Animal Welfare Professionals

Does your organization do anything special around the holidays to give thanks for staff and volunteers? How about for staff working on actual holidays, do you provide lunch or treats to show appreciation? Please share for inspiration!

#PeopleManagement(includingVolunteerIntegration)

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Nichole Boudreau
Embedded Data & Implementation Coordinator
Human Animal Support Services at American Pets Alive!
TN
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It's SO important to acknowledge the staff members who work on Holidays (so many people don't realize we have to be at the shelter 365 days a year!).  Our Executive Director puts on a lavish pre-Thanksgiving Meal for staff, and then returns to the shelter on Thanksgiving Day to cook turkey and green beans for the dogs! (The cats get Thanksgiving-themed toys). It's a lot of fun and a morale booster for the staff/volunteers at the shelter on the Holiday, and of course the dogs love it!

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Erin Hooks
NC
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I bring treats and work side by side cleaning, laundry etc for the major holidays.  We always make sure that someone from senior leadership is here for the staff

Victoria Cowper, CAWA

SPCA of Texas - VP Animal Welfare  

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Victoria Cowper
VP of Operations
SPCA of Texas
TX
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-22-2023 08:06 AM
From: Erin Hooks
Subject: Staff and Volunteer Appreciation: Holiday Edition

It's SO important to acknowledge the staff members who work on Holidays (so many people don't realize we have to be at the shelter 365 days a year!).  Our Executive Director puts on a lavish pre-Thanksgiving Meal for staff, and then returns to the shelter on Thanksgiving Day to cook turkey and green beans for the dogs! (The cats get Thanksgiving-themed toys). It's a lot of fun and a morale booster for the staff/volunteers at the shelter on the Holiday, and of course the dogs love it!

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Erin Hooks
NC
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Our organization is planing our Christmas celebration on December 9th. We'll be embarking on a delightful boat outing with nearly 16 of our dedicated volunteers. To enhance the experience, we'll be providing delicious food, delightful snacks, and a special Christmas surprise gift for each participant. 

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Myriam Martinez
President
Mujeres Latinas SC
SC
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Our Board members put together holiday stockings for staff gifts! The staff fill out a short 1 page form in early November with information about their likes/dislikes and each Board member is assigned a staff member to get gift(s) for. 

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Erin Dams
Community Relations Coordinator
Roanoke Valley SPCA
Roanoke VA
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We have a pot-luck lunch as a whole for Thanksgiving on a day when we are closed to the public. We gather together for food and fellowship after morning duties are completed and work together to finish afternoon routines so everyone has a semi-short day.  This year we are doing our Christmas party at a "rage room" with finger foods and snacks. The younger staff members are very excited, lol! The Board puts together goodie bags/stockings for staff members, and we usually play Dirty Santa with  a small limit gift for whomever wishes to participate.  For the shelter pets, each animal has a stocking that people can donate toys, treats, sponsorships, etc. with and then that stocking goes home with the pet once it is adopted. 

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Jill Gilbert
Shelter or rescue staff
Lee County Humane Society
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