Volunteer

Adoption and Community Events are critical for the overall success of Ruff Start Rescue. Event Leads represent the rescue at our adoption and community events and are in charge of the set up and tear down of the event table, greeting and assisting fosters at events, answering questions from the public, and promoting the recruitment of new fosters and volunteers. Event Leads work closely with the event site employees to continue a professional relationship. Not only are events fun but they are a great way to meet other volunteers and fosters within the rescue. Training will be provided.

Event Volunteers are an important part of our events team! RSR has events nearly every week that rely on volunteers to make them successful. Responsibilities may include: talking to the public about RSR and answering questions about volunteer opportunities and fostering, setting up an information table with marketing materials, selling merchandise, and running our fundraising ‘prize wheel’ where guests donate to spin the wheel and win a prize.

Transport Drivers are individuals who help give rides to our foster animals. These rides are most often from the foster homes to the Ruff Start office in Princeton (or back) on surgery days, but can also be to partner vet clinics or to pick up a new intake or deliver an animal to a foster or adoptive home. These volunteers will use their own vehicle to transport animals in crates. When a request for a ride is submitted, our Transport Coordinators will send out an email to volunteers asking for someone to help with the ride. Once a volunteer steps up, the Transport Coordinator will send an email connecting the Transport Driver and the foster, who then coordinate a drop off/pick up time and location.

General Transport Volunteers take care of the dogs by providing potty breaks, giving fresh food and water, changing bedding and cleaning and breaking down kennels, fitting dogs in collars and harnesses, supervising puppies in playpens, and preparing materials for the foster.

Vetting leads examine dogs, give vaccines, inserting microchips, and trim nails. The lead also makes sure the appropriate preventatives are provided to the foster. *Must be trained in by a RSR Staff member prior to first shift*

Human Lead Volunteers supervise transport volunteers, providing training to other volunteers and coordinating safety talks. *Must be trained in by a RSR Staff member prior to first shift*

Vetting helpers support vetting leads by assisting with exams and needed services such as vaccines, microchipping, heartworm tests, nail trims, deworming, flea/tick preventative application and administering heartworm medication.

Preventative fillers help the vetting team fill preventatives. Each dog gets flea, tick and heartworm prevention.

Dog leads are in charge of caring for the more fearful dogs. These dogs are brought to a separate area that is quieter. This volunteer is required to have shy/fearful dog experience, either through Ruff Star Rescue or another organization. They serve as a resource for assistants and other teams as dogs progress through intake.

Dog lead assistants aid the dog lead with caring for the more fearful dogs. This volunteer is not required to have experience with shy and fearful dogs and receives hands-on training from the dog lead.

Photography assistants work with the photographer and general volunteers to retrieve each dog for photo sessions. Assistants keep track of who has had their pictures taken and holds dogs as needed for pictures.