related to work that keeps the organization functioning. As with any kind of work or job, training is essential in order to know the policies, rules and regulations, learn the skills, and be as productive as you can be. Training is as important for a volunteer as it is for those who are paid to do this work. We want volunteers to feel skilled, helpful, and productive in their volunteer tasks at our shelter. In addition, since volunteers will come in contact with various animals, unpredictable situations, potentially hazardous encounters, and wonderfully exhilarating experiences, then it is important for volunteers to have adequate training to prepare them for as many situations as possible. Volunteers will be trained for the particular volunteer job they have chosen.
WHERE DO YOU START? IT'S EASY! Fill out the Application Form. Call our Manager of Volunteer Services, Sharri Johnson @ 603-753-6751 or email SJohnson@concordspca.org. When your application is received, you will be contacted with the next scheduled orientation date. Orientation provides all the information to decide if this is the right volunteer opportunity for you. Finally. If this is it for YOU, then we'll schedule you for your training.
Volunteer Age Guidelines :
Unfortunately anyone under the age of 12 years old is unable to volunteer with us.
Anyone between the ages of 12-16 years old must complete a Youth Work Certificate provided by The Concord Merrimack County SPCA per the Department of Labor. Volunteers between 12 and 16 years old, will have other tasks to perform prior to working with the animals, then may be able to work with certain selected animals under staff supervision. Staff will then evaluate the volunteer to determine what might be the best animal-related assignment for this volunteer to handle.
Youth’s age 16 or 17 must fill out parental permission paperwork also provided by the Concord-Merrimack County SPCA. A parent or guardian must accompany volunteers under the age of 16. Volunteers must be 16 years of age (with proper training) or older to have immediate direct contact with our animals.
Students arriving in a school groups must be supervised by a group coordinator and cannot socialize animals until undergoing training. We ask that all school groups making regular visits to the shelter agree to assignments not related to direct animal care in addition to being allowed to socialize dogs and cats.
Volunteer Opportunities:
- Animal socialization
- Fundraising
- Membership Mailings
- Education Presentations
- Pet Therapy with your pet
- Foster Program
- Special Projects & Events
- Adoption Follow-up Calls
- Data Entry
- Board Committee
- Dog walking
- Greeting customers
- Dog Training
- Poster & Brochure Bandits
- Kennel/Cage Cleaning Assistance
- Reading Tails Program
- Animal Socialization
Because of time constraints, the staff of the Concord-Merrimack County SPCA sadly does not have the time to give each animal in the shelter the individual affection and attention they deserve. We rely on kind volunteers to pet, groom, hold and generally socialize with lonely adult animals and give them practice in being handled. Each volunteer interested in this job will receive specific orientation.
- Fundraising
The Concord-Merrimack County SPCA relies heavily on the generous donations from individuals and businesses throughout the community to support its annual budget. Funds are raised through such efforts as the annual campaign, the United Way campaign and special events like the Concord-Merrimack County SPCA Walk-a-Thon. We encourage volunteers with past fundraising or other relevant experience to get involved. From developing an idea for a fundraiser, to helping with the planning and publicity and being involved in the actual event, volunteers can assist us with all aspects of the event and help make it a success.
Volunteers who participate in fundraising should be familiar with how the Concord-Merrimack County SPCA functions as a nonprofit organization as well as the scope of services it provides.
- Membership Mailings
The Concord-Merrimack County SPCA sends out regular mailings to thousands of individuals and corporations on our donor/membership list. Handling these mailings which can include picking up finished items at the printing company, stuffing, and labeling can be a time-consuming process. You may enjoy helping us with mailings if you enjoy working with other volunteers, seeing a project through from start to finish and knowing that you are helping us to "get the word out".
- Education Presentations
The Concord-Merrimack County SPCA feels that one of our most important services is providing humane education both in the community at large and in local schools. It is our belief that the education of children and adults is the key to preventing cruelty.
You may have experience as an educator or in the area of curriculum development. If so, please consider lending us a hand with our youth education programs. If you are comfortable speaking in front of groups, consider joining our speaker's bureau.
Volunteers can help us develop new programs, present them in public schools and to adult groups, and assist with educational displays at various events.
