Volunteer Advisory Council — Animal Rehabilitation & Training Standards

The Animal Cause, Inc.

The Animal Cause, Inc. is developing a structured, multi-step approach for rescued shelter animals whose needs extend beyond simply getting them out of a shelter. Some animals need time to decompress. Some need to relearn trust. Some need socialization, environmental exposure, confidence-building, basic manners, or structured behavioral support before they are ready for adoption or placement. We believe rescue should not end at extraction. We want to help animals become more prepared for the next chapter of their lives.

What The Advisory Council Will Help Develop

• Multi-step animal development and training curriculum
• Evidence-based practices
• Behavioral assessment criteria
• Training stages and progression criteria
• Readiness benchmarks
• Safety considerations
• Enrichment practices
• Curriculum creation
• Program outcomes evaluation

Who We Are Looking For

• Animal Behavior Certified or professionally trained animal behaviorists
• Veterinary behavior professionals
• Canine behavior specialists
• Shelter behavior specialists
• Fear, anxiety, and stress-related behavior experts
• Aggression assessment and management experts
• Dog trainers
• Shelter/rescue trainers
• Service-dog trainers
• Positive-reinforcement trainers
• Cooperative-care trainers
• Behavior modification trainers
• Undersocialized or traumatized animals trainers
• Shelter directors or managers
• Shelter behavior coordinators
• Rescue program leaders
• Foster program specialists
• Animal welfare professionals
• Intake/assessment specialists

Education & Curriculum

• Instructional designers
• Adult-learning professionals
• Curriculum developers
• Learning & Development professionals
• Veterinary educators
• Training program designers

Related Expertise

• Veterinary medicine
• Veterinary technology
• Animal welfare science
• Canine cognition
• Enrichment
• Animal-assisted interventions
• Service-dog programs
• Risk management
• Animal handling and safety
• Data collection and behavioral assessment

Commitment

• About 2–4 hours per month, with additional time possible during curriculum-development phases.
• This is an unpaid volunteer advisory opportunity.
• Participation may include virtual meetings, document review, asynchronous recommendations, and periodic consultation.
• Members may contribute to specific portions of the curriculum according to their expertise rather than being expected to participate in every aspect.