February 2015 by Michael and Pam Kitkoski

Audience: Executive Leadership, Foster Caregivers, Shelter/Rescue Staff & Volunteers

Video Length: 41 minutes

Volunteers are a necessity for rescue and shelter organizations working to achieve no-kill. Volunteers must be treated as partners, offering meaningful work and appropriate autonomy. But even in an atmosphere of mutual accountability, conflicts with both staff and volunteers can arise. Get an in-depth look at what is often behind this conflict and how to channel those attitudes into building an effective no-kill team. Life is much better for both humans and animals when everyone is working together in a positive atmosphere! This program was part of the American Pets Alive! 2015 No-Kill Conference.

About Michael and Pam Kitkoski

In 2010 Michael Kitkoski along with his wife, Pam, founded Rockwall Pets, a Texas-based No Kill advocacy group. Using different tactics, first as shelter volunteers/advocates and later as a rescue group, Rockwall Pets led both municipal shelters in Rockwall County to no-kill status by 2012. The save rate at both shelters now exceeds 96%. During that time, they developed a unique retail approach to pet adoptions. In response to the rapidly-growing interest in no-kill among municipal shelters in north Texas, Michael and Pam spun off Rockwall Pets in 2014 and founded a new organization, No Kill Solutions, as a consulting and advocacy group. North Texas now has at least seven shelters that have achieved No Kill or are working toward it. Along with Dr. Ellen Jefferson and Ryan Clinton, Michael and Pam were instrumental in launching Dallas Pets Alive! in 2012. Michael received the Henry Bergh Leadership Award from the No Kill Advocacy Center in 2011.