Virginia Beach Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

ADULT VOLUNTEER HANDBOOK

Please read through this handbook before your first shift!

1

STAFF/VOLUNTEER HOURS OF OPERATION: SUNDAY: 8:00am-4:30pm MONDAY: 9:00am-6:30pm TUESDAY: 9:00am-6:30pm WEDNESDAY: 9:00am-6:30pm THURSDAY: 9:00am-6:30pm FRIDAY: 8:00am-4:30pm SATURDAY: 8:00am-4:30pm

PUBLIC HOURS OF OPERATION: SUNDAY: 10:00am-4:00pm MONDAY: 12:00-6:00pm TUESDAY: 12:00-6:00pm WEDNESDAY: 2:00-6:00pm THURSDAY: 12:00-6:00pm FRIDAY: 10:00am-4:00pm SATURDAY: 10:00am-4:00pm

Most in-shelter activity ends within 15 minutes of closing, but volunteer opportunities are available in other areas to those whose work schedules prohibit them from volunteering during regular business hours.

These are adoption hours. We do not receive animals on Wednesdays. NOTE: We complete Morning Cleaning in the shelter 2 hours prior to our business hours, and LOVE Adult Volunteer support with this task!

VIRGINIA BEACH SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS 3040 HOLLAND ROAD VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23453 PHONE: (757)427-0070/(757)427-0737 FAX: (757)427-5939 [email protected] * www.vbspca.com NAME DIA DUVERNET AMANDA PANULINE DUNLAP (ALIAS: “APD”) JENNY TEED KIM FLEAGLE KATHY SHAMBO EMILY PECK

POSITION/EMAIL PRESIDENT & CEO [email protected] DIRECTOR – VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS [email protected] DIRECTOR -- SHELTER OPERATIONS [email protected] MANAGER - FRONT DESK [email protected] SENIOR DIRECTOR – HUMANE EDUCATION [email protected] DIRECTOR – CLINIC AND FACILITIES [email protected]

EXTENSION 123 113 (DIRECT LINE: 689 1934) 104 101 107 116

VBSPCA PET SUPPLIES & ADOPTION CENTER 983 PROVIDENCE SQUARE SHOPPING CENTER VIRGINIA BEACH VA 23464 *To the Left of Kroger*

NAME VIKKI HENDERSON BARBARA GIPSON AMANDA INSETTA NICOLE BURRIS

PHONE: 757-427-0071 POSITION/EMAIL DIRECTOR – HUMAN RESOURCES & GRANTS [email protected] DIRECTOR – WILDLIFE & SPECIAL PROJECTS [email protected] DIRECTOR – DONOR PARTNERSHIPS & MARKETING [email protected] DIRECTOR – DONOR RELATIONS & PUBLICATIONS [email protected]

EXTENSION 147 141 145 143

2

THANK YOU!! Thank you for your interest in volunteering for the Virginia Beach SPCA. This handbook will help familiarize you with our policies and principles. We rely very heavily on volunteers and YOU are deeply appreciated. Ask questions, visit often because we look forward to a long and mutually productive relationship. Welcome to the VBSPCA Family!

MISSION STATEMENT It is the mission of the Virginia Beach SPCA to create a more humane and responsible community by dliminating animal suffering while increasing human compassion.

CORPORATE STRUCTURE The VBSPCA is a 501c3 private, nonprofit corporation governed by a Board of Directors comprised of volunteers from the community who are dedicated to animal welfare. We are self-governed and not a chapter or affiliate of any national or governmental entity.

BRIEF HISTORY It all began in 1966 when two dedicated area women, Liz Sills and B Lovitt, began reaching out to area friends with the idea of forming the Virginia Beach Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. With persistence and passion, Liz and B successfully acquired land on Farm Road to build the first ever VBSPCA near General Booth and Oceana Boulevards. They worked tirelessly for 2 years to raise $5,000 to build the first shelter, and immediately kicked off the area’s first Humane Education program. As January, 1969 rolled around, the shelter doors officially opened and provided care for more than 5,000 animals in its first year alone. 20 years later, we built and moved into our new Holland Road location, where we remain today. Since its inception in 1966, the Virginia Beach SPCA has been instrumental in the field of animal rights, animal welfare, and diminishing animal homelessness across Hampton Roads and beyond. Since that time, the VBSPCA has been sheltering animals and providing numerous services to the human population of South Hampton Roads. Our Pet Therapy programs makes more than 11,000 contacts with people who would otherwise not benefit from contact with animals in nursing homes & retirement communities alike. We are a state and federally permitted Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at the VBSPCA as well, and tend to over 2,000 injured and orphaned wildlife each year. Our Humane Education department sees more than 15,000 children per year in curriculum-based and innovative programs such as Pets and Pals, Autistic Bridges, Compassion Classroom, and Listening Ears. In 2015, we opened the Virginia Beach SPCA Pet Supplies & Adoption Center, located in the Kempsville area of Virginia Beach, and sell specialty retail items while adopting out over 700 homeless pets each year at that location alone. We also launched Happy Paws Humane Pet Training on Indian River Road in Virginia Beach, in which we offer numerous training courses for area and recently adopted pets. Each year, the VBSPCA finds homes for more than 4,000 abandoned and homeless animals.

