Volunteer Application - German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County

Date

Name*

First Last

Address*

Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

Email*

Phone Number*

How did you hear about us?*

Are you over 18?*

Yes
No

If you are under 18 years of age, our insurance prevents you from working directly with the dogs. However, we have a number of other fund raising events you may be helpful with! Please select the Under 18 Team below and submit your application to us.

Are you afraid of large dogs?*

Yes
No

Are you able to transport large dogs in your car?

Yes
No

Available Days

Which days are best for your volunteer work?

Saturday
Wednesday
Sunday
Thursday
Monday
Friday
Tuesday

We are organized in Teams. After you attend the New Volunteer Orientation, you will be asked which Team(s) you might like to join. You can check the box on any of the Teams below to see a description of what they do.

You can always change your mind once you become more familiar with our operations. Click on the team you are interested in and a brief description of each Team will appear below. - Be sure you have checked the "over 18" button above first.

You are outside our Orange County Service Area.

Most of our volunteer work happens in Yorba Linda, CA and Burbank, CA. Based on your zip code, your drive time may prevent you from enjoying all of the benefits of volunteering for us. If you would still like to volunteer, please email: volunteer@gsroc.org and let us know. Thank you.

Bake Sale Team

Team Leader: Jo Nola. Several times a month, GSROC holds bake sales at our adoption events. Jo calls upon team members to provide and deliver to the event homemade baked goods that have proven to be popular among shoppers. We also reach out to volunteers to help with donations of ingredients such as sugar, flour, etc. These ingredients may be donated to you, so we encourage you to reach out to friends, family, your local grocer, etc. to solicit supplies when possible. Typically, GSROC holds 2 - 3 bake sales per month.

Dog Bathing Team - Every Friday Morning

Team Leader: Ann Small. Every Friday, we determine which orphans will attend the Saturday adoption event. Each selected dog needs to be bathed on Friday, to be prepared for a Saturday morning transportation. Bathing teams gather in Yorba Linda to bathe and dry from 8 to 14 dogs.

Foster Homes Team (24/7 Fostering)

Team Leader: Debbie K. Fostering is a special gift of love and time, but it is not a part time activity. When you volunteer to foster, you volunteer to take the orphan into your home, usually until the orphan is adopted. We, of course, accommodate your vacation schedules if you are fostering during that time. The order of priorities for fostering are: Puppies (and they are time- intensive but cannot reside in a boarding kennel), elderly dogs that need medication or specialized care; and ill or injured orphans (e.g. those recovering from surgery). While we have many other dogs under our protective ‘wings’, we determine which dogs would best benefit from foster based on numerous factors.

Dog Walking Team (Primarily Weekends)

Team Leader: Dagmar. In order volunteer for the Dog Walking team, you need to attend an initial orientation handling session that is conducted by Dagmar. This training session provides volunteers with the necessary information to ensure uniformity of methods/protocols. Dagmar periodically hosts these training sessions. We walk our orphans in a “pack walk” on Sundays, and on certain pre-set days during the week. Once you have been certified by Dagmar, it may be possible for you to walk dogs during the week when your time allows. We always need dog walkers, as the dogs benefit tremendously from this one-on-one time. It improves their mental as well as their physical health. The Dog Walking Team should be prepared to commit 2 – 3 hours each week walking our orphans.

Dog Training Team**

**PLEASE NOTE THAT OUR INSURANCE REQUIRES YOU HAVE THE NECESSARY STRENTH TO HANDLE OUR DOGS - WHICH MEANS THAT YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE AND CONTROL LARGE DOGS THAT MAY EXCEED 100 LBS AND THAT MAY BE STRONG AND ANIMATED.** Team Leader: Dagmar. Dog training is a critical component to socialize some of our orphans. We have group training classes on Saturday mornings in Yorba Linda to help our dogs become more adoptable. Training classes typically begin at 9:00 AM and we ask you to commit to an 8-week session with your assigned dog. You will gain valuable skills that will remain with you for the rest of your life, and you will be helping an individual dog find a home sooner!

