Central Animal Facilty
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Central Animal Facility Volunteer Programs
The Central Animal Facility has several opportunities for volunteers to work with animals.
VOLUNTEER DOG WALKING
Volunteer Dog walking update for February 2012:
Thank you for your interest in our volunteer dog walking program. Unfortunately the program has been suspended due to some air quality issues in our front office that are necessitating that the staff move out for a while.
Program Details:
Please check back for program specifics when the volunteer dog walking program resumes.
All volunteers must be 15 years or older. Those between the ages of 15 and 18 must have parental consent forms signed. The dogs are of known health and vaccination status so volunteers are not required to have an up-to-date rabies titre.
Prior to participating as a volunteer, one must attend an orientation to the program. The orientations take 45 minutes to an hour. Dog friendly clothing and closed toe shoes are required at all times for safety. A volunteer information sheet and a Release and Indemnification Form must be filled out. Forms are available below and will be available at the orientation.
The Central Animal Facility (CAF) is located on McGilvray Street on the University of Guelph Campus. There is a large sign on the boulevard in front of the facility. It is building #12 on the campus map. For off campus volunteers, there is metered parking east of CAF on the north side of McGilvray Street in P25. When attending an orientation, enter the building foyer at the front and lightly ring the buzzer to be allowed access.
All of the dogs are purpose bred hounds or hound crosses (i.e. beagles, coon hounds, fox hounds) as they adapt well to the housing provided and the needs of teaching and research.
All of the dogs have paid walkers who provide 5, 20 minute walks per week. The dogs may pull, and are working on acquiring manners. Each dog has an information card that outlines their personality and they are rated on their “walkability” so it is easy for a new volunteer to find a dog they are comfortable walking.
The majority of our volunteers are students and as their spare time varies throughout the school year no set time commitment is required. Any time you can spare to walk is appreciated by the dogs. Should you be performing required volunteer hours please keep track of your own time and the volunteer co-ordinator will verify and sign off on your hours when requested. The co-ordinator will also supply a letter of hours should one be requested.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions.
Jackie Rombeek
jrombeek@uoguelph.ca
- Registration Form
- Release form for Volunteers over 18 years of age
- Release form for Volunteers under the age of 18
SMALL ANIMAL SOCIALIZATION
If your taste in animals is for smaller furry creatures we have rabbits, rats and guinea pigs that enjoy positive human interaction. The hours are the same as for the dog walking but a separate orientation is required.
We thank you for your interest in our program, however we have reached our volunteer capacity for the Winter 2012 semester. We will begin orientations for new volunteers in the Summer 2012 semester. Please check back on this website for updated information when the new semester begins in May 2012.
To participate in small animal socialization, you must RSVP to attend an orientation session. The time and meeting location for the orientation session will be provided when you email to attend a session.
To inquire which animals are available for socialization and to RSVP for an orientation, please contact Michelle Waechter at waechter@uoguelph.ca