ADULT VOLUNTEER PROGRAM OVERVIEW The VBSPCA is dependent on the generous contributions of time, creativity, and energy from hundreds of volunteers. Our volunteers are extremely important to us and serve the VBSPCA in many ways; not only in helping staff accomplish tasks, but also taking their positive experience to the community as ambassadors. One of the most important things you can do as a volunteer is ask questions! Shelter staff is here to help, so please don’t ever hesitate to ask questions. The VBSPCA accepts adult volunteers without regard to age, sex, race, religion, or handicap. We have a separate program for kids age 13-17, our Junior Volunteer (JV) Program, which is much more regimented than our Adult Volunteer Program. Contact our Humane Education Director for more information about the JV Program at [email protected]. All VBSPCA volunteers will be screened, oriented, trained, supervised, evaluated, and acknowledged. Volunteers must be willing to make a sincere commitment to be screened, trained, and supervised. Discussions of experiences, formal and informal evaluation of tasks, and submission of ideas and suggestions are encouraged. Volunteers must understand that committing to a

3

specific task day and time is a serious matter and absence and tardiness will result in reassessment, or in chronic cases, dismissal. Volunteers with scheduling conflicts are expected to contact the VBSPCA as soon as possible with that information (i.e.: Humane Ed Programs, Pet Therapy, Offsite Events, etc.). Volunteers are also expected to review and sign the Volunteer Code of Conduct, along with a Volunteer Profile containing accurate contact information & areas of particular interest, a signed Social Media Policy, and a signed Liability Waiver at the time of Orientation. Volunteers who witness inappropriate or unacceptable staff behavior, including rudeness, lying, stealing, or any other such behavior are encouraged to notify the Director of Adult Volunteers. The Director of Adult Volunteers will investigate the complaint and notify the volunteer of the disposition of the matter. IN THE EVENT OF THE MISTREATMENT OF AN ANIMAL, THE VOLUNTEER SHOULD BRING THE MATTER TO THE ATTENTION OF THE KENNEL COORDINATOR OR SHELTER DIRECTOR IMMEDIATELY!!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Volunteer opportunities are as diverse as the working environment. Specific job descriptions can be obtained from the Adult Volunteer Director. Opportunities include working with animals in the shelter, working at our satellite Pet Supplies and Adoption Center or at either PetSmart Cat adoption center, fostering animals in your home, visiting nursing homes with an animal, working with children, staffing tables and community events, planning and implementing our key events, transporting wildlife, and more! These will all be discussed at length during the mandatory initial Adult Volunteer Orientation.

DRESS CODE While working on behalf of the VBSPCA whether in the shelter or at offsite events, a volunteer T-shirt should be worn. Shirts are given at the conclusion of each monthly Adult Volunteer Orientation, the cost of which is covered in your Volunteer Initiation fee of $25 (*nonrefundable). Additional shirts may be purchased for $12 per shirt, as supplies last. If you arrive at the shelter and are not wearing your Adult Volunteer TShirt, Volunteer badges must be worn during your volunteer time at the shelter. The badges are kept near the Volunteer Director’s office and are labeled. Please be sure to return the badge when you leave the shelter. Volunteers must also ensure that clothing doesn’t interfere with job safety. Long pants and closed-toe shoes are required; rain boots are recommended during cleaning assistance. All volunteers are expected to keep a clean and neat appearance at work. No torn clothing, cut-offs, sheer, see-thru, halter tops, or open-toed shoes are allowed. Shorts are not permitted while assisting in the shelter.

