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