Owner Surrender Coordinator - Cat and Dog

The Owner Surrender Coordinator is responsible for working with local families who need to surrender their animal to Ruff Start Rescue. Whoever takes this role will need more than just a basic knowledge of animal behavior - they need to be able to read between the lines and feel comfortable asking thoughtful, sometimes probing questions to fully understand the pet and the situation. The goal is to ensure we’re bringing appropriate animals into the program - ones that we can realistically support and set up for success in their new forever home. The OS Coordinator works through the entire process of bringing an animal into the rescue. Beginning with collecting information from the surrenderer (images, vet records, etc.), networking the animal in the private RSR Animals Needing Fosters Page, and getting foster commitment. You also may be asked for help coordinating the transfer of the animal into the rescue as well. Once the animal is with their foster, work with an Intake Admin to add them to the website and notify vetting and intake of the new addition. There can be a lot of back and forth in the role so daily check-ins to your RSR email are required.

Responsibilities:

• Logging into email, facebook and RescueGroups daily
• Review owner surrender applications and look for red flags
• Ask thorough questions to better understand the animal and the situation
• Lining up fosters for the animals that are chosen to come into rescue
• Sending owner surrender agreements
• Work with Intake Admin to perform an intake on the animal by adding to the website and sending out an announcement email to intake, vetting and the FM involved

Qualifications:

• Must be 18+
• Reliable access to the internet
• Proficiency using Gmail and Google Drive preferred
• Comfortable asking sometimes difficult questions
• Ability to work courteously and cooperatively with all members of RSR and the public
• Ability to take initiative and work with minimal supervision and direction at times
• Ability to show compassion and empathize with owner surrenders and shelter/veterinary staff
• Demonstrate affection for animals and concern for their welfare
• Understanding of all animals that might be placed within RSR and knowing when we cannot help and when we can
• Familiarity with animals, knowledge of animal behavior, and experience working with animal welfare programs is preferred

Volunteers must be a Minnesota Resident.