Volunteer Adoption Counselor (application screener for dogs and cats)

Description:  Adoption counselors do the fantastically rewarding work of connecting our animals to loving guardians. This position requires a high level of consistency and professionalism, as you are entrusted with the ultimate responsibility - deciding if an adopter is well suited to care for our animals. 

• Reports To: Foster and Adoption Manager.
• Location of Work:  Remote.
• Schedule: Typically Weekdays/hours vary based on the number of animals in care and the availability of your peers.
• Time Commitment:  Approximately 5-10 hours per/wk. We request a minimum of 3 months in this role.

Core Responsibilities:

1. Adoption Process:

• Review applications, interview prospective adopters, and assess their suitability as a match.
• Reach out to screened applicants within 24 hours of receiving the application.
• Gather information about each pet’s personality, activity, needs, and medical clearance.
• Counsel potential adopters on our expectations, an animal’s behavior, and its specific needs.
• Make suggestions for an appropriate match, based on the unique needs of that pet.
• If you determine a given applicant is excellent, but not a match for the particular animal they applied for, attempt to transition them into our People Focused Adoption program. 
• Verify the applicant’s veterinarian references and the residential pet policy of the applicant
• If necessary, work with the Foster parent and the applicant to schedule a meet & greet.
• Finalize the adoption process via our database system.
• Consistently maintain accurate data in the ShelterLuv adoption database.

2) Communication

• Work closely with the Adoption and Foster Manager, Application Coordinator, and peers.
• Respond to all emails, FB posts, and Slack messages in a timely and professional manner.
• Inform the foster and the applicant of how the adoption finalization process works
• Evaluate the adoption process and make suggestions for improvements.

Qualifications: Are you?

• A positive and professional teammate?
• An animal lover, committed to saving the lives of animals in need?
• An equally good people-person?
• Willing to learn about animal behavior and a variety of situations an adopter may encounter?
• An excellent communicator?
• Cool under pressure, able to calmly navigate high pressure situations?
• Able to engage in discussions with others about commitments.
• Extremely organized?
• Willing to gain a deep understanding of the adoption process?
• We prefer that you foster and/or adopt with our rescue.
• Willing to maintain open, honest, and frequent communications. 
• Familiar with Google Sheets, Slack, and/or other administrative and data entry systems? 
• Have access to a phone, computer, and internet access?

If this sounds like you, please help Louie’s Legacy achieve our Vision to help rescue more animals, more efficiently, by working in a positive, professional and collaborative way with our community.

Important note - All  Louie’s Legacy volunteers with access to internal communications, financial information, or personally identifying information must also: 

• be over 18 years old. 
• Commit to demonstrating the values outlined in our Organizational Cultural Agreement. 
• Sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement in order to maintain a safe and responsible relationship with our volunteers, donors, fosters, and adopters.