Free help wanted! **important volunteer positions available at your local shelter**

Are you hesitant to get involved because it seems like being involved in animal rescue is such a huge demand? If so, don't worry, it can be done in manageable enough bites that you can get involved without getting burned out. The following jobs add to your skills and networks, and are very favourable for work experience on your resume.

Positions:

Advertising liaison - creating and mailing out or posting Adoption flyers at petstores and vet clinics on a monthly basis. Anyone is welcome to approach new pet stores and vet clinics and other locations for posting our flyers; after initial contact is made, we will add them to our mailing list.

Fundraiser - we need someone with events-planning experience or interest who can help get fundraising activities under way. Telephone calls are a major part of this work.

Adoption agents - mainly for organizing and staffing adoption clinics. Also involved in interviewing candidates after paperwork has come in to determine if they will be a good home, including some home visits. Bilingualism is an asset.

Written Communications - E-mail is the biggest routine job after cleaning cages and looking after the animals. Rescues need someone with writing skills and communication empathy to help with this work.

Advocate - someone (or two) with public relations and/or legal experience to raise awareness of animal welfare issues and to help make the ship watertight; this position may be key in making an organization a registered non-profit / charity. Bilingualism is an asset.

Translation - we need help getting this site fully translated into french, and from time to time we need fast turnaround on translation jobs.

Handyman - if you have a knack for building, maintaining, painting, shelters and rescues can always use your help from time to time. They have shelving units that need help to be straightened and mounted properly, and household rodent repairs to make!

Seamstress - if you have a sewing machine and skills to make hammocks and toys for fundraising and for shelter pets!

Pet forum liaison - this is a job some of you perform already! As shelter /rescue staff don't have time to spend on the forums, they miss out on opportunities to get to know the extended small animal community. You don't have to do it officially on their behalf, though you can give the rescue or a shelter a mention when it's relevant. If a positive adoption prospect comes forward, just provide the shelter the details of who they are - lend your support to adoption agent(s) in screening homes. French or English or any language - according to forums you visit!