Volunteer

If you love Collies, Shelties, and mixes thereof, and you want to be a part of a dynamic and fun group who feels the same, read on!

TSCR would not be able to function without the commitment of our fantastic volunteers! We’re always looking for new team members, as the depth and breadth of our service area and activities are directly related to the number, types, and geographic location of our volunteers. When you apply to volunteer, you will receive a call from a member of Team TSCR to discuss the volunteer areas in which you may be interested, time commitments, and any questions you may have. Below are some of our volunteer opportunities with brief descriptions. If one or more sounds interesting to you, please fill out an application and let us know how you would like to help!

Note: Being a team member does not mean you will be expected to perform each of the team’s functions. You can choose to be involved as little or as much as you would like.

Adoption/Foster Teams
  • Processing Applications: You will help check potential adopter/foster references by phone, evaluate the information received, and update our existing spreadsheet with the results.
  • Home Visits: You will go to potential foster/adopter homes and evaluate the conditions of their yard, home, and other pets (if applicable). You will ask questions about where the rescue dog will be kept, how the rescue dog will be exercised, etc. You will also answer any questions that the applicant may have—or refer them to the right place to get those answers.
  • Meet-and-Greets: You will take potential foster/adoptable dogs to meet the potential foster/adoptive family. This is sometimes done in conjunction with the home visit, but not always.
  • Adoption/Foster Follow Up: By phone or in person, you will inquire about how things are progressing in the foster or adoptive home, or act as a TSCR representative for follow-up visits.
  • Foster Mentoring: As an experienced foster, you will help new foster families with questions, issues, and advice.
  • Working Adoption Events: You will assist at approved adoption events by answering potential adopters’ questions, taking applications, and providing information on our adoption process. You can also help water the dogs or take them out for potty breaks during longer events. We may also occasionally need help transporting a dog to an event if his or her foster is not available.
Marketing & Communications Team
  • Graphic Design: You will assist in creating brochures, flyers, and cards, as well as T-shirts, window clings, or other design work that can be sold to raise funds for TSCR.
  • Web Design: You will work with our Website Team to ensure that all dogs, events, and information on the site remain current and up-to-date.
  • Newsletter: You will assist in providing photos and content to our newsletter team for our newsletters, which are published quarterly.
Fundraising/Events Team
  • Booth Work: You will work a shift at the TSCR booth, answering questions and promoting the organization, providing literature, and selling merchandise.
  • Merchandise: You are responsible for processing online sales of TSCR merchandise.
  • Event Planning and Organization: You will assist our Event Coordinator with any needed organizational and planning tasks, such as contacting vendors and participants or preparing facilities and equipment.
  • Event Work: You could be asked to help with set-up/clean-up and everything in between.
  • Fundraiser Planning and Organization: You will assist our Fundraising Coordinator with planning and organizing fundraising efforts.
  • Website: You will ensure that committee events that need to be published on our website are communicated to the website team.
Succession Planning
  • Succession Planning: If you are interested in any of the board or committee chair positions, you will shadow the current position holder and support that function to allow for seamless transition, should you need to fill the role. An organizational chart with roles and responsibilities is available for you to review on the Tri-State Volunteers Facebook page. The page belongs to a private Facebook group, and once your application is approved, you will be added to it.
Other Needs
  • Foster Families: Fostering is the backbone of our operation and, as such, is described on its own page.
  • Running Errands: You can help pick up supplies, take dogs to the vet/groomer, or drop off items to fosters or area partners. Availability during weekdays is especially needed.
  • Dog Training: You have experience in, and can help with, training dogs or teaching training classes to our volunteers or adopters.
  • Behavioral Assessment: You have experience in, and can help with, the assessment of dogs in the shelter or in foster care.
  • Photography: You can take professional-quality pictures of our adoptables so that they can be showcased in the best light on our website.
  • Transport: You can help transport rescues to their foster homes.


Volunteer/Foster Form

Volunteer Foster Application

Volunteer Questionnaire

Please fill out this section only if you are interested in becoming a volunteer. If you are interested in becoming a foster, please fill out your contact information and complete the bottom portion of this form.


Please select the tasks that you are interested in doing on behalf of TSCR. Select all that apply.
For purposes of this application, typing your name is equivalent to a signature and indicates that all information contained herein is complete and accurate to the best of your knowledge.

Furthermore, I have read Tri-State Collie Rescue’s policy on confidentiality and the Statement of Confidentiality presented above. I agree to abide by the requirements of the policy and inform my supervisor immediately if I believe any violation (unintentional or otherwise) of the policy has occurred. I understand that violation of this policy will lead to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of my service with Tri-State Collie Rescue.

For Foster Applicants Only

Please fill out this section only if you are interested in becoming a foster. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please fill out only the first section.


By submitting this application, I understand that TSCR may use and disclose the information in my application form, and any other information that TSCR receives in the course of the application process, in evaluating my application and for other purposes related to the operations of TSCR, I give my unconditional consent to such use and disclosure and I agree that TSCR shall not be liable for any claims related to the use and disclosure of that information.