We had lots of wishes for volunteers for Christmas, they seem to be the number one gift for all occasions. Miss Priss and myself ( keyboard operator ) have put our heads to the ground to hear the sound of thundering volunteers heading to shelters as we type.....
Sadly there is not a whole lot of noise......in these tough times the spirit to volunteer may be there, but not the resources. How can we best accommodate the needs of shelter and helper ?
There is always an uproar when a volunteer gets " fired" that is hard on everyone, so lets put some ideas out and ask for feedback.
I will share what I learned from Oreo, she spent her whole life volunteering. Number one, to volunteer anywhere is a privilege, not a right. That has been lost in the last couple of years. Volunteers should be held to the same standard as employees. If you are not dependable then everybody's time is wasted, honoring a commitment is key when serving. Show up neatly attired in the standard of dress outlined by the coordinator, usually khaki's or levis with the shelter providing a tee shirt. Flashing a bit of kneecap or gluteus muscle is best left for off duty.
The toughest concept for many volunteers to grasp is the misconception that jumping rank is a good idea. Always work your way up the ladder if you feel something could be done better, your idea may be useful, but disruptive tactics are not.
Present your idea or concern to your immediate supervisor in written form so you can both be certain you are on the same page. In any shelter, emotions can run pretty high, we don't want the loudest voice in the room to take over. Understand that having a concern is not license to start a brush fire to roast your marshmallows...
Over reacting and creating crisis is not the way to create change.
Volunteers are the spice of a shelter,but we do not replace staff, nor are we " equal " to staff. They are trained professionals who may see a much larger picture in their work week that we do as volunteers.
Respect is essential for both sides.
If you do see something that is clearly out of line, first go to your supervisor. Most shelters today have cameras and they can be called upon to confirm your complaint, running amuck with your cell phone taking grainy pictures, should get you the boot. Even the wild west frowns on vigilantes these days. Follow protocol and remember if you don't like it, you can say something, but that doesn't mean you get your way. That goes for ideas, many suggestions are desirable, but not realistic. Let staff determine that.
I've always thought, most good ideas at some point were born in the brain of a volunteer, we tend to be creative willing people who care about their world. Frequently we bring a fresh prospective to an old situation, however; going into change with a spirit of cooperation is the best way to ensure success. The one certain thing with change is, it takes time.
Now, more than ever, our animals and our shelters need us. They need us to be there on time ready to work and keep an open mind . If every critter could get a ride to Burger King on the way to the Euth Room....it would already be happening. We sometimes deal with animals who, while blameless, are a danger. We are not there to change policy, or condone misbehavior. We are not there to be the voice of the animals, we are there to be of service to the shelter and it's inhabitants. We may be the only kind voice a homeless animal has ever heard, we cannot be fractious with our fellows and "kind" to the animals..they smell BS. We create a softer environment for the animals by being kind to one another. Gossip is never kind, nor is it productive. If putting gossip on FB solved problems we could all go home. That said, regular meetings with "no holds barred" dialogue are healthy. Meetings should be held with the coordinator ,and if an employee is involved, that employee and a supervisor. Attacking someone who isn't there to defend themselves or offer an explanation is unfair. Gossip is the acid that corrodes a healthy work place, it should be grounds for termination. If you love the smell of litter boxes and doggie doo, we need you. However, if you think the answer to an empty water dish is to call the media.......go find yourself a small hill and a cross. We desperately need volunteers, we don't need agitators or hand wringers. If you want to help the animals by working through the system, come on down.
God Bless,
Miss Priss
Sadly there is not a whole lot of noise......in these tough times the spirit to volunteer may be there, but not the resources. How can we best accommodate the needs of shelter and helper ?
There is always an uproar when a volunteer gets " fired" that is hard on everyone, so lets put some ideas out and ask for feedback.
I will share what I learned from Oreo, she spent her whole life volunteering. Number one, to volunteer anywhere is a privilege, not a right. That has been lost in the last couple of years. Volunteers should be held to the same standard as employees. If you are not dependable then everybody's time is wasted, honoring a commitment is key when serving. Show up neatly attired in the standard of dress outlined by the coordinator, usually khaki's or levis with the shelter providing a tee shirt. Flashing a bit of kneecap or gluteus muscle is best left for off duty.
The toughest concept for many volunteers to grasp is the misconception that jumping rank is a good idea. Always work your way up the ladder if you feel something could be done better, your idea may be useful, but disruptive tactics are not.
Present your idea or concern to your immediate supervisor in written form so you can both be certain you are on the same page. In any shelter, emotions can run pretty high, we don't want the loudest voice in the room to take over. Understand that having a concern is not license to start a brush fire to roast your marshmallows...
