VOLUNTEERS
The Cleveland Animal Control Division invites you to
“Join the ACT!” (Animal Control Team
About the Program
The Animal Control Division needs volunteer help every day! Volunteers are welcome at the A.C.D. on Hill Street and throughout the year at special events. Volunteers are needed to:
- Walk and socialize dogs.
- Help dogs with obedience skills.
- Bathe dogs and puppies.
- Play with cats.
- Clean kennels and cages.
- Answer phones.
- Counsel potential adopters.
- Assist with fundraising and special events.
- Help with administrative duties.
- Help with education and outreach programming.
- Help update our web site by taking pet photos and compiling pet information.
- Foster animals short-term and long-term.
- And much, much more!
In 2008, the Animal Control Division launched its new volunteer program. This program is designed for the Animal Control Division to get the most out of its volunteers and for volunteers to have a rich, rewarding experience at the Animal Control Division.
Volunteers are required to:
- Volunteer with a parent or guardian if they are younger than 18 (A release form must be signed by a parent if 18)
- Attend a general orientation (see below) and any scheduled training
- Donate at least six (6) hours each month to the animals for a minimum of one (1) year--longer commitments are welcome!
- Attend a variety of training and educational seminars about animal-related topics.
- Pay a one-time $20.00 volunteer program fee to reimburse the actual cost of name tags and shirts.
- Volunteer on a set schedule. Times will be scheduled for one month in advance.
- Understand that a three-strikes rule exists (three no-shows and that volunteer will be asked to leave the program)
Becoming a Volunteer at the Animal Control Division
Step One: Attending a General Orientation Session
All volunteers first must have an interview with the Volunteer Coordinator to identify areas of skills and interest. An individual interested in volunteering with the Animal Control Division must attend a general orientation. This training session will be geared specifically to the duties he or she will be performing; such as, dog handling, walking, or adoption counseling. This orientation introduces volunteers to the Animal Control Division and explains the important role the Animal Control Division plays in our community. Please leave personal pets at home. See our Orientation & Training Session Schedule to see our scheduled dates. General orientation dates are posted on the website as soon as they are scheduled.
Step Two: Volunteer Training
If after attending a general orientation a prospective volunteer decides that they can meet the program requirements and that they would like to join the program, they must submit an application. Upon approval of the application, they must attend a training session. See our Orientation & Training Session Schedule to see our scheduled dates. These sessions are two to four hour seminars that go into greater depth about the Animal Control Division and volunteer duties at Animal Control. Training sessions are each held for dogs, cats, and small mammals and are posted on the website as soon as they are scheduled.
At the training session, volunteers are expected to submit their program fee and provide the Volunteer Coordinator with their volunteer schedule. A set schedule for volunteering is required to be sure that each individual donates at least six hour to the animals each month.
Volunteering for College Credit, Honor or Service Society
As time and space permit, the Animal Control Division may host individuals who are required to work on behalf of animals to earn credit hours or a service badge. These requirements may include completing a special project about animal welfare (ad campaign, design an animal shelter, have a fundraiser to benefit the Animal Control Division), working directly with the Division’s animals at the Hill Street facility, or attending a humane education program at the Animal Control Division. Again, these are scheduled programs. Individuals must be 18 or older.
Before contacting the Animal Control Division about this short-term volunteering effort, please have all of your information available.
Students (18 and older):
- What is your goal? (For example, every year your school requires that you volunteer for a non-profit agency; you are preparing to make a persuasive speech about per overpopulation, etc.)
- How many hours do you need to work?
- What is your deadline?
- What paperwork must be completed?
- Who is your school coordinator?
For more information about any of these programs, please call Gigi Hibbard at 423-336-9586.