Cat Playtime, Enrichment, & Care

Thursday, April 15th to Wednesday, September 1st, 2021
This has ended. If you attended, let the organizer know by recording your Impact!

About

This animal-focused role is great if you are less enthusiastic about interacting with the public. Help care for and socialize our cats before we open up for adoptions! 

Why:
Our team races against the clock each morning to clean and prepare the shelter to open up to the public for adoptions. That means we don't always have time to let our cats relax and explore their surroundings before we open.

Perhaps Layla demands a squishy bed, and Tyson needs his morning strut and scratch before he's ready to meet potential suitors. You can meet these individual kitties' needs each morning so they start their day off on the right paw! 

Requirements:
-Complete orientation for safe cat handling
-Abide by staff requests and guidelines at all times
-Handle kittens first, then adult cats. Wash hands or use sanitizer between animals.
-Report medical issues in vet suite on the white board
-Never introduce a cat to another cat without prior staff approval.

Top priorities:
-When arriving for your shift, please find the kennel technician in that area (Cat Adoptions or Cat Stray) ask if there are any immediate needs. If so, please follow their guidance so that we can get our kitties cared for, and our adoption area looking 100% before we open to the public
-If a kennel technician does not have an immediate request, grab a kennel key and look for kitties whose litter boxes are dirty or whose bedding is wet or a mess. Carefully take out the soiled bedding and swap out whatever needs to be swapped. 
-After clean up time, feel free to socialize with the kitties need it the most (those who have been here longest, dogs who are panting/pacing/barking, dogs who appear depressed lying on their beds)
-Enrichment!!! This is the fastest way to help the most kitties enjoy their time at the shelter. Check the freezer for already-made enrichment to pass out, or build enrichment in our prep station (in our cat prep area) to distribute. Something as simple as treats in a paper towel roll can entertain a cat and reduce stress! https://karenpryoracademy.com/low-cost-enrichment-ideas-for-shelters/
-Laundry and dish washing - what's the fastest way to a kennel technician's heart? Through clean dishes and folded laundry!

Approval
Organizer will approve registrants
Requirement Details
Wondering if you should register to volunteer? Based on the CDC guidelines, we are asking you the following questions:
  1. Have you been exposed to someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19? See the CDC’s risk assessment guidance.

  2. Do you have symptoms consistent with COVID-19? Symptoms can include a cough or shortness of breath or at least two of the following: Fever, Chills, Repeated shaking with chills, Muscle pain, Headache, Sore throat, New loss of taste or smell. See the CDC’s symptom information.

If you answered "yes" to any of those questions, we ask you not to register. We are doing all we can to align with best practices and keep our community healthy.
GivePulse
15 Positions Filled | 14 Impacts | 16 Hours