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Volunteer Orientation

Welcome and thank you for your interest in volunteering with Bill Foundation. Below is our orientation packet which will famialize you with our organization and help you prepare for our working our adoption fairs. Just click on the links below to begin the orientation. We’ll see you at the fair.

1. Facts about Bill Foundation - a brief history of the organization and its mission
2. BF Adoption Process - the steps we use to place a dog in their new home
3. Common Questions - Dog fair situations that may arias
4. The Adoption Fair Step by Step
5. Safety Rules - to help your fair experience be a safe and happy one for all
6. Dog Harnesses used by Bill Foundation

Facts About Bill Foundation

• Our Goal: To rescue and find permanent, loving homes for dogs impounded at high kill shelters in the Los Angeles area. There is a terrible pet overpopulation problem in this country - An estimated five million cats and dogs are killed in shelters each year.
   
• Bill Foundation was started by Jo & Peter Forman in the year 2000. Bill was a stray dog they had for 10 years before losing him to cancer in 1998. In Bill’s honor and memory Jo & Peter created Bill Foundation, nearly eight years ago!
   
• While Bill Foundation is grateful for the opportunity to exhibit our dogs at Centinela Feed and Pet Supply, Bill Foundation and Centinela Feed are completely separate entities. Just as Bill Foundation is not involved in Centinela Feed’s management, Centinela Feed has no jurisdiction over Bill Foundation decisions.
   
• Bill Foundation receives no government funding, neither federal, nor state, nor city. Our funding comes solely from whatever monies we are able to raise through adoption donations, private grants, outside donations and our fundraising events. As a 501c3 non-profit corporation, our tax records are a matter of public record.
   
• Bill Foundation is solely responsible for its decisions with regard to the placement of dogs. Like other entities, such as colleges, universities, or private corporations, we may choose to decline any application made to us and we are under no obligation to disclose our reasons for doing so. Filling out a Bill Foundation application, attending an adoption event or wanting a dog does not in any way guarantee that a Bill Foundation dog will be placed in that home.
   
• Many people appreciate the integrity, responsibility and time we take to evaluate applications and make our decisions. For those who want to take a dog home today, or who may choose not to go through our rigorous adoption process, we highly recommend going directly to the shelter.
   
• Our criteria for determining whether or not we choose to place a dog with a prospective adopter is based on 4 primary concerns:
• The safety of the dog
• The suitability of the prospective adopter’s home to that dog’s needs
• The pet ownership history of the applicant
• The stability of the prospective adopter’s home and lifestyle

Adoption Process
The adoption process consists of several steps:

• Application- we prefer the application be filled out online. We do have printed applications if someone insists on filling one out by hand because they don’t have Internet. Some visitors have already submitted an application some are “walk-ins” that we did not know were coming.
   
• Meet the Dog- when we receive a good application an email invitation is sent to the applicant. Being invited to our adoption fair does not guarantee that a person will be approved to adopt. We do not pre-approve an adoption or guarantee in advance that someone will be approved to adopt. The fair can get very busy. People with appointments have priority over people who were not invited to the fair, otherwise known as “walk-ins.”
   
• Decision- We don’t do adoptions on a first-come-first-serve basis. Homes are chosen based on what best suits each dog, so it doesn’t matter who submitted an application first or who got to meet the dog first at the fair. We do not make adoption decisions at the adoption fair- NOBODY leaves with a dog!
   
• Home Check- When we decide to place a dog with someone we come to their house to do a home check. We make sure that the house and yard (if applicable) are safe and secure.
   
• Contract - Once the home check is completed, and assuming everything checks out, we have the adopter complete an adoption contract. This is a legally binding contract between the adopter and Bill Foundation.
   
• Donation- at the time we complete the adoption contract and make the adoption official we ask that the adopter make a minimum donation of $300 (tax deductible.) Please always refer to this as a donation, not an adoption fee, adoption price or adoption cost.

Common Questions

• Cage Card- If somebody asks a question about a dog and you don’t know the answer you can refer to the cage card. If the cage card does not provide an answer you can ask one of the advanced volunteers.
   
• Stressful Environment- At the fair the dogs can seem distracted; sad or depressed; agitated and/or stressed out - barking, pacing, digging their towel, etc. and someone might say the following things to you:
• Distracted Dog- “the dog doesn’t seem to like me. He’s really aloof and uninterested. He seems to like dogs more than people. He’s not very friendly.” 
• Sad Dog- “is this dog sick? Is this dog depressed and moping all the time? Something is wrong with this dog. I wouldn’t be interested in a dog that sleeps all day and ignores me.”
• Stressed Dog- “This dog is crazy. What is wrong with this dog? Will the dog act like this all day?”
• If a visitor asks you this kind of question or makes this kind of comment please explain to them that the adoption fair is a stressful environment for the dogs. Often their behavior/personality at the fair is not necessarily an accurate display. 

