Position Title: Animal Control Volunteer

Department or Program Overview: Volunteers in the Animal Control Division of the Columbia County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) provide administrative support to the animal control staff. They assist the Animal Control Division with daily shelter operations. Volunteers can elect to be a part of one of three teams: shelter, office, or field. Each team has separate auxiliary tasks that aid in different areas of the Animal Control Division.

A shelter team volunteer will assist the shelter staff with attending to and caring for animals in the kennel facility. This can include grooming dogs, dog training, walking the dogs and working on socializing dogs as well as cleaning kennels, bedding, and dishes. Shelter team volunteers may be asked to assist with the foster program, adoption program, and education program.

An office team volunteer will work as part of the administrative support, volunteers may type and edit documents and process a variety of forms, including license forms. This would also include maintaining files and records relating to shelter activities as well as answering telephones, greeting visitors and directing inquiries appropriately.

A field team volunteer will assist the Animal/Dog Control Officer with calls of service. The volunteer may be asked to assist with apprehending stray dogs and educating the community The field team volunteer would need the ability to volunteer within the Animal Control Officer's work schedule.

Volunteer positions serve at the discretion of the County Sheriff and may be dismissed at will.

General Statement of Duties:

• All volunteers may be asked to review shelter records of licensed pet owners to identify owners of lost pets. They may also compile daily records required by animal shelter such as photographs, observations of dog behavior, and written evaluations of the dogs. In addition, volunteers describing stray animals found by shelter workers and animals turned in by public and record information according to instructions.
• Able to squat, bend, twist, lift, and stand for extended periods of time.
• Be able to withstand loud, noisy environments.
• Attend/participate in all required trainings and meetings.
• Adherence to shelter safety protocols.
• Understand that volunteers represent the Animal Control Division as well as the CCSO.
• Follow directions and work independently or in a team without constant supervision.

Qualifications:

• All applicants shall be required to undergo a thorough background check.

Position Reports To: Animal Control Officer.

Expectations: Be reliable, act responsibly and with integrity, be accountable for your actions, carry out duties according to the position description, be committed to Columbia County and your tour of service, undertake training as required, ask for support when needed, be courteous to participants, staff, other volunteers and value and support other team members.

Additional Training: Volunteer Orientation training will be provided.

Benefits to Volunteering for this position: Columbia County understands volunteering allows citizens to give back to their community in meaningful ways and is a critical resource to the county. As a volunteer, you will gain experience and knowledge regarding training, behavior, health and well-being of the shelter animals. Additionally, as an Animal Control Volunteer, you will enjoy the reward of enriching as well as assisting the animals with finding their new homes. This unique volunteer position provides gratitude in knowing that each volunteer shift offers happiness and excitement to the animals to be able to interact with a diverse group of individuals.