Community Service
What is Court Ordered Community Service?
Our court-ordered community service program is a safe, fun, and fulfilling way to satisfy a court’s requirement for community service hours.
The program is open to everyone, both youth and adult. We are happy to work with any Virginia residents, and non-Virginia residents, as long as we can obtain written approval from the out-of-state court/probation officer or organization that they will accept our documentation, and give credit to the individual for time served at our facility.
As a state-recognized animal releasing agency, we are prohibited from accepting community service volunteer (CSV) applicants charged with animal abuse, neglect, cruelty, or abandonment. Additionally, the Stafford SPCA is a substance and violence-free facility. We have a zero-tolerance policy regarding alcohol, chemical, drug, and tobacco use. We strive to provide a harmonious, zen-like environment for our animals, staff, and volunteers. Failure to adhere to this policy may result in immediate dismissal from our program and removal from our property.
The Stafford SPCA reserves the right to reject or refuse any and all applicants at our sole discretion. We will not accept any CSVs with sex offender histories. Applicants convicted of larcenies or violent/domestic offenses will be evaluated on a case by case basis.
About the Program
CSVs may perform many of the same duties as our SPCA employees and volunteers.
Duties may include, but are not limited to…
- General cleaning and maintenance of the entire facility, to include animal rooms, kennels, litter boxes, food & water bowls, play yards, storage areas, SPCA vehicles, sweeping, mopping, dusting, etc.
- Lawn and Grounds Care – grass cutting, raking, tending flower beds, landscaping, light power equipment.
- Folding laundry, stocking supplies, assisting with inventory management.
- Assisting with ongoing shelter projects and activities as directed.
- Extremely responsible CSVs with a significant number of hours sentenced may be given the opportunity to work directly with the animals. Please note that the vast majority of our CSVs do not perform direct, hands-on animal care.
What We Provide
- Flexible work hours that fit into your schedule. The shelter is open to volunteers from 10 AM to 9 PM, seven days a week.
- You may perform CSV hours either before, or after, your actual court date.
- Supervision of CSV hours, with Daily Project/Task Tracking Sheets.
- Documentation of the hours worked and a timesheet for court use, and for your records provided on SPCA letterhead.
- Exceptional CSVs may also receive a personal letter, or other recognition, to the courts or other organizations in appreciation for their exemplary service.
- A reliable schedule for the completion of hours.
Cost of the Program
There is a nominal, and nonrefundable, hourly fee for supervision costs that is due upon contract signing, and must be paid before the beginning of community service hours.
Payment methods accepted include:
- Cash
- Check made out to the Stafford SPCA
- Money Order/Cashiers Check
- Credit/Debit card (via Paypal)
Why Choose Us?
The Stafford SPCA provides a safe, positive atmosphere in which to complete your service hours. Many of our community’s alternatives for CSV hours include roadside trash pick-up, working at the landfill, and other less fulfilling activities.
At the Stafford SPCA, you will get to learn about animal care and the work that goes into running a shelter. The tasks that you perform, and the projects you participate in, have an immediate and positive impact on the lives of the animals. Many of our CSVs decide to stay on as regular volunteers, and some have even become employees.
The people that you will work with all have one thing in common: our love of animals, and our devotion to the animals we care for. The funds collected from the CSV supervision fee go towards our general operating fund so that we can continue providing care to the animals in our community.
How to Get Started
Before you can begin serving hours as a community service volunteer, you must submit an application (linked below). Once you have downloaded it, please fill it out completely and scan/email the completed application to [email protected]. You may also fax the completed form to (866) 522-8042.
The Initial Interview
Our CSV supervisor will review your application, run background checks on all applicants, and call you to schedule your intake interview. At that time, you must bring a proper ID, all court documents, and be prepared with payment.
The interview will serve as our chance to get to know you and to thoroughly explain our policies and procedures. You will also be given a shelter tour and receive an explanation as to what a typical shift as a CSV will be like. The intake interview is also when our Community Service Supervisor will make the final determination on what the hourly supervisory fee will be, depending upon several factors, including the age of the offender, the nature of the charge, the number of hours sentenced, etc.
At the end of the intake interview, we will schedule your hours, according to the availability of shelter staff for supervision and according to your own schedule and availability. Once scheduled, CSV hours are firm, but subject to reasonable requests for changes. The Stafford SPCA offers very flexible hours and can accommodate virtually any schedule.
If you are under the age of 18, a parent or legal guardian must accompany you to the intake interview.
Feel free to email our Community Service Supervisor at [email protected] with specific questions about our program and requirements.
The Stafford SPCA reserves the right to refuse acceptance into our community service program based on past criminal history and/or current criminal proceedings.
We will not accept any community service volunteer with a sex offender history or animal-related abuse/neglect history.