What you can do as a PAWS volunteer
Posted by siyerwin on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at 8:54 PMI know people out there who are considering signing up as a volunteer for PAWS have wondered, at one time or another, about what it actually entails to be one. I know I did before I was able to attend the orientation. Below is a list of the general activities volunteers may take part in.
Volunteers can do any of the following based on their area of expertise or the amount of their free time:
1. Direct animal care - walking dogs, bathing dogs, interacting with cats, cleaning animal areas, training dogs. (Note: Requires close coordination with Shelter Manager and the Shelter Veterinarian)
2. Humane education (H.E.) - join the team that visits schools and teach children kindness through puppet shows, storytelling, songs etc. There are university lectures too. Other volunteers simply prepare materials like video, posters, flyers for the H.E. Team
3. Dr. Dog - animal-assisted therapy. We have accredited "Dr. Dogs" who visit sick kids in hospitals and institutions
4. Fundraising - events that are organized by officers of the organization or merchandise (t-shirts, caps, etc) developed, produced and sold to help raise funds for the animal shelter
Volunteers can do any of the following based on their area of expertise or the amount of their free time:
1. Direct animal care - walking dogs, bathing dogs, interacting with cats, cleaning animal areas, training dogs. (Note: Requires close coordination with Shelter Manager and the Shelter Veterinarian)
2. Humane education (H.E.) - join the team that visits schools and teach children kindness through puppet shows, storytelling, songs etc. There are university lectures too. Other volunteers simply prepare materials like video, posters, flyers for the H.E. Team
3. Dr. Dog - animal-assisted therapy. We have accredited "Dr. Dogs" who visit sick kids in hospitals and institutions
4. Fundraising - events that are organized by officers of the organization or merchandise (t-shirts, caps, etc) developed, produced and sold to help raise funds for the animal shelter
- Fundraising Events- headed by PAWS Director, Rich Ilustre
- Merchandise Committee - headed by PAWS volunteer, Marian Barola
5. Lobbying, legal work - meeting with govt officials, attending hearings, giving legal assistance to those who want to file cases against animal offenders
6. Adoption Team - members of this team do EVERYTHING and ANYTHING to get more "exposure" for shelter animals and tell their stories to increase their chances of being adopted. Some members are also bloggers who try to utilize the web to spread the word about adoption! You can become part of the team by simply blogging!
7. Animal Rescue Team - rescues animals in distress
8. Spay-Neuter Team - main goal: raise its own funds to be able to offer free spay-neuter to those who cannot afford even PAWS' low cost spay-neuter rates. (Done in close coordination with Shelter Veterinarian)
9. Campaigns - complements all the major projects of the organization with flyers, posters, celebrity endorsements, organizing protest rallies, etc.
That's about it. Of course, the stuff you can do is not being limited to the things listed above. You're welcome to be as creative as you want to be. You just need to closely coordinate with PAWS.
Thanks to Anna Cabrera of PAWS for the list.
CLICK HERE for the schedule of the upcoming volunteer orientation. You need to attend one to become an official volunteer.
To download the application form and to learn more about what is expected from a volunteer please go to the official PAWS website.
6. Adoption Team - members of this team do EVERYTHING and ANYTHING to get more "exposure" for shelter animals and tell their stories to increase their chances of being adopted. Some members are also bloggers who try to utilize the web to spread the word about adoption! You can become part of the team by simply blogging!
7. Animal Rescue Team - rescues animals in distress
8. Spay-Neuter Team - main goal: raise its own funds to be able to offer free spay-neuter to those who cannot afford even PAWS' low cost spay-neuter rates. (Done in close coordination with Shelter Veterinarian)
9. Campaigns - complements all the major projects of the organization with flyers, posters, celebrity endorsements, organizing protest rallies, etc.
That's about it. Of course, the stuff you can do is not being limited to the things listed above. You're welcome to be as creative as you want to be. You just need to closely coordinate with PAWS.
Thanks to Anna Cabrera of PAWS for the list.
CLICK HERE for the schedule of the upcoming volunteer orientation. You need to attend one to become an official volunteer.
