Volunteer & Driver Agreement

1. Scope

This Volunteer & Driver Agreement applies to all individuals who volunteer with RESCUE DOG .ME in any capacity, including but not limited to:

• Event helpers and setup/teardown volunteers
• Transport drivers (dog transports, vet runs, adoption handoffs)
• Puppy Therapy and Puppy Yoga event handlers
• Administrative and social media volunteers
• Home meeting coordinators and screeners
• Foster support and supply runners

By volunteering in any of the above capacities, you agree to the terms of this Agreement.

2. General Conduct Standards

All volunteers are expected to:

• Represent RESCUE DOG .ME professionally and positively in all public interactions.
• Follow all instructions provided by the Rescue coordinator or event lead.
• Treat all dogs, adopters, foster families, and fellow volunteers with respect and compassion.
• Refrain from public disparagement of the Rescue, its staff, volunteers, dogs, or adopters — including on social media.
• Disclose any conflicts of interest (e.g., personal relationships with adopters or fosters) to the Rescue coordinator before beginning an assignment.
• Not make commitments on behalf of the Rescue (e.g., promising a dog to an applicant, agreeing to reduced fees) without explicit authorization.

3. Confidentiality

In the course of volunteering, you may have access to confidential information, including:

• Adopter and applicant personal information (names, addresses, application details)
• Surrender histories and private circumstances of dog owners
• Donor information and donation amounts
• Foster home addresses and family information
• Internal Rescue communications and decisions

You agree to keep all such information strictly confidential and to use it only as necessary to perform your volunteer role. Confidentiality obligations survive the end of your volunteer relationship with the Rescue.

4. Transport Drivers — Special Requirements

Volunteers transporting dogs on behalf of RESCUE DOG .ME must meet the following requirements for every transport:

• Valid driver's license: Current and valid in your state of residence.
• Insured vehicle: Your personal auto insurance must be current. The Rescue does not provide supplemental auto insurance for volunteer drivers.
• Secure transport: Dogs must be transported in a secured hard-sided crate or with an approved seatbelt harness. Dogs must not be allowed to roam freely in the vehicle.
• No other pets in vehicle: During a Rescue transport, no personal pets are permitted in the vehicle.
• No smoking: No smoking or vaping in the vehicle during transport.
• Coordinate before departing: Confirm pickup time, destination, and any special handling notes with the Rescue coordinator before you leave. Do not deviate from the confirmed route without notifying the coordinator.
• No stops unrelated to the transport: Dogs in transport must not be taken to personal errands, restaurants, parks, or any location not on the confirmed route.

5. Animal Handling

All volunteers who interact with dogs in the Rescue's program agree to the following handling standards:

• No physical punishment: Never strike, shake, choke, alpha-roll, or use any physical correction on a dog in your care.
• Report any bite or injury immediately: If a dog bites you or another person, or if a dog is injured, notify the Rescue coordinator immediately — even if the injury seems minor. Do not wait.
• Approved food only: Do not feed dogs any food not provided or pre-approved by the Rescue. Some dogs have allergies or dietary restrictions.
• Leash and containment: Dogs must be kept leashed or in a secured crate at all times when not in an enclosed, fenced space. Never allow a foster or transport dog off-leash in an unsecured area.
• Know your limits: If a dog is showing signs of fear, aggression, or extreme stress that you are not equipped to handle, contact the Rescue coordinator immediately. Do not attempt to manage a situation beyond your experience level alone.

6. Social Media Guidelines

• You may post photos and videos of dogs at events or in transport with the Rescue's permission.
• Please tag @rescuedogme and use #rescuedogme in any public posts related to your volunteer work.
• Do not share: adopter home addresses, foster home locations, private dog histories, surrendering owner information, or any other confidential data (see Section 3).
• If a post generates adoption inquiries, direct interested parties to rescuedog.me rather than handling independently.
• Posts that disparage or misrepresent the Rescue may result in termination of volunteer status.

7. Liability Waiver

You acknowledge and agree that:

• Volunteering with RESCUE DOG .ME involves interaction with animals, which carries inherent risk of injury.
• You participate in all volunteer activities at your own risk.
• RESCUE DOG .ME is not liable for personal injury, property damage, or other losses arising from your volunteer activities, except where caused by the Rescue's own gross negligence.
• You are responsible for your own actions and for any damages resulting from your failure to comply with this Agreement or the Rescue's instructions.

You are encouraged to carry personal liability coverage through your homeowner's, renter's, or auto insurance as appropriate.

8. Background Check

RESCUE DOG .ME may require a background check for volunteers who will have regular, unsupervised access to dogs, foster homes, adopter information, or financial data. Background check requirements will be communicated prior to your first assignment in a qualifying role.

9. Termination of Volunteer Status

Either you or the Rescue may end the volunteer relationship at any time. The Rescue may revoke your volunteer status immediately and without notice for:

• Breach of any conduct standard in this Agreement
• Mistreatment of a dog in our program
• Disclosure of confidential information
• Conduct that brings the Rescue into public disrepute
• Criminal conduct or disqualifying background check results

10. Emergency Protocol

In any emergency involving a dog in your care:

1. Call 911 if there is a risk to human life or the dog requires immediate emergency veterinary care.
2. Notify the Rescue coordinator immediately — call or text, even if it's after hours.
3. For veterinary emergencies: proceed to the nearest emergency clinic and notify the Rescue en route. Save all receipts and documentation.
4. Do not sign any documents, give statements to media, or post about the incident publicly until you have spoken with the Rescue coordinator.

11. Acknowledgment

By volunteering with RESCUE DOG .ME, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to all terms of this Volunteer & Driver Agreement. You understand that these terms protect the dogs in our care, the people they interact with, and our organization's mission.