This piece first appeared in the December 13, 2022 issue of our newsletter.
I have learned a lot about shelter volunteer programs over my years in sheltering starting as a volunteer and then as staff who developed a volunteer program. Our team at the Shelter Playgroup Alliance travels nationally and internationally to numerous shelters where we both teach and learn valuable lessons. Since we are often training a large cohort of staff and volunteers both virtually and in-person over a period of four to six months we get to know both the attendees and some about their shelters’ operations. As a result, we’ve picked up a few things about effective shelter volunteer programming. Here are some highlights:
Volunteers are critical to great welfare. Without volunteers shelters are often not able to provide a great level of welfare to the animals in their care. Shelters are often staffed ‘just enough’ to deliver the basics of animal care; volunteers are essential to addressing the behavioral and emotional needs of the animals. Great shelter leaders recognize this and support collaboration among, and continuing education for, both staff and volunteers.
Shelters can support volunteers through choice-based continuing education. A robust program that allows volunteers to choose learning paths that are appropriate for their skills and interests is a key to developing and retaining great people. The content doesn’t necessarily need to be developed directly by the shelter. The Fear Free Shelter program as well as our CORE On-line program are both no-cost for shelters and can be used to augment existing volunteer and staff training. Real positive change happens in shelters where everyone in the organization has access to the same content, but can choose how much or how little they wish to participate in after completing a standardized on-boarding program. I have been impressed by shelters who have flexible volunteer opportunities, from simple drop-in activities that don’t involve direct animal care to more complex programming for animal training and behavior modification.
Ethics help to maintain a base of great volunteers. There are some practices that can diminish the welfare of shelter dogs by using flooding and punishment. These practices are contrary to current ethical procedures for animal training, and we go to great lengths to avoid any unethical practices. Far too many attendees of our program struggle to regain confidence after engaging in practices that they didn’t feel comfortable with that resulted in people and/or animals requiring medical care on a regular basis. We have been thanked countless times for establishing an ethical and welfare-driven program that doesn’t force people nor animals into potentially dangerous situations. Many volunteers and staff reported that they left organizations because they were forced to employ those unethical methods, and sought shelters that instead strive to reduce fear, anxiety, stress, and frustration (FASF) — like our program and the Fear Free Shelter program. A commitment to ethics and positive reinforcement-based programming for both people and animals can help keep valuable volunteers.
Mutual respect and trust between volunteers and staff improves welfare for animals. Volunteers are knowledgeable and skilled before they start volunteering at a shelter by virtue of their previous and/or current employment, learning history, and/or formal education — but they may not know about shelter operations, animal behavior, nor animal training. The best organizations are aware of the knowledge, skills, and abilities that each volunteer brings and leverages those while also helping them learn about animal care, training, and behavior. Just as important as shelters valuing volunteers is volunteers respecting and valuing staff and shelter policies. I have seen staff overwhelmed by volunteers trying to ‘get their way’ or wanting change to happen quickly, but it works much better when volunteers partner with staff to improve welfare at a pace that works with the shelter’s culture. Collaboration and partnership is a two-way street.
While these lessons have been learned in the shelter industry, I am certain that the general principles of ethics, choice, collaboration, and mutual respect work in many other industries. If you are inspired to volunteer for a shelter or rescue, look for organizations that prioritize positive reinforcement, offer a multi-tiered volunteer program, and whose values align with your own.
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