Over reacting and creating crisis is not the way to create change.
Volunteers are the spice of a shelter,but we do not replace staff, nor are we " equal " to staff. They are trained professionals who may see a much larger picture in their work week that we do as volunteers.
Respect is essential for both sides.
If you do see something that is clearly out of line, first go to your supervisor. Most shelters today have cameras and they can be called upon to confirm your complaint, running amuck with your cell phone taking grainy pictures, should get you the boot. Even the wild west frowns on vigilantes these days. Follow protocol and remember if you don't like it, you can say something, but that doesn't mean you get your way. That goes for ideas, many suggestions are desirable, but not realistic. Let staff determine that.
I've always thought, most good ideas at some point were born in the brain of a volunteer, we tend to be creative willing people who care about their world. Frequently we bring a fresh prospective to an old situation, however; going into change with a spirit of cooperation is the best way to ensure success. The one certain thing with change is, it takes time.
Now, more than ever, our animals and our shelters need us. They need us to be there on time ready to work and keep an open mind . If every critter could get a ride to Burger King on the way to the Euth Room....it would already be happening. We sometimes deal with animals who, while blameless, are a danger. We are not there to change policy, or condone misbehavior. We are not there to be the voice of the animals, we are there to be of service to the shelter and it's inhabitants. We may be the only kind voice a homeless animal has ever heard, we cannot be fractious with our fellows and "kind" to the animals..they smell BS. We create a softer environment for the animals by being kind to one another. Gossip is never kind, nor is it productive. If putting gossip on FB solved problems we could all go home. That said, regular meetings with "no holds barred" dialogue are healthy. Meetings should be held with the coordinator ,and if an employee is involved, that employee and a supervisor. Attacking someone who isn't there to defend themselves or offer an explanation is unfair. Gossip is the acid that corrodes a healthy work place, it should be grounds for termination. If you love the smell of litter boxes and doggie doo, we need you. However, if you think the answer to an empty water dish is to call the media.......go find yourself a small hill and a cross. We desperately need volunteers, we don't need agitators or hand wringers. If you want to help the animals by working through the system, come on down.
God Bless,
Miss Priss
20 comments:
I really only started volunteering in animal shelters about 5 years ago up in Reno. Before that I had worked with humans who could tell you what they wanted or thought they needed. Animals made me stop a look a little harder at body language. Some really want to be left alone. Of course if the goal is getting them adopted, that won't work. If I see a fearful animal I speak to it quickly and move on. This gives it a feeling of control over it's life. The next day I will greet it and put a kibble on the floor. Day 3, if the animal is safe we go for a walk. The dog may not be ready in it's mind, but animals don't always make the best decisions, that is sometimes how they end up in the pound. The only way an animal will learn to be handled is to be handled. If a dog is truly agressive, not just leash nipping, report it at once. Don't cover up or make excuses for dangerous behavior in any animal.
Aren't there times in a shelter where staff will fire a volunteer for telling the truth ? It's never happened to me personally, but I've had friends swear it, and seen that on blogs.
What if you go to the head person and get ignored ? Would you then be "irked "
Nice to see you Morphed, it may happen, but I think it's usually resolved by following the directions in the post. An example may be; hosing down kennels with an animal inside. Not the best plan, but before we call the fire department ......... Is there another way to do it ? Is the animal aggressive ? You don't want to leave it in filth, but catchpoling it may be more traumatic than a quick cleaning. Not ideal but sometimes unavoidable. Always look for a reason, if there isn't one, go through the process. So many of the comments I see on YB are based on ignorance of how shelters work. Using the above example, say you take the dog out an tie it to the door ( if it's not aggressive ) that dog is then in danger from new dogs coming in down the hall, or it could provide a danger to others. If there is not an available kennel space to move the dog to, leaving it in the kennel is the best way.
This isn't something that just happens at shelters. Again, the local No Kill rescue organization that I was involved in had a policy that if you didn't like the way decisions were made and things were done, you were free to "vote with your feet and leave". I think that is an easy way for leadership to take an out on trying to resolve conflict resolution.
Hi Robert, Merry Christmas. We sure are not promoting a "vote with your feet" thought process here. Hope you didn't get that impression. What we are seeing happen in shelters, not organizations, is the volunteer who would be director. As you say working in any group there is the danger of getting the boot if you present a way that goes against the grain, but what we are focusing on is shelter situations only. YB is a very good example of why control over volunteers can be a good thing. Volunteers can carry the message of what animals need during shelter care, but they can also selectively present a biased view to push their No Kill agenda.
Rescues can be the worst, just mention that someone is a little overbooked and you are gone. Foster is a form of volunteering, it comes with baggage. I told one rescue that throwing dogs out back for months was not fostering, that if you weren't getting them more adoptable then what was the point ? I was banned from linking with them. I now help in other ways.
