How to Train Pet Rescue Volunteers

A pet rescue typically relies heavily on volunteers and helping volunteers be effective in their roles can reduce turnover while allowing the rescue or humane society to run more smoothly. Proper training can help volunteers handle the challenges and situations that may arise within dog and cat rescue.

1. Determine training needs and goals. Review the training needs of your volunteers. In some cases, pet rescue volunteers need to learn how to do specific tasks, which may range from cleaning kennels to entering data into a computer. Volunteers may also benefit from learning any laws and regulations that may affect their tasks. Soft skill training, such as communicating with angry people when trying to save a pet may also help some volunteers. 


2. Develop the training materials and agenda. Decide which specific topics you will cover, and how you will approach them. For example, if you want to teach volunteers how to read pet body language, you may want to use photos of pets displaying particular behavior. If you will be teaching volunteers how to enter data into one of the rescue’s computers, you may wish to develop a guide and use the actual computer as a part of your training. Create an agenda so that your volunteers know what to expect, and you can keep your training program on track.


3. Secure a location and set a date. Find an appropriate location for your training session and set a date. Training may be held at your home, or the home of another volunteer. If you don’t have enough space, you may be able to use a local library conference room for no charge. Some restaurants have private rooms you can use if the attendees will be ordering food and beverages. If you plan to have pets attend the training, you can contact a dog training center that rents space, or a local park. If you plan to use technology, such as a laptop and projector, check that the facility can accommodate that.


4. Invite volunteers to attend the pet rescue training session.


5. Conduct training. Try to get to the training location early to set up and become familiar with it. Welcome your volunteers. Follow your agenda to keep your training on track. 


6. Obtain Feedback. Survey to attendees to get feedback on the training. You may wish to ask if overall, they found it useful, and if there were topics they would liked to have gotten more info. Suggestions for improvement and what they liked and should remain as is. Also, was the location comfortable and did it enhance the training


7. Update training plans and materials based on survey feedback.