Community Cat Volunteer

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Community Cat Volunteers are responsible for assisting the Community Cat Coordinator with overseeing ACCT Philly’s TNR (Trap-Neuter-Release) program. The duties of the Community Cat volunteer include, but are not limited to: accommodating humane housing and live exit of feral cats from the shelter environment, providing assistance and education to the general public and colony caretakers, ensuring accurate record keeping, disseminating accurate and appropriate information.

Principal Duties

• Assisting with the feeding and cleaning of trapped cats and cleaning of traps and equipment;

• Assisting with transporting of traps and other equipment to and from colony caretakers;

• Assisting with the trapping and releasing of stray cats, as needed;

• Create schedules for targeted trappings within the city of Philadelphia;

• Trap, transport, and release cats who need TNR in Philadelphia;

• Assisting with community outreach and education in regards to TNR efforts and management of feral colonies, as well as coordination and promotion of TNR Clinics, as needed;

• Maintaining a friendly demeanor and providing high quality customer service in the field and to people who visit or call the facility, work cohesively and respectfully with all clients;

• Cut trap covers, replenish trap covers, wash trap covers separately from other dirty linens and place them in the appropriate clean bins;

• Prepare multiple forms used in shelter for TNR;

• Treating all animals humanely, properly, and with compassion at all times, regardless of the situation or circumstance, and promoting a humane and caring attitude toward all animals.

Requirements

• Excellent customer service skills including compassion and the ability to listen and be empathetic towards all community members.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills. The ideal volunteer for this job would be personable, outgoing, patient, professional, and able to get along well with a variety of people;

• Maturity, good judgment and a professional personal appearance;

• Strong organizational and computer skills;

• The ability to remain pleasant and calm even in stressful situations;

• The ability to ask appropriate questions to gather information along with the ability to feel and show empathy for others;

• The ability to turn people down, firmly when necessary, without becoming aggressive or unpleasant;

• Affection for animals, concern for their welfare, and a willingness to accommodate animals in the workplace;

• Comfort and ability in working with animals of unknown disposition and those who may exhibit medical and other problems, as well as aggressive tendencies;

• Willingness and ability to learn and maintain knowledge of animal behavior and health, common issues, and ways to address them;

• Ability to problem solve and work with minimal supervision;

• Ability to accommodate varied work assignments and schedules;

• Ability to lift and move objects and animals weighing up to 30 pounds for short distances;

• Must have a sincere interest in the work, programs and mission of ACCT Philly.

Recommendations

• Become a caretaker on your block;

• TNR cats that you see in your neighborhood

*All in shelter community cat volunteers must be at least 16 years old.

*All transport volunteers must be at least 18 years old, have a valid drivers license, and reliable transportation.