VOLUNTEERING FOR SEPR
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VOLUNTEER
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with SEPR! As an all-volunteer rescue organization, individuals who give freely of their time and talents are the backbone of everything we do. We do not have paid staff or a central office/ rescue facility, but SEPR’s volunteer network pulls together via regular communication in order to make South Dakota’s only Pit Bull rescue happen!
SEPR has a board of directors, but we rely on volunteers to help carry out every aspect of the rescue. Volunteers are used in all stages of a dog’s rescue! We rely on volunteers for:
-transport of dogs
-providing foster homes (Foster Application)
-performing home checks on potential foster homes
-conducting home and reference checks on potential adoptive homes
-handling dogs at adoption events and our “train-a-bull” classes
-help with socialization by taking various fosters on “doggie dates”
Even if your schedule does not permit you to get heavily involved in the nitty gritty, day-to-day work of the rescue, we can still use your willingness and abilities! Volunteers are the ones who:
-write newsletters
-compile and produce videos of the SEPR dogs
-write dog bios to go on our website
-design website content
-create products for our online store
-design graphics & printed materials
-write grants
-coordinate events/fundraisers
-answer e-mails
-update our Facebook and Twitter accounts
-communicate with media outlets for press releases and interviews
-educate communities to help alleviate BSL (Breed Specific Legislation) issues
And more!
We are always looking for more self-motivated, creative, compassionate, flexible people to help us! You should be able to work independently and as part of a team, and adhere to SEPR’s philosophy and guidelines. Volunteers must apply and go through a screening and short training process before beginning work with the rescue. Unfortunately, at this time we do not accept volunteers under the age of 18 unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian.
As you can see, there is an opportunity for just about anyone to contribute to SEPR’s mission.
We would love to find out how you think your time and talents could help make a difference for a dog in need! Start the conversation by filling out a volunteer application here.
SEPR has a board of directors, but we rely on volunteers to help carry out every aspect of the rescue. Volunteers are used in all stages of a dog’s rescue! We rely on volunteers for:
-transport of dogs
-providing foster homes (Foster Application)
-performing home checks on potential foster homes
-conducting home and reference checks on potential adoptive homes
-handling dogs at adoption events and our “train-a-bull” classes
-help with socialization by taking various fosters on “doggie dates”
Even if your schedule does not permit you to get heavily involved in the nitty gritty, day-to-day work of the rescue, we can still use your willingness and abilities! Volunteers are the ones who:
-write newsletters
-compile and produce videos of the SEPR dogs
-write dog bios to go on our website
-design website content
-create products for our online store
-design graphics & printed materials
-write grants
-coordinate events/fundraisers
-answer e-mails
-update our Facebook and Twitter accounts
-communicate with media outlets for press releases and interviews
-educate communities to help alleviate BSL (Breed Specific Legislation) issues
And more!
We are always looking for more self-motivated, creative, compassionate, flexible people to help us! You should be able to work independently and as part of a team, and adhere to SEPR’s philosophy and guidelines. Volunteers must apply and go through a screening and short training process before beginning work with the rescue. Unfortunately, at this time we do not accept volunteers under the age of 18 unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian.
As you can see, there is an opportunity for just about anyone to contribute to SEPR’s mission.
We would love to find out how you think your time and talents could help make a difference for a dog in need! Start the conversation by filling out a volunteer application here.
FOSTER HOMES
Have a love for dogs, but cannot adopt one at this time? Consider becoming a foster home!
“Oh, I could never do that! I would never be able to give the dog up!” -This is something we at SEPR hear all the time. What we say is yes, you do get attached to the dog you are fostering—but SEPR's rigorous adoption screening process means that your “baby” is going to the best home possible for him or her, which is a great feeling! Then, there is always another dog who needs your love and your home—by letting your foster dog go to his or her home, you are able to help the rescue save another life, and another, and another...
The wonderful thing about being a foster home for SEPR is that it allows you to have all the love and joy of another dog in your home—with the major expenses paid! While we ask that you do work with your foster dog on basic manners and socialization skills, the rescue provides you with all the training and support you could need to help out! We are all working together for the good of these dogs in need and truly love helping each other out. We think you will find becoming a foster home with SEPR is a little like becoming part of a big, crazy, loving family!
We ask that you fill out a foster application online so that we can get to know you a bit. Once we have received your application, a volunteer or volunteers will come to visit with you in your home. This is not to judge you or your home, but to have a time to visit face to face. The volunteers may point out some things in your home to be aware of that you had not thought of—for example, many of our fosters who have not had pit bulls before are surprised to learn that a pit bull can easily jump a chain link fence! The home visit is a time for volunteers to pass information like that along and set the stage for a successful fostering experience. SEPR goal is to be proactive not reactive!
