Online Volunteer Orientation

1. Online Volunteer Orientation SPCA of Central Florida

2. Our MissionTo promote responsible human behavior towards animals.Our Vision To no longer be needed.

3. Objectives To introduce you to the volunteer opportunities at the SPCA of Central Florida. To educate you on the programs available to the public provided by the SPCA of Central Florida. To provide you with information about animal care and pet overpopulation issues. To give you more detailed information about sheltering animals at the SPCA of Central Florida

4. Instructions You will be given fact or fiction questions. Please answer them to move on to the next page. At the end of the program, if you are interested in volunteering, please fill out the online application. A volunteer manager will contact you after receiving and reviewing your application to provide you with the necessary instructions. Please note it could take up to 1 week for a response after you have submitted your application.

5. About the SPCA of Central Florida FACT FICTION • An “SPCA” is different from a “Humane Society.”

6. About the SPCA of Central Florida FACT FICTION • The SPCA of Central Florida is not funded by the government.

7. About the SPCA of Central Florida FACT FICTION • People must live in Orange, Osceola or Seminole Counties to access the services and programs of the SPCA of Central Florida.

8. About the SPCA of Central Florida FACT FICTION • The SPCA of Central Florida does NOT pick up stray or lost animals.

9. About the SPCA of Central Florida FACT FICTION • The SPCA of Central Florida believes that adopting shelter pets to new homes is the best way to prevent pet overpopulation.

10. About the SPCA of Central Florida FACT FICTION • The SPCA of Central Florida has a time limit for how long pets will remain in our shelters.

11. About the SPCA of Central Florida FACT FICTION • The SPCA of Central Florida will never turn away people and their pets because the kennels are full.

12. About the SPCA of Central Florida FACT FICTION • The veterinarians who work for the SPCA of Central Florida are all volunteers who donate their services to the clinic.

13. About the SPCA of Central Florida FACT FICTION • SPCA Volunteers and SPCA Staff have totally different agendas, goals, and objectives.

14. About the SPCA of Central Florida FACT FICTION • Volunteers with the SPCA of Central Florida are expected to be in agreement with the agency’s Position Statements, found on our website www.orlandopets.org,

15. About the SPCA of Central Florida FACT FICTION • The services provided by the vet clinics of the SPCA of Central Florida are free or are only for people of limited means.

16. About the SPCA of Central Florida FACT FICTION • The only programs provided by the SPCA of Central Florida are animal sheltering and vet clinics.

17. About Pets FACT FICTION • All pets adopted from the SPCA of Central Florida are tested, vaccinated, microchipped and “fixed” by SPCA staff before they go to their new homes.

18. About Pets FACT FICTION • Neutering is the term used for “fixing” dogs. Spaying is the term used for “fixing” cats.

19. About Pets FACT FICTION • It is safe to spay/neuter (“fix”) pets at 8 weeks of age.

20. About Pets FACT FICTION • Declawing cats is safe and humane.

21. About Pets FACT FICTION • Heartworm disease is preventable.

22. Cats and dogs can get a “cold.” About Pets FACT FICTION

23. Distemper disease in dogs is easily treated and is not a worry for dog owners. About Pets FACT FICTION

24. About Volunteering Volunteers with the SPCA of Central Florida only help take care of shelter pets. FACT FICTION

25. There are no expectations for how long a shelter volunteer should plan to commit to their volunteer job. About Volunteering FACT FICTION

26. Shelter volunteers seldom have to help clean up after our pets. About Volunteering FACT FICTION

27. Shelter volunteers usually have to interact with our customers. About Volunteering FACT FICTION

28. Volunteers can bring their family members with them to help volunteer. About Volunteering FACT FICTION

29. The SPCA of Central Florida does not accept as volunteers those who are ordered by the court to do community service. About Volunteering FACT FICTION

30. Working as a volunteer with the SPCA of Central Florida is usually a very calm and quiet experience. About Volunteering FACT FICTION

31. Volunteer Opportunities SPCA of Central Florida

32. Things to Consider • Before you begin to explore the volunteer options available with the SPCA of Central Florida, please take a moment and see if you agree or disagree with the following general statements. • I can make a minimum of a 6-month commitment to volunteering. • So that pets, people, and I will stay safe, I understand that I will have to go through special training before I can officially become a volunteer with the SPCA of Central Florida. • It’s important to always follow all the rules and procedures set by the SPCA of Central Florida for the care of people and pets even if I don’t always agree with them.

33. Things to Consider • I will be sure to be informed about the SPCA of Central Florida so I can be a good ambassador to members of our community. • It’s important to see SPCA staff as my partners in helping care for people and pets. • I am willing to pay for an SPCA volunteer t-shirt and name tag ($15), as well as pay for and complete a background check ($10) if required for the specific volunteer position.

34. Things to Consider • I will be happy to regularly communicate with the Volunteer Program Manager about my volunteer experience. • I understand the importance of confidentiality about agency operations, client and pet information before, during, and after my volunteer experience.

35. Things to Consider • If you can say “YES” to all of the previous statements, then you are ready to look at the volunteer options available with the SPCA of Central Florida. • If this isn’t the right time for you to consider volunteering with the SPCA of Central Florida, we thank you for taking the time to consider our agency for your gift of time and talent. • We hope to see you supporting animal welfare in Central Florida by attending one of our many special fundraising events.

