Volunteer Opportunities

Did you see a friendly face on our adoptable pet list that you fell in love with, but can’t adopt?

Wish you could foster but have a selective dog at home?

Many different volunteer opportunities are available to help, we would love for you to join one, or more, of our volunteer teams.

After you’ve read through the descriptions for the teams, start your volunteer application

Who we are:  A group people who “work from home” to ensure that applicants are “up to snuff”

What we do:  The team is responsible for performing a background check for all applicants, 18 or older, using publicly available sites. If the applicant rents, a phone call (or email) to their landlord to determine if they can have pets and what restrictions, if any, for those pets. Lastly, any applicant that has or has had pets in the past 10 years, a call to their vet to verify that their pets are up to date on vaccines, wellness exams. This is for all pets, living and deceased that the applicant had in the past 10 years.

Skills needed:  Team members need to be detail oriented, technology savvy. Access to a web connected tablet, computer or laptop is required. Team members need to be comfortable talking with landlords and vet clinics.

Time Commitment involved:  Each volunteer is asked to commit to minimally 3 days per week, Monday through Friday, for approximately 2-3 hours per day during BUSINESS hours . Vet clinics and property management companies keep business hours and we need to be able to connect with them during those times.

Who we are:  We’re a group of people that enjoy the great outdoors!

What we do:  We help the kennel staff with light cleaning duties and take the animals still waiting for a foster to be available out for walks and some light training.  If we enjoying jogging or running, there’s always dogs who appreciate the extra exercise.  Always an opportunity to take some pictures and advertise the dogs on one of our social media platforms.

Skills needed:  Ability to confidently handle a dog.  Children must be at least 8 to participate in dog walking and each child must have a legal guardian with them (one on one) every time they come to help.   Children aged 14-17 need for a parent or legal guardian to be present at  orientation & to sign a hold harmless waiver.  The level of parental involvement following orientation it is subject to evaluation by JRs Pups-N-Stuff Inc. staff after orientation.

Time Commitment involved: Orientation must be attended, once that is completed it is up to you how often you come and walk the dogs.

Who we are:  We’re the party animals!  Small committees who work together to put together small and large events that benefit the rescue.

What we do:  We are responsible for Petco/Adoption Events, Bar/ PR events, Restaurant Fundraisers, Education Talks/Presentations, Special Functions such as weddings or bringing puppies to businesses and Madison Based Events.

Skills needed:  Attention to detail, reliable transportation

Time Commitment involved:  Monthly meeting for each of the committees.  Need be available for setup, the event and clean-up after the events.  Don’t have time to dedicate to monthly meetings, but still want to support the events team? Just let us know you want to help with events day of on events, and we’ll reach out as we need dog handlers, raffle ticket sellers, etc

Who we are:  We’re the last step!  The final piece of information needed to go from a potential adopter to an approved potential adopter.

What we do:  Team members are responsible for performing a home visit check. During that visit, we verify information on the application, check the safety of the home/yard, discuss and educate potential adopters on JR’s policies, challenges of dog ownership, costs, importance of training and answer any questions.  After the home visit a report is completed so that our fosters can learn about adopters, their homes & lifestyles

Skills needed:  Team members need to be detail oriented, technology savvy. Access to a web connected tablet, computer or laptop is required. Team members need to be comfortable talking to prospective adopters either virtually or traveling to homes (as needed).

Time Commitment involved:  Attend a two-hour training session. Each home visit check can last 1 to 1 1/2 hours depending on travel time. Virtual visits (using FaceTime, ZOOM, Skype, etc.) are used for visits outside our area and during COVID. The number of home visit checks you complete each week is up to you.

Who we are: We are the volunteer team that welcomes and processes the new arriving animals into rescue.

What we do:  We are responsible for intaking the new arriving animals directly off of transport, which includes escorting the animals throughout a variety of stations to get them ready to head to their foster homes. Stations during intake typically include administering any necessary medications and vaccinations, bathing, micro-chipping, photographing, dog pen/crate cleaning, feeding, and foster contacting.

Skills needed: Ability to confidently handle dogs of all sizes and temperaments, listen and follow directions, work alongside other volunteers, lift at least 20 pounds, and not mind getting dirty! Certain stations during intake do involve specialty skills such as blood draws, needle pokes, and photography. Children must be at least 12 years of age to volunteer at intakes and anyone under the age of 18 must have a hold harmless waiver signed by their parent or legal guardian prior.

Time Commitment involved: Intakes occur on various dates throughout the year but typically happen 1 – 2 times a month. A sign-up for working intake typically is e-mailed out to the volunteer team so how often you work an intake is up to you. Day of intake work typically ranges from 4 – 8 hours.

Who we are:  The application input team is a small group people that “work from home”

What we do:  The team is responsible for taking all applications that are received during the day and transferring the data from the application into our rescue software.  Phone/email contact with the applicants to clarify missing/incomplete information in the application.

Skills needed:  Detail oriented, technology savvy.  Access to a web connected computer or laptop is required.

Time Commitment involved:  Each volunteer is asked to be available for 1-2 hours per day/evening, minimally 5 days per week, including weekends.  Our goal is to ensure that all applications received by 8:00pm are input into the system by 9:00 pm that same evening

Who we are:  The transport team is a group of people that love a road trip!

What we do:  The team is responsible for taking transporting animals long and short distances.

Skills needed:  Valid Driver’s license, Insured vehicle, Comfortable handling all sizes and ages of dogs.

Time Commitment involved:  Individual runs to our vet for appointments, approximately 2 hours, including travel time.  Trips to meet our partner rescue for transport, depart on Thursday evening, return on Saturday morning.  Weekly spay/neuter appointments to Madison, leave West Allis at approximately 6:00 am, depart from Madison for the return trip at approximately 4:00 pm.