student volunteers

[keep on pugging]

Can Highschool students looking to fulfill the 40 hours of volunteer service with a non-profit and/or charity consider doing it with Pugalug? Just wondered and wasn't sure who to ask.

[Pugpillow]

That's a really good question but I'm not sure what their time would be spent doing.  Pugalug doesn't have a building where the animals are kept and have to be looked after. The foster homes and management positions do most of the work and it would be difficult to integrate a student into those processes.   I would suggest that a better option might be working at an animal shelter where there are a bunch of duties they can do, and I'm almost certain they do qualify for their required hours of community service.

Just an idea which would have to be checked out for viability: maybe the student could do something on an independent basis under the aegis of Pugalug - e.g. giving talks in public schools on rescuing dogs ... just thinking ....

[blanche]

Can Highschool students looking to fulfill the 40 hours of volunteer service with a non-profit and/or charity consider doing it with Pugalug? Just wondered and wasn't sure who to ask.

We've had a couple of students fill in hours this way.  One of our foster parents son's came to the Canine Carnival and filled up some of his hours helping us man the booth.

It's certainly do-able but not always organizable from our end.  Students have to have the initiative to contact us and get it organized themselves.  We have neither the time nor the energy to do that for them.

[Pam]

My daughter Meg volunteered at the St.Catharines Pugalug, "guarding" the door.  We use a baby gate here, she would let people in and keep the dogs inside.  She had her hours in Grade 9, I encourage volunteering for my children to give back not just community hours.  When she was in Grade 10 she was told to hand in hours until she finished high school there is an award for volunteers at Graduation the Lieutenant Governors Award for Volunteering.  She has 193 hours so far and still can hand in next year her graduating year. 
I agree Blanche there are so many kids that wait until grade 12 to get hours.  It is amazing how the hours add up, if you just show some initiative.

[Pugpillow]

Wow, Pam, that's remarkable.  Kudos to your daughter.

[keep on pugging]

That's a really good question but I'm not sure what their time would be spent doing.  Pugalug doesn't have a building where the animals are kept and have to be looked after. The foster homes and management positions do most of the work and it would be difficult to integrate a student into those processes.   I would suggest that a better option might be working at an animal shelter where there are a bunch of duties they can do, and I'm almost certain they do qualify for their required hours of community service.

Just an idea which would have to be checked out for viability: maybe the student could do something on an independent basis under the aegis of Pugalug - e.g. giving talks in public schools on rescuing dogs ... just thinking ....

Actually, I know a few parents whose kids tried to volunteer at a shelter and found it was harder to find a place that would let them do it. Perhaps helping out at a Pugalug event, since volunteers always seem needed, might be the way to go? Would Pugalug give the student volunteer a certificate or a letter for the hours, does anyone know?

[Pam]

The kids at our school have a form that needs to be filled out.  All they have to do is write the Name of the Event, Total hours worked a contact number and have someone sign it from the event. The parents have to sign it too.  I know the Catholic kids here can only volunteer during there religion semester.  Sometimes they have to make sure the event is acceptable.  Meg has had letters given to her also, she usually staples that to the volunteer form. 

[keep on pugging]

The kids at our school have a form that needs to be filled out.  All they have to do is write the Name of the Event, Total hours worked a contact number and have someone sign it from the event. The parents have to sign it too.  I know the Catholic kids here can only volunteer during there religion semester.  Sometimes they have to make sure the event is acceptable.  Meg has had letters given to her also, she usually staples that to the volunteer form. 

Thanks for that info. Pam. Spoke to a local Highschool who will accept a certificate and/or letter, plus the students are allowed to start their hours before they begin Highschool, submitting the paperwork in September when they start. It has to be a not-profit or charity, which Pugalug is, so hopefully it should qualify. Student volunteers may supply more new blood for the Mississauga locale Pugalug events, if there is interest?

[blanche]

Thanks for that info. Pam. Spoke to a local Highschool who will accept a certificate and/or letter, plus the students are allowed to start their hours before they begin Highschool, submitting the paperwork in September when they start. It has to be a not-profit or charity, which Pugalug is, so hopefully it should qualify. Student volunteers may supply more new blood for the Mississauga locale Pugalug events, if there is interest?

Part of the problem with students volunteering at the shelters and humane societies is liability.  I think under most of the insurance policies there, volunteers must be legal adults.

Students interested in volunteering for events should email volunteer@pugalug.com

[Candace]

My daughter did use hours as a foster helper, with our very first foster through Peachy Pugs. She also had volunteered with parks and rec before the government ever started the initiative. Any worthwhile organization should work, as long as you get your hours signed.

[keep on pugging]

Part of the problem with students volunteering at the shelters and humane societies is liability.  I think under most of the insurance policies there, volunteers must be legal adults.

Students interested in volunteering for events should email volunteer@pugalug.com

Thanks Blanche.

[LouiseJ]

Blanche, would you mind if we use your name as a contact person for my son's volunteer hours at Canine Carnival? He has to have someone's name other than family. We would greatly appreciate it. And thanks so much for letting him do this.

[blanche]

Blanche, would you mind if we use your name as a contact person for my son's volunteer hours at Canine Carnival? He has to have someone's name other than family. We would greatly appreciate it. And thanks so much for letting him do this.

You betcha, Louise.  any young man who's willing to spend the day with a bunch of older, dog crazed women is a good guy in my books.