Much of our contact with the general public comes at places like PetSmart, Petco and at special events. When speaking to the public about Greyhounds as pets, it is very important to remember that we are guests of these establishments and that we act accordingly.
These guidelines have been put in place for the protection of the Greyhounds present at the event AND for the protection of the volunteer. WHEN a volunteer is following the guidelines set forth in this manual, he or she is protected by the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997. Volunteers who choose not to follow these guidelines are not protected.
GENERAL ADOPTION EVENT GUIDELINES
REMEMBER: While all Greyhounds deserve a home, not all homes deserve a Greyhound. Do not talk a visitor into adopting a Greyhound.
While we love that many of our volunteers have multi-breed families, please only bring Greyhounds to events that you are working unless we express that other breeds are welcome. We love all breeds but, it is confusing to our potential adopters when you bring along your Chihuahua.
We do not keep substitute volunteers on call if someone can't make it at the last minute or if they just don’t show up. If you are sick, please take some medicine and try to make it. While none of us want to work an event when we’re sick, if three people on a shift are mildly sick, it's much better than having one person who is sick and also over-exhausted because they are trying to take up the slack from the people who didn't show up.
If your dog is sick, leave it at home and come anyway.
If you just can’t make your shift, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, call us and let us know. You certainly don’t want to be the person working a shift or event alone when the other volunteers don’t show up and don’t call so, the least you can do is be considerate enough of your fellow volunteers to let us know that you won’t be there. While it’s VERY difficult for us to find a replacement at the last minute, at least give us the opportunity to try! Besides…we worry.
Pay attention to the dog on the end of your leash and to any dogs or people approaching your dog. Please remember that while you may know how your dog reacts around other types of animals, you DO NOT know how other dogs will react to your pet. It can take just one big innocent Greyhound paw to land on a small dog whether in aggression, by chance or in play to create an accident giving our group a bad reputation that could follow us forever. Likewise, it could take only one bite from an unknown dog to start a full-blown dogfight. Greyhounds are sweet and gentle but they will defend themselves if attacked, (let’s keep their reputation as sweet and gentle).
For most events, volunteers must be at least 14 years old. If an event is marked "Family Friendly", children under 14 are welcome to volunteer or be present.
Only adults actually working an adoption event are welcome unless otherwise stated. Please leave all non-essential family members and friends at home.
Please be courteous to your fellow volunteers. Do not interrupt another volunteer when they are speaking with a potential adopter.
If you have a MoKan Greyhound Adoption shirt, please wear it during your shift(s). If you do not have a MoKan Greyhound Adoption shirt, you may wear an event shirt or another Greyhound shirt.
There is no specific requirement for jeans/khakis, shorts/long pants, etc., but, please be neatly groomed. To the people we encounter at adoption events, we ARE the face of Greyhound adoption.
We advise you to wear a comfortable pair of shoes and if you are working more than 4 hours you may want to consider bringing a spare pair of shoes to change into as well.
It is not uncommon for our exhibit areas to be without chairs. History shows us that interaction with potential adopters is much easier when you are standing, having a conversation eye to eye instead of eye to navel. If your pup is lying down, feel free to sit on the floor with the dog. A potential adopter is much more likely to go to the floor to pet the dog and again, you are eye to eye. We continue to receive compliments at events about how approachable and professional our volunteers are so, keep up the great work! If you have a medical condition that requires that you sit, please plan to bring an appropriate chair with you.
If you hear a volunteer giving out misinformation, wait until the conversation has ended before you privately speak with the volunteer about the faux pas. Try not to embarrass anyone. If you do not feel comfortable correcting them please let a more experienced volunteer know so it can be addressed. It's important that we are all giving the same basic information.
Letting the dog do the work is always a good idea. Answer the questions you're asked but, don't overload the interested parties with information. We don't want to scare them off by making them think Greyhounds are too high maintenance.
If you really listen to the questions you are being asked, you should be able to tell what their level of interest is. Don't hold anyone hostage with unnecessary (or unwanted) trivia or sales pitches. Sometimes it's best to just let the dog do the work and answer questions as they are asked.
