Volunteer With Us!
Interested in joining our Team of volunteers? WE WANT YOU!
Interested in joining our team of volunteers?
We are looking for outgoing, fun, passionate individuals that have time to donate and that want to help keep families & their pets together. Please read the following volunteer description to see if volunteering with My Pit Bull is Family is the right opportunity for you!
About The Organization
My Pit Bull is Family is a national 501c3 non-profit focused on ending discrimination towards large breed dogs and their families. We do this by providing the nation’s largest housing database that accepts all dogs, having critical conversations with property management companies, community outreach & education, and by providing training to law enforcement on canine interactions. In 2020 – we also launched our North Minneapolis Pet Resource Center to help support our North Minneapolis Neighbors and their pets.
We started in 2011, when a Minneapolis landlord realized that her rentals were part of the select few rentals that allowed all dogs. She launched a bumper sticker campaign with a small team of volunteers in Minneapolis. Since then we have continued to grow! We now have a team of 60+ volunteers across the country and we’re always looking to continue adding to our team!
About Our Volunteers
My Pit Bull is Family volunteers share our work in communities across the country. As a volunteer, you will be an important member of our team and act as a representative of our organization to the community at large. As such, we need people with great communication skills because our volunteers will be talking to people about our organization online, over the phone, and in-person.
There are currently two primary responsibilities of our volunteers:
Rental Research Team Member-
Volunteers make phone calls every month to participate in rental pet policy research. We will be selecting cities across the country to conduct research in. The information collected will identify all-breed-friendly housing for families looking for rental accommodations that will welcome their dogs. With accurate information available, the goal is for no dog to be displaced from their family due to restrictive pet policies and to keep the family together safe at home. This information not only is included in our national database of non-discriminatory rentals – but is also shared with national organizations working on legislative efforts!
North Minneapolis Pet Resource Center – Advocate
Our volunteers are community advocates. Our PRC Advocates assist families in a case-management style while providing resources to make sure that pets and their families are set up for success. The goal of this program is to keep pets at home with their families by providing on site resources and referrals to partner organizations. PRC Advocates can also participate in community outreach events and fundraising efforts to help sustain our programming. Tasks can vary from week to week at the PRC to keep things exciting! We ask that our PRC Advocates plan on helping with 2 shifts a month.
We’re always looking for dedicated volunteers – if you have an idea of how your skillset can benefit us – we want to hear from you!
Current Volunteer Openings
Rental Research Volunteer (National)
Each volunteer will be assigned approximately 20-40 apartments to research per month. Research assignments are distributed via email/GivePulse. Assuming 5 minutes per listing, the commitment for this project is approximately 2-3 hours per month.
North Minneapolis Pet Resource Center Advocate
North Minneapolis Pet Resource Center Advocate
Shifts Available: Tuesday & Thursday 4:30-8:30 PM & Saturday 10:30 – 2:30 PM
*Our NMPRC is not wheelchair accessible. At this time stairs are required to utilize the restroom in the basement.*
North Minneapolis Pet Resource Center Advocates serve as an organization and community resource in our NMPRC by working directly with volunteers and community members to help people find or obtain the resources they need with compassion and without judgment. Through our North Minneapolis Pet Resource Center, our talented team members provide a direct response to pet owners by sharing information and resources, identifying barriers, assessing needs, providing consultation, support and follow-through with compassion and care.
Duties:
- Attend NMPRC Advocate shifts at least twice per month
- Act as a resource to connect pet owners with existing resources and to troubleshoot issues regarding housing, ongoing care, access to resources etc.
- Participate in NMPRC Team & MPBIF Volunteer meetings as needed
- Assist with planning and executing Community Pet Wellness vaccine/microchip clinics
- Create and maintain community resource/information hubs in google drive and to be distributed in an accessible manner
- Provide feedback on data collection practices and program procedures as needed
- Build and maintain extensive knowledge of community resources, animal welfare organizations, animal control ordinances, and appropriate standards of care, to effectively help pet owners make informed decisions regarding their pet’s identified needs with compassion, empathy, and a desire to help.
- Process all daily paperwork, deposits, and other essential processes with accuracy and attention to detail.
- Advocate on behalf of clients and pet families for services, basic needs, and other related issues.
- Provide direct service in the form of pet supplies and other items made available at NMPRC
- Perform other duties and special projects, as assigned, or needed.
- Lift 30 – 50 lbs
Performance Factors and Necessary Skills:
Resourcefulness: Find innovative solutions to obstacles and actively go above and beyond to help owners retain their pets or, if appropriate, create a plan for surrender that best assists the owner and the animal. Able to pivot and address change on an ongoing basis and act as a good steward of available and limited resources.
Social and Emotional Learning: Accurately recognize and regulate the influence of emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively, even in the face of highly emotional situations. Understand and empathize with others from diverse backgrounds and cultures and develop healthy and appropriate relationships through compassion and professionalism.
Accountability: Assume responsibility for successfully accomplishing objectives and set high standards of performance for self and others. Take personal ownership in the department’s positive and negative outcomes of work and take action to improve circumstances without instructions to do so.
Communication and Contact: Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with superiors, colleagues, and individuals inside and outside of the organization, have tact and excellent communication and customer service skills. Maintain confidentiality and convey a positive and professional image to the public and amongst the team.
Commitment to Excellence: Actively look for opportunities for improvement and growth within daily operations and processes. Challenge the status-quo, openly embrace change, and develop opportunities to improve efficiencies and effectiveness. Demonstrate the highest level of care and compassion for all team members, community members, and animals.
Volunteer Requirements
- Communication: Check-in with Facebook group at least once per week and interact with/comment on posts when requested.
- Activity Reporting: Track and share time spent and details of tasks completed.
- Professionalism: Conduct yourself in a positive, welcoming, appropriate, and ethical manner at all times when participating in conversations with community members and always stay on message for My Pit Bull is Family.
- Be Kind: Treat all animals and humans with kindness and concern for their welfare.
- Dress Code: Volunteers are required to wear My Pit Bull is Family gear when volunteering during events and attending pack walks.
- Commitment: Volunteer at least monthly.
Time Commitment
- We ask that all of our volunteers are able to dedicate at least 6 months to our mission.
List of accounts, equipment, and skills needed to perform responsibilities
- Facebook account and Facebook Messenger (for access to group communication)
- Email account (as a communication option second to Facebook)
- Access to a telephone with long-distance calling capability
- Access to a computer with internet with internet connection
- Communication skills (written and verbal)
- Comfort speaking on the telephone and in person at events
- Comfort using Google Docs & Sheets
- Comfort using Google Slides & Forms
- Knowledge of local pet owner support resources
- Ability to conduct conversations with folks from diverse backgrounds and beliefs
Volunteer Handbook – Updated 5.20
MPBIF Volunteer Handbook 2020
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please fill out this form and our Volunteer Coordinator will be in touch!
*If you’re interested in both positions – you only need to fill out one application.*
If you’d like to support us in another way click below!
