Volunteering for Summit

We cannot possibly handle everything without our committed volunteers! There are so many areas in which we need help.  If you are willing to help Summit Assistance Dogs in any of the areas listed, we’d love to have you join our team.  If there are other ways you would like to volunteer please tell us how, as we want this to be a rewarding experience for you!

If you are interested in joining the Summit team, please download the volunteer application (PDF or Word) and mail it to:

Michelle Munro
Volunteer Coordinator
7575 Chestnut Lane
Anacortes, WA 98221
michelle@summitdogs.org or (360) 293-5609

If you are interested in applying to be a puppy raiser or can help provide short-term foster care, please contact:

Wendy McDougal, Puppy Raising Program Director
wendy@summitdogs.org or (360) 293-5609

IF YOU LIKE TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH DOGS:

Puppy Raising

Puppy raisers care for and train our puppies until they are approximately 16-18 months of age. This position requires a commitment to attend a 4-hr orientation session followed by weekly obedience classes for the time that the puppy is in your care. Puppy raisers must have a fenced yard or kennel, devote 10-20 minutes each day to training, socialize the dog by taking it on field trips, and care for the dog’s routine needs.<

Short Term Foster Care

We often have dogs that need a short term foster home (anywhere from a weekend to a couple of months). These may be adult dogs that need evaluation or time to grow up after being adopted from a shelter, or puppies in need of respite care while their raisers are on vacation. A 4-hour orientation class is required.

Kennel Assistant

This position involves cleaning kennels, grooming dogs, cutting up training treats, exercising dogs, socializing puppies and occasionally assisting our trainers. If you enjoy working with kids we are also looking for adult supervisors to work with kids who want to assist in the kennel.

Transportation

We are occasionally in need of volunteers to transport dogs for us. This may involve picking up a puppy from the airport, transporting a dog from a shelter, etc.

Evaluating Shelter Dogs

This position involves going to animal shelters with a trainer to assist with the evaluation of dogs for their suitability as assistance animals. Own transportation is required.

 

IF YOU ENJOY CONTACT WITH OTHER PEOPLE:

Outreach Booth Staff and Marketing

Summit frequently is invited to set up an informational table at different events and festivals. We need volunteers to be at these booths to answer questions, distribute literature and sell fundraising items.

Special Events

Summit has annual events in which we need help from volunteers.  We need table captains at our luncheons, in which the captain invites people to come and learn more about Summit and the clients we serve.  We need help in setting up and taking down events, providing assistance to guests, and other tasks.

Photography and Videography

We are in need of people who can offer photography and videography services to cover our special events and our team training camp.

Interviewing Applicants

This involves accompanying our Applications Administrator on interviews to applicants’ homes to assist with note taking, dog handling, etc. Own transportation is required. Interviews are typically done on Thursdays and Fridays.

Board Membership

We are seeking energetic people who would like to play an active role in developing funding sources and setting policies for our organization. People with special skills such as accounting or legal expertise are also needed as board members or to serve on our advisory committee.

 

IF YOU LIKE TO WORK “BEHIND THE SCENES”

Office Assistant

This position involves assisting with mailings, compiling introductory packets for presentations, sending thank you letters and other tasks that come up throughout the year.

Dog Cookie Bakers (This is a great project for kids and groups)

Summit has several stores that sell dog biscuits for us and we are always looking for volunteers to help bake biscuits and keep the stores stocked. We also sell biscuits at our fundraising events.

Graphics

We are in need of graphics professionals to assist us with our newsletter, posters, invitations and other needs as they develop.

Writing

We need articles written for our newsletters, website and for the media, which could include newspaper, public information and personal interest articles.

Assist with Product Sales

Summit has note cards and dog cookies for sale in several locations and we are in need of volunteers to restock these items and collect money.  We are always looking for new outlets to offer our products through.

Carpentry

We occasionally have need for a carpenter to build things for our kennel or training equipment for our dogs.

Scrap Booking

We are in need of people who enjoy scrap booking to put together albums of dog photos for our new graduates receiving a service dog. Albums that contain their dog’s puppy photos are much treasured. We are also in need of attractive display boards for our outreach booths.

Wish List Awareness and Solicitation

We have a wish list that generous people are willing to provide for, if they learn about it!  The more volunteers we have who are willing to spread word of these needed items, the more chance we have of filling these needs!