Volunteer Freedom Driver Application

Ready for a lifesaving ride!! We are looking for Volunteer Freedom Drivers to help homeless cats and dogs from Oconee County Animal Services get to rescue groups located in Georgia and surrounding states where they are able to receive more extensive medical treatment and have a greater chance of finding homes. This is a great opportunity to help save some very special animal lives. It’s just one of the ways that you can 'be a hero to an animal in need' in Oconee County! 

PLEASE complete and submit your Volunteer Freedom Driver Application on page 1 and your Volunteer Release and Waiver of Liability on page 2 to be considered. We look forward to you joining our team of volunteers!

Transport Procedures

• A Friends of Oconee County Animal Shelter representative will notify you by phone or email of the transport request.
• If you accept the request, you will be given further information about the pick-up & drop-off locations.
• Upon arriving the retreive an animal for transport please review the medical sheet, rabies certificate and transfer form to ensure all necessary documents are obtained before traveling. Verify any medication that may need to travel with the animal is accounted for. 
• Upon receiving the animal, carefully inspect the collar/leash/carrier to be sure they are secure. Be sure the animal’s collar cannot slip over its head when the leash is pulled, look for signs of wear and tear on the collar/leash, make sure carriers are securely connected, make sure all zippers/flaps on soft-sided carriers are completely closed.
• The Freedom Driver is responsible for obtaining a signture on the transfer form from the authorized representative receiving the animal, this signed form must be returned to Oconee County Animal Services in a timely manner.

Transport Policies

• Friends of Oconee County Animal Shelter nor Oconee County Animal Services will be held responsible for any bodily injuries or damage to personal property of you or any other individual resulting from a transport situation.
• Please understand that we are unable to reimburse expenses for car upholstery cleaning, dog chewing upholstery/seat belts, etc. However, you may be able to take a tax deduction on such expenses, as well as on your mileage, please consult your tax adviser.
• All dogs are required to be double leashed at all times during transport. 
• All cats are to remain inside a secured carrier at all times during transport.
• Oconee County Animal Services animals are at NO TIME to be left unattended during the transport, including left alone in a vehicle for any length of time, no matter what the weather.
• You are required to maintain a valid driver’s license, as well as current insurance and registration on any vehicle used for transporting Oconee County Animal Services animals. If there is a change in status of any of these, please notify us immediately. Failure to do so could result in serious liability issues.
• No other animal may be in the vehicle while Oconee County Animal Services animals are being transported without prior authorization from an authorized Friends of Oconee County Animal Shelter or Oconee County Animal Service representative.
• While transporting Oconee County Animal Services animals, you are expected to obey all traffic regulations, including speed limits.
• You are also asked to drive with extra caution and consideration for the animal being transported. This includes attention to music volume, temperature, and smoke within the vehicle.
• If you ever encounter a situation where you feel that your safety is at risk, you should immediately contact 911 and then your Friends of Oconee County Animal Shelter representative, in that order.

In consideration for the willingness of Friends of Oconee County Animal Shelter, Inc., (“Organization”) to accept the individual signing below (“Volunteer”) as a volunteer, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, Volunteer does freely, voluntarily and without duress execute the following Volunteer Release and Waiver of Liability (the “Release”) for and on behalf of him or herself and his or her heirs, successors, beneficiaries and assigns:

Waiver and Release. Volunteer releases, forever discharges, indemnifies, and holds harmless Organization and its directors, officers, employees, volunteers, agents, successors and assigns (collectively the “Released Parties”) from any and all liability, claims, demands and causes of action of whatever kind or nature, either in law or in equity, arising out of or relating to Volunteer’s activities with Organization (“Activities”), including but not limited to any claim for any bodily injury, personal injury, illness, death or property damage that may arise out of, occur during or result from the Activities, regardless of whether caused in whole or in part by an act or omission of a Released Party. Volunteer also understands that, except as otherwise agreed to by a Released Party in writing, the Released Parties do not provide any financial assistance of any kind, including but not limited to medical, health or disability insurance coverage for any volunteer or any reimbursement of expenses for property damage incurred in the course of the Activities.

Volunteer also releases, forever discharges, indemnifies, and holds harmless the Released Parties, for and on behalf of the individuals residing at Volunteer’s residence (“Household Members”), including but not limited to those listed below, from any and all liability, claims, demands and causes of action of whatever kind or nature, either in law or in equity, arising out of or relating to Volunteer’s Activities, including but not limited to any claim for any bodily injury, personal injury, illness, death to Household Members that may arise out of, occur during or result from the Activities, regardless of whether caused in whole or in part by an act or omission of a Released Party.
 

Medical Treatment. Volunteer releases, forever discharges, indemnifies, and holds harmless the Released Parties from any claim, demand or cause of action whatsoever arising out of or relating to any first aid or medical treatment rendered in connection with the Activities.
 

Assumption of the Risk. Volunteer understands that the Activities may involve work that may be hazardous to the Volunteer, or residents and invitees of Volunteer’s residence or car, and inherently dangerous risks, including but not limited to travel to and from locations where Organization is performing its services, work in close proximity with animals who may be sick, injured or have unpredictable behavior, and physical strain associated with lifting or carrying an animal or an animal pulling on restraint devices. Volunteer understands that animal behavior is unpredictable, especially in the context of Organization’s mission. Volunteer understands that Organization has limited information regarding the temperament, habits, and health of any individual animal related to the Activities. Volunteer hereby expressly and specifically assumes the risk of damage, injury, harm or death in connection with such Activities.
 

Media Release. Volunteer grants and conveys to Organization all right, title and interest in any and all photographic images and video or audio recordings made by or for Organization during Volunteer’s participation in the Activities, including, but not limited to, any royalties, proceeds, or other benefits derived from such photographs or recordings.
 

Governing Law. Volunteer expressly agrees that this Release is intended to be as broad and inclusive as permitted by the laws of the state of Georgia, and that this Release will be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the state of Georgia without giving effect to its conflict of laws rules. Volunteer agrees that this Release represents the full understanding between Organization and Volunteer and supersedes all other prior agreements, understandings, representations and warranties, both written or oral, between Organization and Volunteer, with respect to the subject matter hereof. Volunteer agrees that in the event that any clause or provision of this Release is held to be invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity of that clause or provision will not affect the remaining provisions of this Release, which will continue to be enforceable. Volunteer agrees that the sole and exclusive jurisdiction and venue for litigation between Volunteer and Organization will be a state or federal court having jurisdiction over Oconee County, Georgia.