Volunteers,

First of all let me thank you for being here. You have no idea how important it is for us to have so many volunteers. We are often told by the volunteers that they feel like they did not do much as all they did was sit with a dog for a few hours in recovery. But you have to understand, somebody has to do that. And that job is just as important as the check-in person, the person sterilizing equipment and the people giving meds. We are a team and everybody working together is vital to the success of a well-run and safe clinic.

Enclosed is information on the different stations and general information about a spay/neuter clinic. After reading this you will be better able to make a decision about which part you would like to help with. Just remember that once at the clinic- Flexibility is KEY!

Check-In (2 people, at least one bilingual)Responsibilities:

Check all patients in- there are 3 places they need to be signed in. Weigh patients upon check in. Give all patients their ID #. Cats on head, dogs on collar. Ask owner all important information. Be sure owner understands risk of surgery and SIGNS the release. Keep track of where all animals are at all times. Check out patients- be sure to note that they have left. YOU ARE THE PR OF THE CLINIC! TREAT THE CUSTOMERS WITH

RESPECT AND THANK THEM A MIILION TIMES FOR BRINGING IN THEIR ANIMAL.

Things to remember: We RELY on the community supporting is. SMILE, SMILE, SMILE. Do not rush, people can and expect to wait. You need to communicate with the volunteers in Pre-med about

the status of animals- too many, need more, one needs to go ahead of another, etc….

Pre-Surgery (3 people, at least 1 needs be bilingual, at least 1 in surgery at ALL times with vets.)

Communicate with check-in about who is next. Check that all animals have their ID #. Physical on all animals, with a vet, for overall health and meds doses. Pre-med patients. Give antibiotics and de-worming meds as well. Prep patients for surgery. Communicate with vets on what type of animal they want and when.

Tie down animal for vet. Get anything the vet needs- from new gloves to a coke. Move patient to recovery- any special instructions? Clean surgery table and bring in next patient.

Things to remember: Communication is so important- between you, check-in,

recovery and the vets. SAFTEY FIRST!

Recovery (2-5 people, do not need to be bilingual.) Get instructions as patient enters. Mark down time entered. Check respiration and temperature ALL the time. Record stats every 5

minutes. Call for help if you think something is weird. More problems occur in recovery than any other place. If you want to clean or de-tick, GREAT! Ticks go into a jar with alcohol. Let the animals know you are there. They are much more comfortable

if they know there is someone there caring for and loving them. When the patient starts to wake up – put them into a cage before they

become a danger to themselves and others. Continue to monitor animals in cages. Keep separate areas for dogs and cats. Make sure a vet or tech sees the animal before they go home with

their owners.

Check-out (1 person, bilingual) Communicate with recovery and vet to see if animal is ready to go

home. Give discharge instructions.

Instruments (2 people, do not need to be bilingual.)Cold sterile Let instruments soak in water. Scrub instruments with soapy water and a toothbrush. Always keep instruments opened. Rinse the instruments twice. Place the dry instruments in the cold sterile solution. Vets should dry (using sterile gauze) or rinse (with garrafon water)

before using instruments. Keep packs together. Make any trips to the surgery room to collect and drop off instruments.

Autoclave Let instruments soak in water Scrub instruments with soapy water and a toothbrush. Rinse the instruments twice.

Wrap dry instruments. Place 3 pieces of gauze and a drape in each pack. Run them through autoclave.

Gauze and drape Make sterile packages of drape and gauzes during down time. Run them through the autoclave. Take them into surgery as them become available.

Food Organizer (1-2 people, do not need to be bilingual) Find people/restaurants to donate food for vets and volunteers

everyday. 10 for breakfast, 20 for lunch and 6 for dinner. Get the coffee going in the morning and get snacks ready. Check to see that there are enough eating utensils and plates- need

some, buy them. Make sure food arrives and is set out. Let everyone know the food is there. Make sure there is always enough to drink, especially water. Help out in other areas if you can!

Laundry (1 person, does not need to be bilingual.) Pick up dirty laundry at 5 p.m. or so everyday. Have the clean laundry

back by 8:30 a.m. everyday. Help out in other areas if you can!

Runner (1 person, preferably bilingual) Need to have transportation. Be at the clinic- helping in any area until needed to run errands. We ALWAYS need errands run- this is a very important job.

Trapper- Dog Picker Upper (3-5 people, preferably bilingual) Transport animals to and from clinic. Concentrate on one area at a time. NEVER go out without cages, traps, release forms, muzzles, wire leads,

pens, etc… Check your traps as needed. (Early a.m. if left at night and every hour

if left during the day.) Remember- the community judges the clinic on your behavior. Smile,

say hi, and thank the people for supporting us. If you feel a situation is unsafe- stay out of it. Always ask for help from the owners with their animals.

Clean-up/Trash Crew (2-3 people, do not need to be bilingual.) Be at the clinic by 4:30 p.m. Help clean and sterilize cages for the next day. Tidy all areas. Empty all trash. Sweep and mop all floors. Take trash to the dump.

General Clinic Duties Empty trash. Clean and sterilize cages. See if anyone needs a drink or snack. Clean/tidy up.

SAFTEY- yours and the animals… NEVER OPEN AN ANIMAL cage unless you are

directed to. Leave this to the people working directly with the animals.

Stay calm. This helps keep the animals calm.

Clinics are busy places- there is a lot going on at all times.

If you need help in a situation- ask! But if you just need a pen, find one!

Want to help but can’t make it to the clinic? We need FOOD!!!!! For

the volunteers and vets…

Thursday(9)

Friday(10)

Saturday(11)

Sunday(12)

Monday(13)

Breakfast25 people7:30 a.m.

Lunch30 people12:00 noon

Dinner30 people6:00 p.m.

BreakfastYogurt, sweetbreads, fruit, granola, breakfast casserole, bagels etc…

Lunch

Tortas, deli sandwiches, ceviche, tacos, pasta, fruit, beans and rice, salads etc…

DinnerSeafood, salads, beans and rice, pizza, tacos, casserole, pozole etc…