FORSYTH COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL 5570 Sturmer Park Circle Winston Salem, NC 27105 336 703 2463 www.forsyth.cc/animalcontrol VOLUNTEER HANDBOOK FACILITY HOURS: SHELTER VOLUNTEER HOURS: 12:00 5:00 Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat 8:00 5:00 Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat 12:00 7:00 Tues, Thurs 8:00 7:00 Tues, Thurs CLOSED SUNDAY* (*The adoption area is open from 1 4pm for viewing and visiting by Furever Friends.) 1:00 4:00 Sun CONTACTS: General: (336) 703 DOGS (3647) or (336) 703 2480 E mail: animalcontrol@forsyth.cc Scott Bird, Shelter Manager: (336) 703 2483 / birdrs@forsyth.cc Chad Miller, Senior Office Assistant: (336) 703 2467 / millerce@forsyth.cc 1
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES The Forsyth County Department of Animal Control depends on the support of our community. Join a dedicated team of like minded individuals who strive to make the world a better place for animals and people. Each year, hundreds of our neighbors donate their time to help homeless animals. Forsyth County Animal Control welcomes your involvement. Goals of a Forsyth County Animal Shelter Volunteer Focus on public safety (vaccinations, dog bite prevention, the importance of veterinary care etc.) and encourage community involvement. Direct education on the overpopulation problem by teaching the importance of spaying and neutering and responsible pet stewardship (licensing, leash laws, care, etc.) Aggressively promote adoptions here at the shelter and also from our many Community Care Partner organizations. Assist the shelter staff in providing quality care for the animals in our custody. Provide first class customer service to shelter visitors. Help us create a fun and rewarding volunteer experience for fellow animal lovers in our community. How can you help? ANIMAL CARE: Help us provide a clean, safe environment for the animals in our care. Socialize animals and provide basic training as part of our SPOT program. Give shelter pets the tools they need to thrive in their new homes. 2
ADOPTION ASSISTANCE/SHELTER HOSTING: Help shelter pets find the perfect home! A great way to spend your free time: helping a homeless animal find his/her forever home. Greeting the public, directing clients around the shelter, answering visitor s questions, assisting the public with viewing animals (especially needed on Tuesday & Thursday evenings when the shelter is open late and on Saturdays & Mondays), and providing adoption counseling to people interested in adopting. NEIGHBORHOOD CANVASSING: Door to door canvassing with our ACO s to promote spay and neuter and licensing requirements. Distribute literature; licensing applications, adoption applications, volunteer applications and County Code information. HOUSES FOR HOUNDS: Volunteers may assist in the delivery of dog houses to needy homes, pass out flyers. ANIMEALS: Deliver donated pet food to needy clients in Forsyth County. Pick up donated food from donation bins. SPECIAL EVENTS: Rabies Clinics, mini clinics held at the shelter. Spay Day Project Pearl adoption fairs and fundraisers. PROJECT PEARL: Photo sessions: Photo sessions are held 2 times a week on site, in the FCAC Community Room. Generally photo sessions last 2 hours. Photographers schedules are set 1 2 months in advance. Assistance during photo sessions could include the following: Helping hold animals/get their attention/moving furniture, bathing animals prior to session and walking dogs prior to/during session. We usually need 2 in session helpers in addition to the photographer plus 2 4 bathers. Making & distributing flyers Fundraising Approved medical foster homes when needed 3
Transportation and temporary homes in between Community Care Partners (CCP) transfers and groomers HIKING HOUNDS: Walking dogs on Sundays twice a month help socialize and exercise. 16 AND UNDER: Kids can make a BIG impact assisting with the Animeals Program. Volunteers may place containers in neighborhoods, churches, schools etc. to promote donation of pet food for the Animeals Program. Collect shelter wish list items. See FCAC website: www.forsyth.cc/animalcontrol QUALIFICATIONS: Shelter Volunteers must be at least sixteen years of age and must enjoy working with all types of people. They must show a genuine concern for the welfare of animals, a willingness to work hard, get dirty, and pitch in where needed. The ideal volunteer is self motivated, mature, sensitive, dependable, and a team player. Volunteers who work in direct contact with animals must exhibit a willingness to learn about animals and how to properly interact with them. They must be able to react quickly to avoid any mishaps between animals and people. Animals in our care must be treated kindly and professionally at all times. VOLUNTEER LOG There is also a volunteer sign in sheet in the adoption office. Please sign in upon arrival an out when you leave for the day. Obtain a GREEN volunteer badge and wear it prominently on your person at all times. 4
Safety Issues & Concerns FCAC Volunteers work side by side with staff members, therefore it is essential that we all work together to identify safety hazards for people and animals. " Wet Floor " signs should be placed on wet walking surfaces without exception. If a dog urinates outside of his run, please mop up the mess and place a "Wet Floor" sign on the area. "Wet Floor" signs can be found in all parts of the shelter. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) detail all hazardous substances to which employees and volunteers of FCAC may be exposed. MSDS are updated and maintained by the Shelter Manager and Office Manager. MSDS are available to volunteers for review during each work shift at the "Right to Know" Station. The MSDS book is located in Dispatch. If MSDS are not available or new hazardous substances do not have MSDS, the Shelter Manager should be contacted immediately. