Plano Profile March 2010 : Page 62
volunteering AMY SANDLING CRAWFORD PHOTOS BY MIKE NEWMAN she said. “They loved having the volunteers, and but they did not have the resources to train or manage them. As a result, it was hard to maintain volunteers, and there were just a handful of us that stayed and sort of trained ourselves. About two years into my time there, I decided to increase my education in shelter work and animal care.” Cavanagh discovered that the Humane Society of the United States annual Animal Care Expo was taking place in Dallas. She attended the workshops and lectures presented there and learned that many facilities use shelter volunteer coordinators. So, she partnered with City of Plano Animal Services Manager Jamey Cantrell and City of Plano Volunteer Resources Supervisor Robin Popik to develop the position and resulting programs. Animal shelter volunteer coordinator Kathi Cavanagh was recently named Volunteer of the Year by the Texas Animal Control Association. K Cavanagh Kathi She just might be a dog’s best friend “I still do regular volunteer work and fostering, ATHI CAVANAGH of Plano has so much fun volunteering for the City of Plano’s Animal Services Department, she said her 90-plus hours per month of donated time don’t feel like work at all. She’s having too much fun cuddling animals and organizing volunteers for any of her activities to feel like work. “I know a lot of people say this, and it sounds cliché, but I really do receive way more out of it than I give,” she said. Cavanagh, who also works as manager of electronic services for ViewPoint Bank, started volunteering at the city’s animal shelter and as an animal “foster parent” in 2005. Giving of her time at the shelter and fostering animals in her home, Cavanagh began to realize that there was another way she could give back to the shelter—by serving as coordinator of the shelter’s volunteers. “When I started as a volunteer, there was not much structure to the program, because the staff simply did not have the time,” 62 PLANO PROFILE MARCH 2010 but now I also create and maintain volunteer policies, procedures and job manuals, develop new volunteer jobs, facilitate the foster program, hold monthly orientation meetings, interview and train new volunteers, create the schedule, approve hours, support the volunteers by answering their questions or dealing with scheduling issues, and also deal with any performance issues,” Cavanagh said. There is no limit to the number of volunteers the shelter can use at any given time, because the facility has so many shifts and jobs available. There are currently about 90 active volunteers, and about 15 are waiting for training at any given time. “The City of Plano and the Animal Shelter are so fortunate to have Kathi as a volunteer,” said Robin Popik. “Thanks to her leadership, wonderful and creative ideas,
Volunteering
Amy Sandling Crawford
She said. “They loved having the volunteers, and but they did not have the resources to train or manage them. As a result, it was hard to maintain volunteers, and there were just a handful of us that stayed and sort of trained ourselves. About two years into my time there, I decided to increase my education in shelter work and animal care.” Cavanagh discovered that the Humane Society of the United States annual Animal Care Expo was taking place in Dallas. She attended the workshops and lectures presented there and learned that many facilities use shelter volunteer coordinators. So, she partnered with City of Plano Animal Services Manager Jamey Cantrell and City of Plano Volunteer Resources Supervisor Robin Popik to develop the position and resulting programs.
Kathi cavanagh Of Plano has so much fun volunteering for the City of Plano’s Animal Services Department, she said her 90-plus hours per month of donated time don’t feel like work at all. She’s having too much fun cuddling animals and organizing volunteers for any of her activities to feel like work. “I know a lot of people say this, and it sounds cliché, but I really do receive way more out of it than I give,” she said.
Cavanagh, who also works as manager of electronic services for ViewPoint Bank, started volunteering at the city’s animal shelter and as an animal “foster parent” in 2005. Giving of her time at the shelter and fostering animals in her home, Cavanagh began to realize that there was another way she could give back to the shelter—by serving as coordinator of the shelter’s volunteers.
“When I started as a volunteer, there was not much structure to the program, because the staff simply did not have the time,” “I still do regular volunteer work and fostering, but now I also create and maintain volunteer policies, procedures and job manuals, develop new volunteer jobs, facilitate the foster program, hold monthly orientation meetings, interview and train new volunteers, create the schedule, approve hours, support the volunteers by answering their questions or dealing with scheduling issues, and also deal with any performance issues,” Cavanagh said.
There is no limit to the number of volunteers the shelter can use at any given time, because the facility has so many shifts and jobs available. There are currently about 90 active volunteers, and about 15 are waiting for training at any given time.
“The City of Plano and the Animal Shelter are so fortunate to have Kathi as a volunteer,” said Robin Popik.
