Hi Bella;
Thank you so much for helping cats. Several people have ideas about funding on the thread already. I would like to address how to find Volunteer Techs and Vets to support your work. In Massachusetts we started holding MASH style clinics TNR in 2000 and then we also had volunteer Veterinarians do rounds at our Adoption Center(we adopt out 850 cats a year- hold 60 in the building and have a strong foster network). People from around the country have told me that this volunteer trend is rare. I am surprised. When I speak with private practice veterinarians and I explain the situation for cats in their community - they are usually at minimum interested in finding out more about how to help cats. Below are some tips for success though.
*Think like a recruiter. Which means you are always on the lookout for someone who might want to be engaged. Have your "ask" always prepared.
*Be VERY clear on what you are asking for regarding volunteering. Are you asking for 2 hrs once a week to do rounds, are you asking them to do s/n once a month, or do you need a vet of record? I think quite a few Vets and Techs like doing the monthly s/n clinics- At MRFRS they are one Sunday a month- we bring in about 50 cats and we have 5-7 Veterinarians, 30 plus techs and support staff. Vets are usually out by 1pm so it is like "church for cats". Folks get to connect in a community way, everyone is positive, the work is hard. Many veterinarians like to learn from the other veterinarians- surgical technique/style etc. These are also community cats so if a surgical complication did happen the vet liability is minimal(I hope that makes sense). Surgical training at Vet School isn't what it should be- so these monthly clinics really provide an opportunity for training/learning in an organic way. This isn't a CE opportunity.
*Diving deeper- have volunteer roles or job descriptions ready and posted on your website. This also shows you are professional and a legitimate organization. If you have a veterinarian that is willing to be your Vet of Record(help order meds cheaper etc), they you should offer to pay for their DEA license and other fees necessary to make this happen. Direct them to your volunteer form on the website and make sure that is an option in the opportunities listing. Treating Vets and Techs like you would in recruiting other skilled labor is also important.
*I assume you have asked any local veterinarians that you are currently a client of if you can share volunteer opportunities with them?
*Have you connected with your local Veterinary Medical Association? Many VMA's have Shelter Medicine/Animal Welfare Committees. The same with local vet tech organizations. If you send their Executive Director various "ads" and press releases if they are looking to fill space they may post your ad.
*Comment about Students or very new Veterinarians. If you don't currently have Veterinary Leadership(with SOP's etc). Think about who and how this person will be trained/onboarded /supervised without strategic cat care leadership. I am not saying don't do it- see my note below, but just be careful.
*As the leader, you want to support the shelter med/vet team so their volunteer time is used as efficiently and professionally as possible. Once you have 1-2 successful volunteers in this space- work of mouth becomes incredibly helpful.
At MRFRS we have two volunteers who have become Veterinarians over the last 30 years. One of them Dr. Lucy started with us as a 14 year old volunteer and now she is one of our shelter med volunteers doing surgeries on the Catmobile every other Friday and helps at our Sunday s/n clinics for cats. So it is also important to keep in touch with your volunteers.
Here is a link to a story with pictures of our clinic: The little orange kitten in one of the photos raised over $30,000 through the fund a need at the FurBall.
Just also a mention for the Community Cats Grants run by the United Spay Alliance is another funding option.
One group did this painted rock fundraiser in the community.
Good luck! Stacy
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Stacy LeBaron
Head Cat
The Community Cats Podcast
Warren VT
978-239-2090
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