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE: gloves, mask, goggles, etc.) are recommended for performing certain tasks to prevent possible eye irritation, accidental ingestion and skin irritation from disinfectants. PPE is available at areas throughout the shelter or may be obtained from the Shelter Manager. It is recommended to use PPE when: Using high pressure hoses on cages with disinfectant. Mixing or pouring disinfectant concentrates. Mixing or pouring concentrated flea & tick dips. If indicated by the safety label on a product. Zoonotic Diseases Zoonotic diseases are transmissible from animals to humans. The most effective means of preventing zoonosis is to: Wash hands frequently with antibacterial soap, especially after handling any animal and prior to eating or smoking. Wear long pants and sturdy closed toe shoes or boots. Use gloves when changing litter pans, washing food and water dishes, or cleaning up feces, urine or vomit. Seek assistance when handling animals whose dispositions are questionable. Tell your physician that you work closely with animals, and visit him or her regularly. 5
Zoonotic diseases that may be found in a shelter environment include: 1. Bartonellosis (Cat Scratch Fever) 2. Brucellosis (Malta Fever) 3. Bubonic Plague 4. Ringworm 5. Campylobacteriosis 6. Cryptosporidiosis 7. External Parasitic Infections (caused by lice, mites & fleas) 8. Giardiasis (Beaver Fever) 9. Leptospirosis (Weil's Disease) 10. Lyme Disease 11. Nematode (worm) Infections 12. Pasteurellosis 13. Rabies 14. Salmonellosis (Salmonella) 15. Toxoplasmosis Please do not be alarmed by this list of diseases, but be aware that you are volunteering in a hospital like environment where they often exist. For this reason, we strongly encourage all volunteers to make sure that their own animals vaccinations are up to date. As an added measure, we suggest that you always change clothes before socializing with your animals at home. Dog Handling Wash your hands thoroughly with anti bacterial soap between handling dogs from separate kennels. 6 Although all animals up for adoption are carefully evaluated, we can never predict for sure when an animal s behavior will change. If the dog gives even the slightest hint of being aggressive, do not enter the run. If the dog appears to be scared, proceed cautiously. Do not lock yourself in the run and always keep yourself between the dog and the kennel door.
Once you are in the kennel with the dog, be aware that you are communicating with your body. Threatening human body posture includes: 1. Direct stare 2. Arm raised; with or without an object 3. Rapid movement toward the dog 4. Shouting, growling commands Taking a shelter dog for a walk can be a challenging experience, therefore there are important guidelines to follow. In order to avoid any accidents, volunteers should not walk dogs after dark. Dog walking & socializing areas: Dogs may be walked on leash on the grassy areas in front of and beside the shelter. Dogs must be leashed/harnessed at all times once outside of their kennels, except in the visitation rooms. You may also visit with dogs in their kennels. ALWAYS carry puppies (ages 3 months and younger) wrapped in a towel. Dogs under 6 months of age cannot go outside AND are not allowed to touch the floor in any area of the shelter besides their kennel or one of the front visitation rooms. The Visitation Rooms MUST sanitized between animals. Always return the dog to the exact cage from which he/she came. When passing through the lobby, hallways, kennels, or in close proximity to other animals, keep a close lead and a firm grip on the leash. It is very important that you are the one who is in control. If it is very crowded in the lobby, the dog may become overly stressed. What do you do if an animal bites you? If a dog bites you while you are in the kennel, exit the kennel immediately. If you are walking a dog and she bites you, try to seek assistance from the nearest staff member and stay put. If the above does not work, cautiously walk the dog back to her kennel and seek help from a FCAC staff member. If a cat bites you, seek assistance from a staff member. Report the bite immediately to a staff member. Seek medical attention if needed. 7
Cat Handling Wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap between handling cats from separate cages. How do you get a cat out of a cage? The cat must appear to be friendly and interested in your attention. Should the cat start exhibiting any behaviors such as growling, tail swishing, ears pushed back, etc. leave them alone. To take a cat out of the cage, turn the cat away from you, and gently scruff the cat by the skin on the back of the neck. Slowly begin to lift the cat, and with your free hand, reach under the cat from behind and secure the front legs. Carefully maneuver the cat to your side and gently press the cat's body into your side with your elbow. If the cat is noticeably distressed, put her back in the cage immediately. Be aware that shelter cats are under great stress and that they can become easily alarmed by things outside the safety of their cage (other cats, dogs, doors opening and closing, etc.). When you return the cat to its cage, make sure the cat has fresh water. Always return the cat to the exact cage from which you found him/her. 8
