JULY 2020 | ISSUE 7
VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER Your Collective Impact 5,260 Volunteer Hours Served in 2020
As we adjust to this new reality, we focus on painting a picture of what life looks like as COVID-19 continues, and after it's run its course. We use our creative problem solving to think of what's possible, then make it happen. It's in this spirit that our ACL volunteers have remained dedicated to helping us catalyze animal welfare within our community!
Now, more than ever, nonprofit organizations need their constituents to rally behind them. We've been fortunate, and so very thankful, to have you by our side.
As a community, we can help each other overcome this temporary barrier and come out on the other side stronger for it!
STNETNOC FO ELBAT
OUR IMPACT
3
Our Annual Numbers
PROGRAM UPDATES
4
What's New
IN THE KNOW
6
Capturing "It"
TRAINING AND EVENTS
9
Virtual Party Recap / #MuttStrut2020 / Book Club
IN OUR COMMUNITY
13
A Sound Beginning
JUNE ADOPTIONS
15
The warm and fuzzies
THE SPOTLIGHT
16
Volunteers and pets
Page 2
OUR IMPACT
Committed to helping animals in the community since 1973
2020 INTAKE
2020 ADOPTIONS
2020 LOST PET REUNIONS
441
290
78
WHERE DO OUR ANIMALS COME FROM?
Page 3
PROGRAM UPDATES V o l u n t e e r P r o g r a m R e n e wa l During the last few months we've alluded to revitalizing our volunteer program via our Volunteer Newsletters, emails, and Facebook communications. And after evaluating the health of our volunteer program, here are some metrics that have enabled us to rethink a path forward:
5% Volunteer Retention Rate >670 Inactive Volunteers >50 Untapped Skills
Times are hard right now, but it's challenging times like these that usher in the greatest change. We're entering a phase of reshaping the future of animal welfare, and with it, our volunteer program.
COVID-19 has allowed us to take the necessary time to strategically enhance our approach to serving our mission in the best possible way. So not only have we decided to grow legs for projects that have been on hold, we have also redefined our main volunteer program.
We took a deeper look into our staff's satisfaction surveys; your responses to ACL's Volunteer Program Assessment; your Satisfaction and Skills Survey; your comments, questions, and concerns about volunteering with Animal Care League. Everything that's changed has been with YOU in mind for a more impactful and enjoyable volunteer experience with us—we've listened to you and now we're implementing the changes you've requested.
Since we're ushering in these extraordinary changes, we thought that we'd also bring you some extraordinary benefits and ways for you to chart your succession.
Please continue to the next page for more information!
Page 4
SETADPU MARGORP
VOLUNTEER PROGRAM RENEWAL PROGRAM LEVELS, BENEFITS, & TIMELINE
Introducing Animal Care League's Volunteer Levels! We know that you're all excited to get back to the shelter to see the animals again, so here's the current trajectory of our new main volunteer program by month to keep you up-to-date. Please note that these items are subject to change.
Page 5
IN THE KNOW Catalyzing Action within Our Community
Capturing "It" Written by Jordan Wilkerson
“A picture paints a thousand words.” - English Proverb
We’ve all heard that pictures are strong mediums for insight. More importantly, we get to validate the legitimacy of the proverb through experiencing it—it’s difficult to explain an image to someone who hasn’t seen it: the setting, time of day, facial expressions, cultural influences, definition, etc. Even if it’s explained well enough and the details of the photo harmonize to create a full mental image of the picture, there’s still something missing: the emotional elicitation of experiencing the photo for oneself.
This leads us to the key components that drive change: an understanding of what the proverbial “it” is through experiencing "it," the emotional context of the situation, and the ability to connect and cooperate with others.
Simply, if we don’t see the social issue, we don’t have an emotional affiliation, and we can’t truly connect with people or animals who’ve experienced "it." The agency of those who’ve experienced the social issue increases exponentially when granted the opportunity to organize.
Page 6
IN THE KNOW
bond, which is why we're focused on in-home pet retention efforts to prevent them from being admitted into our shelter. Because although we have a capable shelter to take in relinquished pets, the goal will almost always be to keep pets with their people.