Know your dog’s limitations. We realize that, like with our children, it’s sometimes difficult to recognize imperfections in our pups. Because you want your dog to be perfect when out in public and you enjoy socializing with your fabulous pet, you may not see that they are not comfortable in public situations. Not all Greyhounds are capable of being meet & greet ambassadors. If they tend to be shy, we encourage you to keep bringing them out.
If your dog has never had a problem with the cat, never used the crate, never sheds, walks on water, and flies on command, don't brag about it. We want potential adopters to be dealing with realistic expectations.
Please wear your official MoKan Greyhound Adoption name tag or make one from the box. People actually do remember who they were talking to and, it helps those of us fielding the calls when we can go back to the person who was working with the applicant and ask questions. That doesn’t mean you have to remember the answer. In the past we’ve done a lot of “who was working with the person who was wearing <blank>, with <blank> hair, and has a Chihuahua?”
Do not encourage people to fill out their application on-site; ask them to use our online application or to fax or mail it in. There are too many opportunities for an application to be lost or misplaced.
If someone DOES hand you an application that is filled out on-site, make sure that all applications go to a board member or the file box and one person will take all of them at the end of the event and distribute them.
Even if you see that an address on an application is very near to you, do not take it or commit to do the home visit. The applications will be distributed after the event.
If someone is interested in a specific dog, do not make any promises. We do not hold dogs.
Ask them to put that name at the top of their application when they send it in and we will help them decide during the home visit if that dog is truly a good fit or not or if that dog is even still available.
Assure them that all Greyhounds are wonderful and if the one that they are most interested in isn't a good fit or still available, the next ones into the group are just as fabulous as the ones they see at the event.
PET STORE/WEST ELM/RETAIL GUIDELINES
When events are held at pet supply stores, do not recommend to customers/potential adopters that they can find lower prices somewhere else.
When you check in for your shift, please store your things under or behind the table.
In general, food and drinks are not allowed in these stores. They have not given us any trouble in the past about having drinks in our area but, please be discreet with them and try to have a drink that will seal in case it should be knocked over.
When events are held at pet supply stores or West Elm, keep your dogs on short leashes no longer than 2 feet. If you don't have a 2' leash or traffic lead, we always carry a few extras to public events. Doubling or tripling a 6 foot lead is not acceptable.
Unless advised otherwise, bring only one dog per person.
Please watch that the dogs are not blocking the traffic moving around or in and out of the store. Especially in environments like West Elm, not all people entering the establishment are animal lovers. Leave them plenty of room to pass without interacting with the dogs.
Dogs should be taken out at least once per shift to lower the risk of them peeing inside the store. Try to scatter potty breaks on your shift so not all dogs are outside at once.
Please be VERY cautious and aware of what your boys might be peeing on. It’s very easy to become engrossed in a conversation and not realize that the boy at the end of your lead is lining up to pee.
If you are on the last shift, please make sure your dog is put back on the long lead that matches its collar (in most cases) and put the short leads back in the adoption kit.
If you are leaving dogless, please help the people who are taking dogs and supplies home with them.
The major pet store chains do not allow volunteers under the age of 14 and do not permit non-essential family members and friends to loiter in the adoption event area. Some of the other events that we do may not be appropriate for volunteers under the age of 14.
The major pet store chains do not allow relatives, friends and significant others who are not working the event to visit or hang around the adoption event area.
Please remember that we are guests of the establishments that we visit and we must respect management's wishes. Stay out of areas meant only for management or employees. Treat other customers courteously. Management will side with the customers if there is a misunderstanding or disagreement and our welcome may be revoked.
HOME SHOW GUIDELINES
If you are on the first shift of the day, you are expected to be in the booth ready to work no less than 15 minutes before the show is scheduled to open. PLEASE take travel time and especially parking time into consideration.
