Volunteer Orientation and Training
Volunteers are the heart and animals are the soul of JNK’s Call of the Wild. There is no greater gift one can give than their time. Every effort is appreciated and no contribution is more or less significant than any other.
Please read and understand these guidelines, and if you have any questions, don’t be afraid to ask, perhaps it is an issue that needs to be addressed.
Things To Know the Day You Volunteer
- Please make an appointment. Your time is as valuable as ours, and we want to be able to make the most of it.
- Immediately report to a Senior Volunteer or Owner.
- When you arrive, you must first sign our standard waiver.
- DRESS CODE:
- Don’t wear anything you don’t want to get dirty.
- Wear comfortable clothing, but not too baggy, it can get caught in fencing, machinery, and possibly by animal’s claws.
- Skip fancy jewelry, it can get caught on fencing, machinery, etc, damaging it and you. Glittery, clinking jewelry will also attract animal’s attention, making you a target for a quick paw.
- Wear closed toe shoes, sneakers or boots are recommended.
- Keep long hair tied up.
- Leather work gloves are a plus.
Volunteer Responsibilities/Duties
- Junior Volunteers: New volunteers with no prior Exotic experience.
- Must know Safety Procedures.
- May perform appropriate maintenance outside Secondary Perimeter always under direct supervision of an Owner or Senior Volunteer.
- May enter Secondary Perimeter after animals have been Secured by an Owner or Senior Volunteer to perform maintenance, but not within four feet of animals, and always under direct supervision of an Owner or Senior Volunteer.
- May accompany Senior Volunteers on tours to train.
- Intermediate Volunteers: Volunteers with some experience and training with Senior Volunteers or Owners.
- Have all privileges and responsibilities of Junior Volunteers, PLUS:
- May perform appropriate maintenance outside Secondary Perimeter with permission of an Owner or Senior Volunteer.
- May enter Primary Enclosures or houses of animals that have been Secured by an Owner or Senior Volunteer to clean or perform maintenance, but not within four feet of animals, and always under direct supervision of an Owner or Senior Volunteer.
- May accompany Senior Volunteers or Owners on tours to train and help with crowd control and Q/A sessions.
- Senior Volunteers: Volunteers with extensive experience and training with JNK’s Exotics, who have been certified and listed on licensing.
- Have all privileges and responsibilities of Intermediate Volunteers, PLUS:
- May perform appropriate maintenance outside Secondary Perimeter.
- May Secure animals.
- May enter Primary Enclosures or houses of animals that have been Secured to clean or perform maintenance.
- May lead tours and train Volunteers.
- SAFETY FIRST!!! In this order: The Public, the animals, yourself.
- ALL accidents and injuries must be reported to an Owner or Senior Volunteer IMMEDIATELY.
- Anyone found to be in possession of, or under the influence of, alcohol or drugs will be immediately asked to leave the premises.
- Anyone found to be in possession of weapons will be immediately asked to leave the premises.
- No foolishness: NO RUNNING, NO HORSEPLAY, or you will be immediately asked to leave the premises.
- NEVER TURN YOUR BACK ON AN ANIMAL. Always be aware of your surroundings. Know where you are, where animals are, where the CO2 canisters are, which doors are locked and which are open, keep your eyes on stragglers from tours and look out for unscheduled guests.
- Use the buddy system, have someone there to watch your back.
- Open a door before you, close if after you. There must always be TWO barriers between the animals and the outside. Secondary gates should always be kept closed.
- Note that there are two locks on EVERYTHING. All Primary doors, house doors and Secondary gates are double locked.
- Always keep all cords, hoses and other materials away from cages and out of reach of animals.
- Do not feed, or allow animals to be fed, anything not approved and supplied by Senior Volunteers or Owners.
- Before you leave, please make sure that all tools are returned, and any messes made are cleaned up.
- Please let an Owner or Senior Volunteer know when you leave, not only do we want to know that you are safe, but we want to thank you.
- Keys are always in possession of Senior Volunteers or Owners.
- Always conduct yourself in a manner representative of JNK’s.
It is each Volunteer’s individual responsibility to keep themselves and the animals safe. Volunteers must be prepared to learn not only our safety procedures, but also to become familiar with each animal’s unique personality, to better determine if something is amiss. Predators like those kept at JNK’s instinctively hide injuries or weaknesses. Only a strong familiarity with each animal’s normal behavior will allow you to tell if something is wrong.
Also be aware of such things as the state of water buckets, the behavior of the animals, property maintenance, and immediately notify an Owner or Senior Volunteer of any thing that seems out of place or just not quite right.
Do not hesitate to report any irresponsible behavior that you see to an Owner, whether it is by a Senior Volunteer or a Tour Group member. What endangers one, endangers all.