Brining "it" full-circle: each of the pets in these photos had to be
Having cumulative agency escalates to imagining a
relinquished by their human
future without the social issue, thereby turning a problem into a possibility. It’s within this context that when conversations surrounding social issues are rooted in the past, they have a low likelihood of generating community growth and prosperity.
What Achieving "It" Looks Like
As it pertains to the Animal Care League, our mission states that we're"... committed to providing shelter, medical care, and comfort to animals in need; reducing animal overpopulation; and acting as a community resource, thus promoting the human/animal bond."
companions due to finances and inability to meet basic animal necessities: food and veterinary costs. This is heartbreaking and
In addition to our low-cost clinic services: spay and neuter, vaccination, TNR, microchip, and flea and tick services; and our animal behavior and adoption
traumatic for both pets and people, and we'd like to help by preventing these situations.
support hotlines; we also have big plans to expand our social services model.
The three pets shown here (in order) are Jyn, Ricky, and Max—all
What does this mean? We're working on building the foundation for programs that divert animal intake into shelters and keeping people with their pets, thus supporting "both ends of the leash." We understand the strength of the human/animal
of who were relinquished by their previous humans for several reasons, and have been adopted into loving homes through Animal Care League!
*****
Page 7
Foster Grantee #ThanksToMaddie Animal Care League is excited to announce that we've been selected to receive a Pet Foster Care Stimulus Grant through Maddie's Fund! COVID-19 showed us just how much we can leverage the willingness to help from our communities, which pushed us to quickly ramp up our foster program and services. Moving forward, we're working to keep the momentum going. Our goal is to build a robust foster program, complimented with a strong network—ensuring that animals entering our shelter will always have an immediate pathway to foster. The grant provided by Maddie's Fund will help us purchase supplies for foster parents, staff expenses, and secure 24/7 resources for our fosters. We're excited to share this with you and hope that if you're not already a part of our foster network that you'll consider signing up today!
Page 8
TRAINING & EVENTS
Animal Care League Volunteer Newsletter
JULY 2020, ISSUE 7
A Sound Beginning's FREE "Intro to Training" July 8, 2020 | 7:00-8:00 PM
"Whether you've just adopted a puppy or are fostering, this class will give you a solid understanding of what you can do NOW to help your pup gain confidence and learn how to navigate our world for a positive future." Click here to register.
ACL's 2nd Chance Thrift Shop Fundraiser All year long!
Our 2nd Chance Thrift Shop is now open! Check out our Yelp! page for more information about our hours and services. Check out our Ebay page for contactless shopping. And keep in mind that as a volunteer, you receive 25% off your purchase at the shop!
Animal Care League's 5th Annual Mutt Strut July 17-19, 2020
Although we're doing things a little differently this year, we still need a lot of help! As an ACL volunteer, not only can you get out there to enjoy Mutt Strut, you can also be an ACL ambassador leading up to the event! Click here to learn more.
Meowfest 2020 July 11-12, 2020
Meowfest, hosted by Meowbox, is a global celebration for cat lovers supporting feline shelters and other notfor-profit animal organizations! Enjoy a full day of shopping, speakers, presentations, celebrity cats, adoptable cats, entertainment and more! Also, our partner, Tori Peterson of Space Cat Academy is on the (fe)line-up! Register here!
Page 9
VIRTUAL PARTY
RECAP
VBC, June 28th, 2020, discussing "Animals Make Us Human" by Temple Grandin
PART 1
our attendees this time around, and get down to the prizes! Those who answered ACL-related questions correctly won ACL SWAG (T-shirts and water bottles) and Starbucks gift cards!
Our first ever Zoom Volunteer Party went off WITH a hitch! After nearly getting through all 16 introductions from attendees, our party was cut short from technical difficulties.
This would have been a fantastic time for our volunteers to get to know Jordan, ACL's new
VBC
Volunteer Coordinator, and vice-versa. But you know what they say... The best Volunteer
Our first ever Volunteer Book Club was also
Coordinators come from the worst
hosted through the Google Meet platform.
technologically disrupted virtual parties, am I
June's read was entitled "Animals Make Us
right?
Human" by Temple Grandin.
Not only did we have a great volunteer turn-
PART 2
out, our conversations were insightful, fun, and thought-provoking... everything you could ever want from your book club!
