VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU CAN DO AT HOME
· Aug. 1-2 -- Make brunchy treats for attendees of the quarterly foster training
· Now through Dec. 6 -- Make crafty items to sell for the Georgetown stroll
· Nov. through Feb. -- Make phone calls to potential silent auction donors for the annual Have a Heart 'Grey'la who did not receive request letters in July; make follow-up phone calls to potential silent auction donors for the annual Have a Heart 'Grey'la who were sent request letters in July but have not responded

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AT EVENTS -- WITHOUT DOGS
*Times when you can have your dog with you as long as dogsitters are available so that you are able to attend to your chosen task

Saturday, Oct. 11: Barktoberfest (Old Settler’s Park, Round Rock)
· 7:30 a.m.: Load materials at storage unit (A large vehicle would be handy.)
· 8 a.m.: Set up Speed Alley
· 10 a.m.-noon: Staff booth* (take money, complete certificates)
· 10 a.m.-noon: Help with dogs/radar gun/maintenance of Speed Alley*
· 10 a.m.-noon: Dogsitting for volunteers with dogs*
· Noon-2 p.m.: Staff booth* (take money, complete certificates)
· Noon-2 p.m.: Help with dogs/radar gun/maintenance of Speed Alley*
· Noon-2 p.m.: Dogsitting for volunteers with dogs*
· 2 p.m.: Tear down Speed Alley and take load back to storage unit

Saturday, Nov. 1: Greyhound Planet Day (Romp N' Run Ranch, Leander)
· 7:30 a.m.: Load materials at storage unit (A large vehicle would be handy.)
· 8 a.m.: Set up Speed Alley
· 9 a.m.: Set up non-Speed Alley events
· 10 a.m.-noon: Staff booth* (take money, complete certificates)
· 10 a.m.-noon: Help with dogs/radar gun/maintenance of Speed Alley*
· 10 a.m.-noon: Dogsitting for volunteers with dogs*
· Noon-2 p.m.: Staff booth* (take money, complete certificates)
· Noon-2 p.m.: Help with dogs/radar gun/maintenance of Speed Alley*
· Noon-2 p.m.: Dogsitting for volunteers with dogs*
· 2 p.m.: Tear down non-Speed Alley events
· 2 p.m.: Tear down Speed Alley and take load back to storage unit

Saturday, Dec. 6, Georgetown Stroll (On the Square, Georgetown)
· 7 a.m.: Load materials at storage unit and set up in Georgetown
· Noon-2 p.m.: Staff sales booth (take money, kettle corn eating^)
· 2-4 p.m.: Staff sales booth (take money, turkey leg eating^)
· 4-6 p.m.: Staff sales booth (take money, funnel cake eating^)
· 6-8 p.m.: Staff sales booth (take money, BBQ eating^)
· 8 p.m.: tear down and load back to storage unit
(^Eating is only a suggestion and, of course, optional.)

Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009: Have a Heart 'Grey'la (tentative date & times)
· 4 p.m.: Decorate event facility
· 4 p.m.: Set up tables, chairs, silent auction
· 5 p.m.: Prep food
· 6 p.m.: Staff hosting stations (guest book, food/wine assistance)
· 10 p.m.: Clean-up

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AT EVENTS -- WITH DOGS
Saturday, Sept. 27: New York Life/Avery Ranch Child Safety & Protection Festival
This event focuses on you and your dog(s) educating children on the correct way to approach a strange dog. If your dog eats children, please consider another opportunity.
· 10 a.m.-noon and noon-2 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 11: Barktoberfest (Old Settler’s Park, Round Rock)
· 10 a.m.-noon: Staff booth (take money, complete certificates)
· 10 a.m.-noon: Help with dogs/radar gun/maintenance of Speed Alley
· 10 a.m.-noon: Dogsitting for volunteers with dogs
· Noon-2 p.m.: Staff booth (take money, complete certificates)
· Noon-2 p.m.: Help with dogs/radar gun/maintenance of Speed Alley
· Noon-2 p.m.: Dogsitting for volunteers with dogs

Saturday, Nov. 1: Greyhound Planet Day (Romp N' Run Ranch, Leander)
· 10 a.m.-noon: Staff Speed Alley booth (take money, complete certificates)
· 10 a.m.-noon: Help with dogs/radar gun/maintenance of Speed Alley
· 10 a.m.-noon: Dogsitting for volunteers with dogs
· 10 a.m.-noon: Cooking/food prep
· 10 a.m.-noon: Staff non-food activities
· Noon-2 p.m.: Staff Speed Alley booth (take money, complete certificates)
· Noon-2 p.m.: Help with dogs/radar gun/maintenance of Speed Alley
· Noon-2 p.m.: Dogsitting for volunteers with dogs
· Noon-2 p.m.: Cooking/food prep
· Noon-2 p.m.: Staff non-food activities

Saturday, Dec. 6: Georgetown Stroll (On the Square, Georgetown)
Essentially, volunteers are needed to hold a Meet & Greet adjacent to the GPA-CT sales booth. Your presence will draw oohs, aahs, and questions like, “Why’s your dog so skinny?” You might also find your hand through the leash of a sales booth staffer's dog. Take a stroll (get it?) around the event to show off the hounds and take care of some holiday shopping of your own.
· Noon-2 p.m.; 2-4 p.m.; 4-6 p.m.; 6-8 p.m.

FOSTERING
Foster families are our most important volunteers. Without them, GPA-CT could not fulfill its mission. Foster families open their homes to newly retired greyhounds, helping them adjust to a life of retirement. Greyhounds are very intelligent and learn very quickly, particularly when given daily affection. Foster families volunteer to share their lives with a greyhound until they are ready to be adopted and are rewarded with knowing they helped one more hound find their forever home.

Foster families help GPA-CT get to know the dogs and find out what their personalities are before they are placed in their new homes. During the time they are in foster care, the greyhounds are taken to the veterinarian, get their annual shots, are spayed or neutered, have their teeth cleaned, are tested for heartworms and put on heartworm preventative. During their visit, they are also evaluated for any injuries or health problems. Once this is done, GPA-CT begins the process of finding a home for the greyhound.

The main limitation on the number of dogs GPA-CT can bring into its adoption program is the number of volunteer foster families. If you would like to volunteer to foster a newly retired racing greyhound, please contact the Placement Coordinator or Foster Coordinator or download a foster application (PDF).