🐾 CVAR Youth Volunteer Handbook 🐾
Welcome to Center Valley Animal Rescue!Let’s learn how to be amazing volunteers together.
Welcome Young Animal Heroes!
We’re so excited you want to help animals in need. This handbook will teach you everything you need to know to be a safe, helpful, and awesome volunteer!
🌟 About CVAR
Our Mission: We rescue and care for animals who need help – dogs, cats, horses, birds, and even wild animals! We find them loving homes or give them a safe place to live.
Our Promise: Every animal deserves love, care, and a chance at a happy life.
🛡️ Getting Started as a Youth Volunteer
Steps to Become a CVAR Volunteer:
- Fill out the Volunteer Interest Form with your parent/guardian
- Attend Volunteer Orientation with your parent/guardian
- Read this handbook (you’re doing it now!)
- Get training for specific jobs
- Start volunteering and helping animals!
Important Rules for Young Volunteers:
- Ages 8-15: You must always have your parent or guardian with you
- Ages 16-17: After working with your guardian for a while, staff might let you work without them nearby (but still with adult supervision)
- You must follow ALL the rules in this handbook
- Always listen to staff members and adult volunteers
👥 Your Rights & Responsibilities
What We Expect From You:
- Be Kind and Respectful – To animals, people, and property
- Follow Instructions – Listen carefully to staff and adult volunteers
- Ask Questions – If you don’t understand something, ask!
- Be Responsible – Show up when you say you will
- Stay Safe – Follow all safety rules
🧼 Safety First! 🚨
What to Wear:
- Closed-toe shoes (no sandals or flip-flops!)
- No hanging jewelry that animals could grab
- Gloves when cleaning or handling sick animals
- Always wash your hands after touching animals
General Safety Rules:
Important Safety Rules
- NEVER go anywhere alone – always stay with your adult
- Don’t run – walk carefully, especially around animals
- Wash your hands often, especially after touching animals
- Tell an adult immediately if you get hurt, even a small scratch
- Stay out of certain areas unless invited by staff (medical room, wildlife area, etc.)
🐾 Working with Animals
Helping animals of all shapes and sizes
The Golden Rules
- Never handle animals without permission from staff
- Don’t put fingers through cage bars – animals might bite
- Let animals come to you – don’t force them
- Move slowly and speak softly around scared animals
- Tell staff immediately if an animal looks sick or hurt
If There’s an Emergency:
- Call 911 for fires, serious injuries, or other big emergencies
- Find a staff member right away
- Stay calm and follow adult instructions
🚫 Off-Limits Areas
Places you shouldn’t go without special permission
Areas That Need Special Permission
- Medical room
- Wildlife center
- Quarantine areas
- Horse areas (without proper training)
- Director’s house and barn
🏆 Final Reminders
- Have fun! Helping animals is rewarding and enjoyable
- Learn something new every time you volunteer
- Be proud – you’re making a real difference in animals’ lives!
- Stay safe – follow all the rules to keep volunteering
- Be patient – some animals are scared and need time to trust people
📱 Being Professional
- Social Media: Only share posts from CVAR’s official accounts
- Ask permission before taking photos
- Some animals can’t be photographed for legal reasons
- Don’t share private information about CVAR
🤝 Talking to Visitors
- Be friendly and polite
- If someone asks questions you can’t answer, find a staff member
- If someone seems upset or angry, get an adult immediately
📝 Your Rights as a Volunteer
- Feel safe and valued
- Ask questions anytime
- Get the training you need
- Give suggestions and feedback
- Have fun while helping animals!
❓ Questions?
- Always ask if you’re not sure about something! Staff members are here to help you learn and stay safe.
