ANIMALS: Adoption Event Dog Handlers at Earth Fest

Help dogs find their forever homes by volunteering at an adoption event with A Way Home For Dogs (AWHFD). The more hands they have, the more dogs get to attend since they do not place dogs in enclosures at adoption events. They have a 1 dog per handler ratio and all dogs are on a leash.

The adoption event will take place at Earth Fest, a very busy community event located on President's Way Lawn in Balboa Park. Volunteers will hold leashes for adoptable dogs, wander around the market and/or the general vicinity. Chairs are provided to sit in under canopies. 

Opportunity Requirements & Important Notes

• Attire: Please wear whatever you are comfortable in that won't offend anyone attending the event. This opportunity takes place outdoors with little or no shade so volunteers should wear sun protection such as sunscreen and a hat.

• Bring: Water and food. Food vendors will be on site and AWHFD will do their best to provide volunteers with a dog-free food break. Please bring a treat pouch if you have one already.

• Physical Requirements: Able to hold a dog leash with the loop around a wrist and grip the excess. This project is able to make accommodations for individuals with physical limitations by matching the strength of dog with physical ability. If you have physical limitations, please let AWHFD know 24 hours before the event. Vision and hearing will be needed for our events due to dog behaviors. This event is on grass with lots of gopher holes and tree roots. AWHFD provides foldable camping chairs for those who can't stand long; otherwise feel free to bring your own chair. Unfortunately, the space where this project takes place is not wheelchair accessible.

• Phone Use: Due to the high traffic of this event, AWHFD asks that you please limit your phone usage while handling their dogs.

• Waiver: All volunteers are required to fill out the A Way Home for Dogs waiver prior to their first shift. You'll need to date and initial the 1st page, read through the 2nd page, and provide your signature, the current date, your address and phone number, emergency contact name and phone number on page 3. 

• Weather: All events are rain or shine. In the event the Event Host cancels, AWHFD will text and email all scheduled volunteers. Make sure to provide a phone number in your HandsOn San Diego account.

• Photos: Take as many photos as you want and post them on your social media platforms. IF you don't want your photo taken, please let the A Way Home for Dogs team know (and remind them).

• Transportation: Parking gets full quickly! AWHFD highly recommends carpooling, using public transit or Uber, or getting there early. Exact booth location and any details will be sent to all volunteers a day or 2 before the event. This is a VERY busy event with a ton of foot traffic and is also a long event.

• Cancellation Policy: If you can't come the entire day, please let AWHFD know ASAP.  It's vital that the volunteers who sign up attend for the fully scheduled shift. If you can't attend, please remove yourself from the event ASAP. If it's less than 24 hours before the event, please text 619-249-2221 AND 619-786-0025. 

• ​​Note: You must download the HandsOn Connect app to your smart device to electronically sign the waiver and check in at this volunteer opportunity. The HandsOn Connect App can be downloaded from the Apple Store and Google Play. Volunteers that do not sign in will automatically be marked as not attending at midnight the day of their shift. 

About A Way Home For Dogs

The mission of A Way Home For Dogs is to provide free pet recovery services assisting owners with their lost pets on a global scale, as well as securing evasive street strays. When the strays are secured, they process them through the local shelter system. If those dogs don't get claimed and are deemed not adoptable, they enter them into their rescue, pending space. A Way Home for Dogs gives the dogs the time they need to decompress and show them who they are, before they start the rehabilitation process.