MAD Rescue Volunteer Application 2026

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MAD Rescue Volunteer Application

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the Malinois and Dutch Shepherd Rescue, Inc. (MAD Rescue).  MAD Rescue is an all-volunteer run organization, and we believe you’ll find it rewarding to be involved with a group of like-minded people who have come together for the good of Belgian Malinois and Dutch Shepherds in need. There are several ways you can contribute via any of the below listed roles.

Available Volunteer Roles:

Would you like to drive and transport dogs for MAD Rescue from shelters to/from foster or adoptive homes? Please note, MAD Rescue does not reimburse volunteers for fuel costs, including fuel expenses for transporting dogs, driving to vet appointments, or any other transport related travel. Any expenses incurred while participating in MAD Rescue transports is considered a volunteer contribution, and solely the responsibility of the volunteer. Please note that all transport participation is based on your availability for specifics dates/times and distances. I am interested in the Transport Driver role:
Make
Please explain:
If yes, see next question.
Select all that apply:
Please describe
Applicant Advocates interview foster and adoption applicants and help guide applicants through the application process. This position requires learning MAD Rescue’s policies and communicating with applicants through text, phone and sometimes email. I am interested in the Applicant Advocate role:
Virtual Home Visit Volunteers will review recorded video home visits submitted by foster and adoption applicants via a program called Hireflix (which is a self-guided video). This position requires volunteers to review the video to ensure applicants have properly recorded all answers. I am interested in the the Virtual Home Visit Review role:
Transport Coordination Volunteers coordinate transports for MAD dogs traveling to foster and adoptive homes. This position involves coordinating logistics of long distance transport and posting on Facebook seeking assistance from volunteer drivers to conduct the transport. Transport Coordinators assist transporters the day of transport to ensure a successful journey. I am interested in the Transport Coordinator role:
In this role you will give our MAD dogs a voice. We are looking for computer literate, social media savvy, dog-loving storytellers to manage our digital presence and help our dogs find their forever homes. You will have exceptional writing skills and be comfortable navigating, posting to, and maintaining MAD Rescue’s Social Media presence. I am interested in the Social Media role:
Do you have significant social media experience?
In this role you will be the driving force behind our organization's financial sustainability by executing creative campaigns to support our mission. Your key responsibilities include grant writing and the design and management of online fundraising initiatives via social media and email. You will have exceptional writing skills and comfortable networking. I am interested in the Fundraising role:
Do you have non-profit fundraising experience?
In this role you will help MAD Rescue maintain accurate, up to date records within our online databases. You will be conducting reviews or audits of digital records for dogs, fosters, adopters, and online transactions, ensuring all records are accurate and up to date. You will be comfortable navigating web applications, have exceptional attention to detail, and want to work behind the scenes to ensure our dogs have the best chance of finding their forever homes. I am interested in the Records Management role:
Foster Counselors support our foster volunteers, assist the Adoption Counselors and support our MAD dogs in the transition to their new forever home. This role requires breed and foster experience. I am interested in the Foster Counselor role:
Do you have experience fostering with MAD or other working dog rescues?
Please briefly describe your experience fostering:
The Adoption Counselor is the backbone of MAD. This position will intake dogs into MAD Rescue, place the dog with an appropriate foster, ensure the foster receives support, review adoption applications, interview applicants and strive to pair our MAD dogs with the best possible home. The role involves ongoing training and working with a MAD mentor. This role requires MAD Rescue and breed experience. I am interested in the Adoption Counselor role:
Do you have MAD Rescue experience?

Bridge Program – Dog Training Consultant

Professional Dog Trainers: The Bridge Program is designed to provide fosters and/or new adopters a support system to work through training issues with new dogs. This is typically a remote position offering text, phone and/or video consultation. This role requires professional dog training experience.

I am interested in being considered for the MAD Rescue Bridge Program?
How many years of training experience do you have?
Please give a brief synopsis of your training experience.
What are your training techniques and/or experience? (select all that apply)
Other, describe:
Please list with contact information:
Certifications and Education (e.g. CCPDT, CCPDT-KA, ABC, etc):
Have you worked with reactive dogs, dogs with trauma, and/or bite cases? If so, please briefly describe your experience.
Are you currently/formerly a canine handler for a municipality, security, or the military?
Describe in your own words ethology:

Standards of Conduct:

A) Representing Malinois and Dutch Shepherd (MAD) Rescue, Inc.

