CCHS Volunteer Newletter

January 2004

To Volunteer Opportunities and an application to download

Hello everyone!

2003 was another successful year for the shelter- we placed 2,908 pets into new homes, and August 2003 is now the best adoption month for the shelter with 338 pets being adopted. 2004 is underway and has gotten off to a great start- we have already placed 71 pets into new homes in just under 1 week! It looks like this year will be just as good as last year, if not better!

Volunteers did a wonderful job last year both at events and in the shelter. Your time and dedication make it possible for us to help the animals in our care. Volunteers gave an astounding total of over 10,500 hours of their time to benefit the animals of the Humane Society. The staff can't even begin to thank you enough for everything you have done for us in the last year. We wouldn't be as successful without your help.

The Home for the Holidays Adopt-a-thon went very well, and was considered an official success when the cat Calista found a loving home that Sunday. The cats Sunny May, Georgia and Cheyenne also found homes in December; as well as the dogs Mott, Molly Girl and Stitch. Congratulations to them all, hopefully they are enjoying their new homes!

A new policy will be implemented for the volunteer program, beginning this month. Due to the growing number of volunteers, everyone will be required to volunteer for a minimum of 1 hour every six months to remain an active volunteer. Events are included in this, so if you help with an event but don't make it to the shelter during the six months, you will still remain on the active volunteer list.

Speaking of events, we don't have any events scheduled until April, but I am attaching a copy of the 2004 Calendar of Events for you to have. Please note that all dates are subject to change, and that there may be events added during the year. I will send out notices for the events about 1 month prior to each event.

I have a few general notes for everyone:

  1. Please remember that ALL volunteers need to sign in and out in the log
    book, and ALL volunteers need to wear a name tag while you are volunteering.
  2. For those of you that volunteer as an ADOPTION COUNSELOR, VET TECH
    ASSISTANT, or in the NURSERY; make sure to give me your availability for the
    spring semester by the 15th of January so I can get the schedules made.
  3. Please do not bring friends or family with you to volunteer without
    contacting me before hand. We need the notification so we can make sure the
    person will be covered by our insurance in the event that something happens
    (i.e., a bite, or scratch that gets infected and needs treatment, etc.).
  4. Please remember to clean all of the hair out of the brushes and combs, and
    then return them to their proper location when you are finished with them.
  5. Address change forms are located in the green folder which is always in
    the volunteer file cabinet. Completed forms can be placed in the brown
    folder under the green one.
  6. Please remember that I am not in the office on Tuesday's and Wednesday's
    so that I can be here on the weekends when most people are able to
    volunteer. If you have a problem that cannot wait until I am in the office
    on Thursday, please contact Ann Strohmeyer at ann@cuhumane.org.

Here are a few notes for the dogwalkers:
  1. Please remember to take a towel to wipe off dog feet if it is raining or
    snowing, or if the ground is wet or muddy. You may leave the towel by the
    door you are using until you are finished walking for the day. When you are
    finished, please put the dirty towel in the dirty laundry bin in the laundry
    room (across from the adopt dog kennel).
  2. Please remember to always include the dogs ID number (the one that starts
    with an A) when you list them on any of the logs. We need the ID number in
    case we have another dog up for adoption with the same name (please remember
    that we are always putting animals up for adoption, so it is possible for
    you to walk 'Eddie' in the morning and have him be the only 'Eddie', but we
    may move another 'Eddie' up that afternoon).
I hope everyone enjoyed volunteering last year, whether it was at events, thru fostering, or at the shelter. Please let me know if you would like to try something new, or if you have any suggestions to improve the volunteer experience. I look forward to working with all of you this year.

Julie Keith
Volunteer Coordinator
Champaign County Humane Society
1911 East Main Street &Mac240; Urbana, IL 61802
Julie@cuhumane.org &Mac240; www.cuhumane.org
(217) 344-9314 Phone &Mac240; (217) 344-7299 Fax
CCHS Home Page
© 2003 - Humane Education Committee, Champaign County Humane Society, 1911 East Main, Urbana, IL 61801 USA