Luckily, we gave it another go and hosted a
Join us on July 26th at 5 PM as we discuss one
Virtual Volunteer Party, Google Meet edition,
of my personal favorites, "Rescuing Ladybugs"
two weeks later. We were able to meet all of
by Jennifer Skiff!
Page 10
July 17-19
#MuttStrut2020 What's one activity that your pup loves? Running of course! Mutt Strut is your opportunity to not only get some quality exercise time with your pup, but also help Animal Care League continue our mission of helping homeless animals in need. The best part? You can participate from anywhere, and even get your friends and family from different parts of the world involved! We also have a specialized fitness plan developed by our local FCC trainer, Carly Balundis! After you've registered for the event and RSVP'd on Facebook, here's a blueprint for what's next:
Since this year is a virtual event, we need your help promoting #MuttStrut2020 through fundraising, encouraging your friends and family to participate, registering for our partner's (IYR) running app, and finally... getting out there and enjoying the event! Let's have some fun doing what we do best: Making a positive difference for people and animals in need! Page 11 Questions on how to get started? Visit our events page or email volunteer@animalcareleague.org
BOOK CLUB Join
us
for
EAGUE'S ANIMAL CARE L
e ic d ju e r P b d n lu a C e k o id o r B P r Voluntee July 26 | 5-6 PM | GMeet chat room | reading "Rescuing Ladybugs" by Jennifer Skiff
Join us for our first ever Volunteer Book Club (VBC)! What a perfect opportunity to virtually get together and discuss a few of the greatest joys in life: animals, good stories, and community.
Get 10% off your VBC book club purchase with The Book Table! Use the coupon code ACLVBC when checking out.
Page 12
We hope that you can participate in this great literary adventure with us!
IN OUR COMMUNITY
A Sound Beginning Programs fashioned around counter-conditioning and desensitizing, stress and how to calm, and communication and body language
HOW ASB BEGAN BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND GAINING TRUST
"Adopting a Dog? Start off right
supporting people and
shelters immediately after
with... A Sound Beginning: How to
organizations who rescue, which
adoption. The program, called
Build a Relationship & Gain Trust"
inspired her to co-write the book.
"Path to Success," was piloted at
is a book, co-written by Julie
"Adopting a Dog?..." is an
Anderson Animal Shelter, where it
Dorsey-Oskerka (pictured right),
affordable 14-day training program
had been a major success. Since
that has blossomed into what is
to help you and your adopted dog
then, Julie has founded A Sound
now a fledged online and in-person
acclimate to your shared home
Beginning (ASB) online and in-
training program tailored to newly
together. Julie's husband, Bruce, a
person training programs. ASB has
adopted shelter dogs.
pianist, even created an
been recognized by Dr. Karen
accompanying musical CD to help
Becker, who featured ASB in a
soothe and calm your dog.
documentary; and by author of
As a dog trainer, Julie recognized
"Animals Make Us Human," Temple
that many of her clients didn't initially understand their rescued
Since it's publication in 2014, Julie
dogs: how they learn, respond to
has been recruiting trainers from
perceived triggers, etc. After
the Chicagoland area to help
Within that same year, Erica
retirement, she wanted to continue
initialize her training program into
Kendzora (pictured left) joined the
A SOUND BEGINNING
Grandin.
Page 13
IN OUR COMMUNITY
our current shelter resident dogs; In order for our Green-level Dog Walking volunteers to graduate to Yellow-level, they must successfully work with a shelter dog to help each other pass the ASB's "Path to success" program. Pictured left is one of our residents, Penny Bee, who successfully completed the program on March 11, 2020. ASB also offers 3 spots to clients whom wish to participate in "Path to Success" courses, conveniently located inside Animal Care League. PHOTO BY MARTIN R. SMITH
Although we're unsure when we will continue our in-person courses with ASB ASB team. Erica is a KPA-certified trainer, and ACL's regional
(due to COVID-19), we will continue to
ASB liaison! After we (ACL) realized the immense impact that A
keep you updated on ASB's virtual
Sound Beginning's "Path to Success" training program had on
courses and services.
