How to apply:
Qualified and interested applicants are invited to email their resume with a cover letter to info@vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca. We thank all interested applicants, only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview.

About Vancouver Humane Society 

The Vancouver Humane Society has existed since 1985 to provide an alternative to sheltering animals. Over time, animals have been helped through trap-neuter-return programming and more recently, providing funding for veterinary assistance for people and their pets who are in need. The Vancouver Humane Society is also an organization working to end the exploitation of animals, and has programming focused both on the reduction of animal use in food and in entertainment. The office is a vegan environment, with vegan defined as: “a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.” 

The Opportunity 

The Program Assistant reports to the team responsible for managing the fundraising and service delivery for the McVitie program, which provides veterinary assistance to people and animals in need. The primary responsibilities include writing stories for social media and the website about the animals in need, and liaising with pet guardians and veterinary hospitals to gather photos and follow-up after the procedure to find out how the pet is recovering.  

Responsibilities 

• Collect and assemble stories and photos for fundraising, while providing a trauma-informed listening ear for pet guardians.  
• Follow up with veterinary clinics to provide payment for services.  
• Transcribe voicemails from guardians for the Program Manager.  
• Assist with other tasks as necessary to support the smooth functioning of the program. 

About You 

✔ You are a quick learner and capable of understanding complex social situations. 

✔ You enjoy telling succinct and meaningful stories. 

✔ You have great attention to detail. 

✔ You thrive in working as a team. 

✔ You have an understanding of structural poverty and of the benefits companion animals receive and provide in the lives of structurally vulnerable people. 

✔ You are happy to promote and articulate the mission, mandate, philosophy, and values of the Vancouver Humane Society, including both a passion for animal well-being and for trauma-informed service delivery. 

✔ You work within an anti-oppression framework and have excellent customer service and interpersonal skills. 

✔ You have efficient organizational skills including understanding of basic accounting, computer software including Word, Excel, and WordPress, and have strong record keeping, scheduling, and problem-solving abilities. 

✔ You are skilled at prioritizing, self-directed, and self-motivated and have strong, concise communication skills to keep the VHS team well-informed about your work activities. 

✔ You are detail-oriented with a strong grasp of English grammar and are comfortable shifting your writing style to accommodate for different audiences. 

✔ You are comfortable and happy to eat a plant-based diet when in the office environment. 

Benefits of Joining the VHS Team 

Vehicle use: Use of a vehicle is reimbursed at $.61/km. 

Dog-friendly workplace. 

Supportive & friendly work environment. 
 

POSITION DETAILS: 

· Start Date: ASAP. 

· Permanent – Part-time, 20 hrs – week / Flexible schedule. 

· Location: Broadway and Main, remote work. 

Reports to: Executive Director 

Salary: $22.00 /hour 

Application deadline: August 14, 2022

How to apply:
Qualified and interested applicants are invited to email their resume with a cover letter to info at vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca. We thank all interested applicants, only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview.

About Vancouver Humane Society

The Vancouver Humane Society has existed since 1985 to provide an alternative to sheltering animals. Over time, animals have been helped through trap-neuter-return programming and more recently, providing funding for veterinary assistance for people and their pets who are in need. The Vancouver Humane Society is also an organization working to end the exploitation of animals, and has programming focused both on the reduction of animal use in food and in entertainment. The office is a vegan environment, with vegan defined as: “a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.”

The Opportunity

The Program Coordinator is responsible for the coordination of the Vancouver Humane Society’s farmed animal advocacy programs, particularly focused on plant-based food advocacy for individuals and institutions, and the maintenance and promotion of the PlantUniversity.ca website.

Ideal skills and competencies:

Marketing, Sales, Customer Relationship Management, Excel, WordPress, Canva, knowledge of food systems, advocacy.

Duties and responsibilities:

Coordinating the promotion of PlantUniversity.ca to individuals, including:

• Developing a strategy for advertising, including print media and social media,
• Purchasing advertising,
• Coordinating volunteers and contractors for graphic design,
• Coordinating with Communications Director to promote advertising,
• Engaging in public outreach, including presentations, attending events, etc.
• Managing and monitoring funds in and out,
• Tracking success by meeting identified targets;

Coordinating the promotion of PlantUniversity.ca to institutions and achieving commitments to a reduction in the volume of animal products served, including:

• Preparing written information briefs for municipalities, food service agencies and the province,
• Coordinating with volunteers and consultants to develop and update web-based print marketing materials, recipes and a recipe database, and guidance materials around purchasing for food service providers, and
• Conducting research around potential partners and target audiences, organizing phone calls and in-person meetings and presentations where appropriate to partner with public and private agencies (e.g. schools, municipal parks and community centres, retirement homes, hospitals, corporate cafeterias) to assist with increasing their plant-based options and associated commitment.