INJURY REPORTING All volunteers are responsible for working safely and productively, remaining aware of hazards in their volunteer roles, and following recognized safe work practices. All accidents (no matter how minor) must be reported to a VBSPCA staff member. All bites and/or scratches must be reported immediately! We are required by state law to report all animal bites to an Animal Control Officer. Any dog or cat that has bitten will be held for a mandatory ten(10) day quarantine.

TAX DEDUCTION FOR VOLUNTEERS Volunteers may deduct out-of-pocket expenses directly related to their volunteer service if they itemize deductions. The following list offers examples of the types of expenditures that volunteers may deduct: Bus and cab transportation expenses; Parking costs and toll fees; Cost and upkeep of special uniforms; Telephone bills; Supplies purchased to perform volunteer duties; Non-cash contributions of property; & Automobile Mileage. ***Noted that volunteers may deduct mileage at the IRS-approved rate or on an actual basis. Volunteers my not deduct general auto maintenance and repair expenses. ***

GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL Grounds for dismissal include but are not limited to: alcohol or other intoxicant use while volunteering on or offsite; mistreatment of any animal; rudeness; misrepresenting VBSPCA policies; disseminating privileged information; utilizing social media for negative purposes regarding the shelter; not abiding by the Volunteer Code of Conduct; and not fulfilling tasks or duties.

4

BASIC SHELTER PROCEDURES If you wish to volunteer in the physical shelter, you will receive additional training on policies and procedures. Please familiarize yourself with the following fundamental shelter policies. Additional animal-handling orientations are required of all volunteers working hands-on with shelter animals!        

Dogs with red cage cards may not be taken out nor may you enter into the cage under any circumstances! ALWAYS BE SURE TO ASK STAFF BEFORE ENTERING INTO ANY ROCK YARD WITH ANY DOG!!! A red cage card indicates a management hold which may be for a variety of reasons such as aggression, recent heartworm treatment, or incomplete temperament testing. Dogs age six months or less may not be taken outside!! Animals with adopted or hold signs in their cage cards may be shown ONLY to the family that has placed them on hold. They may be taken out for walks and training. DO NOT SHOW AN ANIMAL ON HOLD TO ANOTHER INTERESTED PARTY!! Dogs may be played with within our fenced area or walked outside the area (either around the building or around the soccer field). Dog walkers must pick up after their dogs, so be sure to bring a poopie bag. Fractious cats/small animals are marked with an orange dot on their cage card. Use appropriate caution when interacting with these creatures. Never hesitate to check with staff at any time if you have any questions!

SHELTER PHILOSOPHY The VBSPCA is a wholistic, adoption-focused shelter that accepts owner surrendered animals from throughout the Hampton Roads region. We also accept transfers of animals from other shelters in the region and beyond in order to help promote adoption and prevent euthanasia of animals in areas where shelters do not have the space to accommodate them. We take in over 3000 companion animals each year, and we strive to find adoptive homes for approximately 90% of those animals. Our adoption focus means we work to find homes for all the healthy and treatable animals under our care, with euthanasia generally reserved only for untreatable and unmanageable animals. Our wholistic approach to increasing adoptions and preventing euthanasia of companion animals includes:  Providing high volume, low-cost spay/neuter services  Recruiting, training and supporting a network of foster care providers for animals  Collaborating with other shelters and rescue groups  Intensive marketing and adoption promotions, including off-site adoption events  Medical and behavioral rehabilitation by staff veterinarians and certified behaviorist  Extensive use of volunteers, including a behavior modification team of staff and volunteers working to resolve barriers to adoption  Extensive Humane Education programs that teach compassion and responsible pet ownership  Public relations and community outreach  Increasing returns of strays to owners by referring all stray animals (except unweaned kittens and puppies) to the public shelter, so that owners of lost pets need only search at one location We have an open door relinquishment policy. We do not require appointments for owners to surrender their pets, and we attempt to take all animals that are brought to us. Animals are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we accept all animals that can be housed and managed with the resources available to the shelter. Animals that have bitten within the past 10 days are referred to the public shelter. Sometimes owners come to us to surrender animals for whom owner requested euthanasia is a more compassionate option. We are opposed to animals being exposed to the stresses of a shelter environment when untreatable health problems or unsafe behavior prevent them from being adoption candidates. We also find that some owners have difficulty making end-of–life decisions for older animals for whom euthanasia is the most humane alternative. We provide counseling to owners in these circumstances, and we offer compassionate euthanasia in our clinic, with owner present if desired, as an alternative that prevents unneeded suffering. If after counseling, an owner of a medically untreatable or behaviorally unrehabilitatable animal still prefers to surrender their pet rather than request a compassionate euthanasia, we will accept the animal into the shelter and will inform the owner that euthanasia is the probable outcome. If owners do not wish to relinquish their pet to us, they may be counseled regarding other resources, such as breed-specific rescues, or public shelters. Despite our best efforts to find forever homes for all the animals that come into our care, some animals after being accepted into the shelter become untreatably ill and must be euthanized. Others may develop or display behavior or emotional problems that make them unsafe or unsuitable for adoption into a home. Those animals are also humanely euthanized. Our philosophy is compassion-based, with alleviation of suffering and quality of life being our prime considerations when making the difficult, but sometimes necessary, decision to euthanize an animal. Our goal is to be fully transparent about our policies, and we are very proud of our outcomes. People evaluating our services should know that it is very rare that we do not accept an animal, and the vast majority of the animals we accept are successfully placed in loving homes.

