VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR NEW ANIMAL SHELTER

Love animals?  Want to help make a difference in their lives and your community? The new all-volunteer, non-profit animal rescue shelter, Bergen County Protect & Rescue Foundation that is serving seven Bergen County towns and now located in Cliffside Park is searching for dedicated animal lovers.   Bergen County Humane Enforcement Agency is the agency who patrols and serves the seven towns in which volunteers will be working closely with.  BCHE is the most visible entity in public since people will associate with them visually and when in need of help.

Various positions are in great demand and would like to fill these positions right away to get the shelter off the ground.

Volunteers are needed for all areas of fundraising.  With the cost of approximately $2,500 per month for lease and utilities, and a few thousand for food, vet and other supplies, fundraising is an essential part of running this shelter. The towns do not contribute monetary funds to this shelter.  Spay/neuter and micro-chipping programs are now underway.  Volunteers are in need to help create new fundraising and marketing/advertising/public relations’ strategies for the shelter and its animals.

In addition, several highly dedicated dog-walker volunteers are needed. This can be done on one’s schedule where you are able to help.  A schedule will be made according to the number of dog walkers and your schedule to help walk dogs. This position will require volunteer work seven days a week at least three to four times a day. Dogs need to walk, and be exercised, as there are no outside runs.  A VIC of dogs (volunteer in charge of dogs) will also be needed to fill.

Are you a dog trainer who would want to help the shelter by volunteering your services from time to time? The shelter may receive a dog that can use some basic training skills to make them more adoptable.  Perhaps you can give some basic training lessons to volunteer dog walkers to keep all dogs training habits consistent and some basic safety tips too?

If you are a cat lover and have experience-handling cats/kittens, BC Protect & Rescue Foundation is looking for you.  Cat socializers are in demand.  The shelter at the moment is looking for at least two days a week Wednesday & Fridays for socializers.  Times to be determined.  This will help in aid of making the cats/kittens more adoptable.   A VIC of cats  (volunteer in charge of cats) will also be needed to fill.

Volunteers will also be needed to help follow up on adoptions.  When a person(s) adopt an animal under age and has not yet been spay/neutered, these volunteers will need to do some follow up by calling vets to see if the newly adopters have complied with their contracts.  This can be done at home or at the shelter and reports can then be given back to the ACO’s or shelter manager.

Adoption Councilors will be needed seven days a week between the hours of 1p – 5p.  A schedule will be drawn up according to the days one can volunteer his or her time.  The councilors will show the public the animals and discuss which animal is a perfect match for them.  The acquaintance room can be utilized if needed. The councilors will then have the public fill out the adoption form and then have either an ACO or shelter manager sign off on the adoption. This position will require the volunteers to fully understand the needs and requirements of all animals.   A VIC of adoption councilors, (volunteer in charge of adoption councilors), will also be needed.

In the near future, the shelter would like to set up a puppy and kitten foster program.  We will be seeking foster parents for this program.  If you love animals but are unable to adopt, this maybe the position for you.  The shelter will then provide all equipment and food.  You will need to provide love and socializing. 

The need for cleaning cages, volunteers will be asked to help keep the shelter up to date with state regulations in health and safety issues.  The cleaning will be done before the shelter opens for business seven days a week.  A schedule will be drawn up as to the number of volunteers and schedules one can work each day.

Love photography?  Bergen County Protect & Rescue Foundations is also looking for a person or persons who love taking photos of animals that are up for adoption.  This position will also require placing the photos onto the BC Protect & Rescue Foundation website, and submitting photos along with a short bio on each animal to the local newspapers and other media each week.  We would also like if this person or persons can attend fundraising events to take some photos for the media.

BC Protect and Rescue Foundation is also looking for a dedicated volunteer to be in charge of taking care of the facebook site.  This will require having to post all photos of its animals up for adoption, answering questions that may come in and add in updates such as fundraising events etc.

Humane Education program will need to be set up in the local schools and businesses.  Again, a few dedicated volunteers will make their schedules to educate the public on humane treatment of animals, programs the shelter has to offer and the daily functions of running a shelter and its staff.

The volunteers will also need to set up and elect a board to help aid the shelter, its animals, and work with and under the supervision of Vincent Ascolese, ACO; President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Director of Fundraising/Public Relations and two other Director positions.  A board up to nine volunteers is needed but no less than five.  An odd number of board members are required in order to have voting.  The board members will then write up and establish bi-laws for the board, and volunteer duties for the shelter once approved by the majority of shelter members and staff.

Any amount of time one can give will help these homeless animals in need.  This is an extremely rewarding experience especially when you see these animals go to their new loving forever home.  Each animal will then forever leave a paw print on your heart.

You can stop by the shelter to volunteer M – Sat. 1p – 5p.  The new shelter is located at 302 2^nd St. at the corner of Walker St., Cliffside Park, NJ.  Visit our website or to make a donation online at www.BCrescues.org. You may also mail your donation to Bergen County Protect & Rescue Foundation PO Box 1172, Fort Lee, N.J. 07024. 

Please, volunteer your time and expertise.   Together we can all make a difference one animal at a time.  Help Us Help Them!

From Our Home To Yours,

BC Protect & Rescue