Animal Welfare Professionals

We are looking to implement a Code of Conduct for volunteers and fosters that will hopefully curb bad behavior and address issues for removal. We don't currently have any sort of process in place for removing folks and tend to just do so quietly and hope they don't make a fuss. Any examples of what your organization uses as a Code of Conduct and / or guidelines for removal of volunteers would be incredibly helpful as a starting point. We don't have to do so often, but when we do, we want there to be a protocol in place. 

Appreciate you taking the time to read and possibly respond with feedback and your org's doc! Thanks in advance 🐾 ♥️ 

Hello there!

For our organization, we have specific verbiage in our volunteer handbook that highlights this exact topic:

Depending on the circumstances of the dismissal, we might relay the information to other fosters/volunteers, but we also don't give full details. I've had to personally dismiss both volunteers and foster parents for violating guidelines. We expect our volunteers to come to us with any issues or concerns so we can address them as they happen, but that doesn't always happen, so it's also a "severity of the issue" type of thing. For example, a foster parent knowingly going against medical protocols because "they know better" is a reason for dismissal, but so is a volunteer disregarding rules and corrections from others. We want everyone to be safe, so if the people aren't able to follow our rules even after being talked to, then we kindly dismiss them.

Hope this helps!