Animal Welfare Professionals

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  • 1.  Volunteer Coordinator - duties of volunteer position

    Posted 10-07-2021 10:15 PM

    I am a volunteer at a small rural shelter. I was recently told that our Volunteer Coordinator (who is herself a volunteer) is required to personally fill in any volunteer shift openings for which she cannot find another volunteer or face the possibility of a personal fine from the Dept of Ag for animal neglect.

    (For background, we have staff for the daytime shift and depend on volunteers for the evening shift.)

    Is it just me or is this insane? We are burning out our current Volunteer Coordinator at an astonishing rate due to this, as we're currently understaffed and also short on volunteers. I certainly wouldn't take on the position under those terms.

    I've not been able to find online confirmation of this potential fine - does anyone know anything about this? Do other shelters require this of their volunteer Volunteer Coordinators? Any information/insight would be much appreciated!

    Thank you!
    Katie


    #LawsandPublicPolicy
    #OrganizationalManagement
    #PeopleManagement(includingVolunteerIntegration)

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    Katie Phillips
    Humane Society of Southern Illinois
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  • 2.  RE: Volunteer Coordinator - duties of volunteer position

    Posted 10-08-2021 05:58 AM
    This is really stunning.  Is this in some volunteer agreement she signed?   She should resign immediately.   Then find a different way to be involved in the shelter... 


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    Patty Rytlewski
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  • 3.  RE: Volunteer Coordinator - duties of volunteer position

    Posted 10-08-2021 06:19 AM
    I'm told that there is a position description somewhere that includes this, but no one knows where it is or can provide a copy…

    I haven't yet talked to her myself. I was hoping to learn if this is (a) true re the Dept of Ag and (b) a common arrangement before I did so.

    Thank you for replying!

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    Katie Phillips
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  • 4.  RE: Volunteer Coordinator - duties of volunteer position

    Posted 10-08-2021 11:18 AM
    Agree with above!
    I've never heard of anything like this - definitely a bad policy (if it even still exists?).
    And, yes insane. Thanks for asking.

    @ERIN ELLIS ever come across anything like this in all your volunteer management years?
    @Annette Ramirez I know this may be well out of your area, but ever seen anything like this in public ordinances?​​

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    Thank you all for all you do!

    Amber Freiwald
    Maddie's Fund
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  • 5.  RE: Volunteer Coordinator - duties of volunteer position

    Posted 10-08-2021 01:03 PM
    Hi everyone,

    No, I've never ever heard about this type of policy and we are a rural org in CA. I would definitely look into this for validity.  Interested to see what you find out.

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    Erin Ellis
    Community Engagement Director
    Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe

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    Volunteer & Community Partnerships Specialist
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  • 6.  RE: Volunteer Coordinator - duties of volunteer position

    Posted 10-08-2021 01:15 PM
    Thank you, everyone, for replying and confirming that I'm not totally out
    of my mind!

    I'm still researching this. Our leadership has changed very little in 10+ years and there's not much by way of documentation on anything, so no one seems to be able to tell me where this came from or even really wants to be questioned about it.

    I'll let you know what I find out.

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    Katie Phillips
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  • 7.  RE: Volunteer Coordinator - duties of volunteer position

    Posted 10-08-2021 02:40 PM
    Hi Katie, I also have never heard of such a thing.  I agree with Alexis that it may be best to reach out to the Dept. of Ag to find out directly from them.  It may save you unnecessary hours of research if it doesn't exist.  Let us know what you find out.

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    Annette G. Ramirez
    Assistant General Manager
    Los Angeles Animal Services
    213-482-9558
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    Field Services and Public Safety &
    Laws and Public Policy Specialist
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  • 8.  RE: Volunteer Coordinator - duties of volunteer position

    Posted 10-08-2021 09:40 PM
    I'll get in touch with the Dept of Ag on Monday and will report back what I learn!

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    Katie Phillips
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  • 9.  RE: Volunteer Coordinator - duties of volunteer position

    Posted 10-09-2021 09:19 AM
    That's the solution.  Just resign, bring her back as a volunteer and give her another title.  Problem solved.  If the Dept of Ag wants a person in there willing to agree to that, they can find them.  I wonder if it is even a thing.  It is the strangest mandated responsibility for anyone, paid or volunteer.    Be interested what you find out when you get the actual doc that says it.

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    Davyd Smith
    No Kill Colroado
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  • 10.  RE: Volunteer Coordinator - duties of volunteer position

    Posted 10-08-2021 08:04 AM
    Hi Katie- so we definitely don't have any requirements like that for our volunteers. If I were you, I would ask the Dept. of Ag directly for the code they are referencing to see what the actual requirements are!

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    Alexis Pugh
    Director, Memphis Animal Services
    www.memphisanimalservices.com

    Organizational Management
    & Pet Support Services Specialist
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