DISCLAIMER: These posts contain hints, tips and ideas from folks that have had some experiences dealing with this. It is NOT meant to be legal advice here - just related experiences. Please consult with a reputable professional if necessary. Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1998 14:03:02 -0700 To: equinerescue@MyList.net, Cris May From: Pat Calloway Subject: EQ-ResQ: CLASS: Training & Staff At 09:29 AM 8/4/98 -0400, Cris May wrote: >Training for Rescue Operators >Staffing > >~ must have an individual, in residence, who is veterinarian certified and has the ability to do emergency first aid and follow-up care, as necessary, on any rescued animals. We already covered this very thoroughly - it's a person that the vet trusts enough to give instruction, etc over the phone rather than anyone who (necessarily) has any paper certification. >~ must maintain, and make available to an inspector, all records, including but not limited to surrender forms and/or bills of sale showing animal date of entry to that facility, any veterinarian care administered or recommended and/or care provided by that facility. Sounds like someone who is organized and skilled at crossing i's and dotting t's would be ideal for doing that. Perhaps someone who isn't quite as able to do the hands on stuff, but that wants to help? >~ The Board of Directors and/or the individual certified by a veterinarian will have >the responsibility of providing adequate training for all volunteers entrusted with > >the care and maintenance of the rescued animals. > Okay, so what would adequate training entail? Someone who's had/taken care of horses for years and the staff approves of their horsemanship? Classes given by the rescue? Gradual training and increased responsiblities? How about liability issues in light of the less experienced, particularly minors who want to help out, but who may get hurt (and you may get sued since they can't legally sign away their rights)? Pat Calloway, Equine Rescue/Creatures Listowner epona@concentric.net (AZ) http://pages.prodigy.com/equinerescue/home.htm http://pages.prodigy.com/equinerescue/creature.htm ============================================================ Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1998 21:02:01 -0400 From: Mike & Chris Smith To: equinerescue@MyList.net, Pat Calloway Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: CLASS: Training & Staff Pat Calloway wrote: > > > >~ must maintain, and make available to an inspector, all records, > including but not limited to surrender forms and/or bills of sale showing > animal date of entry to that facility, any veterinarian care administered > or recommended and/or care provided by that facility. In ERL's case the farm manager and President handle these tasks...better to have only one or two people on this to keep it consistent, accurate and up-to-date. > > Sounds like someone who is organized and skilled at crossing i's and > dotting t's would be ideal for doing that. Perhaps someone who isn't > quite as able to do the hands on stuff, but that wants to help? We've been fortunate to have doanted services in the legal and bookkeeping departments. These professionals are folks who love horses but don't have the time to drive out to the farm and work there. providing adequate training for all > volunteers entrusted with > > >the care and maintenance of the rescued animals. > > > Okay, so what would adequate training entail? Someone who's had/taken care > of horses for years and the staff approves of their horsemanship? Classes > given by the rescue? Gradual training and increased responsiblities? How > about liability issues in light of the less experienced, particularly > minors who want to help out, but who may get hurt (and you may get sued > since they can't legally sign away their rights)? ERL volunteers must be over 18. As adults, all volunteers sign a libility waiver. Even so, of course all care is taken to prevent injury. (We may, at large events like an Open House have minors helping, but they are involved in the bake sales, tack sales, setting up beforehand, etc...not with the animals.) Voluteers initially have a "Volunteer tour" where they are given the basics: Don't go in the fields alone, keep the feed room doors latched at all times, don't go in a stall with a horse without permission of the farm manager or president, don't feed anybody anything without permission, etc. Ours is the "gradual training with increased responsibilities" approach. Even though a new voluteer says, "I've ridden for 20 years," we've found that they may never have mucked a stall or even put a halter on a horse themselves. A new volunteer begins with jobs like filling water buckets, mucking, or cleaning feed tubs. Not very glamorous, but it gives time to assess how comfortable they are with animals. No, they don't actually lead a horse into the barn or groom a pony, but even filling water buckets tells a lot...say, how they react if a horses nuzzles them unexpectedly. A next step might be taking a meal into the stall of a horse that won't be pushy about eating. Any time a volunteer does a new task involving a horse for the first time, he is accompanied by an experienced person. If all looks comfortable, the volunteer will be shown the proper way to halter and lead a quiet horse, etc,etc. No one is ever asked to do something they are nervous about...I've often heard the farm manager ask hesitant people if they'd rather not do a particular task, then ask someone more experienced. Everyone is encouraged to ask as many questions as they want if there is any doubt at all about what they are doing. Chris -- Equine Rescue League, Inc Leesburg, VA http://equinenet.org/erl/ ============================================================ From: "Deborah Peterson-Lipscomb" To: Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: class question Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1998 18:27:13 -0500 Have a question... what do you say to children(most who have asked are around 15) who want to volunteer? do you have them or parent sign waiver if they help with functions? what about liability? I don't want to discourage anyone from the cause but I also like the roof over my head if you know what I mean...Deb in Texas (told you I was still kickin) ============================================================ Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1998 16:42:31 -0700 To: equinerescue@MyList.net, "Deborah Peterson-Lipscomb" From: Mike Dodge Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: class question We absolutely have the parents sign for the kids under 18. If they're real young we have the stay and supervise them. We don't want to become a babysitting service but we don't want to discourage the kids from coming out either. Chris And Mike Dodge,Founders H.O.R.S.E. Rescue and Sanctuary,Inc. http://www.geocities.com/rainforest/1080 ICQ #6714413 Be Sure to vote for our site for Cyber Scout Award of Equestrian Excellence =========================================================== From: "Double D Equine Rescue" To: , "Deborah Peterson-Lipscomb" Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: class question Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1998 19:39:05 -0400 We've had a few kids want to volunteer. They MUST, along with the parents, sign a release. We don't want to discourage kids from working with us. A lot of our focus will be on education, especially with the kids. Also, our policy is that the kids (under 18) can only volunteer in our presence, or the presence of one of our adult, qualified, volunteers. BTW Deb, it's good to see you back on the list and doing OK! Debbie Double D Equine Rescue http://www.centralpenn.com/DoubleD/ Buy books from this site and help raise money for Double D! ============================================================ Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 14:21:32 -0400 From: Cris May To: equinerescue@MyList.net Subject: EQ-ResQ: Re: Kid Volunteers We take 'em! Anyone 13 or older is welcome to volunteer; those 12 and under may also volunteer as long as they are accompanied by a parent. Everyone signs a release form, whether child or adult, volunteer or program participant. A parent/guardian must sign for all under 18. We do evaluate all volunteers as to their experience and suitability to do tasks assigned to volunteers, and offer some training to committed volunteers who want to increase their horse handling skills. We put up warning signs where necessary (or sometimes just remotely necessary), such as "Stallion - Do Not Enter Stall Unless You Have Been Cleared to Work with Level 3 Horses." Most of our volunteers are very dedicated, no matter their ages. Once in a while we get a teenager who wants to goof off, ignore the rules and generally accomplish nothing useful. They are simply invited not to return. Deb, I'm glad to hear you're doing better. Hope you have a full and speedy recovery. Cris May Days End Farm Horse Rescue ============================================================