5

VBSPCA Staff & Volunteer Social Media Policy Updated: November, 2016 At the VBSPCA, we understand that social media can be a fun and rewarding way to share your life and opinions with family, friends, co-workers and people around the world. The VBSPCA also recognizes the power of social media to further our mission within our community. It is also clear that the use of social media presents certain risks and carries with it certain responsibilities. In order to assist you in making responsible decisions about your use of social media as it relates to the VBSPCA, we have established this policy for VBSPCA directors, committee members and volunteers. 

   







 



  

The term “social media” includes all means by which a director, committee member and/or volunteer of the VBSCPA communicates, posts information or transmits content of any sort on the Internet including to your own or someone else’s web log or blog, journal or diary, personal web site, social networking or affinity web site, web bulletin board or a chat room, whether or not associated or affiliated with the VBSPCA, as well as any other form of electronic communication. Before creating online content, consider some of the risks and rewards that are involved. Inappropriate communications such as those which are unlawful or could be construed as discriminatory, harassing, threating, or which are in conflict with the established principles and the mission of the VBSPCA will not be tolerated. Directors and committee members shall comply with the Confidentiality & Duty of Loyalty Policy. When referring to anything related to the VBSPCA or animal shelters in general, you must make it clear that the views you express are your views alone. If the majority of a blog focuses on topics related to the VBSPCA, a permanent “disclaimer” should be posted on the home page stating: “The views expressed on these [blog: website] are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Virginia Beach SPCA as a whole.” When commenting on any aspect of the VBSPCA’s business or any policy issue in which the organization is involved, you must clearly identify yourself as a VBSPCA board member or volunteer and include the disclaimer above. In addition, VBSPCA board members or volunteers should not circulate postings they know are written by other VBSPCA staff and volunteers without informing the recipient that the author of the posting is a VBSPCA staff member or volunteer. Content which you create must not include the VBSPCA logos or trademarks absent written permission from the CEO, and all content should respect copyright, privacy, fair use, financial disclosure, and other applicable laws. It is appropriate and fully encouraged that directors, committee members and volunteers share VBSPCA authored postings via social media. Be honest and accurate. Posting factually incorrect statements may damage the reputation of an individual or the VBSPCA. In addition to triggering remedies available under this policy, such conduct may leave you vulnerable to legal action by anyone who suffered damage as a result of you posting factually incorrect statements. If contacted by a member of the news media or blogger about an Internet posting that concerns the business of the VBSPCA, you shall refer that person to the CEO. Postings should not violate any other policy of the VBSPCA. You agree that the VBSPCA shall not be liable, under any circumstances, for any errors, omissions, loss or damages claimed or incurred due to any director, committee member or volunteer’s use of social media. Always be fair and courteous to VBSPCA employees, staff and volunteers when posting. Avoid using statements, photographs, video or audio that reasonably could be viewed as malicious, obscene, threatening or intimidating, that disparage the VBSPCA, its customers, employees, volunteers, suppliers or supporters, or that might constitute harassment or bullying. Do not post information about the disposition of a particular animal without permission of VBSPCA management. All videos and photographs related to the VBSPCA must be pre-approved by management before posting on social media platforms. Violation of this Social Media Policy by any person, as determined in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, may result in removal as a director, committee member or volunteer. If you neglect or otherwise elect not to sign this Social Media Policy, any social media use by you which relates to the VBSPCA may result in your removal as a director, committee member or volunteer.

6

7