FOCAL (Friends of Cats at Liberty)
Mission: To maximize the number of cats adopted or transferred to rescue from Liberty Humane Society by providing cats with issues that may hinder adoption with support, enrichment, and exposure.
FOCAL is a volunteer group that operates within the general pool of Liberty Humane Society volunteers and is open to all volunteers who have gone through the standard LHS volunteer process including application approval and orientation. All volunteers affiliated with FOCAL will participate in discussions, contribute to decision making, and actively participate in the program geared toward increasing adoptions and transfers of cats who are adoptable, but need a little extra help.
FOCAL’s goal is to prevent the euthanasia of adoptable cats when their care may be beyond the capabilities of standard “in shelter” care. The group, in conjunction with the shelter, selects up to three cats that are “in need”, with up to three cats designated as “back ups” when spots become available. Cats that FOCAL may designate as less adoptable are for a variety of reasons including age, chronic disease, handicaps, deformities, neurological issues, behavioral issues, depression, etc. It is FOCAL's role to then work with these cats to help them overcome their issues - or to find placement for them with someone who can appropriately care for them.Within this program, volunteers are able to network with others to maximize life saving of these special cats and really make a difference for some of our neediest residents.
If you are interested in volunteering with FOCAL and are already an LHS volunteer, please contact Allison. If you have not yet signed up to volunteer with LHS, please download and fill out our volunteer application.
FOCAL Volunteer Jobs:
CAT SOCIALIZATION – visit the shelter regularly to socialize and provide cats with behavioral enrichment. Volunteers should report activities and findings to the rest of the group.
FOSTER CARE HOMES – provide an alternate, temporary home for a cat until a permanent home or rescue placement can be arranged. Foster homes should be prepared to provide extensive care to their foster cats which may include medicating, physical therapy, and socialization.
TRANSPORT – transport animals from the shelter or foster homes to rescue organizations, foster homes, or permanent homes.
FLYER CREATION AND DISTRIBUTION – create eye catching flyers promoting FOCAL cats for adoption and distribute them to key locations.
RESCUE PROMOTION – contact rescue groups on behalf of LHS for FOCAL cats either directly by phone or email, or by cross-posting on internet groups and on websites.
ADOPTION PROMOTION – promote FOCAL cats for adoption by attending events, showcasing them on the internet via Petfinder.com and cross posting, etc.
ADOPTION COUNSELORS - help adopt out animals at the shelter or at off-site adoption sites such as PetSmart. Must attend LHS adoption counselor training before becoming eligible to perform this task.
POST ADOPTION COUNSELORS – follow up with adopters once cats have gone home. Help adopters work through problems they may be experiencing and refer to appropriate persons when necessary.
COMPUTER ASSISTANCE - assist in maintaining cat profiles on Petfinder.com and other websites.
PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANCE - take pictures on behalf of the program for publications and Petfinder.com profiles.