36. Option 1: Bark Buddy Option 2: Kitty Cuddler Option 3: Kennel Coach Option 4: Hospital Helper Option 5: Party Animal Option 6: Office Wizard Option 7: Foster Parent Option 8: Pet Visitation Program Option 9: Creature Teacher Option 10: Pet Food XPRESS (PFX) Option 11: Crafty Critters Take your Pick

37. SPCA Note of Importance for potential Bark Buddies: • Learning how to handle dogs – and especially how to handle large dogs – in a shelter environment is not an easy task. • It will require time for substantial training. • The less time you have spent handling dogs, the greater the need and time for training. • Please be sure you can allocate both the time and patience for this training.

38. SPCA Note of Importance for potential Bark Buddies: • Your safety and the safety of our shelter dogs are of paramount importance to the SPCA of Central Florida. • If you have never handled dogs, or your experience was very long ago, this may not be the right volunteer opportunity for you. You may want to consider reviewing and selecting another way to assist the agency and our shelter pets.

39. Option 1: Bark Buddy I don’t have dog allergies, or I am comfortable that the allergy medication I take will handle any potential problems. I enjoy talking to and helping people as much as I enjoy helping dogs. I enjoy handling dogs of all sizes, ages, and breeds. Even though I’ve handled dogs before, I know that working with shelter dogs will be different and will require more patience and energy. I won’t mind getting a few doggie nips during my volunteer work.

40. Option 1: Bark Buddy I am agile enough to get in and out of dog kennels, while handling dogs of all sizes. I know that working with the dogs in a shelter can be a very noisy place. I don’t mind getting dirty and going home smelling a bit like “dog,” and if my clothes are sometimes covered with “poopy paws,” that is okay. I have recentexperience in handling dogs of all sizes, ages, breeds and temperaments.

41. Option 1: Bark Buddy I’m OK working in the shelter with the dogs even when it’s very hot or raining. I have the strength to handle large, active dogs on my own, and I’m capable of handling the physical work necessary. I can commit to volunteering 6-8 hours/month. I know that not every dog I work with will have the happy ending of my choice, and I’ll do my best to support the shelter staff as they do their very hard work on behalf of the community and its pets.

42. Option 1: Bark Buddy If you can say “YES” to all of the previous statements, then we suggest you consider becoming a “Bark Buddy.”Just click here for the link to the Bark Buddy application. If this volunteer position is not right for you, please take a look at the other volunteer options listed on this site. Back to Volunteer Options

43. SPCA Note of Importance for potential Kitty Cuddlers: • Learning how to handle cats – and especially how to handle frightened cats – in a shelter environment is not an easy task. • It will require time for substantial training. • The less time you have spent handling cats, the greater the need and time for training. • Please be sure you can allocate both the time and patience for this training.

44. SPCA Note of Importance for potential Kitty Cuddlers: • Your safety and the safety of our shelter cats are of paramount importance to the SPCA of Central Florida. • If you have never handled cats, or your experience was very long ago, this may not be the right volunteer opportunity for you. You may want to consider reviewing and selecting another way to assist the agency and our shelter pets.

45. Option 2: Kitty Cuddler • I have recent experience in handling cats of all sizes, ages, and temperaments. • Even though I’ve handled cats before, I know that working with frightened shelter cats will be different and will require more patience and energy. • I have the strength to handle large, active cats – and crazy little kittens – all with sharp claws - on my own, and I’m capable of handling the physical work necessary.

46. Option 2: Kitty Cuddler I don’t have cat allergies, or I am comfortable that the allergy medication I take will handle any potential problems. I enjoy talking to and helping people as much as I enjoy helping cats. I enjoy handling cats of all sizes, ages and breeds. I know that working with the cats in a shelter requires patience and very careful handling.

47. Option 2: Kitty Cuddler I won’t mind if I get a few cat scratches during my volunteer work. I don’t mind cleaning litter pans, cleaning up gifts of “yuck” on the floor, having my clothes covered with lots of cat hair, and going home smelling a bit like “cat.” I’m OK with the smells that are common even in the cleanest of pet shelters. I can stretch up high and bend down low, and I can climb up on a step stool as needed.

48. Option 2: Kitty Cuddler I can commit to volunteering 6-8 hours/month. I know that not every cat I work with will have the happy ending of my choice, and I’ll do my best to support the shelter staff as they do their very hard work on behalf of the community and its pets.

49. Option 2: Kitty Cuddler If you can say “YES” to all of the previous statements, then we suggest you consider becoming a “Kitty Cuddler.”Just click here for the link to the Kitty Cuddler application. If this volunteer position is not right for you, please take a look at the other volunteer options listed on this site. Back to Volunteer Options

50. SPCA Note of Importance for potential Kennel Coach: • Your safety and the safety of our shelter pets are of paramount importance to the SPCA of Central Florida. • To qualify for this position, you must first be a bark buddy and have completed 3 months and accumulated a minimum of 20 hours within the 3 months. • In this position who are able to work with both dogs and cats; however, we will accept dog only applicants.