Thunder's Angels

Dog Rescue

Our most important volunteers are our foster parents.

Click here to learn more about the joys and rewards of fostering!

REMEMBER:

Volunteering is a great way to make a difference in the life of a needy dog but it will also help you to:

Build career skills -- many of our volunteering activities will help you to refine your computer skills and communication skills; both are looked upon favorably by employers.

Make friends -- by working side by side with people who share similar interests, you can build lifelong friendships. Discover new talents -- when you leave your comfort zone and take on new tasks, you might be surprised at what you are capable of achieving while helping to make the community a safer and more humane place.

We also need volunteers for various other tasks that keep our rescue running on a day-to-day basis. Since the majority of our volunteers work full-time jobs unrelated to rescue, we operate using a team structure to help generate new ideas and make improvements in our programs while preventing work-overload and burnout. New volunteers receive training and guidance from their Team Leader prior to their first assignment and are offered various resources to help them become familiar with our team structures and procedures. As time progresses, volunteers are welcome to take on more responsibility and become a bigger and more influential part of our organization if they wish - we are always grateful for ever volunteers input and participation, whether it be for 4 or 40 hours per month.

VOLUNTEERS MUST:be age 18 or older. commit to being available for at least 4 hours per month. have regular internet and phone access.

Do you want to make a difference in the lives of homeless dogs?

Consider becoming a volunteer with Thunder's Angels!

THE TRANSPORT TEAM

The work of the Transport Team is vital in getting dogs from long-distance shelters to the rescue but the Team acts occasionally on a local level too. Some of the tasks that the volunteers of the Transport Team are involved in include:

Receiving dogs via airplane at local airports through Pilots and Paws.Participating in volunteer multiple-leg transports to get dogs from shelters to foster homes.Participating in local transports (i.e., taking dogs to the vet when a foster cannot, picking up and distributing supplies to foster homes, etc.)

Please email Natalee balancestar@hotmail.com if you are interested in volunteering with the Transport Team.

THE FOSTERING TEAM

The Fostering Team is an extremely important resource for our new foster parents and also acts to recruit additional foster parents so that we can save more dogs from the gas chamber. Some of the tasks that the volunteers of the Fostering Team are involved in include:

Mentoring new foster parents (providing training tips on housetraining, dog-dog introductions, etc; ensuring each new foster is clear on our fostering procedures; problem-solving with new fosters if any issues arise). Recruiting new foster parents by posting flyers in public places and scheduling and attending events such as street fairs and pet expos. Completing home visits for potential foster families interested in saving an urgent dog. Meeting new foster families at transport pickups to ensure that intake is performed correctly and that all dogs arrive safely.

Please email Melissa and Micah at melissahales@gmail.com if you are interested in volunteering with the Fostering Team.

THE ADOPTION TEAM

The Adoption Team works to promote the adoptions of our current foster dogs in a variety of ways. Some of the tasks that the volunteers of the Adoption Team are involved in include:

Maintaining scrapbooks to be put on display at adoption events. Attending community events in the Philadelphia/Allentown areas to promote the organization.Attending bi-weekly adoption events at petstores, including setup and breakdown of booth and interacting with potential adopters.Promoting our adoption events and our community events via flyers/posters and social networking. Working as adoption counselors in several areas (Montgomery, Phila, Bucks, etc) and ensuring that all adoptions are finalized in a timely manner. Checking veterinary and personal references on applications with a quick turnaround time. Conducting post-adoption surveys to follow up with adopters.Sending denial emails to unapproved adoption applicants in a timely manner.Responding to email leads from potential adopters to encourage them to attend events and/or submit an application.Please email us at ThundersAngels@yahoo.com if you're interested in volunteering with the Adoption Team.

THE LOST DOG TEAM

The Lost Dog Team is one that we, fortunately, do not have to rely upon very often but in cases when it is necessary, quick action on the part of volunteers is extremely important. Some of the tasks that the volunteers of the Lost Dog Team are involved in include:

Providing on the ground searching assistance for lost foster dogs or dogs that were adopted out through our rescue previously. Working with search and rescue teams and/or pet detectives to track the lost dog.Creating and posting flyers and posters, alerting local community watch groups, conducting residential calling, notifying local businesses, filing reports with police and animal control, visit local shelters regularly, setting up traps and/or feeding stations, etc. Utilizing social networking (craigslist, facebook, emailing other rescues) to spread the word about lost dogs and recruit volunteers.

Please email thundersangels@yahoo.com if you're interested in volunteering with the Lost Dog Team.

THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH TEAM

The Community Outreach Team works to promote the organization within the local community to encourage volunteer involvement. Some of the tasks that the volunteers of the Community Outreach Team are involved in include:

Participating in various community events such as dog food drives or training events with professional dog trainers and tabling events such as charity dog walks. Creating promotional YouTube videos for the rescue including before/after slide shows, success stories or rehabilitated dogs.Designing and distributing recruitment posters for new fosters and promotional posters for lesser-adoptable dogs at vet offices, pet stores, community centers, churches, etc. Contributing to monthly newsletters on an as-needed basis.Responding to emails from community members asking for assistance regarding finding a low-cost spay/neuter program or surrendering their animals. Please email Linda at ta_communityoutreach@yahoo.com if you're interested in volunteering with the Community Outreach Team.

THE DONATION TEAM

The Donation Team works to collect vital monetary and material contributions that aid in our rescue mission. Some of the tasks that the volunteers of the Donation Team are involved in include:

Writing thank you notes and distributing current premiums such as t-shirts, bracelets or calendars to donors. Soliciting supplies (mostly crates, gates and pens) from the public and distributing them to foster families. Collecting material donations (particularly denim, velcro, and gently used fabric) and sewing belly bands and adoption vests for foster dogs. Brainstorming, planning, and executing non-event fundraisers (such as placing change jars in pet stores, creating specialty gift baskets to be raffled off at monthly adoption events, or holding virtual catalog parties through MaryKay or Pampered Chef.)Assisting the Fundraising Team with larger events. Please email Linda at ta_communityoutreach@yahoo.com if you're interested in volunteering with the Donation Team.

THE FUNDRAISING TEAM

The Fundraising Team is responsible for holding quarterly fundraising events. Events may include reunion picnics with previously adopted dogs, golf tournaments, yard sales or tricky tray auctions, poker tournaments, etc. Some of the tasks that the volunteers of the Fundraising Team are involved in include:

Locating venues for events.Soliciting sponsorships from local businesses.Gathering or making decorations.Creating and sending invitations and promoting events via social networking.Additional tasks involved in planning and attending events on an as-needed basis.Please email Jay at jay.thundersangels@yahoo.com if you're interested in volunteering with the Fundraising Team.

If you meet the qualifications above, please review our different teams and tasks below - you're sure to find something that interests you and coincides with your availability and talents.

stay open-minded to new ideas and be willing to work with a variety of people from different backgrounds.have a passion for compassion!