Volunteer Information and Liability Waiver Packet

Volunteer Information and Liability Waiver Packet

Save A Soul Animal Rescue and Cottontail Acres

Updated January 1, 2020

About Us

Save a Soul Animal Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal rescue. The rescue specializes in rescuing and rehabilitating farm animals of all shapes and sizes. (SaveASoulAR.com)

Cottontail Acres is a five-acre homestead that is owned by us, the Musich family. Save a Soul Animal Rescue operates on two separate properties. Cottontail Acres is the main property the rescue operates on. The second property is primarily used for fostering large animals and is not available for volunteering on. (CottontailAcres.com)

Welcome

Welcome to Save a Soul Animal Rescue and Cottontail Acres! Thank you for volunteering! There are a lot of different ways for you to help, both with the animals and around the property. This packet outlines some of the things you should know before you start to volunteer.

Types Of Animals You Might Be Working With

Examples Of Activities You Might Be Involved In

Physical Work You Might Be Involved In

Emotional Distress You Might Experience

Back Stories – You may be exposed to upsetting things such as learning the back-stories of the animals that come to the rescue and homestead. Some of their stories are happy; others involve cruelty, abuse, neglect, and abandonment. As hard as it can be, our job as caregivers is to acknowledge the animals’ pasts, but focus on their futures. It’s our mission to make sure they never experience pain, fear, hunger, or loneliness again in their lives.

Saying Goodbye – Dealing with death and loss is a constant aspect of working with animals. Saying goodbye to an animal you’ve taught to trust and love always hurts. There isn’t much that can fully prepare you for the final goodbye. When the time comes to say goodbye, we try to focus on the joy and happiness the animals brought to us and the impact each one made to our lives.

Things To Bring With You When You Volunteer

closed-toe shoes (tennis shoes are good; mud boots are best; sandals aren’t recommended unless you don’t mind poop and mud squishing between your toes)

jeans and an old t-shirt (for working)

change of clothes (if you want to change clothes after working)

work gloves

outside items (sunglasses, sunscreen, hat, bug spray, light/heavy jacket)

water bottle(s)

snacks

medical insurance card

Animal Health & Safety

The safety of the animals and humans in the rescue and on the property is our first priority. Save a Soul Animal Rescue and Cottontail Acres doesn’t allow volunteers with a criminal record with respect to animal abuse or neglect, theft, sexual or violent crimes, or any felony. We reserve the right to run a background check on any volunteer.

Due to the safety of all of the animals involved, your personal pets are not allowed around the animals in the rescue or anywhere on the property. This includes your personal animals being left in your vehicle when you volunteer.

All gates and latches need to be secure when you enter and exit any of the enclosures. A lot of the animals are skittish and if they get out, they will run. There are too many predators in the area (humans, domestic dogs, coyotes, foxes, badgers, skunks) that won’t think twice about harming them if they get out.

Each animal species has a specific diet. Outside food and treats for the animals are not allowed unless prior authorization is given.

The rescue and homestead are a sanctuary for the animals. Many of them have come from bad circumstances and deserve a place to feel safe. We expect everyone who has contact with the animals to treat them with kindness and respect. Verbal and/or physical abuse by you or your children will not be tolerated.  

Your Health & Safety

It’s not required, but it is highly recommended that you are up to date on your tetanus vaccination. You could be working with nails, screws, wire fencing, etc. and the likelihood of getting poked by a metal object is high.

Working with animals is messy! You will be exposed to their waste, vomit, blood, and bodily fluids.

It’s important that you have your own health insurance. Save a Soul Animal Rescue, Cottontail Acres, and the Musich family doesn’t carry insurance coverage for volunteers on the property and/or anyone who has any interaction with the animals, tools, or machinery. This includes insurance coverage for health/medical, liability, automobile, worker’s compensation, or disability.

During summer, there are a lot of stinging and biting insects around the property (bees, wasps, flies, spiders). Please keep this in mind if you have allergies to stinging/biting insects.

Working with animals always involves risks of zoonotic diseases and infections. Zoonotics are infectious diseases caused by parasites, viruses, and bacteria that are spread between animals and humans. West Nile virus, cat scratch fever, hantavirus, and salmonella are just a few examples of zoonotic diseases you might be exposed to while volunteering in the rescue and on the property. We keep a good supply of latex gloves, face masks, soap, and hand sanitizer on hand to reduce your risk of exposure to zoonotic diseases and infections.

Working with animals takes mental clarity in order to stay safe. Smoking, drinking, and drug use (recreational or otherwise) is not allowed anywhere in the rescue or on the property.