Volunteers are the lifeblood for saving the lives of Malinois and Dutch Shepherds. Thank you so much for caring and giving of your time, energy, and resources. All volunteers are requested to read and agree to the following Standards of Conduct. In serving as a volunteer for Malinois and Dutch Shepherd Rescue, Inc. (MAD Rescue), everything we say and do reflects on MAD Rescue, Inc. as a whole. We understand volunteers may have a variety of beliefs and values when it comes to animal welfare issues, and we sincerely appreciate and accept this diversity of thought and practices. As a volunteer, you are acting on behalf of MAD Rescue and we appreciate you holding to these standards of conduct while saving the lives of Malinois and Dutch Shepherds.

B) Acceptable Use Policy

• Volunteers shall maintain the confidentiality of MAD Rescue’s confidential, proprietary and/or privileged information throughout their tenure.

• Volunteers shall maintain confidentiality of information to which you may have access to while representing MAD Rescue, Inc., including the personal identifying information (PII) of MAD Rescue’s Staff, Applicants, and Volunteers.

• Volunteers shall maintain confidentiality of all information to which you may have had access to while volunteering with MAD Rescue, Inc. after leaving the organization.

• Volunteers shall obtain written approval prior to the use of any copyrighted content, citations or references to our applicants, supporters, partners, and potential partners.

 • Volunteers shall conduct all fundraising through appropriate and/or approved channels.

C) Social Media Guidelines 

Social media networks (e.g. Facebook, Instagram, etc.) and blogs are the go-to outlets for those interested in keeping up with the MAD Pack. And the behavior of our volunteers on social media directly reflects on MAD Rescue. So, using good judgement whenever contributing to/interacting with social media pages is a must. It is also important for MAD Rescue volunteers (representatives) who engage in online and personal conversations within the purview of MAD Rescue do so in a positive and productive manner.

We ask that all our volunteers:

Be professional: Don’t allow legitimate online explanations of a position or debate to devolve into personal attacks, fights or wars of words that would reflect poorly on you or MAD Rescue, Inc.

Be diligent: Help disengage or defuse volatility when possible.

Be considerate: Engage with posters and/or help a thread stay positive. Please don’t use profanity, derogatory language or engage in other inappropriate conduct.

Be real:  Authenticity goes a long way. If you are posting content from another source, make sure it reflects or accentuates the mission of MAD Rescue, Inc.

Be accurate: Check facts and/or statuses before getting involved in an issue. Take precautions to gather the most current information available.

Be educating: Utilize opportunities to engage. Remember we all began somewhere.

Be humble: Be the first to acknowledge and correct any mistakes or missteps.

Be impartial: Taking sides in a debate ends with no winners.

Be thoughtful: Things said on the internet can’t be retracted.

Be positive: A positive attitude is contagious. Raise concerns and share ideas in a positive fashion; focus on solutions, not problems.

General Policies

Training

Volunteer roles that involve interacting with or managing our MAD dogs such as evaluators, trainers, transporters holding dogs overnight, foster counselors, adoption counselors and fosters, require training.

Instructions for accessing the free training (three short sessions) are available at Foster For MAD.  The free training is provided through MAD Rescue’s learning portal at Maddie’s Fund.

MAD Rescue does not generally board dogs. It is not fair to the rescue animal to not have a loving environment to go to. Many Malinois, Dutch Shepherds and rescue animals struggle in a shelter and boarding is no different. We will pull an animal only if we have a foster home lined up, a volunteer willing to work the animal and process paperwork (adoption counselor), and the monetary means to do so. If a volunteer pulls animals and places them in boarding from a shelter without approval to do so by the leadership team, they will have liability for any boarding bills incurred.
MAD Rescue does not generally use paid transport. We use our network of volunteers to transport dogs from shelters to foster homes. Adopters are responsible for their own paid transport if they so desire. Any paid transport for a MAD foster dog must be approved in advance by the MAD Rescue Leadership Team.
This agreement is made and hereby entered into this current date by the volunteer listed in section one and between Malinois and Dutch Shepherd Rescue, Inc. (MAD Rescue). By printing my name on this form I/we agree to abide by ALL THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS of this agreement and that my electronic verification can be legally binding for this application. In roles that interact with animals directly such as transport, evaluation, training, and fostering there is a degree of risk involved. I/we agree to hold harmless MAD Rescue, its board of directors, leadership team, its officers, its volunteers, and any individuals associated with MAD Rescue and to indemnify such organizations or individuals for any damages or costs resulting from liability, known or unknown, anticipated or unanticipated, damages, actions, and legal procedures, as a result of my volunteer activities after the date of this Volunteer Application.
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Thank you

We sincerely appreciate your offer to volunteer in support of Belgian Malinois and Dutch Shepherds in need.

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