Volunteer
Will you help Saving Grace continue to rescue, care for and adopt out deserving dogs?
Saving Grace would not be able to rescue, care for, and prepare all the dogs we bring in for adoption without a dedicated group of volunteers.
As a volunteer-powered non-profit organization, Saving Grace would simply not exist without the hard work and dedication of our volunteers. The number of dogs we can save is a direct correlation to the number of people we have helping us. We are always looking for new volunteers to welcome into the Saving Grace family and we have a need for every type of talent!
We have volunteer opportunities galore! Whether you want to spend time outside doing physical work in all kinds of weather, or sit at a computer drafting creative dog bios, or meet and greet people for events off-site or at the farm, or maybe support our veterinary staff in the clinic – we have a job for you!
Shift Work at the Farm
Every day care of the pack at the farm is critical for ensuring the wellbeing of the dogs.
Shifts are daily from 9-1pm and 5-8pm. This a great way to spend time with the dogs, meet new friends and be part of an amazing team!
Here are the three main areas for shifts:
- Dog Care – Volunteers work in teams twice per day handling the daily care of our dogs. Responsibilities include feeding, cleaning, and rotating dogs for outside time. Some lifting required.
- Meds – work during shift hours to administer medications to dogs in our care. This job is perfect for someone who is part Perfectionist and part Magician. Hot dogs are a wonderful means to get a pill in a dog!
- Dishwashing/Poop scooping – Great tasks for people that want to join the team at the Farm but may not be comfortable with all of the shift responsibilities. This is a great way to engage with the dogs while they’re playing outside and maybe even sneak in a snuggle.
Transportation
We bring in dogs from shelters throughout North Carolina. We need help transporting dogs and getting them uloaded and settled once they arrive at Saving Grace.
- Drivers: Drivers are needed M-F to take our vans or your personal vehicles to pick up dogs at our shelter partners and shuttle dogs for veterinary care. Transport needs vary by time and distance.
- Loading and Unloading: Volunteers assist with transportation by loading and unloading dogs into the vans for transport.
Medical Support
Many of the dogs that come to Saving Grace need medical attention. Here’s what you can do to help out at the Farm!
- Intake: Work with a team of people who welcome dogs to Saving Grace and provide initial evaluation and treatment.
- Medical volunteers: Work with the medical team in preparing medications for dogs, administering preventatives and evaluating and treating other needs.
- DAILY MEDICAL ASSISTANTS: This will be a set schedule (can be flexible) M-F Hours from 1-5.It will involve helping the medical lead with routine walk throughs, filling meds as decided by the medical lead. Record meds on medical sheet
- PANACUR TEAM: All dogs are routinely dewormed and the panacur team works three days (T W Th ) on the morning shift every week. Each week there is a list of dogs to get panacur. Tasks include prepping the panacur meds, administering them to the dogs and updating the medical sheets.
- PREVENTATIVES TEAM: Each week the preventative team gives all dogs that are due that week their monthly flea/tic and Heartworm preventatives and record them on the dogs med sheet. This job is best done with a partner which makes it easier.
- PAPERWORK TEAM:Â There are routine meds to be recorded on med sheets, files to be made and put away. Computer work as needed into SG tracking systems.
- Wellness checks – assist the SG team during vet visits to prepare the dogs, take notes on the vet evaluations and communicate next steps for the health of the dog.
- Heartworm treatments – work with the SG team to track, coordinate and administer heartworm treatments for the HW positive dogs in our care.
- Vaccines: Dogs need a set number of vaccines given within a certain time period before they are ready for adoption. Volunteers are needed in assisting administering vaccines and updating med sheets appropriately.Â
Website and Social Media
In addition to a website, SG maintains a robust social media presence including a Facebook page, YouTube channel. Volunteers keep it all up to date with current stories and engaging our community for support.
Work in the Spay/Neuter Clinic
Many of the dogs that come to Saving Grace need medical attention. Here’s what you can do to help out in the Clinic!
