About Volunteering With HRI

Volunteering
What do HRI Volunteers do? There is nothing they don't do! A few ways our volunteers help HRI include:

RESCUE IS:

Administration. A rescue doesn't run itself. We must have people willing to serve on committees and the board.

  • bills must be paid (website/veterinary/grooming/store purchases/credit cards, etc.)

  • insurance must be obtained kept up

  • database creation/maintenance

    • records must be entered/maintained for every dog

    • records of all expenses must be entered/maintained

    • tracking sales in the store(s)

  • permits and licenses must be obtained for various activities

  • decisions (sometimes very hard ones) must be made about whether we have the resources and foster homes to take in dogs

  • compliance with laws for 48 states must be researched and observed (and we recently had an international adoption!)

  • writing policies, procedures and educational info for other volunteers

  • creating forms/contracts for intake/adoption

  • board meetings and other ongoing communication

  • oversight of all of the following:

Fundraising. We can't rescue dogs if we have no money to care for them. Fundraising includes:

  • quilting squares for the HRI Quilt Fundraiser

  • coordinating the fabrication of the quilt

  • selling quilt tickets

  • grant research and writing

  • coordinating an online auction to raise funds

  • helping to organize the huge events at the Havanese National Specialty

  • helping to staff the huge events at the Havanese National Specialty

  • procuring donations of items from businesses or individuals for our foster dogs or for auctions and fundraisers

  • storing/shipping store products

  • advertising events

Website(s). The website is our "public face." The primary method for people to make contact with us to surrender or adopt dogs.

  • creation and general administration of the site (our site is not "static" it changes constantly) 

  • online forms creation and maintenance (so people can contact us)

  • photography 

  • creation of dog listings on our site and PetFinder

  • writing/posting of educational materials about adoption, dog care, behavior problems, etc.

  • maintaining a social media presence (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.)

  • moderation of IO Groups

Education. The best way for us to help dogs stay out of shelters and rescue is educating owners.

  • newsletter

    • writing articles

    • proofreading/editing

    • production/distribution

  • communicating HRI news to local HCA clubs

  • being available to counsel someone about a dog behavior issue

  • educating the public by setting up booths at local pet expos or shows

  • creating a slideshow or video for youtube or educational venues

State contacts

  • application processing

  • reference/veterinary checks

  • home visits

  • record keeping

  • ensures that new volunteers join the io Group(s)

  • orientation/mentoring new volunteers

  • coordinating foster placements in state

  • mentoring foster parents

  • helping to coordinate vet care

  • ensuring that each dog has HRI ID tags while in foster care

Intake Group. 

  • staffing the intake group 7 days a week

  • emailing and making phone calls to follow up on dogs needing our help

  • assessing safety risk (if dog is known to have aggression issues the board must be involved in the decision process)

  • deciding whether we can accept a particular dog

Dog Management Team.

  • keeps track of ALL the dogs currently in foster care and those coming into foster care, including who is fostering, what their adoption status is.

  • providing photos and write ups for dog listings to the geeks for the website

  • mentoring foster parents

  • determining the appropriate adoption fee amount to be requested for each dog based on age, health, behaviour issues, etc.

  • too many other tasks to list!

Miscellaneous

  • providing financial support/donations

  • donating air miles for transport

  • researching prices on vet care, flea-tick medications, grooming etc.

  • storing/shipping things for foster dogs (leashes, collars, belly-bands, etc)

  • providing moral support and camaraderie to other volunteers as they share their successes and challenges with HRI dogs

  • Thank you cards to donors

  • Get well cards to ill volunteers

Dog care. Now we're finally down to actual contact with a dog.

  • IDing/assessing dogs/checking on dogs in shelters

  • coordinating dog transports

  • driving a leg of a transport

  • driving various distances to meet a devastated owner forced to surrender their beloved pet and trying to help them and the dog

  • fostering

    • feeding

    • administering medications

    • vet trips

    • training/addressing behavior problems/issues

    • grooming

    • socializing

Adoptions.

  • responding to applications

  • reference/veterinary checks

  • home visits

  • record keeping

  • follow up on adoptions to ensure successful placement


It takes all of this — and more — to provide a safe haven and secure future for the Havanese that need us. We cannot do this without you. So if you're wondering "how can I help" feel free to look over this list then contact someone and say "Hey! I can help with that!"

 

 

Changing lives ... one Havanese at a time.