Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Now Taking Volunteer Apps for the Barn Crew!

... Chunk, Bouncer, Atomic Betty, Nita, Ayse, Danny, Clive, Captain Spanky ...


... They're some of the dogs who've spent time in BR's Rescue Barn since we first opened our doors in summer 2010. This modest facility in the Oakland hills serves as a halfway house for dogs in crisis - specifically, victims of shelter overcrowding, cruelty, foreclosures and emergency medical cases. .The quiet environment and natural setting have been ideal for helping stressed dogs get their bearings and allows them to be healthy, happy dogs again. As they relax, we can learn who they are and design next steps in their transition towards life with permanent families.

The handful of dogs that live here at any given time stay for a week or so until we match them up with foster homes, while others stay on for several weeks until they find their forever families. During that wait they're vetted, trained and socialized to several dogs in regular play sessions. It's like summer school meets summer camp.

Our dog handlers become an important anchor for the dogs during this time at the barn. They serve as the dogs' family and provide everything from clicker training to nose work fun to toenail trims to play parties to plain old fashioned cuddling on the sofa -- all of it is crucial to the dogs' well being and recovery. (Left: Donyale bonds with Winnie, shortly after her arrival from a cruelty case in Gadsden County FL)

In addition to meeting the dogs' daily needs, the BR crew works with potential adopters and visitors who want to learn more about the breed, both at the barn and during our weekends at Berkeley Animal Care Services. They're a wealth of information to a world that is waking up to the joy of the American Pit Bull Terrier and its mixes. Does it sound like I'm bragging? I am. This is a very special group of people who give their heart and soul to the dogs.

It's not all hugs and happies though. Cleaning up dog poo is less than glamorous, and the compassion cases that occasionally come to spend their final days with us tug at all our heartstrings. You have to learn to accept the good with the sad with this work, but the rewards are life changing, to say the least.

We're ready to expand our team and hope to add up to six new volunteer dog handlers who value this mission. We'll provide the training and you provide a long term commitment to the dogs who land here on their way to new lives. Interested?

Barn Crew Job Description

We know that your free time is precious so look forward to talking with you to see if this kind of volunteer work is a good fit. Please check out our job description linked above and then contact nancy@badrap.org for an application. We'll be conducting informal interviews at our next Open House Sunday, April 1st. INFO

Thank you!

10 comments:

Tracy Wilson said...

To me, that would be the "dream" job...even if there was no money involved:)
What a cute little barn-
I hope you find some amazing souls!

Bree Plude said...

What a wonderful organization. Keep up the good work you guys, you have my support.

Nancy said...

I have followed your organization for a few years and I really wish there was a group here that could have a place as special as your barn for all the pit bulls and pit mixes that go through our city's shelter and the rescues that take them. I volunteer but you guys take it to another level and I'd love to volunteer but being in Texas, ain't possible! Thanks for all you do!

Donna said...

Thanks for the kind support. It means a lot to all of us. Nancy, we dreamed of having this kind of little oasis for the dogs for years, especially when we were running our programs inside shelter walls and dealing with the challenges that brought to the dogs. We were always imagining ways to make the kenneling experience more tolerable, and on a shoe-string budget of course. If you think you want something similar in your area, I'm sure you could create it if you keep your eyes open for opportunities. Property in Texas is still somewhat affordable, am I right? I really do think this kind of half/way house is the wave of the future as shelters work to help more of the behavior cases and other at-risk dogs, and as our communities see the value in this kind of work. Dream it! and if you ever want advice on creating something similar, please don't hesitate to ask.

sass said...

Agreed and double agreed! Love this barn and this rescue. I've even written a college paper on BadRap. I can send it over if you want! You guys do the best work and if I lived in your area, I'd march right down and apply. I volunteer in Oregon with Fences for Fido so I get to get my fill of dog rescue too. But I do so love this blog!

sass said...

Agreed and double agreed! Love this barn and this rescue. I've even written a college paper on BadRap. I can send it over if you want! You guys do the best work and if I lived in your area, I'd march right down and apply. I volunteer in Oregon with Fences for Fido so I get to get my fill of dog rescue too. But I do so love this blog!

Donna said...

We'd love to see your paper Sass! Send it on over when you can! contact@badrap.org

Dianne said...

I would love to come out for a week if that's possible. But I can't get to the job description, my nanny software is blocking it.

Based on your organization's access policies, access to this web site ( https://www.box.com/shared/static/49a1d2a9f75a31599cbd.pdf ) has been blocked because the web category "Online Storage and Backup" is not allowed.

I can try from home later.

skreidle said...

Oh man, oh man.. if I were within a hundred miles of the Barn, I'd have already applied at least once. Unfortunately, I'm on the east coast, so I just work with rescues like Bully Paws (Fredericksburg, VA) and Ring Dog Rescue (Richmond, VA) instead. :)

Donna said...

Did the job descrip come through for you Dianne?