Coastal Pet Rescue Internship Programs

High school juniors, seniors and college students are invited to participate in Coastal Pet Rescue’s internship program.

Program Goals
The goals of the Coastal Pet Rescue internship program are:

• To aid students in choosing a career path.
• To develop leadership skills.
• To learn how to better serve homeless animals in their community.

Application
Each student must submit a 500 word cover letter stating their reasons for pursuing the internships and what they hope to learn through their internship. Each essay should include three goals to have achieved at the completion of their internship. Additionally, interns under 18 years of age must have a parent sign a release waiver for their participation. Students must also submit one letter of recommendation from a teacher or professor.

Time Commitment
Students will complete 40 hours of service through the internship program. Each section may be spread out over 2 weeks or several months. The program coordinator will work with each student to match the syllabus to time frame. Students will track their time to be initialed by their internship supervisor.

Syllabus
Each student intern will receive a syllabus prior to the start of their internship.

Book List
Students will be provided a book list in advance of their start date. Students are encouraged to purchase at the books at Half.com or other used book retailers.

The following books are currently in use for the internship program:

• Confronting Cruelty by Lyle Munro
• The Animal Rights Movement in American by Lawrence Finsen and Susan Finsen
• Successful Dog Adoption by Sue Sternberg
• Shelter Medicine for Veterinarians and Staff by Miller
• Compassion Fatigue in the Animal-Care Community by Charles R. Figley
• Successful Fundraising by Joan Flanagan
• Publicity for Nonprofits by Sandra L. Beckwith
• Volunteer Management for Animal Care Organizations by Betsy McFarland

Computer and Internet Access
Students will need to have computer and Internet access available to complete the majority of their assignments.

Topics
During the internship, students will be introduced to various topics related to running an animal rescue, including: shelter medicine, animal behavior and training, humane education, adoption counseling, animal cruelty, pet first aid and CPR, compassion fatigue, public relations and marketing, and strategic planning. The syllabus may be modified to incorporate topics of interest to the student or as seen fit by the internship coordinator.

Level of Commitment
Each student accepted to Coastal Pet Rescue’s internship program must be committed to its successful completion. Students commit to arrive on time for all appointments, complete all assignments per the syllabus, and be diligent in their efforts.

Code of Conduct
All interns are expected to adhere to the same code of conduct as any other volunteers.

• No smoking, drugs or alcohol are allowed at any time. Conversations about use/abuse of these items are inappropriate.
• Polite, respectful behavior towards others and their property is expected from all interns.
• Treat all shelter animals with respect and compassion.
• Do not bring iPods or CD players to events or meetings.
• Turn cell phones and pagers to vibrate while you are participating in events. Please restrict personal phone calls during these times as well.
• Attire is to be appropriate for the activities. If you have questions, please discuss with your internship supervisor in advance.

Letter of Recommendation
Upon successful completion of the internship program, Coastal Pet Rescue will provide a letter of recommendation for the student.