Volunteer Roles

The Operations Lead is responsible for overseeing and guiding the active recovery of lost pets, with a strong focus on humane trapping efforts. This role serves as the primary point of contact for the pet’s owner throughout the search, providing clear communication, education, and emotional support during what is often a stressful time.

The Operations Lead coordinates closely with other volunteers, team members, and partner organizations to ensure everyone is aligned and working toward the same goal. They assess situations in the field, make decisions regarding trap placement and strategy, monitor progress, and adjust plans as needed. This role is hands-on and heavily involved in the trapping experience from start to finish, requiring reliability, problem-solving skills, and strong communication.

  Field Support II volunteers are experienced field team members who provide advanced on-site assistance during active lost pet recovery operations. Building on the foundational Field Support role, these volunteers operate with increased situational awareness and may take on delegated responsibilities under the direction of the Operations Lead.

Field Support II volunteers may assist with more complex field logistics, extended monitoring assignments, equipment management, and volunteer coordination in the field. While still working under the guidance of the Operations Lead, they are trusted to anticipate needs, maintain calm in dynamic situations, and help ensure operations run safely and efficiently.

This role requires demonstrated reliability, sound judgment, and a strong understanding of lost dog behavior and humane trapping protocols.

 The Social Media Scout plays a critical role in connecting the community to lost pet recovery efforts. This volunteer helps track and organize lost pet sightings, posts, and potential leads across social media platforms. They monitor comments and messages, communicate relevant information to the team, and help ensure important details don’t get missed.

In addition, the Social Media Scout assists with creating and sharing posts to help spread awareness, increase visibility, and rally community support. They also help connect with individuals in the community who want to assist in searches or provide sightings, guiding them on next steps and relaying information back to the team. This role is ideal for someone who is organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable navigating social media.

Transport Volunteers assist with the safe transportation of community cats to and from scheduled spay/neuter appointments.  Volunteers utilize their own insured vehicle for transport assignments. 

This role requires reliable transportation, the ability to follow timing and transport instructions, and clear communication with team members. All animals are transported securely in humane traps or carriers, and volunteers are provided with guidance to ensure safe and stress-minimized transport.

 The Case Intake Coordinator serves as the first point of contact for lost pet recovery requests and plays a key role in setting cases up for success. This volunteer gathers essential intake information, ensures reports are complete and accurate, and routes cases to the appropriate Journey Home Animal Control (JHAC) team members for next steps.

Responsibilities may include responding to incoming requests, collecting required case details, maintaining organized records, filing Lost Dogs of Wisconsin reports, advising what government municipalities should be contacted, and communicating clearly with pet owners during the early stages of a case. 

The Intake Coordinator helps ensure timely, consistent, and professional communication while supporting efficient case flow for the Operations team.

This role is primarily administrative and communication-focused and is ideal for volunteers who are organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing sensitive conversations with distressed pet owners.

 The Sightings & Data Coordinator supports Journey Home Animal Control’s lost pet recovery efforts by organizing, analyzing, and maintaining accurate records of reported sightings and case activity. This role helps transform incoming tips and observations into actionable intelligence for the Operations team.

Responsibilities may include compiling sighting reports from Social Media Scouts and the public, maintaining the master case timeline, creating and updating case maps, mapping movement patterns, identifying trends, and flagging time-sensitive leads for review. The Sightings & Data Coordinator works closely with the assigned Operations Lead to ensure field strategy is informed by the most current and reliable information.

This role is primarily analytical and administrative and is ideal for volunteers who are detail-oriented, pattern-focused, and comfortable working with maps, timelines, and structured data. Ongoing sighting analysis and mapping are handled by the Sightings & Data Coordinator once a case is active.

 The Volunteer Coordinator supports Journey Home Animal Control by managing the onboarding, communication, and engagement of volunteers across the organization. This role helps ensure volunteers are properly placed, informed, and supported so field and support operations run smoothly.

Responsibilities may include coordinating new volunteer intake, tracking role assignments, maintaining volunteer records, communicating opportunities and updates, and supporting retention efforts such as check-ins and recognition. The Volunteer Coordinator works closely with Operations Leads and JHAC leadership to align volunteer availability with organizational needs.

Grant & Fundraising Support volunteers assist Journey Home Animal Control with sustaining and expanding its work through financial support efforts. This role includes researching grant opportunities, assisting with grant applications, helping plan and coordinate fundraisers, and supporting donation drives that fund equipment and operational costs.

Volunteers in this role may work independently or alongside team members, depending on the task. They also assist with donor appreciation efforts, such as preparing and sending thank-you cards to donors, sponsors, and supporters. This position is ideal for individuals who are organized, detail-oriented, and interested in supporting animal welfare through meaningful behind-the-scenes impact.