General Socialization Guidelines Probably the most important aspect of socializing with a shelter cat or dog is your tone of voice. It's best to speak in a friendly, calm and reassuring manner. Hands on socialization is a huge confidence builder for shelter animals, but you must let the animal be your teacher. Not all animals enjoy the same methods of petting. If you are petting a dog and he begins to lick you, sigh deeply or even lay down, he is telling you "yes, I like what you're doing." A cat may tell you "no, I don't like that" by swishing her tail quickly, holding her breath or changing her body posture from relaxed to upright and looking at you. One of the most important and rewarding tasks of the FCAC Volunteer is to ensure that every animal in the shelter has the basic "creature comforts." FCAC Volunteers will have the opportunity to provide non destructible toys, blankets, cardboard boxes and treats for the animals. FCAC Volunteers should also pay attention to the cleanliness of each animal's cage or kennel. Exercise and play are necessary for the physical and mental health of any animal that has spent time in a confined space. For the shelter animal, exercise also means freedom. Companionship is one of the purist pleasures we can give the animals. Many of our animals have not been included as a member of the family, so you will find they are very receptive to your attention and affection. Compassion Fatigue Compassion fatigue is "the natural consequence of stress resulting from caring for and helping traumatized or suffering people or animals," and it is very real for animal care professionals. You may become overwhelmed by the volume of euthanasia and feel powerless about the overpopulation problem. You will likely become frustrated over the realization that euthanasia of "healthy surplus" animals is preventable by society. 9
You will develop a personal connection and relationship with the "traumatized victims" and feel victimized yourself. There are many programs available to help animal welfare workers cope with compassion fatigue. If you are interested in these programs email Scott at birdrs@forsyth.cc. To remain focused on our work it is important that we take care of ourselves as well as the animals. A great way to cope with compassion fatigue is to discuss these issues with a staff member. A shelter attendant or supervisor would be happy to set up a time to discuss this with you. Volunteers will never be asked to assist staff with Euthanasia. FAQ s Can adopters take their new pet home with them at the time of adoption? All pets will be spayed or neutered before going home. In certain situations this may be waived due to health reasons at the Shelter Veterinarian or Director s discretion. If the animal has already been altered they may be released to their new owners after their application has been approved. How long does it take to process an application? 24 48 hours is the norm. However, time allowing, some applications may be processed within a few hours. How long do you hold stray animals before they can be assessed as adoption candidates? Stray animals are held for 5 days if licensed or if an owner is known. Unlicensed animals are held for 72 hours. After the hold period is complete they may be made available for adoption or euthanized if necessary. What is a no kill shelter? In order to operate a no kill facility, an organization must limit the number of animals it receives to those it has room to house at any given time. The term Limited Admission Shelter, rather than no kill", is the common term used by most professional animal welfare workers for these facilities. In a world where there are many more animals in need of homes than there are homes available, a limited admission shelter can only maintain that status by turning some animals away. Those denied admission must be taken elsewhere. These animals often end up in 10
public shelters. While limited admission shelters can help some of the animals in a community, they cannot meet the needs of the majority of stray or at risk animals who are served by open door shelters. How long do animals stay up for adoption at FCAC? Our shelter has no set time limit for animals held in adoption. Adoptable animals are held as long as they remain healthy and temperamentally sound, and as long as space is available. How is it decided which animals will be placed in adoption and which will be euthanized? Unclaimed strays and unwanted pets are evaluated by a health and temperament exam. In some cases, we are able to do special adoptions or work with rescue groups in placing hard to adopt animals. Animals that would not qualify for adoption are those showing aggressive behavior, or those whose physical state involves on going suffering. Why are so many animals euthanized? Far more animals are turned into shelters across the country every day than there are permanent, loving homes available for them. Ideally shelters shouldn t have to euthanize healthy, loving animals. Yet animals, like humans, need more than food and shelter. They need affection and responsible companionship, without it they suffer. Shelters can provide a temporary, caring place to house unwanted animals, but it is no substitute for a permanent home environment. If we can t offer the opportunity for a permanent home for every animal in our care, we have the responsibility to release these animals from suffering, and to make sure this release is as humane as possible. How is euthanasia performed? Euthanasia, the act of facilitating a humane death, is done by injection of an overdose of sodium pentobarbital. Approximately 8 seconds after the injection, the animal becomes unconscious; its entire system shuts down within 3 5 minutes. The procedure is a quick and painless one. Why is it so important to spay and neuter companion animals? Pet overpopulation is a serious and growing problem in the United States. It is estimated that between 5 and 10 million unwanted companion animals are euthanized each year. Many healthy animals are euthanized simply because there are not enough homes available for them. There are also many health and behavioral benefits of spaying and neutering. How early can you spay or neuter an animal? FCAC sterilizes every dog and cat leaving the shelter. Since we adopt animals out at eight weeks, we will spay or neuter a dog or cat as early as eight weeks. Early sterilization has been endorsed by the American Veterinary Medical Association as a safe procedure which is effective in helping to reduce animal overpopulation. Thank you for taking the time to read this handbook. It is very important that all policies and procedures are followed, and that volunteers and staff work together. We appreciate your time here, and we want it to be a rewarding one. Welcome to the FCAC family! 11 We Look Forward to Seeing You Soon!