Dog Walker (Blackberry Farm Animal Centre, Aylesbury)
Do you like long walks with a canine companion? Are you happy to go out in all weathers, rain or shine? Would you like to help dogs who are looking for a new home? This volunteering opportunity may also include cleaning, disinfecting and maintaining kennels to a standard of cleanliness as required, as well as coat care and grooming.
Lots of the dogs in our care have never been able to experience life in a loving home. Whilst they wait to be chosen by a special someone who can give them a second chance in a forever home, they receive lots of love, care and attention at our animal centres.
Our volunteer dog walkers play an important role. They get regular walks and time for interaction with people and other dogs, which helps the dogs develop the socialisation skills needed for successful rehoming. You’ll need to be over 18 years of age and able to commit at least 4 hours per week. If you have any experience with dogs or none, we’ll provide the training you need.
What you will be doing
* Walking allocated dogs as directed by the volunteer coordinator or member of staff
* Ensuring that dogs are kept on a lead at all times
* Following the dog walking guidelines provided by the centre
* Following all health and safety rules and guidelines, and ensuring that any accidents or incidents are reported immediately, using the procedure in place at the centre
* Assisting with the assessment of dogs when directed by staff and where appropriate
* Attending appropriate training courses as required by the centre
The skills you need
* Volunteers must be aged 18 years or over
* A good knowledge of dogs and ability to read their behaviour
* Must feel comfortable around dogs and have a patient and understanding nature
* Able and confident to walk dogs of all ages and sizes
* Must have the ability to follow instructions, as some of our dogs can be strong and need training so good physical health is necessary
What's in it for you
* Meet new people and make new friends
* Learn great new skills to add to your CV
* A great induction and training relevant to your role
* Volunteer in a fun environment at the heart of the local community
* You’ll be making a huge difference to the welfare of animals
* We are happy to reimburse any reasonable travel expenses you may incur whilst volunteering with us
Disclaimer
Our voluntary roles are subject to an informal interview and trial period. We will ask you to provide contact details for two referees. Before you can start volunteering you’ll need to complete our simple online Health & Safety assessment. At the RSPCA we don’t want you to be out of pocket by volunteering, so we are happy to reimburse any agreed out of pocket expenses you incur whilst volunteering. All volunteer dog walkers must ensure that they use the appropriate equipment that has been provided by the centre and that this equipment is returned to the centre as directed at the end of the volunteering session. If a volunteer has any concerns or questions regarding a particular dog or their role as a dog walker, they should speak to a member of staff or the volunteer coordinator, if applicable, immediately.
Blackberry Farm Animal Centre, Quainton, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP22 4RJ, United Kingdom
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