Create Account or Log In:
Creating an account or logging in via facebook/email will let you save your application, and allow you to access your pets medical records and other important information after you adopt or foster.
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with MAD Rescue (Malinois and Dutch Shepherd Rescue, Inc.). It is wonderful to be involved with a group of like-minded people who come together for the good of Belgian Malinois and Dutch Shepherds in need. There are a great number of ways to volunteer, and below you will see several sections for opportunities.
By filling out this volunteer application I agree to receive communications about volunteer opportunities via Text, Email, and/or Phone.
If you already have a connection to a MAD Rescue volunteer, please list their name(s) here:
Do you have prior or current volunteer experience with animal rescue?
If yes, please share what you have done with rescue.
Have you owned or have experience with Belgian Malinois or Dutch Shepherds?
If yes, please briefly share your experience or exposure.
Do you have professional dog training background or experience?
If yes, please see the Bridge Program section below.
I’d like to learn more about how to be a local volunteer in my area.
Which states can you represent? (if you live on or near a state border, more than one state can be listed)
Are you able/willing to perform behavioral assessments on owner surrendered/shelter dogs with unknown temperament?
Are you able to temporarily hold a dog until transport can be arranged?
Are you able to take a dog to the vet to be prepared for transport and/or to get a health certificate?
Can you drive transport to move dogs from shelters to adoptive or foster homes?
What is your vehicle description: make, model and color?
What is your vehicle license plate number?
How far can you typically drive for transport? Please note that all volunteers are added to the transport list, but no assumptions are made that you need to volunteer to drive if an inquiry is made to you.
Have you driven transport for other organizations?
If you have driven transport for other organizations, please list below:
Do you have any of the following available for transport? Select all that apply.
For other, please describe.
Online communication tools such as social media networks (e.g. Facebook, Instagram, etc.) and blogs are go-to outlets for those interested in keeping up with the MAD Pack. The behavior of volunteers reflects on MAD Rescue Inc. so using good judgement whenever contributing to/interacting with social media pages is very important. It is also important for representatives to engage in online and personal conversations within the arena of MAD relationships in positive and productive manners.
Don’t allow legitimate online explanation of a position or debate to derail into personal attacks, fights or wars of words that would reflect poorly on you or Mad Rescue, Inc.
Help disengage or defuse volatility when possible.
Engage with posters and/or help a thread stay positive. Please don’t use profanity, derogatory language or engage in other inappropriate conduct.
Authenticity goes a long way. If you are posting content from another source, make sure it reflects or accentuates the mission of MAD Rescue, Inc.
Check facts and/or statuses before getting involved in an issue. Take precautions to gather the most current information available.
Utilize opportunities to engage. Remember we all began somewhere.
State Representatives will be a primary shelter and owner surrender contact for a state. They will also be a contact for foster homes and transport. This position is typically filled by volunteers already with MAD Rescue, but for underserved areas, a new volunteer could be trained for this role. There may be more than one State Representative.
Would you be interested in the State Representative Role? (states listed earlier)
The following sections highlight the many opportunities to work behind the scenes to help with the rescue's efforts.
Reference checkers help with the application screening process. They are assigned applications to check two personal references, vet references and landlord if needed. They will work with forms, form letters, and a database.
Would you like to check references for applicants? This position requires phone calls, documentation and database work.
Volunteer will perform in-person home visits when proximity allows for it. This position will involve working with applicants, rescue guidelines, and forms.
I am willing and able to conduct in person home visits.
Volunteer will conduct video home visits with applicants. Video home visits occur via platforms like Facetime, Zoom, and Messenger Video. This position will involve working with guidelines, applicants, and forms.
I am willing and able to conduct virtual home visits.
This position will work with dogs and applicants to get a match made. This involves maintaining contact with current fosters, contacting potential applicants, and finalizing adoptions. Working with a database, creating transport runs (or requesting transport support) and following up with adopters after adoption are also components. This will be an applicant-facing position with direct contact to applicants and other MAD Rescue volunteers.
Would you be interested in being an Adoption Counselor?
A Foster Counselor’s role will be to assist Adoption Counselors and/or to assist foster homes with transitioning a new dog to their home and through the process to the dog’s forever home.
Would you be interested in the Foster Counselor role?
(This position may require more time commitment)
Are you willing to learn to set-up and coordinate transports?
Would you be interested in monitoring transport via text or Facebook Messenger, typically on weekends?
Dog Trainers: The Bridge Program is designed to help fosters and/or new adopters to have support to work through an issue or two as they bring a dog into their home. This is typically a remote position offering phone or video link consultation.
Would you be willing to consult with fosters and adopters by phone or video to offer training tips?
How many years of training experience do you have?
Please give a brief synopsis of your training experience.
What are your training techniques and/or experience? (Select all that apply)
Describe Other:
Other possible volunteer opportunities. Please select all that apply:
For other, please comment below:
Thank you again for your desire to volunteer on behalf of Belgian Malinois and Dutch Shepherd dogs. A MAD Rescue volunteer will reach out soon to connect with and the general contact email for the rescue is info@madrescueinc.org.
A few important MAD Rescue policies.
MAD Rescue does not board dogs as a general rule. It is not fair to the rescue animal to not have a loving environment to go to. Many Malinois, Dutch Shepherds and rescue animals struggle in a shelter and boarding is no different. We will pull an animal only if we have a foster home lined up, a volunteer willing to work the animal and process paperwork (adoption counselor), and the monetary means to do so. If a volunteer pulls animals and places them in boarding from a shelter WITHOUT approval to do so by the leadership team, they will have liability for any boarding bills incurred.
MAD Rescue does not use paid transport. We use our network of volunteers to transport dogs from shelters to foster homes. Adopters are responsible to set their own paid transport if they so desire. Any paid transport for a foster dog must be approved by MAD Rescue leadership team.
Be the first to acknowledge and correct any mistakes or missteps.
Taking sides in a debate ends with no winners.
Things said on the internet can’t be retracted.
A positive attitude is contagious. Raise concerns and share ideas in a positive fashion; focus on solutions, not problems.
• Protect sensitive information: Honor and protect MAD Rescue’s confidential and proprietary information as well as personal information of others. • Get permission to use any copyrighted content or to cite or reference our supporters, partners, and potential partners. • Confidentiality: Maintain confidentiality of all privileged information of MAD Rescue, Inc. which you have access to while representing MAD Rescue, Inc.• Information obtained while volunteering with MAD Rescue, Inc. should still be kept confidential even after leaving the organization. • All fund raising should be done through appropriate and/or approved channels. (List to be provided).
By selecting the follow box, you agree to the Volunteer Standards of Conduct (VSOC) for MAD Rescue.
Volunteers are the lifeblood for saving the lives of Malinois and Dutch Shepherds. Thank you so much for caring and giving of your time, energy, and resources. All volunteers are requested to read and initial the Standards of Conduct. In serving as a volunteer for Malinois and Dutch Shepherd Rescue, Inc. (MAD Rescue), everything we say and do reflects on MAD Rescue, Inc. as a whole. We understand volunteers may have a variety of beliefs and values when it comes to animal welfare issues, and we sincerely appreciate and accept this diversity of thought and practices. As a volunteer, you are acting on behalf of MAD Rescue, Inc. and we appreciate you holding to these standards of conduct and service while saving the lives of Malinois and Dutch Shepherds.
Create Account or Log In:
Creating an account or logging in via facebook/email will let you save your application, and allow you to access your pets medical records and other important information after you adopt or foster.