Collaborating with agencies working towards the reduction of farmed animal suffering,

Providing program-specific information to VHS team members for publications, including newsletter, fundraising appeals, board reports, annual reports and grant applications,

Working in collaboration with the Campaign Director on farmed animal advocacy opportunities,

Adhering to VHS’s ethical standards in accordance with the Society’s mission and vision whenever representing the Society, and

Completing other duties as assigned.

Knowledge and skills (note, VHS is happy to employ someone who may not have every listed knowledge and skill if they are a good fit for the role):

• Completed degree at the undergraduate level or 2 years of related work or community experience;
• Demonstrated experience of working on a project with people with backgrounds other than your own;
• Demonstrated experience of working to eliminate institutional isms such as racism/ableism/transphobia in previous jobs;
• Demonstrated customer service/stakeholder relations and interpersonal skills;
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with staff, Board, donors, vendors, and the public;
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing marketing strategies;
• Well-developed planning and organizational skills necessary for effective project management;
• Demonstrated experience using social media platforms effectively;
• Demonstrated ability to learn and use software and web applications efficiently, including WordPress;
• Demonstrated experience using Microsoft Office effectively;
• Demonstrated trustworthy nature, able to use discretion when handling confidential information;
• Demonstrated experience in the supervision of volunteers;
• Demonstrated experience giving presentations and engaging in advocacy, including the ability to engage effectively with target audience/decision-makers; and
• Capacity to travel locally for meetings, presentations, and outreach, including transporting materials from the office, and setting up outreach materials.
• Familiarity with food systems and foodservice industry considered an asset.
• Comfort and familiarity using Canva an asset.
• Comfort and familiarity editing videos an asset.

As individuals working or volunteering for the Vancouver Humane Society, we commit to expanding our awareness of social justice issues, checking our privilege, listening, learning, and unlearning about how to disrupt oppressive institutions in our community through our mission work. We recognize that every person has a basic right to human dignity, respect, and equitable access to resources.

Benefits of Joining the VHS Team

Use of a vehicle is reimbursed at $.50/km.

Pet-friendly workplace.

Supportive & friendly work environment.

Health & dental benefits.

POSITION DETAILS:

· Start Date: Flexible, as soon as possible.

· Permanent – Full-time, 37.5 hrs – week / Flexible schedule.

Reports to: Executive Director

· Salary: $48,750/year

How to apply:
Qualified and interested applicants are invited to email their resume with a cover letter to info at vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca. We thank all interested applicants, only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview.

Application deadline: March 6, 2022

Thank you for helping animals in 2020!

VHS would like to thank all our amazing donors, volunteers, and partners for your support this year. Because of you we were able continue our vital work to make life better for animals.

Here are some of the year’s highlights and achievements that you made possible.

McVitie Fund emergency veterinary help

During the year, donors to our McVitie Fund enabled us to help a record-breaking 165 animals by providing emergency medical assistance to the animal companions of people on limited incomes. COVID-19 increased demand for the McVitie Fund, which is vital to people who are experiencing a period of life with low or no income but still love and care for their pet companions. When these animals get injured or sick, they need a safety net so they can stay in their loving home.

Wildlife

VHS launched two campaigns against the cruel and dangerous wildlife trade during the year. In April, we started an online petition, signed by more than 3400 people, calling on the B.C. government to strengthen regulation of the sale and ownership of wild and exotic animals in the province. In May, we launched an email campaign urging the federal government to do more to combat the wildlife trade. Nearly 3500 people sent messages to government ministers supporting our call. We also had three opinion editorials on the issue published in the news media.

We also spoke out on behalf of owls and bears threatened by logging operations, launching a petition calling on the government to halt logging in their habitat on the Sunshine Coast.

VHS supported animal advocates calling for a ban on rodenticides following the poisoning in June of an owl in North Vancouver. The owl, later dubbed “Lucky” was rescued by a VHS supporter. Wildlife are often the victims of poisons used by businesses, landlords, municipalities and homeowners to control rodent populations. VHS has submitted letters of support for municipal rodenticide bans and will advocate for a province-wide ban. Several municipalities now have bans in place.

Horse carriages

In August, VHS launched a campaign calling on the Vancouver Park Board to remove the horse-drawn trolley from Stanley Park. Having horse-drawn trolleys or carriages in urban settings is just not safe. This became clear in 2016, when the Stanley Park trolley’s horses were spooked by traffic noise and bolted, nearly taking a trolley full of tourists off the sea wall. Nearly 7000 people signed our petitions to the Park Board to remove the trolley.

Rodeo

In March, prior to the cancellation of most Canadian rodeos because of COVID-19, VHS initiated a campaign against the Calgary Stampede chuckwagon race. Our petition urging General Motors Canada to stop sponsoring the race, garnered 2500 signatures. We also had an opinion editorial published, making the case for General Motors to drop their support for the race.  We will continue to campaign against the Calgary Stampede and other rodeos in 2021.