rescue dogs and their adopters, we were thrilled to implement the program in our shelter as well. We have continued to work closely with Erica ever since through the module-based "Path to Success"
What ASB Offers
training courses as an ASB course instructor. Module "Path to Success" programs: Erica's professional background has allowed her to focus on
Green, Blue, Yellow, and Orange
building relationships between dogs and people within the shelter
"The Complete [Training] Package"
environment. She began her career as an intern with DuPage
includes "Adopting A Dog?... book,
County Animal Shelter, then worked her way up to Shelter
CD, all 4 "Path to Success" modules,
Manager within a 10 year span. After learning about Julie's A
clicker set, and 1 free phone
Sound Beginning program, Erica decided to take a course, then
consultation
spoke with Julie about her vision for implementing this program
FREE "Intro to Training" virtual class
into shelters. In fact, Erica was a key player in the Anderson
which teaches you the basics of dog
Animal Shelter ASB Program, and even inspired her previous
cognition and reinforcement training
employers at DuPage County Animal Shelter to adopt ASB's
methods
shelter program as well.
FREE "Puppy Socialization" virtual class to help you train and socialize
Since working with Erica, we've integrated our dog walking
your puppy under these abnormal
volunteer training program with A Sound Beginning's shelter
COVID-19 circumstances
training program. Thus, there's always a free spot available to
"A Sound Future" virtual training support "A Support System" in-home training
"'A Sound Beginning' is full of sensible practical advice for introducing an adopted dog into your home. It is essential reading if you are adopting your first dog." -Temple Grandin Page 14 A SOUND BEGINNING
DOGS
SMALL MAMMALS
CATS
Blackjack
Callie
Tiptree
Drova
Norma Jean
Chloe
Dusky
Goose
Kremlin
Ricky
Cliff
Cubata
Wooly
Mouse
Thatcher
Belle
Simba
Fish
Corey
Bishop
Opal
Hazie
Yams
Morris
Jack Straw
Tyrone
Garnet
Wren
Tony
Shadow
Spinner
Snow
Obsidian
Timmy Two
Griz
Onyx
Short Stack
Lola
Jasper
Lucky
Persephone
Mica
Storm
Lucky
Marble
Brandywine
Coco
Diane
Mary
Fiddo
Bear
Rye
Val
Chivers
Julep
Page 15
June Pets of the Week Shadow, Mr. Banks, Lil B, Warren, & Munchie
Every week our staff selects one of our residents as "Shelter Pet of the Week" to highlight their progress as they wait for their forever homes. Check out who made the list last month! Want to nominate a Shelter Pet of the Week? Fill out this form!
Volunteer Spotlight Ann Dow & Paula Madden
Combined, Ann (pictured left) and Paula (right) have served over 5,600 lifetime hours! Of that, 880 hours from just this year, and over 110 hours in June. Paula has been a dedicated volunteer with Animal Care League for nearly 5 years, mostly working with our dogs as a Red level walker. While Ann has been with us for nearly 2 years and is also serving on our Board of Directors. Each of these women have dedicated a tremendous amount of their time to walking all of our dogs here in the shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Page 16
HELP WANTED In the event that a member of our ACL community were to experience complications with COVID-19, we're ready to help! If you'd like to provide help, or receive help, such as give dogs the exercise they need while their human recovers, making or receiving a home made mask, pick up or drop off supplies, etc. Then sign up for Volunteer for Volunteers today!
We want to provide the best care possible for our animals, and that's why we need to create a contingency care plan during times of crisis. Click here for information on how to get started with your own plan, and help others get prepared!
Interested in donating to our cause, but can't spare the extra cash? No problem! Visit our Amazon Smile page, where Amazon will donate a portion of your regular purchases to ACL. Click here to get started!
We need extra special help for this year's virtual #Muttstrut2020! As volunteers, you can help ACL by reaching out to your network to get them involved in our life-saving work; starting your own fundraiser; and run/walk in Mutt Strut! Here's a quick guide for more information on how to get started TODAY.
Want to get your work published in our newsletter? Feel free to pitch us some relevant pieces you're considering: book reviews, thought pieces, industry trends, your experience as a volunteer at ACL, etc... We're all ears!
Suggestions on how we can improve this newsletter? Contact Jordan, your Volunteer Coordinator, at volunteer@animalcareleague.org
ANIMAL CARE LEAGUE 1011 Garfield Oak Park, IL. 60304 (708) 848-8155
Page 17