- Pet Therapy with your pet
One of our most successful and enjoyable programs is "Pet Therapy." Volunteers enrich the lives of so many who are denied daily life with a pet, through either hospitalization or through housing restrictions. Our pet therapy teams visit hospitals, nursing homes, and retirement centers and take the joy and healing effects of pet companionship to people through Merrimack County. AAA/AAT (also known as "Pet Therapy") is a wonderful way for volunteers and their pets to carry the benefits of animal companionship to those denied it in their everyday life.
If you feel that you and your pet have what it takes to be certified as a "Pet Partner" team, please contact our Manager of Volunteer Services at 753-6751. Working with your pet as a "Pet Partner" team is a wonderful bonding experience for the two of you and brings immense satisfaction each time you experience the joy you give to those you visit.
- Foster Program
Foster homes make it possible for the Concord-Merrimack County SPCA to socialize and re-home many more animals than would be possible otherwise. Our foster homes literally save lives.
Foster homes are called upon most often to foster pregnant cats, cats with nursing kittens, orphaned kittens, and kittens that are weaned but still too young to be placed for adoption. Obviously, placing these animals in foster homes frees up necessary shelter space for other animals. But, more importantly, the use of foster homes protects kittens from illnesses and provides socialization. In the case of orphaned and nursing kittens, the foster home provides round-the-clock care and feeding that is not possible for the shelter staff to provide.
We often receive feral kittens that have been trapped and with special attention and socialization they are gentled into wonderful pets. Fosters who commit to this accept a special burden but also a special reward when the kitten learns to accept human companionship.
Over the past year we have had approximately 300 cats and kittens in foster homes.
Although we don't utilize foster homes as often for dogs, we do occasionally need them. Last year we fostered three dogs with litters of puppies and we occasionally have puppies that need to be fostered for a week or two until they are old enough to place for adoption. We have also recently had a litter of orphaned puppies requiring bottle feedings. Dogs requiring temporary medical care, whether daily medications or to recover from surgery, are often placed in foster homes and foster homes are occasionally required to open space in the shelter for yet more misplaced animals.
We never know when we will need a foster home. Our foster parents remain "on call." We generally do not know we need a foster home until the animal(s) has arrived at the shelter, so fostering cannot always be a "planned" activity.
Fostering allows people who cannot make a permanent commitment to a pet to still have the joy of sharing their lives with animals. Fosters allow children to have the joy of watching a litter grow while their own animals are responsibly spayed or neutered.
The hard part of fostering is, of course, returning the animals to the shelter. We can't offer any magic to help ease the pain except to reassure our foster homes that they have played a major role in helping that animal survive and preparing it for a forever home.
If you are interested in becoming one of our very valuable foster homes, please contact Sharri Johnson or drop by the shelter for a foster home application.
Foster Care Application & Agreement
- Special Projects & Events
Are you unable to commit to a regular volunteer schedule, but still would like to be involved somehow? Let the Manager of Volunteer Services know! We hold many special events during the course of a year (open house, rabies clinic, Walk-a-Thon) and often need volunteers to assist with special projects (artwork, photography, administrative projects). As the need arises, we can contact you to see if you are able to assist us for a limited time. We view all our volunteers as being valuable assets. Whether we see you once a day or once a year, you are very important to us!
In addition, if you have suggestions about specific programs or events we can plan, we would love to hear from you. The Concord-Merrimack County SPCA considers its volunteers to be one of its most valuable resources for new ideas.
- Adoption Follow-up Calls
The Concord-Merrimack County SPCA strives to provide the best customer service when facilitating adoptions. This includes following up on the adoption after it has taken place. Volunteers call new adopters approximately three weeks after they have adopted to find out how the animal has adapted to its new family (and vice versa!) and to refer the adopter to the appropriate source if they have any concerns.
If you have excellent communication skills, enjoy dealing with the public and wish to participate in the hundreds of adoptions we process each year, this may be the activity for you
- Data Entry
As is the case with all businesses these days, the Concord-Merrimack County SPCA is increasingly dependent on data management programs and, of course, they work only if the data is input. We are in need of volunteers who are available during regular business hours (9-5 M-F) to assist our Office Manager with data input.
- Board Committee
Are you a "Take charge" type of individual? If so, then become part of our team! We look for volunteers to be part of our special event committees. We seek people who are willing to share responsibility of different events throughout the year.