- Walk/Load/Exchange: bring dogs to and from the houses or parking lot into the onsite clinic for treatment.
- Clinic Assistant: daily cleaning of kennels and surgery room following proper disease control protocol to ensure a sterile environment. Stock all kennel/cleaning supplies as needed.
- Clean surgical laundry: Clean and sonicate surgical instruments and prepare surgical packs. Clean, fold and stock kennel laundry throughout the clinic.
Adoptions
Each weekday, wehave as many as XXXX adoption appointments. Help our Adoption Counselors make awesome matches!
- Greeters – assist with welcoming new adoptors and matching adopters with counselors; some computer input needs required.
- Counselors – work with adopters to help them find the right dog for them. Adoption appointments are held M-F, in the afternoons and evenings.
Administrative Support
Administrative tasks are vital to our work, and can usually be done from home:
- Paperwork and Data Entry
- Bios- write brief bios of new dogs that will be posted for potential adopters on our website.
Photography
Assist our photographers to get dogs to pose for their profile pictures on our website. Hands on dog handling required.
We’d love your help!
You are here
STEP 1: Explore the options
There is always plenty to do at Saving Grace – do you like physical work and getting a bit dirty on a regular basis? Or would you prefer something a little less strenuous less frequently? We have it all!
STEP 2: Fill Out Our Volunteer Form
If one of our roles looks interesting, fill out our volunteer form.
STEP 3: Attend a Volunteer Orientation
Once you’ve filled out your application, we’ll send you a link to sign up for our volunteer orientation.
STEP 4: Attend a Mentoring Session
For those doing shift work at the farm, this is an important part of your orientation.
STEP 5: Sign up for Shifts/Tasks
Once you’ve completed orientation and a mentoring session, you’ll be entered into our system where you can sign up for shifts/tasks.
STEP 6: Keep coming back!
We want this to be a rewarding experience for you and hope you’ll return often! We appreciate your help and support more than you can ever know. Once you have completed a certain number of shifts, you are welcome to explore other volunteer areas of Saving Grace and find what interests or inspires you further!
Volunteer stories
FAQs About Volunteering
Are you really working 365 days?
Our dogs need care every day and so while Adoptions and other areas like the clinic may be closed, volunteers are needed 365 days a year.
Can I volunteer at your Robeson County location?
Yes! Please visit our Robeson County page for more details.
Can I walk in anytime to see your facility?
The Saving Grace program is a combination of foster homes and an adoption facility located at a private residence. In order to focus on adoptions, adoption appointments are scheduled by appointment during hours when adoption counselors are available.
Can someone under 18 years old volunteer?
Volunteers need to be 18 years or older to participate in shift and most on-site activities.
Do I need any experience to be a volunteer?
No. Saving Grace is always looking for volunteers with any level of experience as long as they love animals!
Do I need to go thru a mentor session if I only plan to do administrative work or other jobs not working with the dogs directly?
Everyone has to go through the mentoring session no matter what type of volunteering they will do.
Do I need to turn in proof of tetanus?
Yes, proof of current tetanus is required by all volunteers.
Do you participate in group volunteer events?
We do participate in group volunteer events. Read on for more details!
Do you sign off on service hours?
While we appreciate those that would like to use Saving Grace as their place to complete required service hours, we are really looking for more long term committed volunteers since training and mentorship is required.
If daily dog care isn’t for me, what other volunteer opportunities do you offer?
We need you! Even if daily dog care isn’t your calling, complete a mentoring session to learn how we can use your skills.
Why do you want a 6-month volunteer commitment?
Saving Grace is fully manned by volunteers and the animals daily care depends on the consistency and regularity of our volunteer community. Saving Grace is committed to their training and mentorship to ensure that the animals are well taken care of each day. So we look for volunteers interested in a long-term commitment for consistency and efficiency.
Will I get to walk the dogs, play with the dogs or do basic training?
While there is plenty of opportunity to love on and provide affection to our animals, tasks and chores need to be completed during the shift hours.