When you arrive, you will first go to the Will Call booth near the entrance to pick up an exhibitor badge for MoKan Greyhound Adoption. The people at the Will Call booth should be able to direct you to the nearest elevator when necessary.
If you should get to the Will Call booth and there are no badges left, you can typically purchase an extra one or you may call the contact phone number distributed for that show and they can send someone who is at the end of their shift to meet you with their badge.
Once you have an exhibitor badge, proceed directly to the booth number that was distributed in the final instructions for the show.
When your shift is over, you must leave your exhibitor badge at the Will Call booth for the next shift.
NOTE: Leaving your badge in the booth and exiting through an alternate door is inconsiderate to the other volunteers. If you are unable to return your badge to Will Call, make arrangements for another volunteer to take it back so there will be badges available for the next shift.
These events are similar to an ordinary adoption event except they typically experience much higher traffic.
We will try to get as many adoptable dogs to the show as possible. You may be asked to hold an adoptable or you may be asked to bring your personal dog.
It is not recommended that you bring shy or crabby dogs to these high traffic events. Kids will literally be climbing all over your dogs at these shows.
While you are working, please be alert to your dog's manner. The traffic at these shows can be anywhere from 5,000 to 70,000 people. Even the most stable dog may become snappy or growly with that many people around and especially since these shifts are rather long. Please make sure that they are given adequate quiet time during their shift even if it means putting them in a crate or taking them outside for a bit.
Dogs may be on a long lead for these events. Please KEEP YOUR DOG INSIDE THE BOOTH AND DO NOT ALLOW THEM TO BLOCK THE AISLE. The aisle police ARE watching and we do not want to be THAT group. We can't keep the attendees from blocking the aisle while they are looking at the dogs but we can keep the dogs out of the aisles.
Because long leads are allowed at these events, please leave space between your dog and other dogs in the booth as much as possible to avoid snapping and growling incidents.
Feel free to bring a fluffy blanket for your dog to lie down on during quieter times. Beds will typically be available as well.
Water will be provided at this type of event so don't worry about that but you may want to bring some smallish treats for them. Be prepared to share.
Clean up after your dog no matter whether you are inside or outside. Please bring supplies for poop clean up. We will have some at the booth but please come prepared with your own as well. Please take all precautions possible to prevent your pup from eliminating inside the show. If this should happen, return immediately to the booth to get supplies to clean the mess. The other adoption groups that typically attend this type of event are not very good about cleaning up after their dogs so please do not follow that example and, if you witness someone abandoning a mess (from any of the groups) please feel free to offer them a bag.
When moving the dogs into the show or outside to relieve themselves, we have been asked to always take direct routes. We are only insured inside our booth.
If you want to look around the show at any time, please crate your dog (when crates are available); do not take it with you. Even if you see other groups/people walking the aisles with dogs, there are typically policies against this. It’s not a bad idea to check in on the dog(s) periodically while checking out the show. There is nothing worse than being in the booth while the dog of someone who is walking around is in a crate whining or screaming its head off.
OUTDOOR ADOPTION EVENT GUIDELINES
· These events (Pooches on the Parkway, Dogtober Fest, Paws in the Park, etc.) are family friendly. Family members of all ages are encouraged to attend and participate.
· There is no limit on the number of dogs you may bring to these events.
· Dogs may be on long leads at these events. Keep in mind that there will be very high stimulus at this type of event so be prepared for your dog(s) to be more active than normal.
· Food and drink are perfectly fine at these events. You may want to come prepared with water for your dog as well.
· Feel free to bring a camping-style chair with you for this type of event.
· While these events are far more casual, please try to keep our area as neat as possible.
· Be alert to the things going on around the exhibit space. It is not uncommon for people to walk their small animals right into our space with no thought. We have even experienced problems with off-lead dogs at this type of event.
· The Adoption Event Lead will likely be transporting a large amount of supplies for these events, including a pop-up tent. If you are on the first or last shift, please be prepared to help the Lead set up or tear down the space.
ADOPTION EVENT POLICY OVERVIEW