Volunteering for Save the Dalmatians
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Save the Dalmatians!
Visiting Shelters: We have a critical need for volunteers who can regularly visit shelters and provide us with information on the Dalmatians in those shelters. Visiting shelters at least on a weekly basis usually provides us with the best and most current information so that we can keep our database up to date. The information we require includes impound number, gender and age. We also like to get other information such as cage number, spot color and other information about the dog if available, such as why it is in the shelter (stray or owner turn in) and behavior (friendly, sweet, good with other dogs). We do list Dalmatian mixes but only if they look like Dalmatians--head, ears and body shape must look like a Dalmatian and coloring must be white with spots. Patches are ok and blurry spots are ok. All black or mostly black Dal mixes will not be listed. Some shelters will permit you to take photos, which really helps the Dals get adopted. Please resize photo files before emailing them to rescue@savethedals.org so they aren't huge files. JPG is the preferred format. We usually do not have space to take in more Dalmatians but if we can get their information up on our web site they have a chance of being adopted. If you are able to visit Southern California shelters for us on a weekly basis, please send us an email.
Foster Homes: Since our rescue kennel is located in Gardena, CA, we prefer that our foster homes be close to Gardena to enable us to pick up our rescued Dalmatian from foster homes more easily when someone wants to adopt them. Our requirements for foster homes are a secure fenced yard with at least a six foot fence, any children in the family must be at least six years of age, the foster Dalmatian must be allowed to live and sleep indoors with the foster family and the foster family must be willing to provide housebreaking and light obedience training. We prefer foster families that own their own homes in order to avoid landlord problems. Fostering can be done on a short term basis of a few weeks or until the Dalmatian finds a home, which can take a month or more. If you would like to provide a foster home, please send us an email.
Home checks: Before we place our Dalmatians in an adoptive home, we do a home check to ensure that the home is a safe, secure environment for one of our Dalmatians. The home check involves walking through the backyard noting the height of fence and gates, checking to see if gates are padlocked, seeing if there is anything the dog could climb on to get over the fence, etc. Inside the home we look for hazards the dog could get into such as cleaning supplies or trash cans. We have a home check form that our volunteers complete and fax to us. We need home checkers in all areas of Southern California. If you would like to do home checks for us, please send us an email.
Socialize or Housebreak a Dalmatian: You must be near West Los Angeles, CA or willing to drive to West Los Angeles in order to do socialization or housebreaking. Socialization can involve playing with the rescued Dalmatians or taking them for walks. It is good for the rescued Dalmatians to meet new people and interact with them. Housebreaking would involve having the Dalmatian live at your home for about two to three weeks until the dog has learned proper elimination habits. Requirements for a family interested in housebreaking Dalmatians would be the same as for foster homes (above). If you would like to socialize or housebreak a Dalmatian, please send us an email.
Assistance at Events: We often participate in or coordinate events and always need volunteers to help at the events. Volunteers can do things such as staff our booth, assist in showing Dals to potential adopters at events, help with event activities such as games and agility training. The best way to keep informed of any events we are planning is to join our newsletter/announcements group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/savethedals-announce/join. You may also send us an email.
Thank you again for your interest in volunteering with Save the Dalmatians!