Volunteer Opportunities

Every Shelter offers volunteer opportunities; here are just a few good ideas on how you can help make a difference in the lives of homeless animals.

Together we CAN make a difference. Please contact us at info@mypreciouspaws.org or 207-868-2828 for more information. We look forward to hearing from you.

You can Help us with Your Time or your Donations of $ or Wish List items.

Volunteer Your Time:

Foster Homes Needed
We are in desperate need of foster care homes for Cats and Kittens that need one on one care. This includes prenatal kittens or cats that are skittish or nervous and require  special care.  These are needs that cannot be fully met in a shelter environment due to constant changes that often add to the stress of these animals.   For the benefit of these cats, it would be best to place them in a calm, quiet environment with caregivers that can offer them love and patience to help them learn to trust humans. We believe this  can make a big difference for these animals and help give them a chance at finding a permanent loving home.  As with socializing, you can enjoy feline friendship without long-term commitment. If you want to offer your help, please call us, we have kitties that need you!
Errand Runner
Posting signs and other errands.
Drivers
Collect donations from businesses , individuals, donation cans or drop off newsletters and fliers to local merchants.
Transport
Help with rescue operations and to transport animals to the Vet , primarily in Fort Kent.
Shelter Maintenance
Keeping a shelter clean is critical to the healthy and welfare of the animals and just as important for public image. A couple of hours a week can make a world of difference in lightening the load for dedicated volunteers who might need a day of rest
Medical Help - Vet Techs
Perform medical tests or administer vaccines and medications.
Web site design
Web sites are often the first place adoptee's check for an animal. Your ability to design or maintain a Web site, or answer emails is an invaluable service.
Photographer
Captivating photos are crucial in an adoption. To see your work in print, photograph shelter events for the newsletter.
Fund-raising events
This is usually the most important financial endeavor of any group we rely completely on volunteers for donations, coordinating the activities and participating during the events.
Fund-raising Coordinator
Making calls to recruit volunteers, collecting donations, scheduling events and implementing ideas is one of the many duties of an effective coordinator.
Office Help
Basic office activities, data entry, stuffing envelopes, answering phones, doing adoption follow-ups and returning calls etc.
Cat socializing
Sometimes we have animals with special needs. Volunteers help with socializing animals that are shy and those that need tender loving care. Socializing soothes cats helping them become more adoptable.
Animal Care
Brushing cats helps calm and social them, nail clipping, ear cleaning and just overall checks helps detect or prevents health problems. (hands on at the shelter)
Behavior hotline
Specially trained volunteers return calls. This alleviates problems before people give up an animal.
Public interaction
Assist adoption counselors, help people looking for lost animals, return calls and do follow up adoptions.
Humane education
Visit schools to teach youngsters about proper animal care. Education is the Key to become responsible pet-owning adults. Help collect donations of animal videos, educational and heartwarming pet movies (VHS and DVD) to create a Pet Library. Children can rent a movie for a small donation, this strengthens the bond between humans and animals and helps bring in much needed funds for the organization.
Maintain shelter scrapbook
This demonstrates positive feedback from happy adopters.
Shelter newsletter
Share positive shelter activities. There may be an open position for an editor, writer or photographer.
Writing
"A writer who can offer professional services is a gift". Writing grant proposals can be arduous. Small groups such as ours lack the resources and the expertise that is required to acquire funding, yet grant money represents considerable financial relief. Sending simple thank you cards and letters for donations and contributions can be a big help. Public Service Announcements and ads are important as well.
Manual labor
Any labor help is welcomed whether it be cleaning cages, making minor repairs or maintaining shelter property. (Carpentry, Electrical, plumbing and new projects, etc.)
Attorneys, paralegal
Legal expertise can save nonprofit organizations expensive fees.
Crafters (Sewing, Knitting Crocheting, and other)
You can create pet beds, hammocks for the kitties, scratch poles and cat toys for shelter animals or sell them to raise money. Help us create painted donation jars. Provide new design ideas for those jars.
Financial donations
Remember that the success of the organization is totally dependent on in kind donations, monetary public support membership and sponsorships.
Internet
Web surfing for research projects and affiliates
Volunteer Coordinator and/or Recruiter
Since there is no funding to pay for staffing needs, our organization relies strictly on the help of volunteers to conduct numerous daily activities. Coordinating schedules can be very time consuming. A well-organized coordinator is a valuable asset.
Email Manager
Screening emails for valuable information requires knowledge about the organization, the ability to respond in a timely manner make effective decisions and follow up on requests and inquires can save the group valuable time and improve the welfare of the organization.


http://www.volunteersolutions.org/uwoa/volunteer/