Rescue Village - Volunteer Positions

Foster Care volunteers welcome shelter animals into their homes on a temporary basis, and provide the care they need to mature, heal, socialize, or otherwise prepare for adoption into permanent homes. Foster homes help alleviate the stress on the shelter's capacity, staff and resources during critical times.

Each spring the litters of kittens begin to arrive, and we are always in great need of foster homes.. The kittens need a healthy home environment for them to grow and become ready for adoption.

Foster families are also needed occasionally for adult dogs. Sometimes the dogs are recuperating from medical treatments or surgery. Sometimes the foster dogs are physically healthy, but just very shy and need some socialization. Still others may simply have been in the shelter so long they need a well-deserved break in a temporary foster home.

Please consider opening your heart and home to a foster animal. The temporary care that the animals receive from their foster homes benefits them for their lifetime.

GHS provides:

Vaccinations
Medication (if necessary)
Collar and tags
Carrier or Crate
24-hour support phone number in case of emergency

Foster Families provide:

Shelter
Socializing
Tender Loving Care
Play Time

Click here for the Foster Volunteer Application.

By far, the most popular volunteer jobs at Rescue Village are those in animal care! Because of this, there are not always open positions for new volunteers to work as cat cuddlers or dog walkers. Training for new volunteers is typically offered twice a year, and even then, shift availability is limited.

Cat Care Volunteers provide socialization for the cats and work closely with our staff in the cleaning and housekeeping of our cat adoption areas. This position requires repetitious bending, kneeling, walking, light lifting. Volunteers are exposed to fecal matter and zoonotic diseases.

Morning Prep Cat Care is a more specific volunteer position. Morning prep volunteers are responsible for preparing and cleaning the cat adoption areas during the 8am to 10am shift.

Dog Care Volunteers provide exercise and socialization for the dogs, and cleaning and housekeeping of the dog adoption area. Prospective volunteers are often surprised to learn that they have to go through training before being allowed to walk shelter dogs. Training provides important information on the challenges that are inherent when interacting with dogs that live in the highly stressful shelter environment.

This position requires repetitious bending, kneeling, walking, light lifting, and the ability to withstand leash pulling and strenuous upper body movements. Volunteers are exposed to loud noises, fecal matter, seasonal weather conditions, and zoonotic diseases.

Parent & Me Program (April 2010 - currently no openings) This very popular program is for young people ages 12 to 15 and an accompanying parent or guardian. This youth/adult team goes through all training together, and works together. The student is the assistant to the parent/guardian, and is not allowed to volunteer alone until they reach the age of 16. Parent & Me participants can take the beginning training to become Level 1-2 Cat Care Volunteers or Level 1-2 Dog Care Volunteers.

If you would like to receive notification of future Parent & Me program training dates, send an email to the Volunteer Coordinator. Please put "Parent & Me Program Inquiry" in the subject line, and include the following contact information -

Parent's Full Name

Student's Full Name

Student's Birth Date (Month/Day/Year)

Street Address

City, State, Zip

Phone number(s)

other volunteer opportunities

Special Events
Rescue Village holds three major fundraising events a year – Empty Bowls, Woofstock, and A Doggone Purrfect Night. The professionalism and fundraising success comes from volunteer committees who devote hundreds of hours – raising over $100,000 for the animals. As an event committee volunteer you can help in many different ways – planning logistics, securing auction items, and much more.

Off-site Events
Volunteers participate in a variety of events such as staffing information tables at fairs and public events, walking in parades, assisting with outreach programs and numerous other activities throughout the year. These positions require knowledge of Rescue Village, its mission, and its programs.

Office Assistant
Volunteers provide assistance in our administrative offices. Duties may include mail assembly, filing, photocopying, and other administrative tasks.

Humane Education Assistants
If you like spending time with children and animals, we need you on our Humane Education team. Assistants teach compassion, safety, responsibility and respect for all animals. Help assist in our school programs, summer camps, or group tours.

Facility Maintenance
Handymen AND women are always needed around the shelter and grounds. There is a never ending list of minor repairs, painting, and general fix-it work that can be done.

community service

Qualified individuals are given an opportunity to fulfill required service hours at Rescue Village as Community Service Volunteers. Limited opportunities are available. You must be at least 21 years old to apply. Contact the Volunteer Coordinator at 440.338.4819 ext. 18 or email volunteer@geaugahumane.org.

These appointments are designed to be non-permanent positions that have definite beginning and ending dates based on the number of hours needed. Service is concluded at the completion of service hours. Community Service volunteers have no direct contact with animals.

student service projects

For students who need a short-term project to fulfill service hours requirements, Rescue Village recommends the following:

The shelter ALWAYS needs blankets, towels, wash cloths, pillow cases, etc. Students can go to friends, family, and neighbors to solicit donations. Students might also make a donation box for church or school where people can donate their used (but clean!) items. This project can also be done by taking donations of new/store-bought items from our wish list.

Another idea for students is to make and decorate donation jars, or see about taking up a special collection somewhere. A drive to collect gift cards to PetSmart or Giant Eagle would also be much appreciated.

Students should always check first to see if this sort of project will be accepted by the organization requiring service hours. Students must keep track of the hours that are spent on the project. When students bring in the donations, they will receive a letter that verifies the work was done. This is something that can be done year-round. Donations should be brought in during regular business hours.

group volunteer opportunities

One-time group volunteer projects are sometimes available. Projects do not include animal contact, and are usually completed outdoors.

For all volunteer inquiries, contact the Volunteer Coordinator at 440.338.4819 ext. 18 or email volunteer@geaugahumane.org