About our Community Intake Program Volunteers
Our Community Intake Program Volunteers are compassionate, patient, and detail-oriented volunteers who join our team as Surrender/Returns Counsellors. In this vital role, you will help members of the public and adopters navigate situations where cats need to be returned or surrendered to TCR’s care.
As a supportive and empathetic first point of contact, you’ll listen to concerns, gather essential information, provide helpful resources, and ensure the best possible outcome for both cats and people. This position is ideal for individuals who are skilled communicators, problem-solvers, and passionate advocates for animal welfare.
This is a remote volunteer role requiring a daily commitment of approximately 1–3 hours, seven days a week. We aim to share the responsibilities among 2–4 volunteers to ensure balanced coverage and manageable workloads.
Volunteers are expected to check email at least once per day and report any new information to team leads promptly. While the overall workload is light, timely communication and attention to detail are essential to keeping the process running smoothly and ensuring the best outcomes for cats in our care.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Respond to inquiries from the public or adopters regarding surrenders or returns via email or phone.
- Gather detailed information on each case, including health, behavior, and background.
- Provide guidance, education, and support to help owners explore alternatives to surrender when possible.
- Coordinate with the Returns Coordinators to determine next steps for cats being returned or accepted into care.
- Maintain accurate records in TCR’s database and follow intake protocols.
- Communicate with compassion and discretion, always upholding TCR’s values and commitment to respectful, humane treatment.
- Report trends, urgent cases, or potential welfare concerns to leadership.
- Assist with TCR alumni cats being returned to our program.
Qualifications & Expectations
- Must be 18 years or older
- Strong communication and empathy skills – able to remain calm and professional in sensitive conversations.
- Must be extremely detail-oriented and accurate, with strong organizational skills.
- Ability to maintain discretion when dealing with confidential information
- Daily computer access – This role cannot be performed from a smartphone
- Able to take direction professionally and follow-through on assigned tasks in a timely and efficient manner
- Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative remote team.
- Knowledge/background of feline behavior, health, and welfare is an asset
You are a good fit for this volunteer role if you:
- Enjoy behind-the-scenes work that makes a tangible impact.
- Are compassionate and calm under pressure.
- Can commit to checking messages and updating data consistently.
- Want to support animal rescue in a meaningful, impactful way.