I volunteer at a large shelter in the Bay Area, we have approximately 300 volunteers and perhaps 25% of them are regular. I would urge any person interested in helping in a local shelter to be committed to a time frame. Where I work, we often schedule staff breaks around the availability of a volunteer. I am a retired vet, but here I work the intake desk, my background has been helpful when animals come in with health issues. I am not the vet here though, so I leave the treatment up to the Dr. on duty that day. I no longer walk dogs, although I enjoyed that. It seems my intake skills are what's most needed here, so I get very little hands on with the animals while they are awaiting homes.
If you suspect abuse, please confirm it before starting a row. We had one new man who tried to get us shut down when he saw a cat siezure. He was positive it was abuse, it cost our shelter several tests utilizing time and money to explain and epilectic cat to someone who had no business in a shelter.
@morphed -I went through volunteer orientation today. It was explained very clearly that volunteers are fired, not for telling the "truth", but for heading directly for social and other media with their criticism without bringing their queries to the attention of their direct superiors first.
Although I have never been a believer in the "truth" of the Internet, I was very surprised to see how much is missed by looking at a cherry-picked webcam shot or reading the view of one discharged volunteer. The people at the shelter TALKED to the dogs as we toured, even the shelter workers were doing it. And the dogs responded. It may not be the happiest of places, but I know by seeing the things I saw today that those people care. I look forward to working with and for them.
@everybody, thank you for all the wise words about volunteering. I wish everyone who's ever thought about volunteering at a shelter could come and read what you've written.
@Patience congrats !Shelter life is hard on everyone, but staff and volunteers do care. I love Morphed as a identifier. Happy you got over being irked :)
Did I ever tell the blog I love Happy Camper ? Not to mention Suburban Girl, we are a clever group.
To the "complaining" volunteer, offer a better or easier way to do it. If you have a complaint offer a solution. That will get you everywhere where constant complaining will get you no...where!
Taking pictures and turning them over to the media should be a sure foot out unless it is a last resort. If one has contacted everyone possible through the "complaint chain" at the shelter with no resolution and animals are at danger that is one thing. BUT to take pictures of dirty cages which obviously are in the process of being cleaned and posting them as "shelter conditions".. this should be a BIG foot on the behind on the way out the door.
As far as reading "why" someone was "terminated" on Facebook etc. take that one with 1/2 a grain of salt. Volunteers are a very valuable asset to a shelter, and it usually takes a real breach to be "fired".
Actually volunteers who are fired for "online revelations" about the shelter they are volunteering for should be terminated for pure stupidity first infractions second!
If you aren't with the program where you volunteer go elsewhere! Volunteering for a shelter is not for everyone, actually very few out of the general population. If you go through an orientation etc. just to "spy" on a shelter you are wasting everyone's time. Go where you are wanted. All will be happier.
Volunteers are a savvy lot, and if you are there for anything but to help they will sniff you out! Don't waste the good volunteer's time and the shelter's resources.
Great volunteers are hard to find, but when they are found they are priceless.
I just realized I didn't label the picture, tomorrow......It's the wonderful Oreo, a few months before we lost her. My heart longs for my Girlydog, but she raised Miss Priss to be a Girlydog2. I suppose the first Christmas is the worst. Thank the God's of goodness we have Burley Dog and Miss Priss, can't picture a holiday without a bit of hair in the mashed potatos.....
Just a couple of thoughts about "truth"... we have had people approach us at outside adoption events and tell us the dogs are cold and shouldn't be outside. It was 60 degrees last time this happened, but it was cloudy.
We've also had people comment at events that a particular dog was emaciated when the dog's weight was actually perfect (per my vet and me). Many people seem to think my breed should be rotund despite their being prone to luxating patellas and disc problems.
The challenge sometimes is to educate people about their perceptions of what is the "truth" without ever saying "you're wrong". I hope that some of this education happens at orientation and in the early days of volunteering when newbies are paired with experienced volunteers and that the newbies stick it out to see how they can best make a positive impact. One thing that I felt was emphasized at today's orientation at MAS was that each volunteer has something different to offer, even the lady who can't handle working in the shelter but sits at home unfolding newspapers she has picked up from all over and then delivers to the shelter by the truckload. I for one am excited to finally get to be a newbie volunteer and hope to find comfy shoes and get started soon.
@suburbangirl :)
Miss Priss sent you an email to the address you provided. You may want to check your spam folder, Miss Priss's account gets tossed there from time to time. Please reply here via nfp with your wishes, or if you don't have it, perhaps I typed your addrsss in wrong and hotmail doesn't do bounce backs.