- Dog Walking
Walking and socializing our dogs is one of our most popular volunteer opportunities. If you would like to become involved in this activity, you will undergo training as to the use of the Gentle Leader, recording the behavior of the dog you exercise, and instructions for any specialized training a dog may require. Our dogs truly love our dog walkers as they allow the dogs extra time away from their kennels and let the dogs know they are indeed special and deserving of one-on-one time with a human companion.
- Greeting Customers
During busy periods at the shelter, our adoption counselor is often overwhelmed. A volunteer greeter helps by answering the phone, welcoming shelter visitors, and answering basic questions. Greeters must commit to one day per month.
- Dog Training
If you have any FORMAL background or experience in teaching animal obedience or other specialized training, please let us know. The Concord-Merrimack County SPCA serves as a resource for adopters to ensure their new pets receive the necessary training for a happy, healthy transition into the new home.
- Poster & Brochure Bandits
Help the Concord-Merrimack County SPCA "Get the Word Out" to the community by assisting us in distribution of Posters & Brochures for various events throughout the year.
- Kennel Tech Assistance
If you are an early bird and love to clean, this may be the thing for you! We are always very busy endlessly cleaning cat cages & dog kennels, in attempt to be ready for our 12:00 open time. We are actively cleaning at 7:30 a.m from Monday to Sunday! We can always use scheduled help for this type of project. The time needed would be apx 3-hour increments. Please contact the Manager of Volunteer Services for more information.
- Reading Tails Program
The mission of Reading Tails is to assist children with literacy skills. Children are given the opportunity to share a book with a registered pet therapy dog and their owner. The concept of a child reading to a canine friend incorporates a child's love of animals and his or her desire to read.
The reading program works with children who may have low self esteem, find the task of reading difficult, and are sometimes intimidated to read in the presence of their peers and/or family.
Pet therapy dogs are temperament tested and up to date with vaccinations. A pet therapy dog is one that willingly sits or lies quietly by the child that is reading. The child often pets the dog while reading, which produces a relaxed atmosphere. Owners and their canines donate their time, offering a child a willing audience.
This program promotes opportunities whereby dogs and their human companions can make a difference in a child's life. The dogs are the most beneficial aspect of the program since they are non-judgmental. This brings a positive influence into a child's life, not only with reading, but his or her life as a whole.
If a school is interested in participating in this program please email Shannon Camara or call 753-9801 to set up a meeting. This meeting will begin the process in becoming part of the Reading Tails Program.
Participants willing to share their canine friend and register them as a pet therapy dog should contact Sharri Johnson or call 753-9801.
- Foster Homes
Foster homes make it possible for the Concord-Merrimack County SPCA to socialize and re-home many more animals than would be possible otherwise. Our foster homes literally save lives.
Foster homes are called upon most often to foster pregnant cats, cats with nursing kittens, orphaned kittens, and kittens that are weaned but still too young to be placed for adoption. Obviously, placing these animals in foster homes frees up necessary shelter space for other animals. But, more importantly, the use of foster homes protects kittens from illnesses and provides socialization. In the case of orphaned and nursing kittens, the foster home provides round-the-clock care and feeding that is not possible for the shelter staff to provide.
We often receive feral kittens that have been trapped and with special attention and socialization they are gentled into wonderful pets. Fosters who commit to this accept a special burden but also a special reward when the kitten learns to accept human companionship.
Over the past year we have had approximately 300 cats and kittens in foster homes.
Although we don't utilize foster homes as often for dogs, we do occasionally need them. Last year we fostered three dogs with litters of puppies and we occasionally have puppies that need to be fostered for a week or two until they are old enough to place for adoption. We have also recently had a litter of orphaned puppies requiring bottle feedings. Dogs requiring temporary medical care, whether daily medications or to recover from surgery, are often placed in foster homes and foster homes are occasionally required to open space in the shelter for yet more misplaced animals.
We never know when we will need a foster home. Our foster parents remain "on call." We generally do not know we need a foster home until the animal(s) has arrived at the shelter, so fostering cannot always be a "planned" activity.
Fostering allows people who cannot make a permanent commitment to a pet to still have the joy of sharing their lives with animals. Fosters allow children to have the joy of watching a litter grow while their own animals are responsibly spayed or neutered.
The hard part of fostering is, of course, returning the animals to the shelter. We can't offer any magic to help ease the pain except to reassure our foster homes that they have played a major role in helping that animal survive and preparing it for a forever home.
If you are interested in becoming one of our very valuable foster homes, please contact Sharri Johnson or drop by the shelter for a foster home application.