thanks sarita!  they do have an orientation.  they don’t have one scheduled right now until theres need for more volunteers.  at first she said possibly not until spring but when she heard i was interested in more than the ‘play thereapist’ category and have rabbit experience she said they may have openings sooner.

oops… forgot to ask… what is orientation typically about?

ahh good stuff.  i have lots to learn about animal care in a shelter environment so it sounds interesting.

lol… thanks markusdark.  never mind hearing the WHOLE truth even if its not what i really wanted to hear.  had a feeling Baby would be impossible to bond… interesting to hear i’m not way off base about that.  originally i thought fostering would mean keeping any foster buns entirely separate from her anyways since i have an extra room for it (could have allowed for separate ‘out & play’ times) and since the bun would eventully be placed in a forever home.  i suppose i could always adopt with this set-up… not attempting to bond them at all.  but for now i’ll see about the volunteering.

good point about the ‘no kill’ bit.  i’d want to know about that for sure.  yikes.

very interesting reading your comments.  thanks!  i checked the humane society’s website & couldn’t find out if they’re a ‘no kill’ facility.   i have to assume they are not or they’d say so outright.  i was hoping volunteering there i could check out their rabbit care and be an advocate like gravehearted mentions.  i also want to see how friendly they are with rabbit rescue who IS no kill & say they rescue ‘last chance’ animals at shelters in ontario.  if there is a way that the buns on death row there could all be rescued i’d be okay with volunteering there.  the woman i emailed at rabbit rescue said she had just travelled to kitchener-waterloo (my local humane society) and so i’m optimistic that they have a working relationship.  fingers crossed. 

edit to add:  i did think about starting something myself.  i completely get how it woulf be alot of work & red tape & time & money.  right now it’s not at all feasible for me BUT i’d have to start out by getting to know all of this info anyways.  about how the local humane society works & rabbit rescue and so on.  maybe this is a way for rabbit rescue to get to know me & i can help in another way.  who knows?

update… friday afternon i dropped off my volunteer application at the humane society.  i met the woman i spoke with on the phone – nice lady – and also was able to donate some treats for the buns (grass hay mix), dogs & cats.  i wasn’t able to meet the buns that day   because they had quarantined that pod for 3 dogs with kennel cough (i think) but i could look at them from the window outside the pod. 

basically the pod has a door into it in the middle… along the left side there are 3 dog kennels separated by painted block walls with windowed doors to each kennel and the rest is open floor space.  in the open floor space there are 2 big square plexiglass tanks (for lack of a better word)  for the buns & small critters, raised up so the top is about waist level.  each ‘tank’ looks to be about 4′-0" x 4′-0", maybe 20" high and is divided diagonally.   there were 2 single buns each having a quarter of one ‘tank’  and a bonded pair who were together in a half-tank section.  the top vented flaps were hinged on the diagonal.  there was a chinchilla & a piggie there too

this is a much better set-up from when i visited last time… buns & other critters were in metal cages with pan floors all stacked on top of eachother making it difficult to see the ones on the top or very bottom.  probably very difficult to get them out seeing as cages were deep but not wide, with doors at the front  & critters would be frightened & protective.  although now it’s too open i think & i wish they had some cubby-type things to hide in & have a warren-type-feel.  maybe they just haven’t added that element yet?  i’m not sure exactly how new the set-up is.  also i was disappointed to see they had wood shaving floors.  is that typical for shelters?

there was a nice laminated poster from http://www.ontariorabbits.org explaining some key points about rabbits as house pets.  good to see that some one has been there to speak up for the buns!  not that there aren’t caring & devoted people working there, but just, i understand how fewer people know a lot about buns.  anyways… i’m hoping marylin will call soon to say they have an opening.  i’d love to get my foot in the door there & help out some how. 

oh really?  good to know sarita… i have just assumed ALL shavings aren’t good for them.  hopefully they’re using aspen then!

i just got a call from the shelter… they left a message saying that i’m officially on the wait list

think i’ll make a weekly habit of visiting so they get used to seeing my face.  i haven’t been there since the busy holidays, but now that things have settled down i’m itching to visit the bun buns & see who’s still there.  fingers crossed they can use me soon!

oooooo!  guess what?!?!  i checked out their website & discovered this ad:

Animal Care Staff

The Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society (KWHS) is seeking part-time Animal Care staff.  Candidates should enjoy working with all kinds of animals, possess an ability to work with the general public, a willingness to learn and a valid driver’s license.  Good customer skills and a positive attitude are a must.  This highly physical job is responsible for cleaning, feeding and general care of Shelter animals as well as animal adoptions.  Vet tech or vet tech students are preferred for this position, but consideration will also be given to those with previous animal care work experience.

this is freaky-amazing because A) i wanted to voluteer there and B) i had just been telling my friends that i need a part-time job that has nothing to do with my arch design career.  i’ve just felt so unmotivated lately (shh dont tell my clients!) and i need to shake things up a bit.  i feel incredibly fortunate to have my career & do not want to change it BUT its so flexible & having a part-time job to get me out of my house regularily is just what i need right now.  AND doing some thing i’m passionate about would be the proverbial cherry on top.

now back down to earth… since i’m not a vet tech or vet tech student, and since my animal care experience is limited i realize i’m a long shot for the position.  i called & asked breifly and the woman i spoke with encouraged me to send in a resume anyways… so who knows?  i’m hoping the fact that i have my hat in the ring for volunteering will look good on me.  and now i have a part-time work resume ready for action!