To download the application form and to learn more about what is expected from a volunteer please go to the official PAWS website.
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27 comments: Responses to “ What you can do as a PAWS volunteer ”
By Liz on Feb 28, 2008 1:40:00 PM
I wish I were in the Philippines to help..
By meekerz on Feb 28, 2008 3:08:00 PM
i hope i can join this march's orientation!
By siyerwin on Feb 28, 2008 6:58:00 PM
thanks, liz.
meekerz, you're very welcome to attend! hope to see you at the shelter as a volunteer! :)
By Karl Benjamin on Feb 29, 2008 9:52:00 AM
wow. i hope i can attend tomorrow. this might just make my upcoming birthday a little more special.
By Gaijin Pinoy on Feb 29, 2008 11:24:00 AM
What are the characteristics/requirements for a dog to be a Dr.Dog?
Another serious question. Is there such a thing as a Dr.Cat? (e.g. a cat that actually allows a person to scratch its tummy.)
By siyerwin on Mar 4, 2008 9:51:00 AM
gaijin, a Dr. Dog candidate undergoes extensive temperament tests before becoming a full-pledged Dr. Dog. Please inquire directly to PAWS (philpaws@yahoo.com) if you think you have a dog that may qualify.
I'm not really sure about cats. They could, in theory, become therapy animals but I think cats have more issues temperament-wise compared to dogs. But I do know a number of cats that don't mind being brought to places they're not familiar with. My cat freaks out a bit when brought to a place that looks and smells different from home. :)
Thanks for dropping by.
By stacie twirL on Mar 8, 2008 12:32:00 PM
hi!
when will be the next orientation? i missed out on march 1 because i went to naga for a mountaineering activity..
hope there will be another one..
cai
By siyerwin on Mar 10, 2008 1:51:00 PM
Hello, cai! no announcement yet on the next orientation. Will try to announce here at least 2 weeks in advance. You may SUBSCRIBE to my feed for automatic notification. Thanks for dropping by! :)
By Peyton on Jun 7, 2008 5:21:00 PM
Hi, I am really interested sa pagvolunteer sa PAWS, and I just realized it sucks bakit ngayon ko lang naisip when I was having a hard time finding out what to do just this summer..
and now, pasukan na.. I will be busy as I am an incoming 3rd yr student.
I love animals. but can you help me how to sign up as a volunteer?
the thing is at the PAWS form, they are needing me to sign up at least 2 days.. problem, only saturday afternoon ang puwede lang ako.. and probably some of the times, I couldn't be there.
is it just like working? i mean, if you signed up for those days you have to be there?
I really need help and sayang if I can't volunteer :(
I don't know where else to contact you but here.. but please do email me for the information that you can share :) missruhker@gmail.com
thanks a lot
By Roxanne on Jun 11, 2008 7:26:00 PM
hello c: i'm currently a 2nd yr college student and my classes are only from mondays to thursdays so im planning to spend my weekends as a volunteer. i sent my application via mail almost 3 weeks ago but haven't yet heard from PAWS. When will be the next orientation? and can i do volunteering on sundays?? thanks for the help c:
By siyerwin on Jun 11, 2008 10:10:00 PM
Hi, roxanne! PAWS hasn't given the date for the next orientation yet. Please subscribe to the email feed of this blog. I will make sure to post the schedule as soon as I get word.
Thanks for your concern for the shelter animals. In the mean time, why not drop by PARC to meet the shelter cats and dogs? They love visitors!!! :)
Again thanks and hope to see you around!
By Roxanne on Jun 12, 2008 7:24:00 PM
sure i'll visit, but i really can't wait to be a volunteer. thanks a lot c:
By angel on Jun 22, 2008 11:42:00 PM
when is the next orientation?
By siyerwin on Jun 24, 2008 8:26:00 PM
angel, still not announcement yet about the next orientation. Do drop by occasionally for updates or you may want to subscribe to my feed for updates. You could also join the PAWS yahoogroup if you want. Thanks and see you around.
