Dog Retreat Volunteer

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Volunteers come to Friends of Michigan Animals Rescue with a love for animals. Many feel comfortable with their dog handling skills after having pets of their own. It is important to remember that dogs in a shelter will not act like the pets in your home. Shelter dogs come into a brand new environment with unfamiliar smells, bedding, people, and noises. It takes time for dogs to decompress and adjust to new faces, sharing communal space, and the smells and sounds of a shelter.

Do not feel sorry for rescue dogs and try to console them with baby talk and allow them to do whatever they want. You will not hurt their feelings by showing them guidance. It is our job to show calm consistent leadership and teach them rules and boundaries to help them become more adoptable.

Responsibilities:

• Remove dog from kennel with the least distress to other canines

• Provide an ample supply of water before, during, and after training

• Positive rewarding of good behavior

• Socialization of the canines, including brushing and fun time

• Look for signs of distress/illness in the animals

• Cleaning kennel

Qualifications:

• Must be at least 18 years old

• Must be able to volunteer for a minimum of 3 hours per week on an assigned shift (no drop-ins) and commit to coming regularly each week

• Must have previous dog handling experience

• Must attend FMAR training sessions before being assigned to a weekly volunteer shift

• Must have patience with overactive dogs

• Must be able to handle large and/or untrained dogs