Factory farming

In November, VHS spoke out against a decision by the pork industry to delay the phase-out of cruel gestation crates (cages in which pregnant sows are kept so confined they cannot event turn around). The industry, despite promising to phase-out the crates by 2024, wants to delay this to 2029.  We launched a petition calling on the Retail Council of Canada, which represents major grocers, to honour the commitment it made to stop sourcing pork from farms using gestation crates. We also had an opinion editorial published on the issue.

We signed on a joint letter to the federal Minister of Finance and Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, calling on the federal government to dedicate any COVID-19 emergency funding for the agricultural sector, as well as any future funding, on phasing out industrial livestock operations and assisting farmers in transitioning toward a sustainable, ethical and equitable plant-based food system. Signatories included other animal protection groups, environmental and food advocacy groups. We set up a campaign allowing our supporters to send a pre-written email to their MPs. 

We produced a podcast episode aimed at answering some of the big, challenging questions about plant-based foods.

We hosted an online talk featuring Dr. Lisa Kramer, a behavioural economist at the University of Toronto, entitled “Is the Future of Meat Plant-based?”. Watch the video.

For our Go Veg campaign, we used billboards, elevators ads, Facebook ads, online ads and a direct mailing with an outcome of more than 6 million impressions by people in the Vancouver lower mainland.

We sent out 52 recipes for folks interested in learning more about plant-based cooking through our email list of folks who took the pledge to increase their plant-based meal consumption.

New report about helping people and pets to address ‘neglect’

In December VHS produced a report, titled “Addressing Animal Neglect Through the Provision of Veterinary Services,” designed to encourage a trauma-informed approach to help vulnerable people to get veterinary assistance for their pets. The emphasis is to allow people to maintain the human-animal bond, with relinquishment of their pets the absolute last option. Focusing on relationships between veterinary clinics, social service agencies, and people who have been placed-at-risk but structural inequities, VHS is committed to ensuring animals do not suffer the loss of their guardians due to lack of money or difficulty travelling to veterinary clinics.  VHS is grateful to the Vancouver Foundation for funding the report.

Helping women and pets in crisis

In November, VHS joined with the North Shore Crisis Services Society (NSCSS) to launch the first partnership in a project designed to help women and pets in crisis.

The project, funded in part by a $30,000 grant from PetSmart Charities® of Canada, will help homeless and loosely housed women who face barriers to accessing housing and support because they have pets. Many support facilities do not have the knowledge or capacity to address the animal health issues that come with housing pets.

The project will provide funding for preventative and urgent veterinary costs for pets, ensuring they are in good health and not a risk to human health. This could include medical treatments; flea, tick and deworming treatment; vaccinations and health checks.

Women are uniquely affected by homelessness because they are less likely to appear in shelters, drop-ins, public spaces, or access social services. They are undercounted in research, and an estimated 700 women are turned away each day from domestic violence shelters. They are also more likely to live in cars, experience domestic violence, to be abused as live-in caregivers, to experience physical, emotional and sexual abuse, and to be forced to engage in survival sex or human trafficking.  

Greater Vancouver Zoo

VHS’s report on the Greater Vancouver Zoo was launched in December 2018 but attracted media in 2019, with coverage in a total of 21 media outlets and publication of a VHS opinion editorial. More than 2800 people took part in our e-campaign, urging the zoo to improve conditions for its animals. The report was sent to CAZA (Canada’s Accredited Zoos & Aquariums) and to the provincial Director of Wildlife and Habitat. We will continue to hold the zoo account for its treatment of the animals it holds.

Sled dogs

In November, VHS launched a campaign calling for members of the public to pledge to boycott sled dog tours. The campaign has collected more than 3300 pledges. Sled dogs can be kept tethered for as long as 23 hours a day and it is still legal for tour operators to shoot surplus sled dogs. The data from the campaign will be used to gauge public support for future campaigns targeting the sled dog tour industry.

Fur-farming

Near the end of the year, we spoke out about the plight of farmed minks when an outbreak of COVID-19 occurred at Fraser Valley mink farm.  Minks are kept in tiny wire cages with no opportunity to express natural behaviours, compromising their welfare. VHS had an opinion editorial published, calling for a ban on fur-farming and was quoted in local media about the issue.

Humane education

With COVID-19 putting classrooms online, VHS mobilized and created resources for kids that don’t put animals at risk of suffering. Two PDF guides about wild and farmed animals, as well as a colouring sheet, help to connect kids with animals in a way that doesn’t harm animals.

What’s next?

Thank you for helping us achieve so much for animals during this challenging year. 

There is still so much more to do in our work for animals in 2021, and despite our efforts, animals continue to suffer every day. Please consider making an end-of-year donation, to enable us to continue advocating on behalf of all animals today and in the future. All donations made before midnight on December 31^st, will receive a tax receipt for the 2020 financial year.