Oakville & Milton Humane Society Volunteer Application

Bubbles Brigade (Laundry, Dishes, General Cleaning)

Objective: Cleaning, sanitizing and organizing laundry, dishes and tools to help keep the shelter clean and our animals healthy.  

Responsibilities:                            

• Laundering soft items such as bedding and towels according to shelter protocols.
• Washing and sanitizing hard items such as bowls, litter scoops and hard toys according to shelter protocols.
• Keeping the laundry area clean and organized.
• Keeping the dishes area and the dog kitchen clean and organized.
• Put away items in appropriate places.
• Assist with restocking items as needed.
• Sorting the donations bin and putting items away.
• Moving sorted items to their correct destination including the Q-Hut
• Assist with general light cleaning duties in common areas as needed.

Qualifications:

• Must be able to stand for at least 2 hours.
• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must be able to read and understand direction.
• Must be able to lift, bend, twist and scrub

Training:

• Online training
• In-person training on site

Time Commitment:

• 2-3 hour shift weekly for a minimum of 6 months

Location:

• Onsite, OMHS Shelter

Supervision:

• Manager, Animal Care
• Manager, Volunteer Program and Thrift Store

Shifts:

• Daily 8am-10am & 2pm-4pm

Dog Handler

Objective: To provide exercise, enrichment, and training for dogs at the Oakville and Milton Humane Society, ensuring their well-being and preparing them for adoption. Note: Our dog program uses non-aversive positive reinforcement techniques only and volunteers will need to follow these techniques within their role.

Responsibilities:                       

• Take dogs on daily walks to provide physical exercise and mental stimulation.
• Work on basic obedience training (e.g., sit, stay, leash manners, kennel manners).
• Record and report any behavioral or medical concerns to staff.
• Provide companionship and enrichment during walks and training sessions.
• Ensure safety protocols are followed during all interactions with the dogs.
• Maintain cleanliness in dog areas by assisting with basic care tasks as needed.

Qualifications:

• Keen and eager to learn about the OMHS program
• Comfortable and confident handling dogs of various breeds and sizes
• Knowledge of basic training techniques and dog behaviour an asset
• Patience to work with dogs with behavioural challenges
• Reliable, punctual, able to work independently, never afraid to ask questions or for help
• Ability to learn humane society dog handler program requirements and follow them
• Ability to walk dogs for extended periods and manage dogs with different temperaments
• Ability to lift/carry up to 30 pounds

Training:

• Online training
• In-person training on site

Time Commitment:

• 2-3 hour shift weekly for a minimum of 6 months

Location:

• Onsite, OMHS Shelter

Supervision:

• Manager of Animal Care
• Manager, Volunteer Program & Thrift Store Manager
• Canine Behaviour and Enrichment Specialist

Shifts:

Monday to Friday: 10am-12pm; 12:30pm-2:30pm; 4pm-5:45pm

Saturday & Sunday: 10am-12pm; 12:30pm-2:30pm; 3:30pm-4:45pm

Role Descriptions both below - Cat Foster and Dog Foster

Foster Parent - Cats

Objective:

• Provides a safe, loving, and nurturing environment for cats who are not yet ready for adoption or need extra care before finding their new homes.
• Assists to ensure cats are healthy, socialized, and ready for adoption, thus increasing their chances of finding a permanent home.

Responsibilities:

• Provide a safe and clean environment for cats in your care, following all shelter guidelines.
• Feed, water, and monitor the health of the cats, ensuring they receive the proper care.
• Administer medications or treatments as directed by the shelter’s veterinarian.
• Socialize the cats, helping them become comfortable with human interaction.
• Monitor and record the cats’ behavior, health, and progress, and report any concerns.
• Help with the transition of cats back to the shelter when they are ready for adoption.
• Maintain regular communication with the shelter regarding the status of the fostered cats.

Qualifications:

• A love for animals and a willingness to provide them with compassionate care.
• Experience with cat care (e.g., feeding, cleaning litter boxes, administering medication) is helpful, but not required.
• Ability to recognize common health issues in cats, such as changes in appetite, behaviour, or signs of illness.
• Physical ability to clean and care for cats, including lifting and carrying supplies, cleaning cages or areas, and handling the cats safely.
• A quiet and secure living environment free of hazards for the cat.
• Ability to work independently, follow instructions, and communicate effectively with the shelter staff.
• Able to keep the cat separate from any other animal(s) in the home.
• Must live within a 40 minute drive of the shelter in the event their foster animal requires emergency veterinary care.  
• Must live within a 40 minute drive of the shelter in the event their foster animal requires emergency veterinary care.

