Upcoming Volunteer Orientations

Date posted: January 9

The Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter is looking for new volunteers who are interested in helping the local homeless pooches at our shelter. If you want to become a volunteer, there is a two hour orientation that you will need to attend. The next two are set for Sunday, January 22nd and Sunday, February 5th, beginning at 10:30am promptly at the shelter.

Once you’ve completed the orientation, you can begin volunteering. All new volunteers are required to shadow a seasoned/experienced volunteer for a minimum of 10 hours to get real hands-on experience when working with the stray dogs. After that, you are allowed to come whenever you are able to come. The main focus of volunteering is to teach dogs their basic commands so they become good family dogs. However there are many other areas in which volunteers can help out such as: general cleaning/yard work, office work, promotional assistance, participating in our awesome fund-raising events and any other expertise that may be available in most any area.

There are age requirements and if you are 18 years and older you are considered an adult. If you are 14-17 years old you need to have your parent/legal guardian accompany you during the orientation and every time after that, no exceptions. We cannot allow anyone 13 years of age or younger to volunteer due to liability. If you are looking for school community services hours, please let us know this before the orientation to discuss extra requirements in regards to the necessary paperwork.

There is no required set schedule of the volunteers. After the first ten hours, you are able go out on your own, pending approval. Volunteers are also allowed to volunteer on days that we are not open to the public, such as Sundays and Mondays, beginning at 8:30am until 4:30pm. If you are interested in attending either of the orientations listed above, please contact Kara Archer at karcher@cuyahogacounty.us so your name can be added to the sign-in sheet. Seating is limited.

Holiday Hours

Date posted: December 24

In observence of the holidays, our shelter will be closed to the public and to the voulnteers on December 25th & 26th and again on January 1st and 2nd. We hope you and your family have a Happy Holiday and a prosperous New Year!

Thank You for a Wonderful Turnout!

Date posted: December 15

Thanks to all who made another amazing event of Santa Photos 2011!  Over the course of five days of picture sessions, 198 families showed up in support, surpassing last year’s turnout.  ALL of the money raised from both the pictures and Raffle Baskets will go directly into our Shelter’s Best Friends’ Medical Relief Fund, which provides medical care for sick and injured dogs that are in our Shelter. 

We cannot express our gratitude enough to the many donators of this event and all of the wonderful volunteers and Girl Scout troops who helped behind the scenes.  A special thanks to both of our Santas, Tom and Jim, and our photographers, Kelly and Laura.  Also thank you to Donna, Hanna, and Jack, who also worked tirelessly behind the scenes.  And who can forget Barb, Anita, and Rebecca who kept everything in order.  Mr. Dick Goddard also enjoyed his time here, taking pictures with so many people.  And this was Nancy Alden’s first time and boy did the whole family have fun. 

A big congratulations to the following winners of our famous Raffle Baskets:

• Basket #1: Coffee, Coffee, Coffee, Mary
• Basket #2: Bath & Body Works, Sandy
• Basket #3: Invisible Fence (2 winners), Noelle and Mark
• Basket #4: Tis’ The Season, Katherine
• Basket #5: Trip to the Zoo, Dan
• Basket #6: Picnic Baskets from Our Volunteers, Donna
• Basket #7: Tea for More Than Just Two, Laura
• Basket #8: Smell Good, Kathie
• Basket #9: Oh My Dog, Cindy
• Basket #10: Wine, Dine & Theater, Katherine
• Basket #11: Clean Your Car, Then Relax, Mr. T
• Basket #12: Spirits and Dinner,Nancy
• Basket #13: Home and Garden, Mary
• Basket #14: Prepare for School, Nora
• Basket #15 : Girl Power,Nancy
• Basket #16: Relax, Tiffannie
• Basket #17: Spice of Life, Donna
• Basket #18: Have a Cup of Tea, Gerry
• Basket #19: Puppy Pleasure, Mary
• Basket #20: Dog Bed and More, Cat
• Basket #21: Puppy Playtime, Cat
• Basket #22: Picnic in the City, Lynda
• Basket #23: Red Cedar Coffee and Picture Frame, C.
• Basket #24: The Grateful Dog Bakery Basket, Cat
• Basket #25: Christmas Tree of Food, Terri
• Basket #26: Natural Pet Basket, Cat

To all who helped, donated, participated, we all cannot send our thanks enough.  Santa Photos is a production, not just an event, and every year the turnout of support tells us about the caring community we live in.  THANKS again to all and Happy Holidays from us and the pooches!!!