwork still needs to be done. This will encourage other applicants to look at the other dogs who are not adopted yet. And then it's time for a big "HORAY!" the dog would were buddies with for the day found a wonderful home!

  We truly appreciate you helping out today! It’s only a two hour commitment but makes a huge difference in a dog’s life. We hope the day is just as fun and enjoyable for you as it is for the dogs. Thank you so much for being part of our team and helping these wonderful dogs find loving forever homes!

For only a two hour commitment- You can make a big difference in the life of a homeless Dog!