Just got off Austin Craigslist for pets. Volunteer no-no, big time, please if you are working with an animal in the shelter, don't post it on Craigs list. If people cannot get off their duff and go to the shelter they are not very interested. Austin Pets Alive is all over Craigslist and they should not have their animals pushing for room there. It happens at NHS too, these fosters take an animal, work very hard to get it ready for adoption and the shelter undercuts them.
When I am feeling better I will come out to the new shelter and see how I feel. I'm not comfortable with animals being put down. I suppose I am not happy with them living in cages forever either. As a volunteer I would never be required to make that decision would I ? I remembered the language you suggested if " I wanted my comment to see daylight" It does seem more respectful to everything involved.
@Morphed, no, you would never be making decisions about which animals have to be euthanized.
If you're a cat person, you would likely spend a lot of time with the cats whether cleaning their area or entertaining them or helping visitors decide which one has the personality they are looking for.
Volunteers who help with dogs spend time helping people choose the one they want to adopt, help people look for their lost dogs, take dogs outside for exercise, etc. In the spring when it's warmer we should start doing off-site adoption events again, and that's another opportunity for people who want to volunteer but don't want to be at the shelter.
@ Morphed: There is no one who is "comfortable" with animals being "put down". However, the alternative is filling up the shelter with animals stacked temporary cage upon temporary cage for the life of the animal. The Memphis Shelter takes in about 16,000 animals a year. Do the math. It is not pretty.
There is no magic bullet or I can assure you it would have been found by the thousands of volunteers to who help at the "killing shelters". Many rack their brains at night for a "solution". Volunteers tend to be a pretty smart lot. The "not blaming the community" is impossible to sell the savvy volunteer who deals daily with sometimes over a hundred animals a day "surrendered" for reasons like "cleaning out the yard for the bar b q, puppy is getting too big, kids have lost interest in the pup, cat hair on the couch" and the list goes on.
Volunteers may be fired for "telling the truth", but how and where they tell it is the key. Do they see a problem and take pictures and take it to the press and internet without trying to resolve the problem without working through the shelter system to correct the problem? Have they taken pictures of a court case dog and posted them on the internet only to have the shelter chastised by a judge? Volunteers have to work within the system to correct problems. That is just common sense. If a volunteers come with solutions to their complaints it goes a long way. If volunteers are not working within the system, the volunteers will end up being a bunch of vigilantes, and you will have war in the end which never helps the animals.
Do visit your shelter. Look at the big picture of what your shelter is dealing with without focusing on one aspect. You may be amazed at the scope of things your shelter is charged with and the services offered at your shelter. Your local shelter, wherever you are, could certainly use your help!
@morphed - volunteers are all about adopting and dealing with the public. In the new shelter, we don't even see the dogs being brought in. I had another volunteer email me last night about "compassion fatigue" because even as a volunteer we know we can't save them all. Even when one is adopted out, I imagine there is a small sense of (happy) loss when they leave you.
Morphed, they need lots of volunteers and you don't even have to be at the shelter. You can work adoption events or pick up donations. There's one lady who collects newspapers and unfolds them and brings them down.
When you feel better, please come down just to see us. I have just started, but I already see this as a place full of caring people. There will be bad times,of course, but there will be so many good ones! Please come see the animals and the people for yourself.
Hi Morphed, If there is ever a time you don't feel just a twinge of sadness for the animals lost you are in the wrong business :)The key is understanding, fully with all your heart, that you have done all you could. And, more importanatly, that's enough.
I know Shel gets compassion fatigue far more than I do because he volunteers at NHS and sees hundreds of animals that are not getting the care and attention they need. The cats are the worst there, hundreds of them and some have been there for years.
We, Chap and Oreo know, it's hard to not get overwhelmed over there. The SPCA ( my place ) is more reasonable in what they hold.
"Respect is essential for both sides" truer words were never spoken.
Employees, volunteers, and members of the public all have roles to play in functioning of a healthy animal shelter. Along with these internal folks there are partners in the community such as veterinarians, local police, the media, and foster-based rescues.
Bringing these groups together on a regular basis: to assess challenges and situations that are happening, find ways for each to take part as they can in solving issues and supporting each others efforts, celebrate the positive changes that have been made, and make sure that none are inadvertently making problems worse, weaves a together a safety net for the whole community (four footed and two footed).
I have been a volunteer and a volunteer coordinator at various shelters. Honest communication and mutual respect is the key to functionality. I am deeply grateful for all who give of themselves but all must be responsible to each other as well. Shelters could not do that they do, give the quality of care they strive to provide, without the volunteers to help - with their hands and the hearts.
We must all remember to use our heads as well. We are in this together.
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