By mamabear on Jul 1, 2008 6:08:00 PM
hi really sounds interesting! however, i have work on saturdays til 3pm and my rest day is only sunday.. When are the schedule for the orientation?
By siyerwin on Jul 5, 2008 9:52:00 PM
As far as I know, orientations are usually held during Saturday mornings. You may want to email philpaws@yahoo.com and provide this feedback to PAWS. Thanks for dropping by.
By Anonymous on Aug 20, 2008 7:58:00 PM
i'm only a highschool student but i'd really love to help out for the volunteer work...
but being a student, i have to prioritize school... may i volunteer only for the summer? (about 4 months only)
- ps92
By Anonymous on Dec 1, 2008 8:12:00 AM
hello there! i miss the last orientation. i'd really love to help... may i know when is the last orientation? thanks. =)
By Anonymous on Dec 16, 2008 5:19:00 PM
hi..when is the next orientation..?..pls send me a message: vjcantos1818@hotmail.com..Thanks..
By Yin on Mar 21, 2009 7:19:00 PM
hmmm, hopefully, after i graduate and if/when i get to work at PGH i may open more doors for Dr. Dog. I found out that they already had an even @ PGH Rehab Ward.
I believe that Dr. Dog can have so much more potential, more than just a one time-big time event. Given the patients' condition, they need help, not only in the medical sense but in psychosocial/emotional help as well.
Not only that but we are opening more doors for understanding regarding our native animals as well..
Ta!
- Yin (soon to be RN)
By Vunch on Mar 29, 2009 1:42:00 PM
all my life my dream is to work with animals, preferably the "askals & the pusakals" we have. i would like to be a volunteer but i'm in cebu. i really would wish someday that you will be in cebu soon so that i could fulfill my dream. keep up the good work!
Vunch
By Rachelle on Apr 18, 2009 10:40:00 PM
Hi. I would really love to help, but i'm very far away -- im in cagayan de oro. i would really like to become a volunteer, and i am starting out here (quite little and in my own way) in helping the poor creatures. it really crumples my heart out when i see them very helpless. would there be other or more possible chances of sharing my utmost service to the animals? please inform me of some possibilities. here's my email (rachelle_247@yahoo.com)
im already a pet lover ever since, and i would be very much glad to help out this summer.
God bless.
- Rachelle
By Anonymous on Apr 21, 2009 2:14:00 PM
hello. I am from laguna and just like you I love animals, first and foremost maybe because I was exposed to a lot of different animals when I was still a bio student. anyways, I have 3 dogs at home and I am having problems as to where I will leave them, if ever me and my mother will move to another country, I was just wondering if there is anyway i can give my dogs to your organization and have it adopt by someone else who will really take care of them, once we got to leave. Is there anyway? Thank you. In addition, I am also interested in your volunteer program, when will be your next volunteer orientation?again thank you.
By Anonymous on May 17, 2009 5:31:00 PM
Hello. Where can i report a crime for animals? One of our cats have been killed today. I'm just not sure who did that crime. She just gave birth last month, and now their mother is gone. :(
By renee (: on Jun 3, 2009 1:31:00 AM
i'm volunteering!!!!!!!!!!!
PAWS family wait for meee (:
By Anonymous on Jul 6, 2009 8:09:00 PM
do you have PAWS in Cebu? I wanted to be a volunteer too!
By Anonymous on Jul 11, 2009 2:26:00 PM
hi! ask ko lang po if nag aampon po ang PAWS ng mga pusa. cause i have 9 cats yung isa tinapon ng kapatid ko. at nalungkot ako ng sobra sabi nya kapag hinanap ko daw yon ay papatayin nia sa harap ko, natakot ako dahil papatayin din daw nia ung ibang pusa ko. kaya kahit sobrang sakit naisip ko na lang na ipaampon sila dahil alam kong safe sila don. naghahanap po ako ng center ng pwedeng kumupkop sa mga alaga ko. sana po tulungan nyo ko. paki email n lang po ako sa ms.vain@yahoo.com. marami pong salamat.