TSCA Rescue is a committee of the Tibetan Spaniel Club of America, Inc. (TSCA). We are an all-volunteer organization made up of a National Coordinator, Regional Coordinators and volunteers across the country. We need volunteers with a wide array of skills. We welcome both TSCA members and non-members alike. Everyone who pitches in is valued and appreciated.
All volunteers must be screened and approved before acting on behalf of TSCA Rescue.
Types of Volunteers
Simba awaits his transporter
The National Coordinator has overall responsibility for TSCA Rescue activities. She liaises with the TSCA Rescue & Health Trust, reports to the TSCA Board and membership, approves all public information, and approves administrative documentation such as the Rescue Handbook, internal forms and procedures.
Regional Coordinators and their volunteer networks are our “boots on the ground” doing the day-to-day work of caring for and selecting homes for our rescue Tibbies. Regional Coordinators manage the rescues in their region, including providing instruction and guidance to fosterers and other volunteers, arranging shelter releases and surrenders, overseeing completion of the veterinary protocol, preparing Rescue Alerts, screening applicants, selecting adopters, finalizing adoptions, and maintaining records.
The Volunteer Coordinator recruits, screens and orients volunteers and maintains the volunteer database.
The Training Coordinator oversees training for Coordinators and volunteers, develops training materials including the Rescue Handbook, and delivers training as needed.
The Inquiries Coordinator
- answers (or refers) incoming inquiries from the general public, prospective or past adopters, and shelters/rescues
- maintains the prospective adopter waiting list
- maintains distribution lists of prospective adopters
Foster Home volunteers take care of rescue Tibbies from in-take to adoption. See the Fostering a Tibbie section below.
Outreach/Publicity volunteers write information targeted to the general public, prospective adopters, and shelters/rescues including website content, form content, and social media posts (such as assists to other rescues and adoption stories).
The Information Tech Coordinator coordinates with the webmaster, posts website content, implements/modifies online forms, and admins/posts social media.
“Watchdog” volunteers alert Coordinators to Tibbies that may need our help by keeping an eye on:
- search sites such as Petfinder or Adopt-a-Pet
- shelter/rescue websites
- social media, such as Facebook
- sites such as Craigslist
Transport volunteers may help create itineraries, coordinate drivers, and drive legs to move Tibbies to foster or adoptive homes.
Fostering a Tibbie
Dottie’s fosterer was a “foster failure” who adopted her.
Rescue organizations struggle to find volunteer foster homes, and TSCA Rescue is no exception. Giving a foster Tibbie a temporary home is a big responsibility, but it is also rewarding. The foster family is the “eyes and ears” of TSCA Rescue. The Coordinators depend on their feedback about the Tibbie to find the best possible forever home.
When arriving at the foster home, a foster Tibbie may be traumatized—maybe neglected or abused in a former home, terrified by the shelter, or shaken by losing a lifelong home. This trauma may manifest in many ways such as housetraining lapses or trying to escape. Besides meeting their foster Tibbie’s day-to-day needs, foster families also
- arrange veterinary care required by the Veterinary Protocol, such as general exams, heartworm tests, spay/neuters, bloodwork, and dentals
- observe the Tibbie’s behavior, evaluate temperament and gently rehabilitate as needed
But the foster family’s most important job is to give lots of love, attention and stability to a Tibbie waiting for adoption.
How to Volunteer
Dizzy was surrendered to a TSCA Rescue volunteer
To volunteer, start by completing the Volunteer Application. The main purpose of the form is to find out the kinds of volunteering you’re interested in. Reference checks are required.
If you want to foster, you must also submit either the Foster Home Questionnaire or Prospective Adopter Questionnaire. If TSCA already has your Prospective Adopter Questionnaire on file and it’s up-to-date, the Foster Home Questionnaire is not needed. A home visit is required.
If you want to transport, you must submit a Transporter Application. If transporting is the only kind of volunteer activity you’re interested in, only the Transporter Application is needed; the Volunteer Application is not needed.
The Trust may reimburse pre-approved, out-of-pocket, rescue-related expenses that volunteers incur. See Reimbursement.