Pets For Life - Helping People Helping Pets

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About

Get involved with Pets for Life community outreach!

About our volunteers

Volunteers are essential to the ARL’s Pets for Life (supported by HSUS and granted by Petsmart Charities) program’s work to build humane communities in Des Moines, Iowa and other chosen cities in the country. This is the backbone of our community outreach campaign. We are looking for volunteers for our Pets for Life Des Moines program.

Greater volunteer involvement leads to stronger relationships within the community, which in turn makes the Pets for Life program more effective.

Volunteer opportunities

Streem Team/Canvassing Volunteer: Work with coordinators in target communities to spread the message and mission of the PFL program, as well as the message of spay and neuter, promoting vaccinations, and providing information on wellness care

Events Volunteer:Provide support for Pets for Life events such as spay/neuter and vaccination clinics and represent the program at other local events

Transport Volunteer:Provide support to clients and their pets to ensure they are able to take advantage of the services offered by the program

Benefits of volunteering: Volunteers see a proactive side of animal welfare work, helping animals by helping people in a way that prevents suffering and keeps animals out of shelters. Volunteers have the opportunity to better understand the challenges faced by animal owners in underserved communities and to be part of the solution to pet overpopulation.

Becoming a volunteer

Commitment Policies:

• All other volunteers commit a minimum of three months.
• We ask that all volunteers, regardless of their backgrounds, come with an open mind and positive attitude.

Restrictions:

• Volunteers must be a minimum of 18 years of age. There are some opportunities for teens under 18 to get involved in the program on a limited basis.
• Volunteers must pass a criminal background check.

Process

• Email our volunteer coordinator at MDevaney@arl-iowa.org
• A staff member will contact you to discuss opportunities and schedule you for an orientation.
• Complete online application form.
• If, after the orientation, we mutually determine that the opportunity appears to be a good fit, you will be asked to fill out an authorization form allowing us to carry out a background check based on the type of position for which you are applying.
• Following the completion of the background check, you will be asked to sign a volunteer agreement and a waiver and release of liability.
• After you are made an official volunteer, you will be trained in all aspects of your volunteer work.

Skills

• Able to work effectively on a team & independently
• Able to work comfortably in underserved communities
• People who speak Spanish are encouraged to apply.

• People who are retired
• People who area able to volunteer during the day, evenings and/or Saturdays
• People interested in social work
• People who are interested in helping people and pets at the same time.

• All other volunteers commit a minimum of three months.