Dog Handling Team**

**PLEASE NOTE THAT OUR INSURANCE REQUIRES YOU HAVE THE NECESSARY STRENTH TO HANDLE OUR DOGS - WHICH MEANS THAT YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE AND CONTROL LARGE DOGS THAT MAY EXCEED 100 LBS AND THAT MAY BE STRONG AND ANIMATED.** Team Leader: Dagmar. We can always use more dog handlers for our weekend events. To be an effective Dog Handler, it is important that you start first with dog walking to get solid handling skills before you are in a retail setting with a dog. Dog handling means that you attend, and hold, the dog that has been designated for you during our weekend adoption events. The adoption events typically start at 11:30 am and end at 3:00 pm on Saturdays, and/or occasionally on Sundays. Events are usually held at pet food stores or other venues (OC Fair, etc). Strong dog handling skills are critical to our success. If our handlers can’t properly manage their assigned dogs, the public as well as the dogs could potentially be in danger. You should be prepared to attend 2 events each month as a dog handler.

Social Media/Web

Team Leader: Althea. If you feel your area of expertise is in social media marketing or web-related areas, please contact Althea to determine what needs we may have at the time.

Dog Transporting Team

Team Leader: Michele S. Our orphans need to be transported to and from vet appointments and picked up from area shelters. Many times, the Dog Transport team must respond rather quickly. Our orphans are kept at Country Care Pet Resort in Yorba Linda and most of our vets are in North Orange County as well. Who can predict when one of our orphans becomes ill, or when a shelter will call us with an urgent case? In order to volunteer for this responsibility, you must be comfortable taking a shepherd in and out of a crate in your car and controlling it during the time you are entrusted with its safety and comfort. Typically, this team will be contacted and may be asked to respond within 24 hours or less, which is why we need a large team for these duties.

Graphic Design/PR/Photography

Team Leader: Maria. If you select this area as something that you wish to pursue, please be ready to submit some samples of the work that you have recently created. We are always looking for graphic design help – from flyers to postcards to Tshirts. We do a have a particular look and feel to the type of designs that we prefer. For photography, we regularly need pictures of our orphans to display on our website as well as pictures of events that we are hosting.

Fundraising/Donations for Silent Auction/Raffle

Team Leaders: April and Maria. If you have expertise in securing unique and fun items that can be used for silent/live auction fund raising OR if you have unique talents in grant writing or corporate fund raising, please contact Maria or April to see what our upcoming needs may be and how you may be able to help with this area of our operations.

Grants/Sponsorships/Wholesale Solicitations

Team Leader: April. If you are good at calling potential sponsors for events or if you are good at contacting companies to donate products that GSROC uses (food, leashes, flea and tick medicines, etc) your assistance can always be used. Please contact April to see what our needs are and how you might be of help. If you are good a finding and writing grants, please contact April to see whether or not the grant you are suggesting has already been applied for.

Mailing Team

Team Leader: Maria. – Periodically, we send out flyers, invitations, post cards and more. These items need labels, stamping and stuffing. Accuracy and attention to detail required.

Thank You Note Team

Team Leader Linda R – We send thank you notes to our donors, volunteers and more. Excellent penmanship and strong writing skills needed. **for 2018, this team is full**

Blood Donor Transportation Team (On Call)

Team Leader - Scott M. - This team is dedicated to helping injured or in need dogs, including injured police dogs, by identifying and helping transport dogs that can serve as a blood donor. Often blood donors are our orphans, but we also have volunteers who have agreed to have their dogs act as a blood donor (especially during holidays). We generally have one dog per week that needs to be transported to our vet in Yorba Linda, then returned to Country Care in Yorba Linda once the process is complete. You must be able to transport large dogs in your car.

