Animal Welfare Professionals

I genuinely need ideas on how to train volunteers & how to ensure everyone is doing what's expected of them. Every day I have to go in after people and check to ensure they did th task or room properly & when they don't I end up having to redo. It's getting to a point where I feel really alone & I'm looking like a bossy person or I am too nice & they don't take what I say seriously. 

Do any rescues have a task checklist or some sort of process after training side-by-side with new volunteers? I thinks some are afraid to ask & b"bother " me but others know they are making mistakes & continue doing it even after repeated correction. We are such a small rescue I am the sole day-t0-day person & I don't know how to fix these issues.

I literally get cat chores done faster by myself but then I have no time for adoptions, paperwork or meds when I spent all day cleaning. I need ideas please.

#PeopleManagement(includingVolunteerIntegration)

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Kaitlin Wilson
Founder/CEO
Katies Cat Rescue
PA
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It is an ongoing struggle. We have an online handbook, do online orientation and quiz, and do in-person onboarding (in groups) and emphasize in BOTH that our clean shelter is what keeps the animals healthy. Volunteers do make mistakes, like we all do- but I try to make sure they understand the "why" behind not skipping steps and following our protocol. Also in our area we have a large base of retired medical folks. Nothing like some surgical nurses for following protocols! So I found that one or two of those volunteers worked great as mentors or trainers for the volunteers who were struggling or needed more instruction. 

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Mishelle Gray
Volunteer Manager
Greenville Humane Society
SC
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Like Mishelle mentioned, explaining why certain rules and protocols are in place really makes all the difference for us. I've found that when I take the time to explain how diseases spread (and share real examples of illnesses that have come into the shelter, and how they either did or didn't spread depending on how the animals were handled and how cleaning protocols were followed) volunteers are much more careful about following those procedures.

The same goes for everyday tasks. When I explain why it's so important to clean out the drains, because they've clogged and flooded in the past, and even share that last year we arrived to find all the dogs standing ankle-deep in water, people are much more diligent about keeping the drains clear.

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Anastasia Peterson
Volunteer Coordinator
Hayward Animal Services
CA
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