Community Veterinary Outreach (“CVO”) is a volunteer non-profit organization that provides preventative veterinary education, as well as care and treatment, and other programs (e.g. pet fairs that provide pet grooming, dog training, and other services to animals owned by vulnerable populations) with the ultimate goal of improving not only the health of the animal, but also to support the physical, mental and emotional well-being of their owners or guardians and contribute to protecting public health. CVO depends on the financial support of the community and its volunteers to assist with its day-to-day operations. There are many opportunities for volunteer work at CVO, including hands on animal care and providing education to animal owners, caregivers and the public. This volunteer work involves inherent risks. Through its volunteer orientation, CVO attempts to inform you of these risks. However, to remain financially viable as an organization, CVO cannot, financially or otherwise, assume responsibility for your exposure to these risks. Therefore, in order to volunteer with CVO in any capacity whatsoever, and at any volunteer opportunity, event or other program hosted by CVO from time to time (whether now or in the future), and work around the animals and their owners and/or caregivers, you acknowledge that you are freely and voluntarily signing and agreeing to the terms of this Volunteer Release Agreement (this “Agreement”) which Agreement shall extend to your volunteer engagement with CVO from time to time from and after the date hereof.
If you have not yet attained the age of 18, a parent or legal guardian must sign this Agreement for you. If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Lem at michelle.lem@vetoutreach.org or 613-355-9371.
In consideration for CVO accepting me, as a volunteer from time to time (“I”, “me”, “my”, “myself” or “Volunteer”): (Print name of Volunteer)
A. I acknowledge and understand that:
1. I am 18 years of age or older, OR I am the parent or legal guardian of the Volunteer;
2. I agree to provide volunteer services to CVO in a professional and responsible manner and that such services are not compulsory and that my participation is completely voluntary;
3. CVO cares for animals in need of treatment and provides preventative veterinary care and training to animals of the homeless and street-involved and, consequently, I will be providing volunteer services for and working closely with such individuals and animals;
4. By volunteering for CVO, whether now or at any point in the future, I may take part in the examination, vaccination, treatment, and/or training of animals belonging to event participants, which will expose me to the animals and pet owners, and I understand that the animals may carry certain diseases which can be transmitted to me and that the animals can also bite, scratch or otherwise injure me, and I fully accept these risks. I understand that I am encouraged to maintain current vaccination status for tetanus and rabies for myself, and that it is my responsibility to do so.
5. CVO operates the Community Veterinary Outreach preventative care clinics and pet fairs to provide preventative health care to animals of the homeless in conjunction with other local social agencies to assist CVO in the treatment of animals;
6. By virtue of my volunteer engagement with CVO, I may have access to proprietary and confidential information belonging solely to CVO, including other confidential and personal information belonging to other participants of CVO including the pet owners, and I fully acknowledge and agree that any and all such proprietary, confidential and personal health information, as the case may be, remains in the ownership of CVO, including any confidential information or materials that I have helped conceive, develop or contribute to in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, all of which shall remain in the ownership of CVO. Additionally, I acknowledge that CVO collects personal health information about its pet owners at its clinics and such information is highly confidential. I agree and acknowledge that I will not divulge such personal health information to anyone outside of CVO and that such information is respected and kept confidential and secure. I further acknowledge that I will keep all such confidential information confidential and shall not use any of it, nor divulge any of it, except for the sole purpose of carrying out authorized volunteer activities on behalf of CVO and I expressly confirm and acknowledge that I will not access confidential records or personal health information of CVO, or any of its patients and participants, without consent of an authorized representative of CVO and that any confidential information so learned will not be divulged to anyone outside of CVO clinics or CVO events; and
7. I fully understand and accept all risks, both known and unknown, associated with volunteering for CVO at any point in time.
B. I further acknowledge and agree that by volunteering with CVO I will not hold CVO, or any social agencies working in conjunction with CVO, liable or responsible for any loss, damage, illness or injury, including death, suffered by me while volunteering for CVO. By agreeing to volunteer with CVO, I hereby acknowledge and confirm that I will not hold CVO, or any social agency working with CVO, liable or responsible for any loss, damage, illness or injury, including death, suffered by me during any volunteer engagement with CVO either now or in the future, whether at a clinic or otherwise, and I, for myself and for my heirs, successors, executors, administrators and assigns, release and forever discharge CVO and its respective affiliates, agencies, related entities, directors, officers, employees, agents, successors or assigns from any and all actions, causes of action, claims and demands for, or by reason of, any damage, illness, loss or injury suffered by me as a result of my volunteer services and engagement with CVO.
C. I hereby consent to photographs being taken of myself, and waive ownership of any photographic records taken by CVO and agree to permit CVO to use my image, or my pet’s image, if and as applicable, (in photograph, digital, or electronic form), with no obligation to compensate me, for and in CVO publications, posters, web-site or other media, without limitation, and agree not to make any claim for misappropriation of personality, breach of privacy, or other loss or damages against Community Veterinary Outreach in respect thereof. Any photos taken will not be distributed for use by a third party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if you would prefer that photographs are not taken of you and/or your pet, if and as applicable, please indicate this to CVO before commencing your volunteer engagement and CVO will ensure this is respected.
This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the applicable Provincial laws and regulations contained within Canada, and the laws of Canada applicable therein. If for any reason any term or provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable to any extent, then such term or provision will be interpreted, construed or reformed to the extent reasonably required to render the same valid, enforceable and consistent with the original intent underlying such provision, such term or provision will remain in effect to the extent that it is not invalid or unenforceable, and such invalidity or unenforceability will not affect any other term or provision of this Form. This Agreement, and the acknowledgments made by me that are set out in this Agreement, shall survive the execution of this Agreement indefinitely.
I acknowledge that I have carefully read and understand this Agreement and fully understand its contents, and that a representative of CVO (witnessed herein), acting on behalf of the CVO, has explained this Agreement to me before signing freely and voluntarily, and without any duress.
