About Us
Coldwater Reptile Rescue & Animal Sanctuary is a local, Not‑For‑Profit rescue in Coldwater, ON. We rescue, rehabilitate, and provide sanctuary for reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, arachnids, dogs, cats, and livestock. We also run community education programs, ambassador animal events, and adoption services.
We are building a strong, flexible volunteer team that includes:
- On‑site animal care and education roles,
- Off‑site and remote roles (admin, design, social media, writing),
- Leadership and coordination roles for experienced volunteers.
We want volunteers who are serious about animal welfare, education, and community impact, and who can commit meaningful time each week.
What We Offer
- Hands‑on experience with a wide variety of animals, including reptiles and other species.
- Training on safe handling, feeding, healthcare basics, cleaning, and education delivery.
- A supportive, mission‑driven team where your work directly helps animals and educates the community.
- Flexible scheduling: 2–40 hours per week, depending on your availability and role.
- Opportunity to grow into higher‑level volunteer positions (team lead, coordinator, program manager) as you gain experience.
- Option to work from home for certain roles (admin, social media, content, design, etc.).
Volunteer Roles We Need
We are looking for volunteers for all areas of the rescue. You can choose one or more roles, and you can mix on‑site and remote work.
1. Animal Care Assistant (On‑Site)
- Feeding, watering, and basic health checks.
- Cleaning enclosures, bedding, water bowls, and common areas.
- Monitoring animal behavior and reporting concerns to staff/volunteer leads.
2. Transport & Rescue Volunteer (On‑Site / Local)
- Driving to pick up surrendered animals or transport to vet visits.
- Helping load/unload animals safely.
- Must have a reliable vehicle and be comfortable with handling.
3. Foster Volunteer (Home‑Based)
- Temporarily care for animals in your home (neonates, recovering, or special‑needs animals).
- Provide daily care and updates, with support from our rescue.
4. Education & Event Volunteer (On‑Site / Events)
- Assist with school programs, community events, and adoption days.
- Help set up, run activities, and talk with visitors about responsible animal ownership and conservation.
- Possible role as an “Ambassador Animal Handler” after training.
5. Social Media & Content Volunteer (Remote / On‑Site)
- Take photos/videos of animals, care, and events.
- Write captions, posts, and short stories.
- Help with basic design, graphics, or storytelling for our online presence.
- Much of this work can be done from home.
6. Administrative & Operations Volunteer (Remote / On‑Site)
- Data entry, updating animal profiles, and organizing records.
- Filing paperwork, managing databases, and helping with outreach materials.
- Coordinating simple tasks like scheduling or follow‑ups.
- Much of this work can be done from home.
7. Volunteer Coordinator / Team Lead (Remote / On‑Site)
- Help organize volunteers by:
- Breaking down tasks,
- Matching volunteers to roles,
- Tracking hours and availability,
- Sending reminders and updates.
- Liase with the directors (you, Kyle, Corbin) to support volunteer management.
- Mostly remote, with some on‑site coordination.
8. Education Program Coordinator (Remote / On‑Site)
- Help plan and coordinate school/community education programs.
- Develop or adapt lesson materials, activity sheets, and presentations.
- Coordinate with teachers, event organizers, and volunteer educators.
- Mostly remote with some on‑site event support.
9. Adoption & Outreach Coordinator (Remote / On‑Site)
- Help review adoption applications.
- Do initial phone calls with applicants.
- Support adoption events and outreach at local businesses or community spaces.
- Many tasks can be done from home (calls, emails, data).
10. Grant & Fundraising Volunteer (Remote)
- Help research local grants, sponsorships, and fundraising opportunities.
- Assist with writing letters of support, basic grant applications (under director review), and fundraising materials.
- Assist with event planning (fundraising events, drives, etc.).
- Mostly remote work.
11. Design & Creative Volunteer (Remote)
- Help design:
- Posters, flyers, and social media graphics,
- Event signage,
- Simple branding materials.
- Work from home; share files electronically.
You can pick one role, a few, or even take on multiple over time as you grow into leadership positions.
Who We’re Looking For
- Ages 16+ (younger with parental consent and supervision for certain roles).
- Reliable, responsible, and willing to follow safety and animal‑care protocols.
- Comfortable working with a variety of animals (experience is not required, but an interest in animals is).
- Able to commit to 2–40 hours per week, depending on your schedule and role.
- Open to learning, growing, and possibly taking on higher‑level volunteer roles (team lead, coordinator, etc.) as you gain experience.
Time Commitment
- Flexible: choose a role and schedule that fits your life.
- Minimum: 2 hours per week.
- Maximum: up to 40 hours per week (or more, if you want to).
- Long‑term volunteers preferred, but we welcome short‑term support for events and projects.
How to Apply
Please reply with:
- Your name and contact info (phone/email).
- Your age (must be 16+).
- Which volunteer role(s) you’re interested in (you can list several).
- Your general weekly availability (days/times) and how many hours you can commit.
- Whether you prefer:
- On‑site only,
- Remote (work from home) only,
- Or a mix of both.
- Any relevant experience with animals, education, admin, social media, design, or community work.
- A short note about:
- Why you want to volunteer with us,
- Any goals you have (e.g., learning animal care, leading education programs, growing into a coordinator role).
- Your resume.
We will review applications and contact you to set up a brief meeting or orientation (in person or online).
Important Notes
- All volunteers must follow our safety and animal‑care policies.
- Some roles may require a short training session (on‑site or online).
- For roles involving minors (16–17), parental consent and supervision may be required depending on the role.
- Higher‑level volunteer roles (coordinator, team lead) may require additional training and a higher time commitment.
If you love animals and want to make a real difference in our community, we’d love to have you join us. Volunteering here can be a stepping stone to leadership roles within the organization as you grow.
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Flexible schedule
- On-site childcare
- On-site parking
- Store discount
- Work from home
Application question(s):
- What is your age?
- general weekly availability?
- Why do you want to volunteer with us?
- What role are you interested in?
Language:
Location:
- Coldwater, ON (preferred)
Willingness to travel:
Work Location: In person
