Volunteer Form

Thank you for your interested in becoming a S.A.V.E. Volunteer!

Please read all of the information below carefully as it will answer most of the preliminary questions you may have regarding volunteering and provides the details of the current volunteer roles we are in need of additional help filling!  Once you have read all of the information, if you would like to pursue any of the below detailed volunteer opportunities, please complete the volunteer application on this same page!

 

Active Volunteer Participation

While most volunteers are “Regulars” (meaning they come in for the same shift every week) – we understand that not everyone can commit to this.  We do not require a weekly commitment, however, we do mandate that all active volunteers must commit to fulfilling minimum participation requirements every month. 

  • Shelter Attendants/Cleaners must complete 2 shifts per month (approx. 6 hrs) to remain a SAVE Volunteer.
  • Non-Cleaners must complete 1 activity per month to remain a SAVE Volunteer (approx. 3-6 hours)

 

Communication

We maintain 2 private Facebook groups to communicate all of the needs of the shelter.  The main volunteer group has all active members of SAVE and our Schedule group houses all information relevant to the shelter (schedule needs, animal information, status updates, etc).

Scheduling

We utilize a schedule system called “SignUp” that allows for volunteers to manage their shifts on their own based on their availability.

 

SAVE Locations

Route 9 Shelter (Main Shelter): 1594 Lakewood Rd, Unit 5, Toms River, 08755

PetSmart Shelter (Cats Only): 2 Brick Plaza, Brick, 08723

Fischer Shelter (Cat Infirmary): 777 Fischer Blvd, Toms River, 08753

Fischer Thrift Shop: 777 Fischer Blvd, Toms River, 08753

 

ROUTE 9 SHELTER INFORMATION, NEEDS & REQUIREMENTS

Volunteers working independently must be 18 years or older.  Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by a trained and volunteering parent.  “Kid volunteers” must be able to retain basic safety protocols, follow instruction from shift leaders and display obvious respectful and cautious behavior towards the animals.

 

General Public Hours (GPH)

Sun, Tues, Weds, Fri: 12pm – 4pm

Thurs: 12pm – 6pm

Mon: Closed

 

Volunteer Positions

  • AM Kennel Cleaners: Starts between 8am -9am
  • AM Dog Walkers: Before 10am
  • Midday Greeters: Same as GPH
  • Midday Kennel Attendants: Sun-Saturday 12pm-4pm
  • PM Kennel Cleaners: Starts between 5pm-6pm
  • PM Dog Walkers: After 6pm
  • Fostering
  • Event Attendant
  • Home Inspections
  • Transports

AM/PM Shelter Tasks

Kennel Cleaning

Fully staffed, every shift includes 5 volunteers and can last up to 3 hours.  Each volunteer focuses on one designated area of the shelter which can take between 1-2 hours to clean, including the respective common areas.  Of the volunteers, a Shift Lead is assigned who is also responsible for reporting and recording relevant information and medicating the animals as required.

  1. Cat Areas include a Roaming Room, Quarantine Room and Kitten Corral during kitten season.  Each volunteer is responsible for providing fresh food and water, washing replaced food bowls, cleaning and sanitizing litter boxes, cleaning and disinfecting individual cages or communal roaming areas, sweeping and mopping the floor area, changing and washing linens, and socializing animals in their designated area.
  2. Dog Areas include Main Kennels, Quarantine Room and Grooming/Puppy Room.  Each volunteer is responsible for providing fresh food and water, washing replaced food bowls, cleaning and disinfecting individual kennels, sweeping and mopping the floor area, changing and washing linens, and socializing dogs in their designated area.

Dog Walkers

Dog walkers are independent of kennel cleaners and their time is dedicated to walking the dogs that are eligible around the outside areas of the shelter facility.  Volunteers focus on teaching and reinforcing proper leash walking behavior/manners and also provide mental stimulation for the dogs.  Volunteers are responsible for staying current on quarantine/hold records, providing feedback to shift leads on behavioral/physical concerns or progress and using discretion during inclement or heatwave weather.

 

Midday Tasks

Greeters

Shifts include 1-2 volunteers.  Responsibilities include answering the phone, greeting potential adopters, showing adoptable animals, accepting donations and assisting people with completing the online forms at the shelter.  

