Department of Health Services
The Volunteer Manual is the guiding document for the volunteer program. It contains Sonoma County Animal Services (SCAS) policies, procedures and practices to which volunteers need to adhere. All new volunteers should read the manual and email the volunteer manager with questions. All volunteers who have been working with SCAS for a year or more should consider reviewing the manual annually. All policies, procedures and practices are subject to change.
This form is a required document when registering for the Fear Free Shelter Training. Please download, fill out your full name in the name field, save the form, then upload it when indicated when registering for the training. If you do not have this form, you will not be able to register for the training.
The New Volunteer Orientation presentation contains general information about Sonoma County Animal Services and volunteering our facility. The in-person orientation is the mandatory next step after submitting an application.
The Cat and Dog Orientation covers information about working with cats and dogs. This in-person presentation is held the same day as New Volunteer Orientation and is required.
The Fear Free Shelter Program includes required volunteer training, as well as resources for working with shelter animals. When registering for the training, be sure to download the registration form (link above), fill in your full name, save it, then upload it when indicated. The above form is required to register for the training.
The Harassment Prevention Training is required for all volunteers that are 18 years old or older, and must be completed before scheduling the volunteer shadowing/first volunteer shift.
Requirements for volunteer shadowing are attending orientation, signing the volunteer contract, and submitting the Fear Free Shelter and Harrassment Prevention training certificates to the volunteer manager. Please do not sign up for shadowing until these steps have been completed.
Volunteers use this link to sign up for working with animals, making treats, assisting with laundry or the front office, or grooming animals. Shifts are set-up for 1-hour increments. However, consecutive (multiple one hour shifts in a row) and/or recurring shifts (coming in on the same day(s) and time(s) over multiple weeks) can be scheduled, as long as the volunteer hours are between 10AM and 4:30PM Tuesday through Saturday. If there are questions regarding scheduling, please contact the volunteer manager.
The transportation scheduling link is used when animals are being transported by volunteers to veterinarians or SCAS partners.
This document contains information specific to orange- and purple-level collar colors for dogs and the knowledge necessary to work with these animals.
This document lists what is expected for an experienced volunteer to training new volunteers on working with cats, dogs and/or doing laundry.
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