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 youth and adults. We’re happy to work with Virginia residents, and non-Virginia residents as long as we can get written approval from the out-of-state court, probation officer or organization that they will accept our documentation and credit you 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. The Stafford SPCA is a substance- and violence-free facility with a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol, chemical, drug, and tobacco use. Failure to follow this policy may result in immediate dismissal from the program and removal from our property.
We reserve the right to reject or refuse any applicant at our sole discretion. We do not accept CSVs with sex offender histories. Applicants convicted of larceny or violent/domestic offenses are evaluated case by case.
About the program
CSVs may perform many of the same duties as our employees and volunteers, including:
- Cleaning and maintaining the facility: animal rooms, kennels, litter boxes, bowls, play yards, storage areas, vehicles
- Lawn and grounds care: mowing, raking, flower beds, landscaping, light power equipment
- Folding laundry, stocking supplies, and helping with inventory
- Helping with ongoing shelter projects and activities
Extremely responsible CSVs with a significant number of hours may work directly with animals, but the vast majority do not perform hands-on animal care.
What we provide
- Flexible hours: the shelter is open to volunteers 10 am to 9 pm, seven days a week
- You may serve hours before or after your court date
- Supervision, with daily project/task tracking sheets
- Documentation of hours and a timesheet for court use, on SPCA letterhead
- Exceptional CSVs may receive a personal letter or other recognition
- A reliable schedule for completing your hours
Cost of the program
There is a nominal, nonrefundable hourly fee for supervision costs, due at contract signing and paid before community service hours begin. We accept cash, checks made out to the Stafford SPCA, money orders/cashier’s checks, and credit/debit cards (via PayPal).
Why choose us?
We provide a safe, positive place to complete your hours. Many alternatives include roadside trash pickup or working at the landfill. Here, you’ll learn about animal care and what it takes to run a shelter, and the work you do has an immediate, positive impact on the animals. Many of our CSVs stay on as regular volunteers, and some have even become employees. Supervision fees go into our general operating fund to care for animals in our community.
How to get started
Submit an application
Download the application, fill it out completely, and scan/email it to [email protected], or fax it 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 an intake interview. Bring a proper ID, all court documents, and your payment.
We’ll get to know you, explain our policies and procedures, give you a shelter tour, and walk through a typical shift. The supervisor will also set your hourly supervision fee, based on factors like age, the nature of the charge, and the number of hours sentenced.
If you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian must attend the intake interview with you.
Get scheduled
At the end of the interview, we’ll schedule your hours around staff availability and your own schedule. Once scheduled, hours are firm but subject to reasonable change requests. We can accommodate virtually any schedule.
Questions? Email our Community Service Supervisor at [email protected].
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.