Kennel Attendants

Shifts include 1-2 volunteers.  Responsibilities include assisting the Greeter with showing adoptable animals, providing fresh water, maintaining unsoiled kennels/cages and managing laundry.

 

Fostering Tasks

Long Term Fostering

While we try to keep as many dogs in the shelter during open hours on the weekends, there are some dogs that just do not take well to being in the kennel and/or are very vulnerable and therefore require a long term foster.  Examples might include pregnant or nursing mommas, bottle fed babies, puppies under 8 weeks of age or dogs that do not show their best self in the shelter but are highly adoptable outside the kennel.  Long term fosters commit to being responsible for the well-being of the animals until an approved adoption can take place.  These volunteers also are responsible for providing accurate descriptions/content and photos for social media exposure and performing “meet and greets” with potential adopters.

Short Term Fostering

Volunteers dedicate anywhere from 2 hours to several days to one particular dog that just needs a break from the kennel.  Volunteers are responsible for the well being of the animal during that time and are asked to focus on leash walking, socialization, potty training and basic commands (sit, paw, gentle, etc).  These volunteers also are responsible for providing accurate descriptions/content and photos for social media exposure to help promote their adoptability.

 

Event Attendant Tasks

Every month we are scheduled to attend various functions (mostly weekends) in which we set up booths to fundraise and/or to expose our adoptable animals to the general public. 

 

Home Inspection Tasks

Our adoption application process requires a home visit/inspection prior to an adopter becoming approved.  There are several opportunities a month for volunteers to perform inspections which require the completion of a checklist and feedback to the Adoption Coordinator regarding the condition of the home and other animals as well as the suitability of the specific dog for that specific family/home.  These inspections require approximately 1-1.5 hours of the volunteers time to include travel.

 

Transport Tasks

From time to time we need volunteers to assist in driving a "leg" of an animal rescue transportation route. These transports require (on average) 2-4 hours per transport for travel from start to finish.

 

PETSMART SHELTER INFORMATION, NEEDS & REQUIREMENTS

Volunteers working independently must be 18 years or older.  Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by a trained and volunteering parent.  We do not allow for any volunteers under the age of 18 at this location.  This location is obviously a small area inside of the PetSmart store and is open to public when the store is open and houses cats.

Volunteer Positions

  • AM Kennel Cleaning: Starts between 7am-9am
  • PM Kennel Cleaning: Starts between 5pm-6pm
  • Weekend Midday Greeter: 12pm-4pm

 

AM/PM Shelter Tasks

Kennel Cleaning

Each volunteer typically works alone on a shift which can last 1-3 hours depending on the pace of the volunteer.  Responsibilities include providing fresh food and water, washing replaced food bowls, cleaning and sanitizing litter boxes, cleaning and disinfecting individual cages or communal roaming areas, sweeping and mopping the floor area, changing and washing linens, socializing and medicating animals.

Weekend Midday Greeter

This volunteer is responsible for keeping up with cleaning during down time, greeting potential adopters, showing the cats, answering general questions and assisting people with completing the various shelter applications/forms.

 

FISCHER SHELTER INFORMATION, NEEDS & REQUIREMENTS

Volunteers working independently must be 18 years or older.  Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by a trained and volunteering parent.  We do not allow for any volunteers under the age of 18 at this location. 

All volunteers must be comfortable administering medications to animals as this location is mostly used as an infirmary.  This location is not open to the public and mostly houses cats and on rare occasions a dog or two.

Volunteer Positions

  • AM Kennel Cleaning: Starts between 8am-9am
  • PM Kennel Cleaning: Starts between 5pm-6pm

AM/PM Shelter Tasks

Each volunteer typically works alone on a shift which can last 1-3 hours depending on the pace of the volunteer.  Responsibilities include providing fresh food and water, washing replaced food bowls, cleaning and sanitizing litter boxes, cleaning and disinfecting individual cages or communal roaming areas, sweeping and mopping the floor area, changing and washing linens, socializing and medicating animals.

 

FISCHER THRIFT SHOP

Volunteers at this location must be 18 or over.  The store is open Tuesday-Saturdays from 11am - 4pm.  Duties here include accepting, organizing and pricing donations, handling customers and answering the phone.

 

***If you would like to pursue volunteering with us - please complete the information below!***

Contact Information

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