Opportunities From: Volunteer DBQ

The Foster Program Assistant supports the Foster Program by assisting with daily operations, foster parent engagement, and animal care coordination. This volunteer position provides hands-on experience in animal welfare, volunteer management, and nonprofit operations while supporting the mission of the Dubuque Regional Humane Society (DRHS). This is an unpaid position.

Primary Responsibilities:

Assist with recruitment, communication, and support of foster parents.Help maintain foster records, files, and data entry in PetPoint.Support preparation and distribution of foster orientation and training materials.Assist with scheduling foster animals for vaccinations, veterinary visits, and health checks.Help monitor the health and behavior of animals in foster care and report observations to supervisory staff.Assist with tracking foster animal movement and ensuring proper documentation.Provide support during shelter events and foster-related outreach activities.Communicate foster program policies and procedures to foster parents and volunteers as directed.​

Qualifications:

Interest in animal welfare and nonprofit work.Administrative experience in Excel, email, making copies, etc.Strong organizational and communication skills.Ability to work collaboratively with staff, volunteers, and the public.Detail-oriented, reliable, and able to manage multiple tasks.Comfortable working hands-on with animals and performing physical tasks.Can provide 10-20 hours of help per week (flexibility on what days/time frames)

Summary

The volunteer Community Care Representative will represent the Dubuque Regional Humane Society in a professional and courteous manner and provide prompt and courteous service at the Main Lobby. We are looking for enthusiastic, reliable team players with excellent customer service and willingness to learn!

Shifts we need help (full or partial):

Tuesday - 11:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday - 11:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m

Thursday - 11:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m

Friday - 11:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.

If you are interested in this volunteer role, please apply as a volunteer on our website (add front desk interest in application notes) and complete our new volunteer orientation: https://www.dbqhumane.org/new-volunteer 

 

Essential Job Functions

Greet and provide timely, compassionate, and courteous service to the community, visitors, and volunteers as they enter Kinsey’s CampusAnswer phones, data entry into PetPoint, filing, copying, and faxingProvide accurate information to the community and volunteers about the DRHS’ policies and proceduresHandle questions, concerns, and issues from the public in a professional mannerAssist the community and volunteers with animals for socializationMaintain knowledge of animal inventory, shelter events, and special needs of the shelterPerform adoptions and adoption holdsHandle adoption returns and issue gift certificates for exchange  Provide adoption counseling to ensure optimal fit and animal well-beingReceive payments for services by cash or credit cardReceive owner surrendered and stray animals and ensure timely transport of information from proper Veterinary Clinic to our shelterCreate lost and found reportsProperly clean temporary animal holding enclosuresCreate cage cards for animalsBalance cash registers and count deposit cash at the end of the nightWork collaboratively with staff and volunteers to ensure a clean, pleasant, and organized work environment including all areas that the community can and cannot seeSafely transfer animals from one animal enclosure to another and ensure proper documentation Receive and accurately record in-kind donations and store in proper locations

Every year, hundreds of Dubuque Regional Humane Society (DRHS) volunteers help make a difference in the lives of lost, abandoned, neglected, rescued or surrendered companion animals that come through our doors. No volunteer contribution is too small or insignificant – they all help us continue our efforts as a no-kill humane society committed to rescuing, supporting, educating and advocating for our companion animal friends!

DRHS volunteers should possess perseverance, independence, and initiative, with a long-term goal of helping promote the health and well-being of all companion animals in the care of the
DRHS. Volunteers should be willing to learn from and work hand in hand with staff, be
excited about animal enrichment, and passionate about the well-being of all animals.

Duties include familiarizing yourself with DRHS organization policies and procedures, the building, and staff members. Helping with duties include dishes, laundry, and cleaning animal living areas. Additional opportunities after training has been completed include walking and socializing dogs, socializing cats, help with grooming efforts, event assistance and support, fundraising efforts, and more!

APPLY NOW!

Step 1: Fill out online volunteer application here --> Volunteer Application Link

Step 2: Complete virtual orientation process

Once you've filled out an application, you will receive an automated email with next steps for the virtual orientation process. Please follow the instructions, and once completed, we will review your results within 3-5 business days. Once reviewed, you will receive a final email confirming your active status as a DRHS volunteer, with instruction on how to schedule your first day in the shelter! 

If you have any questions, please email us at volunteer@dbqhumane.org. 

The goal of the Dubuque Regional Humane Society’s (DRHS) foster care program is to rehabilitate animals in order to make them available for adoption. Cats, kittens, dogs, puppies, and various small mammals are able to find forever homes with the help of our dedicated foster families.

What is a foster parent?

A volunteer foster parent assists in the rehabilitation of an animal by providing in-home care. An animal may need a foster home for a variety of reasons including age, illness, injury, socialization, or to help provide needed space at the shelter for incoming animals.

What are the responsibilities of a foster parent?

It is the foster family’s responsibility to provide a clean, safe, and loving environment for our foster animals. Being a foster parent requires the following:

A separate room or space in the home that keeps foster animals separate from your home animalsAbility to commit to routine medical appointmentsHave access to transportationBe accessible by DRHS staff (phone, email, text, etc.)Must be 18 years of ageIf fostering dogs, a safe place to walk or an enclosed outdoor area where dogs can be supervised during outside time.While fostering does not necessarily take a lot of time, time commitments vary depending on the needs of each animal and must be considered before taking on any foster animal.Patience. Foster animals, like all animals, require patience as they transition to your home and environment. 

If you have any questions about our foster program, contact us at foster@dbqhumane.org or fill out our digital application: https://form.jotform.com/243646009700149