Canine Foster Volunteers provide a safe, loving and temporary home for puppies, senior dogs and adult dogs with specific needs.  You must have the ability to separate the foster animals from any pets in your home by keeping them in a separate room, if necessary.  We will provide training and all the supplies you need.

In 2023, our Animal Care Team looked after more than 1500 animals onsite and, thanks to our Foster Volunteers, 1044 additional cats and dogs were cared for in loving foster homes.

Description

Canine Foster Volunteers are responsible for helping puppies (litter sizes can range from 4-6 puppies), seniors and / or adult dogs in their care thrive until they are ready to be adopted.  This will include feeding the animals at least twice a day, possibly more, potty training (for puppies), and exercising and socializing the animals.  It may also include bottle feeding and administering oral medications.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Maintain clean and tidy environment
• Provide treats, food, clean water and clean bedding as required
• Provide puppy pee-pad training, if necessary
• Bathe and groom dogs, as necessary and if comfortable doing so
• Interact with dogs for walks, training and socialization
• Provide a structured environment and reinforce behaviours that make dogs more adoptable
• Assist in the maintenance of dogs’ health and welfare
• Administer medication, as required and as instructed
• Ensure any veterinary appointments are kept
• Return dogs to GTHS Animal Centre as required (for surgery, treatment, adoption…)
• Ensure dogs are safe and secure
• Follow appropriate protocol, policies and procedures

Pregnancy and Infant Loss (PAIL) Network provides bereavement support at no cost to families who have experienced the loss of a pregnancy at any stage, or the death of their baby, up to 12 months of age. We currently have volunteer opportunities for people who are approximately two years past their bereavement date and are looking for meaningful ways to offer their support to others. We are actively training peer supporters for private mixed loss group peer led support, loss specific online peer-led group support, and one-to-one telephone support.

• Provide weekly companionship to client of Breaking Down Barriers.
• Assist with activities like arts & crafts, cooking, scrapbooking, weaving and Friendship Café
• Meet for conversation, maybe go for an outing and just be a friendly face to someone who may otherwise be isolated.

General Kitchen Duties

• Assisting the cook
• Preparing meals
• Baking

• Friendly Visiting, Coffee Social 
• Knitting, Painting, Crafts 
• Scrabble Players, Bingo Caller, Pin Setters for Bowling 
• Assisting in the Dining Room and Program Set up 
• Movie Night Volunteer 
• Friendly Reminder Volunteer 
• Manicures 
• Musical Talent

• Talk about Coffee Break in their community
• Deliver Kits to Coffee Break Hosts
• Collect donations and unused supplies following events
• Sign up new hosts

Help to deliver meals to residents in your community for the meals on wheels program.