We hold our shelter building workshops throughout the fall and winter season. The shelters we build are made available to caretakers and colonies in need. The workshops are also a great venue for caretakers to network with others in the animal rescue and TNR community.
Since we started in 2010 we’ve built 6,732 shelters!
With COVID-19 we’ve had to adapt our Shelter Building Workshops to ensure the safety of our volunteers. So please carefully read our updated protocols/registration process, below.
QUICK SUMMARY OF CHANGES:
We will be holding our workshops every Saturday from *9:30am – 12:30pm*.
At each workshop we’ll be greatly limiting the number of volunteers.
PROTOCOLS/REGISTRATION
APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR: We expect our volunteers to engage in an appropriate manner with each other and with the Toronto Humane Society staff; we reserve the right to ask a volunteer to leave and not return if any of their words or actions demonstrate otherwise.
VOLUNTEER LIMIT: Each workshop is capped at 10 volunteers
AGE LIMIT: All participants must be 18 years of age or older
CARBON FOOTPRINT: At each workshop we provide pitchers of water but ask that everyone bring their own reusable water bottle.
1. Toronto Humane Society’s COVID-19 Questionnaire:
- The MORNING OF EVERY workshop you attend, you’ll be required to answer a handful of COVID related questions via an online form
- You can fill it in via your desktop computer or SmartPhone (no app required)
- CLICK HERE for the online questionnaire you will need to submit
THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS ON THE FORM: Please review them before signing up. If you answer yes to any you will not be allowed to attend the workshop
Are you currently experiencing 1 or more of the following symptoms?
– Fever (feeling hot to the touch, a temperature of 37.8 degrees Celsius or higher)
– Chills
– Cough that’s new or worsening (continuous, more than usual)
– Barking cough, making a whistling noise when breathing (croup)
– Shortness of breath (out of breath, unable to breathe deeply)
– Sore throat
– Difficulty swallowing
– Runny nose (not related to seasonal allergies or other known causes or conditions)
– Stuffy or congested nose (not related to seasonal allergies or other known causes)
– Lost sense of taste or smell
– Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
– Headache (not related to seasonal allergies or other known causes or conditions)
– Digestive Issues (nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain)
– Muscle aches
– Extreme tiredness that is unusual (fatigue, lack of energy)
– Falling down often
– For young children and infants: sluggishness or lack of appetite
Are you in 1 or more of the following ‘At-risk’ groups?
– 70 years of age or older
– Getting treatment that compromises (weakens) your immune system (for example,
chemotherapy, medication for transplants, corticosteroids, TNF inhibitors)
– Having a condition that compromises (weakens) your immune system (for example, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, other autoimmune disorder)
– Having a chronic (long-lasting) health condition (for example, diabetes, emphysema, asthma, heart condition)
– Regularly going to a hospital or health care setting for a treatment (for example, dialysis, surgery, cancer treatment)
Have you travelled outside of Canada in the last 14 days?
In the last 14 days, have you been in close physical contact* with someone who:
• Tested positive for COVID-19,
• Is currently sick with a new cough, fever, or difficulty breathing, or
• Returned from outside of Canada in the last 2 weeks?
*Close physical contact means:
• speaking with someone less than 2 metres away for over 15 minutes
• being in the same room or workspace for over 15 minutes
• living in the same home
2. “Volunteering at THS during COVID-19”:
- Everyone will be required to read this short document
- Please read in advance before attending the workshop
- CLICK HERE to review the document
3. Toronto Humane Society COVID-19 Volunteer Acknowledgement and Waiver:
- Everyone will be required to sign one (only once)
- Please read in advance before signing up for a workshop
- We will have a printed version for you to sign at the workshop
- CLICK HERE to review the form
4. Toronto Humane Society Volunteer Service Agreement:
- Even if you have signed one before you will need to sign this new version
- Please read in advance before signing up for a workshop
- We will have a printed version for you to sign at the workshop
- CLICK HERE to review the form
5. “Toronto Humane Society – Infection Control COVID-19 Update” video:
- Everyone will be required to watch a short video from Toronto Humane Society before attending the workshop
- The link to the video will be emailed to you within a few days after you sign up
- It will be sent from “Toronto Humane Society Training Portal” with the Subject “Your account for Toronto Humane Society Training Portal is ready!”
- If you don’t see it in your inbox please check your SPAM/JUNK folder and contact us asap if you still don’t see it
- How to view the video: Once you receive the link to the video, if you are unsure how to access it, CLICK HERE for a super easy step by step “how to”
6. Masks:
- Must be worn as soon as you enter the premises and for the duration of the workshop
7. Hand Sanitizer:
- Will be available at all workshops (you will be required to sanitize your hands as soon as you arrive)
8. Social Distancing:
- Volunteers will be required to work 6 feet apart from each other
- We will have “traffic flows” (ie arrows on the ground) to keep people from running into each other
9. Snacks/Lunch:
- Unfortunately we won’t be able to provide snacks/lunch anymore (feel free to bring your own!)
The garage of the Toronto Humane Society (11 River Street, Toronto, at the North/East corner of River and Queen St E.). Click here for a map of the location.
To get to the garage:
- Go to the back of the building, and enter the “caged” door to the right of the garage door (it will be propped open and have a “Toronto Street Cats” sign on it; see below map)
- You will no longer be able to access the garage through the lobby of the Toronto Humane Society
Everyone is required to register in advance. See dates/registration below.
- Because of the limited number of volunteers we can accommodate please only sign up if you truly intend to join (thanks!)
- If you have to cancel please email us at tnrths@gmail.com
- All workshops are from 9:30am – 12:30pm
- We ask that if you sign up please remain for the full 3 hours
IF WE NEED TO CANCEL ANY WORKSHOPS DUE TO COVID RELATED CHANGES TO CITY OF TORONTO GUIDELINES WE WILL CONTACT VOLUNTEERS ASAP