Donation Bin Collection Team

Team Leader: Maria. We have several generous merchants who have allowed us to place a donation bin in their stores. These bins collect things that the rescue needs and uses, such as shampoos, treats, dog food, collars, leashes and more. If you are on this team, we will find a donation bin location near you. Your mission will be to periodically collect the items that have been donated and deliver them to Country Care Pet Resort (GSROC's offices) in Yorba Linda.

Wellness Center Team

Team Leader: Maria. This team of volunteers helps our onstaff vets or canine rehabilitation therapists with the operations of our wellness center, including ensuring the center has plenty of clean towels for the Underwater Treadmill, that the Wellness Center is kept clean and neat and helping with bringing and returning dogs to and from the wellness center. The Wellness Center is located adjacent to Country Care Pet Resort in Yorba Linda - so dogs are brought to and from Country Care Pet Resort to the Wellness Center.

Burbank Team

Team Leader: Melissa. Based on your Zip code, it looks like you are closest to our Burbank location. Our Burbank Team handles our some of our special needs orphans. Dog walking, bathing, handling and other activities happen at our Burbank location. Be sure to check the Burbank Team option if you would like to volunteer in Burbank.

Used Shoe Drive Team

Team Leader: Amber. Once each year, we collect used shoes (no holes, no skates, no rollerblades) that are sent to needy people in other countries. We are paid an amount based on the number of shoes that we collect. All of our volunteers are encouraged to help us with the Used Shoe Drive when it is underway!

Events Planning Team

Team Leaders: Maria and April. If your specialty is helping find venues, organizing and planning events, this is for you. We host several events each year and we are always looking for new ideas that fit within our budget.

Merchandise Sales Team

Team Leader: Maria. If you love to organize merchanise (T-shirts, hats and other items) and sell merch at events like the Holiday Brunch, certain weekend adoption events and more, this team is for you.

Under 18 Team

We are always looking for enthusiastic members for our Under 18 Team. We have special fund raising events and drives that you can help with.

Tell us about you:

Occupation

Why do you want to volunteer with us?

How many hours can you commit each month?*

What special skills do you have that could benefit our organization or our dogs? (Please list)

What do you hope to accomplish by volunteering with German Shepherd Rescue of OC?

Please use this space to provide any additional information that you would like to share with us:

GSROC appreciates your interest in becoming a volunteer for our organization. Please understand that most of the dogs that come into our rescue come from shelters and humane societies and as such, they are often from unknown backgrounds. As a rescue dedicated to helping forgotten dogs, it is possible that some of these dogs may have been neglected, mistreated, or even abused. Although we evaluate dogs prior to accepting them into the rescue, we cannot guarantee the temperament of any of the dogs. Working with the rescued dogs comes with risks. By submitting the application above, you are acknowledging that you understand and accept these risks as stated herein.

I have accurately completed this application and all information stated is correct. I have read the above warning and understand the risks involved in working with these dogs. I understand that the Association of German Shepherd Dog Rescuers/German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County cannot be held responsible for the actions, behavior and/or medical condition of all of the dogs in its rescue. I agree to assume the risks implicit with working with dogs who may have been abandoned, beaten, or otherwise mistreated or abused or who may suffer from an illness, condition or disease.

You will be contacted within two weeks of receipt of application. Thank you for offering to donate your time and energy to help find forever homes for forgotten/unwanted/neglected German Shepherds.

On behalf of myself, heirs and next of kin, I hereby release, waive and discharge German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County, its directors, officers, agents and employees, from all loss or liability for all property damage, injury or death, directly or indirectly arising out of or resulting from, or in any way connected with the participation in GSROC volunteer activities, including dog walking, holding, transporting and/or any handling or interacting with dogs under the care of GSROC.

Terms and Conditions*

I accept GSROC's Terms and Conditions

Waiver and Release of Liability*

I understand and accept the waiver and release of liability discussed above.