NorCal Collie Rescue: volunteer information

Volunteer Information

Thank you for your interest in helping us rescue and rehome collies. There are many ways that you can help and all help is needed and much appreciated. No amount of help that you can provide is too small.

Click here for the NCR volunteer sign up form Word Doc*

Please fill out and email back this form to your nearest Area Coordinator or to info@calcollierescue.org

*The Word document allows you to type as much in the boxes as you like, as they expand, so tell us as much about what you'd like to do as you want. We'll then ask you to print out and sign the "Hold Harmless" waiver and send it to your nearest area coordinator by snail mail.

2009 Update: NCR is still in great need of foster homes.

Every year, at least 50 collies needing to be rehomed come to the attention of NCR volunteers. Some of these are owner-relinquished dogs, and since 2006, NCR volunteers have been limiting their efforts to about 25 to 30 collies truly at risk, such as collies in animal shelters.

At least half or more of collies that end up in shelters will be euthanized if NCR cannot take them in. Our ability to help these dogs is currently limited entirely by foster home availability. Thanks to our generous donors, funds no longer limit the number of collies NCR can help.

Without question, NCR's capacity to help collies is now limited by the number of available foster homes.

Our primary foster homes capable of taking in unevaluated dogs are burning out and will not be able to maintain the pace required to save the number of collies at risk. These "first line" foster homes could do more if other foster homes were available to take dogs that are evaluated, vetted, and trained in these special foster homes.

Update July 19, 2009: Although a number of foster homes have stepped forward in some areas, other area coordinators did not get any volunteers. We need more volunteers in: Sacramento County; East Bay; South Coast (to Monterey); mid- and southern Central Valley.

Please, can you consider fostering a collie? NCR will evaluate the collies before placing them in foster homes, if needed, and all necessary veterinary expenses will be paid by NCR. NCR area coordinators also provide food, grooming tools, and crates if needed. A foster collie may be an imposition for a short time, but you can get satisfaction from knowing that you have helped to save collie lives.

Click here for the NCR foster home application form Word Doc

Please complete and return to info@calcollierescue.org

Here are the ways that you can help:

Foster homes: We desperately need foster homes. Our area coordinators are often too busy to take care of a needy dog. Our ideal foster home is someone who has one or two pet dogs or cats and can take in one needy dog at a time to work with and prepare for adoption. Often rescue dogs are ill or underweight; they need to be spayed or neutered, in addition to any health problems that they may have. Dogs may need to stay in foster care for at least two weeks and often longer. Often rescue dogs have been neglected and so have no training and little socialization. A caring foster home can provide the basics that make a dog much more adoptable. The foster home can evaluate each rescue dog and help NCR make the best possible placement so that the dog will be sent right away to its forever home. It's no exaggeration to say that fostering is the most important part of a successful rescue. Can you help us with fostering, even if it's only one dog per year?
Area coordinator: The area coordinator organizes and oversees all the rescue activities in her or his area of coverage. We presently have too few area coordinators to cover northern California well. The area coordinator rounds up volunteers to foster and to be local shelter contacts and other tasks. The area coordinator is a point of contact for owners relinquishing dogs and for adopters. The area coordinator oversees adoptions, screening adoptive homes and matching potential adopters with a rescue collie. The area coordinator collects donations to turn over to the NCR treasurer and files all forms with the NCR secretary. The area coordinator also contacts local veterinarians to help donate services for rescue dogs and may organize fundraising and adoption events and other activities to promote collie rescue. As a result of all these duties, the area coordinator cannot afford time to foster very many dogs, but some experience fostering is necessary to be able to direct the area coordinator's other foster homes. To become an area coordinator, you would apprentice under a mentor area coordinator for some period. That mentor will then present your qualifications to the NCR board, which votes on all incoming area coordinators. The area coordinator is an essential and important position, with financial authority and considerable responsibility. In a sense, the area coordinator is an autonomous local rescue organization under NCR's 501(c)(3) umbrella, but all area coordinators adhere to NCR's guidelines and policies. The area coordinators work as a team to bring together needy collies and prospective adopters from all over northern California to ensure the best possible matches between the collies and forever homes.
Shelter checks and pick ups: An area coordinator needs someone to visit the local shelters and make contact with the shelter staff. Someone needs to check the shelter regularly for purebred collies. Once a collie comes into a shelter, the dog needs to be picked up and transported to a foster home. And sometimes relinquishing owners need someone to come and pick up the dog from their home to be transported to a foster home. Check here for a list of counties currently not checked regularly by a NCR volunteer. Can you visit the shelter(s) in this county once week or once a month? Please let us know.
Home checks: Every potential adopter is asked to allow a NCR to do a home check. This volunteer will look for evidence that the home is a good one for a collie: We require that all collies be adopted into an indoor/outdoor home. There should be a clean, safe environment both inside the home and outside in a yard for the collie to exercise and potty. This volunteer also has a good opportunity to explain the responsibilities and requirements for dog ownership and to educate pet owners in good stewardship of their pets.
Other activities for volunteers: These include making phone calls for area coordinators, making fliers, helping out at fund raising events and other educational events such as Adoption Days at shelters or Scottish games, transporting rescue dogs for various purposes and just doing legwork for the area coordinator. Perhaps you can think other ways you can contribute to a successful rescue.

If you think you can help with one or more of these activities THANK YOU!! The collies thank you!!