Training:

• Online training
• Orientation with foster coordinator

Time Commitment:

• Foster parents should be prepared to care for a cat for anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on the cat’s needs.
• The time commitment for fostering a cat can vary, but it typically requires daily care and attention, including feeding, cleaning, and socializing.
• Foster parents should be available for regular check-ins with the shelter staff and may need to bring the cat to the shelter for medical appointments or meet-and-greets with potential adopters.

Location:

• In-home

Supervision:

• Foster and Volunteer Coordinator

Foster Parent - Dogs

Objective:

• Provide a temporary, loving home for dogs that are not yet ready for adoption or need extra care before finding their forever home.
• Assists to enhance the well-being of the dogs and increasing their chances of adoption by helping them become well-adjusted, healthy, and prepared for life in a permanent home.

Responsibilities:

• Provide a safe, comfortable, and clean-living environment for foster dogs, ensuring their basic needs are met.
• Feed, water, and monitor the health of the dog, administering medications or treatments as directed by the shelter’s veterinarian.
• Walk the dog regularly, providing exercise and mental stimulation.
• Follow training or behaviour modification plans as laid out by the animal care manager and canine behaviour and enrichment specialist.
• Socialize the dog, helping them become familiar with new environments, people, and other animals if applicable.
• Monitor and record the dog’s behavior, health, and progress, and report any concerns or changes to the shelter staff.
• Transport the dog to the shelter for medical appointments or meet-and-greets with potential adopters.
• Help with the dog’s transition back to the shelter when they are ready for adoption.

Qualifications:

• A love for dogs and a commitment to providing them with a safe, caring environment.
• Experience with dog care (e.g., feeding, walking, basic training) is helpful.
• Ability to handle dogs of varying sizes, temperaments, and energy levels, ensuring their safety and well-being.
• Physical ability to care for a dog, including lifting, walking, and providing regular care.
• A secure, pet-friendly living environment free of hazards.
• Ability to follow instructions, communicate with shelter staff, and provide regular updates on the dog’s progress.
• Must live within a 40 minute drive of the shelter in the event their foster animal requires emergency veterinary care.  

Training:

• Online training
• Orientation with foster coordinator

Time Commitment:

• Foster parents should be prepared to care for a dog for anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on the dog’s needs.
• Foster parents are expected to provide daily care, including feeding, exercise, training, and socialization.
• Foster parents should be available for regular check-ins with the shelter staff and may need to bring the dog back to the shelter for medical appointments or meet-and-greets with potential adopters.

Location:

• In-home

Supervision:

• Foster & Volunteer Coordinator
• Canine Behaviour and Enrichment Specialist

Animal Ambassador

Objective: The Animal Ambassador Volunteer role was created to engage the community and promote the Oakville & Milton Humane Society (OMHS) by having ambassador teams (volunteers and their pre-approved pets) attend special events, education programs and group visits. These teams represent OMHS and help foster a positive relationship with animals. Volunteers and their well-behaved pets (dogs, small animals, birds, reptiles) help draw attention to community booths, educate children and youth about animals, and inspire compassion and understanding of animals in need.

Responsibilities:

• Attend special events, group visits and children's programs with your pet to engage with youth and attendees.
• Represent OMHS by being an ambassador for the organization and its mission.
• Ensure that your pet is under control, on-leash, and well-behaved at all times.
• Provide a positive and engaging presence at events, helping to teach and engage community members about animals.

Qualifications:

• Volunteer:
  • Excellent animal handling skills and a strong understanding of animal body language.
  • Reliable, punctual, and comfortable interacting with the public.
  • Strong communication skills to represent OMHS professionally at events.
• Animal
  • House-trained (dogs) that are well-behaved in public.
  • Small animals, birds and reptiles that are comfortable and not stressed in a public environment, and are comfortable travelling with appropriate housing.
  • Excellent manners, calm and friendly with people of all ages.
  • Comfortable around other animals.
  • Strong self-control and the ability to stay calm in various public settings.
  • Dogs - Must be up-to-date on vaccinations (rabies and DHPP/DAPP) with proof provided.

