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

Overview & Impact: The GTHS Animal Hospital contains an Operating Room, Treatment Room, Examination Room, Pharmacy, X-Ray Room and a Hospital Intake / Recovery Area.

Having an onsite hospital ensures animals receive timely, thorough and comprehensive care, saves dozens of daily phone calls, reduces trips back and forth to veterinary clinics, dramatically decreases the stress on the GTHS animals, and leads to the additional benefit of earlier adoption availability; so these animals find their forever home quickly.

The GTHS Animal Hospital is one of the only accessible spay/neuter hospitals serving Bruce, Grey and part of Simcoe County that performs 3,000 surgeries annually (an average of 50 surgeries per week), and subsidizing ~$770K in veterinary costs each year.

To promote pet wellness and safety, 1,858 rabies vaccinations and 1,767 microchips are administered to GTHS Animal residents and community clients on an annual basis.

Position Summary: Reporting to the Community Programs Coordinator (and the Director of Medicine), the Hospital Discharge Volunteer will be responsible for discharging animals to the public after their Hospital appointment / surgery, as well as overseeing the cleanliness of the Hospital Intake Room.

• Public hospital discharges
• Speak to pet owners to relay how the surgery went and if there were any concerns
• Ensure pet owners understand post-op and medication instructions
• Review microchip information, as appropriate
• Ensure onesie or cone is supplied, if appropriate
• Return cats to their owners and coordinate with the Hospital RVT to bring dogs out to their owners
• Accept payment for add-on services, as appropriate
• Set up the Hospital Intake Room for the following morning’s intakes; including making kennel cards and labels for the next day’s animals
• Set up dog kennels in the garage/storage area, if additional kennels are required
• Clean and tidy the Hospital Intake Room once animals have departed; including wiping down kennels, tidying up, sweeping and mopping the floor
• Assist the Community Programs Coordinator or Hospital staff as required
• Follow appropriate protocol, legislation and regulations

• Work with a team of volunteers to sort fruits and vegetables into individual orders
• Handle food gently and hygienically, and arrange the boxes for maximum appeal
• Assist with packing site set-up and clean-up

• 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

• Providing peer to peer support for people who are grieving the loss of a loved one
• This support is offered over the phone, and is arranged by our Social Worker

Mobile/Donor Centre Volunteer - Collingwood 
 
As a volunteer with Canadian Blood Services you help create a positive, safe and welcoming environment and experience for our donors. Greeting donors with a smile, thanking them for their donation and making conversation helps ensure a good donation experience. As one of the last faces donors see on their way out, the care and attention you give plays a critical role in the success of future blood donor clinics. 
 
Activities and Tasks Associated with the Role - This role has a variety of duties, including, but not limited to the following: 
 
• Welcome and serve snacks and drinks to donors upon their arrival from the donation area 
• Oversee the refreshment area which includes displaying and restocking snacks and drinks 
• Responsible for ensuring the cleaning of tables, chairs and touch points within the refreshment area 
• Mandatory use of surgical masks, hand sanitizer and gloves provided by CBS when operating within the Mobile/Donor Centre 
• Observe donors and alert donor centre staff of adverse reactions 
• Provide donors with organizational updates and information on current CBS initiatives 
• Regularly review written volunteer duties and centre specific procedures 
• Adhere to policies, procedures and training requirements 
• Respond to donor concerns and questions by directing donors to appropriate staff 
 
Skills, Abilities, Traits 
• Friendly, compassionate, outgoing and possess good communication skills 
• Able to work independently as well as in a team environment 
• Sensitive and respectful of the dignity of all people 
• Able to relate to different personalities and age groups in a variety of situations 
• Able to observe and react appropriately to adverse situations 
• Adhere to CBS dress code (e.g. name tag, vest/ t-shirt and closed toes shoes) 
• Reliable and punctual 
• Provide good customer service to donors to ensure they feel both valued and appreciated for their donation

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