“Thanks to her leadership, wonderful and creative ideas, And her ability to work with staff, we have a well-run program that cares for both the volunteers and animals.” In November 2009, Cavanagh was recognized for her contributions to the shelter. She received the Texas Animal Control Association’s Volunteer of the Year award. She was nominated for the award by City of Plano Animal Services Manager Jamey Cantrell.
“Kathi has a tremendous heart, and when she sees that something can be improved upon, she doesn’t just complain about it until someone else fixes it, she puts everything she has into finding and implementing a solution,” said Cantrell. “She helped us make a drastic improvement in our volunteer program, and that has resulted in our animals receiving the highest quality of care possible. She is the volunteer coordinator, but she also does a great deal of work as a regular volunteer in the shelter and at special events. She is always willing to help us out in any way that she can and is very innovative as she is constantly coming up with new volunteer programs to try.” Cantrell is quick to praise Cavanagh and the many other volunteers that keep the animal shelter running each day. “Our volunteers do all the jobs that make the animals’ lives happier while they’re housed here. They socialize them, get them out of their cages and take them for walks, play with them, bathe and groom them, and provide anything else that they need. Their efforts pay off every time someone adopts an animal from us. Without our volunteers, we would not be able to achieve our exceptionally high live placement rate of over 80 percent of all animals handled.” Cavanagh points out that one of the shelter’s biggest needs is individuals and families willing to foster animals. “In the spring and Summer when kittens and puppies arrive, we never have enough help, even with nearly all the staff and a number of shelter volunteers helping out,” she said. “People often tell us that they are afraid to foster, because they fear they will become too attached to the animals. But many are pleasantly surprised at how they get even more attached to the great feeling they get when their ‘babies’ find the perfect home.” Cavanagh also highlighted a unique volunteer opportunity available to dog volunteers.
“We have a program that our dog volunteers can work towards if they choose,” she said. “It is a Dog Play Group Monitor. These experienced volunteers are trained to put different shelter dogs together out in our exercise yard to have play time.
It is a great way to get these dogs exercise and have some fun. At the same time, it increases their chances for adoption, because visitors can watch the play group and see how dogs interact with each other and their personalities. Two or more volunteers usually run a play group, so it is also a great way to connect with your fellow volunteers.” “I cannot say enough about volunteering at the shelter,” Cavanagh added. “We have so many shifts and jobs, it can fit into most anyone’s schedule. Nearly all of our volunteers have full-time jobs, and they all find the time. We have an online scheduling system, so it makes it easy to cancel or set up shifts, depending on your personal system.
Of course, our foster option makes it even easier…. You have animals in your home, and you set your own schedule.”
Interested in volunteering with City of Plano Animal Services? A variety of opportunities are available: Foster volunteers These volunteers do not work in the actual shelter but take home animals on a short-term basis until they are ready for adoption. Geared for families and individuals.
In-shelter volunteers These volunteers work in the shelter building. There are a variety of jobs working directly or indirectly with animals, such as taking photos, clerical duties, cleaning, and working with visitors to match them with their perfect pet.
Event volunteers These volunteers work information booths at a variety of events along with Animal Control Officers. Duties include providing information pamphlets and promotional gifts, and when animals are present at the events, volunteers take them for walks and refill water bowls. Limited number of volunteers accepted for this program.
One-time volunteers These volunteers are able to provide help without becoming a “regular” volunteer. A great opportunity for groups, couples and individuals who want to help for one day on one occasion. Duties include cleaning and organizing.
A resource for all pet owners Not looking for a pet? Did you know the City of Plano Animal Shelter is also a resource for Plano residents who already own pets? The shelter offers a variety of pet-related information resources, discount coupons for spay/ neuter surgery, dog and cat microchipping services, and information to help pet owners find solutions to common issues. Low-cost vaccinations are available on the second Friday of every month.
Open or closed admission shelters?
Many may be unfamiliar with the terms “open admission shelter” and “closed admission shelter.” Most more commonly hear about no-kill and kill shelters. No-kill shelters are nearly all closed admission, which means they can refuse to accept an animal if they are too full, if the animal is too ill, or the animal has demonstrated aggressive behavior, all of which are the most common reasons for humanely euthanizing an animal. Nearly all city shelters, including Plano’s, are open admission shelters. This means that if an animal is found within the boundaries of Plano, it has to be accepted by the shelter.
It cannot be turned away.
That means if a resident must surrender an owned animal, regardless of health and temperament, it cannot be turned away.
Contact City of Plano Animal Services at 972.769.4360,
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