As we mentioned, SEPR provides the food, medical care, and most of the supplies for your dog—including a crate, leash, gentle leader, blankets, and toys. We do require you to purchase a few additional items for your foster dog (zip ties, carabiners, basic first aid supplies, and tie downs). Everything you purchase for your foster you can claim as charitable contribution tax deductions on your personal income tax every year.
SEPR cannot guarantee the length of time that a foster dog may be with you. Adoptions can be unpredictable and we take our time to find the best possible placement for each dog. For this reason, we ask that you be able to commit to the potential of having a foster dog for as little as a week or as long as a year or more. These dogs have had traumatic experiences—living outside on chains or in hoarding situations, and/or living in a crowded, noisy, stressful shelter—and they desperately need the stability that comes from staying in one home with one family. We think you will find that your foster simply becomes part of your family and routine—in fact, that's what we hope for!--and we hope that you will be able to include your foster dog in your everyday life.
Our Foster Homes should set a good example and meet our adoption requirements. This means that all pets in the foster home should be altered and up to date on rabies, bordatella and distemper vaccinations. Dogs should be kept inside the house. Foster homes should respect city limit regarding the number of animals in home and follow ALL leash laws. If you do not own your home, you need to provide your landlord's phone number for verification that you can have a foster dog in your home. We also need to verify BSL (breed specific legislation) in your area.
You need to have a good understanding of the breed, or be willing to learn. If you have other pets, you need to follow the safety guidelines suggested by SEPR when having Pit Bulls around other animals. We want to minimize the risk of problems.
“Oh, I could never do that! I would never be able to give the dog up!” -This is something we at SEPR hear all the time. What we say is yes, you do get attached to the dog you are fostering—but SEPR's rigorous adoption screening process means that your “baby” is going to the best home possible for him or her, which is a great feeling! Then, there is always another dog who needs your love and your home—by letting your foster dog go to his or her home, you are able to help the rescue save another life, and another, and another...
The wonderful thing about being a foster home for SEPR is that it allows you to have all the love and joy of another dog in your home—with the major expenses paid! While we ask that you do work with your foster dog on basic manners and socialization skills, the rescue provides you with all the training and support you could need to help out! We are all working together for the good of these dogs in need and truly love helping each other out. We think you will find becoming a foster home with SEPR is a little like becoming part of a big, crazy, loving family!
We ask that you fill out a foster application online so that we can get to know you a bit. Once we have received your application, a volunteer or volunteers will come to visit with you in your home. This is not to judge you or your home, but to have a time to visit face to face. The volunteers may point out some things in your home to be aware of that you had not thought of—for example, many of our fosters who have not had pit bulls before are surprised to learn that a pit bull can easily jump a chain link fence! The home visit is a time for volunteers to pass information like that along and set the stage for a successful fostering experience. SEPR goal is to be proactive not reactive!
As we mentioned, SEPR provides the food, medical care, and most of the supplies for your dog—including a crate, leash, gentle leader, blankets, and toys. We do require you to purchase a few additional items for your foster dog (zip ties, carabiners, basic first aid supplies, and tie downs). Everything you purchase for your foster you can claim as charitable contribution tax deductions on your personal income tax every year.
SEPR cannot guarantee the length of time that a foster dog may be with you. Adoptions can be unpredictable and we take our time to find the best possible placement for each dog. For this reason, we ask that you be able to commit to the potential of having a foster dog for as little as a week or as long as a year or more. These dogs have had traumatic experiences—living outside on chains or in hoarding situations, and/or living in a crowded, noisy, stressful shelter—and they desperately need the stability that comes from staying in one home with one family. We think you will find that your foster simply becomes part of your family and routine—in fact, that's what we hope for!--and we hope that you will be able to include your foster dog in your everyday life.
Our Foster Homes should set a good example and meet our adoption requirements. This means that all pets in the foster home should be altered and up to date on rabies, bordatella and distemper vaccinations. Dogs should be kept inside the house. Foster homes should respect city limit regarding the number of animals in home and follow ALL leash laws. If you do not own your home, you need to provide your landlord's phone number for verification that you can have a foster dog in your home. We also need to verify BSL (breed specific legislation) in your area.
You need to have a good understanding of the breed, or be willing to learn. If you have other pets, you need to follow the safety guidelines suggested by SEPR when having Pit Bulls around other animals. We want to minimize the risk of problems.