Note: We are not accepting cats at this time.

Training:

• Volunteers and their pets will undergo an assessment to ensure they are a good fit for the role.
• Initial training may include instructions on handling dogs in public, understanding animal behavior, and event-specific guidelines.
• Ongoing training may be provided as necessary.

Time Commitment:

• Minimum six-month time commitment, though longer participation is wonderful.
• Educational programming, group visits and special events occur on weekdays, weekends and evenings.
• Shift length varies depending on the event or program and can vary between 30 minutes to 4 hours.
• Shifts are booked by our team reaching out with opportunities and volunteers indicating availability.

Supervision:

• Humane Education Coordinator
• Manager, Volunteer Program and Thrift Store
• Other roles as needed for special events

Education Program Assistant

Objective: To support the delivery of humane education programs at the OMHS Shelter, including Kindness Club, Humane Heroes, Homeschool Program and more.  

Responsibilities:

• Assist children with games, crafts and activities as needed or any other tasks as needed
• Provide support to help students stay on task and focused during lessons
• Supervise children briefly should the staff have to step out
• Guide children in animal safety procedures (ie keeping fingers out of cages etc during tours or drop-off)
• Assist with set-up and clean-up as needed

Qualifications:

• Enjoy working with children ages 6-17
• Comfortable handling small animals and cats including reptiles, or willing to learn
• Experience working with children and/or in a classroom setting is an asset
• Must be willing to obtain a vulnerable sector check

Training:

• Online training
• In person training and shadow shifts at OMHS Shelter
• Additional animal handling training shifts dependant on program

Time Commitment:

• Based on program needs – will fit volunteer to role that works for them
• 1x shift per week during evening program sessions (3x8 week sessions per year)
  • Hours per shift vary from 1-3.5 hours depending on evening program (kindness club, humane heroes etc)
• As scheduled for day time programming
  • Hours per shift vary from 3-8 hours depending on daytime program (PA day, March Break camp, homeschool program, etc)

Location:

• Onsite, OMHS Shelter

Supervision:

• Humane Education Coordination and/or Community Outreach Assistant
• Volunteer Program and Thrift Store Manager

Thrift Store Associate

Objective: The Thrift Store Associate supports the Oakville & Milton Humane Society (OMHS) by assisting with the daily operations of the Barkin' Bin Thrift Store. (Open Wednesday to Saturday 12pm-4pm; Located at 511 Pinegrove Road, Oakville). 

Responsibilities:

• Provide exceptional customer service by assisting customers.
• Operate the front desk, handling cash, debit, and Visa/MasterCard transactions.
• Accept and sort incoming donations, thank donors, and move items to the storage area for sorting and pricing.
• Merchandise items and stock shelves.
• Complete light housekeeping duties - dusting, sweeping, vacuuming, tidying and arranging  shelves, and cleaning counters and windows as needed.
• Adhere to all Barkin' Bin policies and procedures as outlined in the operations manual.
• Report any customer complaints, suggestions, or Health & Safety issues to the Manager, Volunteer Program and Thrift Store.
• Support and assist with training other volunteers as needed.
• Attend and help prepare for special Barkin' Bin events.

Qualifications:

• Strong customer service skills, with the ability to interact courteously with the public, volunteers, and staff.
• Good communication skills and ability to work well in a team environment.
• Ability to handle cash transactions and work with different payment methods (cash, debit, credit cards).
• Ability to use email, and send end-of-day sales reports, and other communications as needed. 
• Familiarity with retail operations, or willingness to learn.
• Be able to lift/carry up to 20 pounds; walk up and down stairs; and stand for extended time.
• Willing to complete a police record check with vulnerable sector screening.

Training:

• Online
• In-person training at the Thrift Store

Time Commitment:

• Minimum 6 month commitment required, but longer availability will be given preference
• Weekly recurring shift from 11:30am-4:30pm; ability to support other shifts if wanted

Supervision:

• Manager, Volunteer Program and Thrift Store 

Shifts:

• Wednesday to Saturday, 11:30am-4:30pm