2. Volunteer Training (Date and Times Set) - The next volunteer training class will take place on Saturday, November 19, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. at the Little Rock Animal Village.  This class will cover the Red Level 1 materials.  If you are new to volunteering at the Animal Village, this is the class for you!  Please email Jayme Butts-Hall at lrasvolunteers@gmail.com if you would like to attend. The class will last approximately 2 hours, with a section on dog handling to follow immediately after.  Can't make it to the November training?  The December training will be here before you know!  Traditionally, our December trainings have been centered around our Annual Volunteer Appreciation Lunch - more details soon!   

Everyone is welcome to volunteer at the Animal Village!  Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.  The training schedule is described below.  Each volunteer must attend the Red Level 1 class, and you must complete the Red Level 1 Class before you can attend any of the other classes.  

Finally, you will not be able to take all the classes in one day because we require a certain number of service hours at the Animal Village in order to qualify for the next class.  Please come prepared to handle the animals.  The Red Level 1 class is approximately 2 hours long.  All classes take place in the Education Room at the Animal Village.  If you have any questions about any of the training, please let me know.
3. Dog Handling Class - After your Red Level 1 class, stay and learn more about how to handle the dogs at the Animal Village.  Our dog handling class is the perfect way for you to learn more about dog behavior and ways to increase dog adoptions at the Animal Village.  You must complete the Red Level 1 Class before you are eligible for the dog handling class.  Interested?  Contact Cindy at calberding@att.net.
  4. Dogs in the play area - Need more incentive to attend the dog handling class?  Only volunteers who have completed the dog handling class can have dogs in the play areas.  All other volunteers will need to walk dogs on a leash.  This policy was enacted to ensure our volunteers know the proper technique when introducing multiple dogs so that the canines and humans are safe.  Also, each volunteer is limited to handling one dog at a time, whether on a leash or in the play area.  
5. Puppies and Kittens - As a reminder, only volunteers who have completed Red Level 1, Blue Level 2, and the Puppy/Kitten class are permitted to handle the puppies or kittens.  If, after checking the kennel/cage card, you are unsure of the age of the animal, please ask a member of the staff. 
6. Fosters - Can you open up your home to a dog or cat for a short period of time?  If so, consider fostering one of our animals.  Fostering helps our dogs and cats get used to being in a home environment and interacting with people, which makes them even more adoptable.  If dogs are your thing, contact Sandy Moore at sxmoore@sbcglobal.net.  More of a cat person?  Let Debbie know at  debbie.jonunderhill@comcast.net.
7. Kitty Krew - Are you a cat fan who can't make it out to the Animal Village to volunteer but you want to help?  Contact Debbie Heller at debbie.jonunderhill@comcast.net and she will put you to work!  As a reminder, if you sign up for the Kitty Krew you would work once a week at the Petsmart on Chenal Parkway.  The time of day is flexible and duties will take from an hour to 3 hours depending on how many people come into the adoption center and want to see the cats and/or talk.  

Our responsibility is to maintain the cages and socialize the cats.  Training is provided.  The Kitty Krew does an amazing job taking care of the cats - be part of something great! 

Kitty Krew reaches goal ahead of schedule - As many of you know, our Kitty Krew volunteers work tirelessly to showcase our cats at the Petsmart in West Little Rock.  At the beginning of the year, the group set a goal to adopt out 100 cats/kittens, felines, if you will, during the 2011 calendar year. Well, it's just the beginning of November and that goal has been reached!  This past Saturday, November 5, the 100th cat was adopted at Petsmart!  With basically two months left in the year, the Kitty Krew is going to crush that goal!  A very special thank you to the following Kitty Krew Volunteers: Ava Franks, Ann Rademacher, Angela Leake, Marcia Holeman, Amanda Stuart, Chad Wann, Deborah Rudolph, Summer Cooper,Lee Jaros, Stan Jaros, Becky Thurman, Susan Moore, Deb Farley, Codie Pope, and Wendy Lyons.  And of course, a big purr of gratitude to the Kitty Krew Koordinator, Debbie Heller!  Thank you everyone!
And, if you'd like to be a part of the special group of Kitty Krew Volunteers, please contact Debbie Heller at debbie.jonunderhill@comcast.net.