If you are feeling under the weather on a day you are planning on volunteering, please stay home. Caring for animals is a non-stop job. There will always be other days for you to help out! We just ask that you please let us know you won’t be coming over so we know not to expect you.

Ages Of Volunteers

Save a Soul Animal Rescue and Cottontail Acres welcomes volunteers of all ages. Here are our age guidelines for volunteering:

Ages 12 and under – can volunteer under parent or guardian supervision

Ages 13 and up – no restrictions

The Birds & The Bees

The truth about animals…their poop smells bad, they attract flies, and they mate out in the open. If you want to volunteer with your younger children, please keep in mind that the animals are not shy. They tend to mate with each other at the least appropriate times (sigh…like in front of several children at a BBQ). If you’d rather wait to have “the talk” with your young children, you might want to consider this before bringing them to volunteer with you!

Discontinuing

There are lots of amazing organizations to volunteer with. If our rescue or homestead isn’t a good match for you, you have the right to stop volunteering, and we have the right to discontinue your (and/or your child’s) volunteering activities, at any time without notice.

Media & Privacy

We may publish your name, pictures of you, or recordings of you on the Save a Soul Animal Rescue and/or Cottontail Acres websites or social media accounts in order to promote the organizations. Personal information other than your name and age (for children) won’t be made public.

Utilities & Parking

Parking is available in front of the garage and house and along the driveway. To keep the neighbors happy, please avoid parking on the street. We have barn cats and chickens freely roaming the property so please keep an eye out for them when coming and going!

We get our water from a well and our sewer is handled by a septic system. In order to keep the septic system functioning, certain things can’t be flushed or put down the drains. If your hands are dirty after working, we ask that you rinse them off using an outside faucet and then come into the house to wash with soap and water. These things cannot go in any of the toilets or drains:

Waiver Of Liability

Please read the following statements carefully and put your initials on the line, acknowledging your understanding and agreement.

_____  I give permission to Save a Soul Animal Rescue and Cottontail Acres to use my name, photographs of me, and recordings of me to promote the organizations.

_____  I understand that I have to carry my own health insurance. I hold Save a Soul Animal Rescue, Cottontail Acres, and the Musich family free of liability from any and all illnesses and/or injuries that I may incur on the property, after leaving the property, while working with or around the animals, and at any time I am associated with the organizations.

_____  I understand that working with, and around, animals can be unpredictable and that my volunteer activities may involve risks of serious accidents or injuries from animals, tools, machinery, or natural elements.

_____  I assume full responsibility for all risks of illness, injury, property damage, or death due to any cause, negligence, or misconduct of Save a Soul Animal Rescue, Cottontail Acres, and any member of the Musich family.

_____  I state that I am of fit mind and body to work with animals, both large and small.

_____  I don’t have a criminal background.

_____  I agree to cover all of my personal and vehicle expenses while associating with Save a Soul Animal Rescue and Cottontail Acres.

_____  I understand that I won’t receive compensation (monetary or otherwise) for volunteering.

_____  I understand that smoking, drinking, and drug use is not allowed anywhere in the rescue and on the property.

_____  I understand that the animals I volunteer with may bite, scratch, kick, shove, and otherwise pose a hazard to me.

_____  I understand that I may be exposed to zoonotic diseases and infections.

_____  I understand the house is on a septic system and certain things can’t be flushed down the toilet or put down the drains.

_____  I understand that my (and/or my child’s) volunteering activities can be stopped at any time without notice.

Please sign below stating your understanding and agreement of all terms and conditions outlined in this packet. These terms and conditions apply to you and to your minor children if they also volunteer with Save a Soul Animal Rescue and Cottontail Acres.

Volunteer’s Printed Name: ________________________________

Volunteer’s Signature: ________________________________

Signature Date: ________________________________

Child Volunteer’s Name (if under 18 years old): ________________________________

Parent’s Printed Name (if volunteer is under 18 years old): ______________________________

Parent’s Signature: ________________________________

Signature Date: ________________________________

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Volunteer Information:

Full Name: ________________________________

Full Address: _______________________________________________

Phone Number: ________________________________

Birth Date: ________________________________

Driver’s License Number: ________________________________

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Emergency contacts:

Name: ________________________________

Relationship: ________________________________

Contact Phone Number: ________________________________

Name: ________________________________

Relationship: ________________________________

Contact Phone Number: ________________________________

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Health Concerns: _________________________________

Allergies: _____________________________________

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Special Skills: ___________________________________

Areas of Interest: ________________________________

Types of Animals You Would Prefer Not To Work With: ___________________________________

Activities You Would Prefer Not To Be Involved In: ___________________________________