Adoption Fair Step-by-Step

REMEMBER: Although every dog is different it is best to treat every dog as if they want to run away. It’s better to be overly careful than not careful enough! It is also important to try your best not to get the other dogs riled up. The best way to avoid this is not to walk a dog past all of the crated dogs.

• Sign-in- all visitors, even those that have already submitted an application, must fill out a sign in/liability form before they handle/interact with a dog. Ask if they have signed in and have them sign in if they haven’t already. (With regard to the order in which you introduce a dog, people with appointments have priority over people who were not invited to the fair, known as walk-ins)
   
• Get Dog out of Crate- Get a choke chain, soft choke or harness if the dog does not have one on. Safely get the dog out of the crate and get the collar/harness on the dog. Ask the visitor to come with you outside to meet the dog and go for a walk.
• Spend a minute establishing rapport with the dog prior to opening up the crate door.
• Before you open the crate door have the leash tightly in your hand, with the loop on your wrist, ready to get the leash (and choke) on the dog right away.
• Use your body to block the opening cage door to prevent the dog from being able to escape.
• If the dog is already wearing a harness make sure the harness is fitted snugly. 
• Never attach the leash to the regular collar, always use a choke or harness!)
• If it's a small dog pick the dog up and carry outside.
• If it's a big dog walk him/her down an aisle and back up the aisle that leads you out the back door.
• if another volunteer has a dog out or a customer has a dog with them do not walk the dogs past each other. do not assume that all dogs are friendly with each other. 
• Before going out the back door, stick your head out to see if there are any people or any other dogs there. Cautiously open the back door and make sure the path is clear.
• Grab a poo bag! (located just outside the back door on the left.) Always pick up after the dogs.
• Walk south down the alley and make a right into the residential neighborhood. It is OK for the (adult) visitor to take the leash at this time. (Please make sure that they are holding the leash extra tight.)
• When you return to the store safely get the dog back in their crate and make sure the crate door is securely closed. To get the dog back into the store and into his/her crate, use the same safety measures that you used to get the dog out of the crate and out of the store.
   
• Walk Log- when you take a dog for a walk please log the walk time.
   
• Check-out- if the person you meet with is interested in pursuing adoption please make sure they talk to Debbie or Jo before they leave.
   
• Feedback- Remember to put your name on the visitor’s sign in form so that we know you were the volunteer that met with them. After they have left, if you have any feedback about the visitor you met with you can make a note on their sign in sheet.

Safety Rules

• Dogs in Cages- only Bill Foundation volunteers can open a crate to get a dog out. Under no circumstances should a visitor open a crate. If you see this happen please immediately stop the person and ask them to ask for help if they would like to meet a dog.
   
• Fingers- visitors should not stick their fingers in the cages, especially if the cage has a “no fingers” sign. If you see someone sticking their fingers in the cages politely explain that “dogs can act differently when they are in a cage and we don’t want anyone to get hurt.”
   
• Children- children must be accompanied by their parents and parents must keep their children with them at all times. If you see a child without a parent, or far away from their parent, please make sure to politely ask the parent to keep their child with them and not to allow the child to put fingers in the cages.
   
• Visiting dogs- visitors with dogs must keep their dog on leash and should not allow their dogs to approach the dogs that are in cages. If you see someone allowing their dog to go up to a cage politely explain that “dogs can act differently when they are in a cage and we don’t want their dog or our dog to get hurt.” If you see an off leash dog please inform the owner that the dog must be on leash in the store.
   
• Dog Interaction/Introductions- how dogs will react to other dogs can be unpredictable. For the safety of the animals and people at our adoption fair please do not assume that all dogs are friendly with each other. When introducing a dog to another dog do not allow them to immediately sniff each other/meet each other face to face. First walk them together so they get used to being near one another without forcing them together or making them uncomfortable. After a short walk, if they seem to be OK, allow them to get closer and sniff each other. Also remember to be careful coming in and out of the door as this is often where people and dogs congregate.
   
• Walking with Visitors- visitors that want to take one of the dogs out for a walk must be accompanied by a Bill Foundation volunteer. Make sure the visitor has a strong grip on the leash and do not allow any children (under 13) to hold the leash alone. At no time should a visitor be left alone with a dog, especially outside/away from the adoption fair. If at any time you are uncomfortable with the way someone is holding the leash or walking the dog you should ask for the leash back. Remember, the safety of our dogs is the first priority.
   
• Proper walking- all dogs must be walked on leash and the leash must be held tightly at all times- you don’t want to pull the leash so tight that the dog is choking, but hold the leash securely in your hand so that you don’t drop it. If a dog is wearing a prong collar and a choke chain this means the dog has been through training and you need to attach the leash clip to BOTH. None of the dogs can be walked with a leash hooked directly to their collar. They MUST be walked on a choke chain, soft choke, or harness (see photos below.) This is very important for the safety of the dog!
  (Don’t ever let a dog drink from a puddle, only from the water bowl.)