Online FOMA Volunteer Orientation

Volunteer Hours: Monday: Closed Tuesday: 11 am - 7 pm Wednesday: 11 am - 4 pm Thursday: 11 am - 7 pm Friday: 11 am - 4 pm Saturdays: 11 am - 4 pm Sundays: Closed

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Welcome to the Friends of Marshall Animals new volunteer orientation. Thank you for taking the first step in helping our mission. We are so grateful that you're interested in joining the FOMA team!

Volunteer Orientation

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Throughout this orientation, you’ll meet some of our lead volunteers, who will be your go-to guides and partners when YOU join Friends of Marshall Animals.

Ready to Meet Our Team?

Who is FOMA?

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Friends of Marshall Animals (FOMA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that was established over 10 years ago to support the Marshall Pet Adoption Center (MPAC). FOMA was created to replace the outdated municipal shelter, raising over $700,000 for the new facility. While working towards this goal, FOMA initiated the foster and volunteer programs and has raised over one million dollars in the past three years to benefit animals and support local community initiatives, including a spay/neuter program and TNR for community cats.

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Failure to meet or adhere to the outlined requirements may result in the need to retake the orientation session.

• Volunteer Manual

Log Hours Online

How to video on your Google Classroom

• Complete all age-appropriate hands-on training after orientation

• You can find this in your google classroom

• Know/Understand all dog walking level cards

• Must volunteer 4 hours per month (at least 2 shifts)

• 16+ Complete dog walking certification BEFORE handling any dogs

• Volunteer Agreement/Contract

Sign All Paperwork

• "GivePulse"

Hands on Training

Level Cards

Shifts

Certification

Click the icons to reveal the information

Volunteer Requirements:

This segment is one of the most important parts of your orientation, as it ensures both your safety and the well-being of the animals. Please pay close attention, as we will be checking to confirm that you have watched the video in full. Additional hands-on training will be required.

In this crucial orientation video, we will cover essential techniques for safely handling and interacting with shelter dogs.

Dog Handling in a Shelter

Watch

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Wash Your Hands:

Always wash and disinfect your hands after opening each kennel to stop germs from spreading.

Report Illness:

Report any signs of illness in animals to shelter staff immediately.

Designated Leashes:

Use designated leashes and avoid sharing between animals.

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What You Can Do:

• Fomites: These are objects like toys and cages that can carry germs from one animal to another.

Understanding How Disease Spreads:

Healthy Shelter: A clean shelter means healthier animals, which leads to better outcomes for their future.

Your Role Matters: By following cleanliness protocols, you help create a safer environment for all animals.

Risk to Puppies: Parvovirus is especially dangerous for puppies, causing severe illness that can be fatal.

Preventing Disease Spread: Poor hygiene can lead to serious illnesses, like parvovirus.

Protecting Lives: Keeping the shelter clean is vital for the health of our animals.

Why does this matter?

Hands-on Training

Red Zones

NextSteps

Trainee to Volunteer

Other Volunteer Opportunities

How to Ask Questions

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🎉 You've completed the Orientation PowerPoint! 🎉 Next:

• Please go to Assignments in your Google Docs complete the "Orientation PowerPoint Quiz." and sign your "Volunteer Agreement & Release".

• Don't forget to review all documents in your Google Classroom.

Thank you for your commitment and enthusiasm in becoming a valued volunteer!

Congratulations!

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Once you've completed the orientation and finished the tasks in your Google Classroom, you’ll be considered a Trainee. From there, you’ll need to complete hands-on training to graduate to Volunteer.

Age Restrictions:

• Ages 13-15: Must be accompanied by an adult unless permission is granted by Director. Both parties need to complete all age-appropriate training.
• Dog Walking (16+): Must be certified before walking dogs.
• Front Desk/Phones (18+): Front desk roles are reserved for those 18 and older.

Tracking System:

• All training will be tracked through the Hands-On Training Checklist.
• After completing each session, have the Volunteer Supervisor or your Trainer sign off on the log.
• Upload each completed log into Google Classroom.
• Once all age-appropriate training is complete, you’ll graduate to Volunteer, receive your official name tag, and be assigned your color-coded volunteer level.

Name Tags and Color-Coding: Trainees will have temporary name tags with their name written in and “Trainee” at the bottom. Once training is complete, you’ll receive an official name tag :

• Red (Level 1 Volunteer): Cannot walk dogs or answer phones (due to age or incomplete training).
• Yellow (Level 2 Volunteer): Can walk dogs but cannot answer phones.
• Green (Level 3 Volunteer): Certified to walk dogs and handle phones with no restrictions.

From Trainee to Volunteer: Your Journey

• Laundry: Help keep our bedding and towels clean.
• Cat Crew: Assist with caring for our feline friends.
• Transport Prep: Prepare animals for their journeys to new homes.
• Foster/Adoption Follow-ups: Check in with foster families and adopters.
• Enrichment: Create fun activities for the animals.
• Playgroups: Supervise and engage dogs in social play. - Separate training required
• Fostering: Temporarily bring home a dog or a cat who is already scheduled to leave!

Other Volunteer Opportunities

In addition to the tasks listed in your checklist, there are several other ways to get involved:

Note: While these activities aren’t on your checklist, please consult a lead volunteer for guidance on how to participate before diving in!

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Next Steps

1. Finish Assignments: Complete all assignments in Google Classroom.
2. Read All Materials: Thoroughly review all provided materials to ensure understanding.
3. Complete Your Checklist: Work through your hands-on training checklist.
4. Track Your Training: Get sign-offs from your trainer for completed tasks.
5. Upload Logs: Submit your completed training logs to Google Classroom.
6. Consult Lead Volunteers: Ask lead volunteers about additional opportunities to get involved.

Pants: No holes allowed. Shoes: Closed-toed shoes are required for safety. Apron: You'll wear a volunteer apron when you start, which you'll see during your tour. Volunteer T-Shirt: You can purchase an official volunteer tee! Ask the Volunteer Coordinator for more details. Volunteer Name Tag: You will recive a name tag that you will need to bring with you to each shift. Replacement tags are $5 should you loose yours.

Dress Code

When Volunteering at MPAC

Reminder: Failure to meet the dress code will result in your volunteer shift being canceled.

Please check with Justin before entering these areas!

Certain areas in the shelter are off-limits to volunteers unless you have permission from our shelter director, Justin Serna. These areas are marked as Red Zones to ensure the safety of both animals and people.

Red Zones

Restricted Areas for Volunteers

Red Zones include:

• The Medical Room (where treatment and exams are done)

• Dog Quarantine Kennels (for sick or isolated dogs)

• Cat Quarantine Kennels (for cats under special care)

Objective: Hands-On Training ensures all volunteers gain practical experience necessary to perform their roles effectively.

Sign-Up for Training Sessions: trainees should sign up for available training sessions based on their age and training requirements.Attend Training Sessions: Participate in hands-on training under the supervision of approved trainers. Complete Training Checklist: After completing each training, trainers must sign off on your Hands-On Training Checklist. Submit Training Log: Upload the completed log into Google Classroom for tracking. Graduation/levels: Upon completing all age-appropriate training, trainees will receive certification and advancement to the next trainee level or graduate to Volunteer.

Click here to view Checklist & Level/Graduation Examples

Hands-On Training Overview

Phone numbers are on your contact sheet

• Check with fellow volunteers for basic or general questions about tasks.
• Use your resources like the guidebook or Google Classroom before asking staff.

How to Ask Questions:

When you have a question, try these steps first:

Contact Volunteer Leads:

• Lori Childress (Volunteer Liaison)
• Amanda Smith (Volunteer Manager)