CRAN Code of Conduct Agreement

CRAN Code of Conduct

Cat Rescue and Adoption Network (CRAN) is an all-volunteer nonprofit which seeks to improve the lives of cats and the people who love them. Becoming a CRAN volunteer comes with great rewards and responsibilities; you will represent CRAN and your actions will reflect both on you and on CRAN. 

We strive to provide an environment that is safe, inclusive, just, fair, consistent, and which sets an expectation for professional behavior among all our volunteers. By sharing common standards of acceptable behavior, we hope to offer a unified and respectful experience for people who choose to contribute their time and talents as volunteers.

If you have an issue with a CRAN volunteer, or you believe someone has violated CRAN’s Code of Conduct, there are several steps you can take:

1. If you’re comfortable, consider speaking to the individual directly. Many conflicts can be resolved at the personal level.
2. Contact your Team Lead or a Board member and let them know about your concerns.
3. Submit a written complaint by filling out a Complaint Form located in the Forms section of the website.

Our Core Values

• Respect and Dignity: all people and animals are treated with respect and compassion, acknowledging their intrinsic worth and value. 
• Honesty and Transparency: we commit to open, honest communication and full accountability in our operations and practices.
• Ethical Care for Animals: we adhere to the highest standards of animal welfare including humane treatment, appropriate medical care and responsible adoption processes. This includes the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare: (1) freedom from hunger and thirst; (2) freedom from discomfort; (3) freedom from pain, injury or disease; (4) freedom to express normal behavior; and (5) freedom from fear and distress
• Leadership in Animal Welfare: we strive to be leaders in animal welfare, adopting best practices and advocating for animal rights.
• Community Engagement: we foster collaborative relationships within the community, nurturing trust and cooperation.

Scope

This Volunteer Code of Conduct applies to everyone who volunteers with CRAN, in our medical facility and all our cattery locations; at meetings, trainings and events; on social media and online; in written and oral communications; and at all other places where we are ambassadors for CRAN.

Overview

Volunteers have the right to:

• Be treated with respect, in an environment free from harassment, discrimination, or hostile conditions,
• Receive a suitable assignment with necessary training and support,
• Have qualified supervision, safe working conditions, and have their time used effectively,
• Report incidents of harassment, discrimination, bullying or hostile conditions.

Volunteers have the responsibility to adhere to the following Code of Conduct:

1. Represent CRAN in a polite and professional manner at all times, especially when dealing with the public.
2. Support the mission, goals and values of CRAN with a positive, helpful attitude, facing problems directly, respectfully, and with the appropriate person. If you’re not sure who is the appropriate person, ask your Team Lead or a Board member.
3. Deal fairly with all colleagues, customers, visitors, volunteers, and members of the public without regard to their gender, race, ethnicity, religion, creed, age, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, military status, veteran status, membership in the Traveler community, handicap or disability.
4. Give others the benefit of the doubt; assume the best intentions and ask for clarification when needed.
5. Treat all volunteers, visitors, potential adopters and adoption location staff with respect, courtesy and cooperation even if you disagree with their opinions. Give and accept feedback with respect, openness, professionalism, restraint and humility.
6. Treat all animals with respect, patience, kindness and loving attention.
7. Exercise caution when working with rescue animals and address unsafe behaviors as they are observed.
8. Observe all volunteer, safety, and security instructions, policies and procedures. If you have an improvement idea, present it to your Team/Committee Lead or to a Board member.
9. Respect the abilities, contributions and accomplishments of fellow volunteers.
10. Express gratitude to your colleagues as we all try new things, make mistakes, learn and grow. Look for opportunities to appreciate people’s efforts and strive to be a good mentor.
11. Report to your volunteer job physically and mentally fit for duty. CRAN is a drug free workplace, and the use of illegal drugs and consumption of alcohol is prohibited.
12. Be reliable and punctual in reporting for scheduled volunteer activities. Provide appropriate notice of unavoidable absence or lateness so arrangements can be made to cover your responsibilities.
13. Only serve as agency representative in the community or media spokesperson when authorized to do so.
14. Maintain and safeguard the confidentiality of all donor, grant, business, volunteer and animal records, credit and financial information, and/or any information relating to the operation of the agency that is not known or readily accessible to the public. 
15. Declare any interests that may conflict with your role or the work of the charity (i.e. business interests or employment). If you’re not sure if something is a conflict of interest, ask your Team Lead or a Board member.
16. Report violations or suspected violations of this Code of Conduct. 

Volunteers should avoid:

1. Negative gossip, including gossip about colleagues, adopters, surrenders, and other organizations.
2. Bringing CRAN into disrepute (including through the use of email, social media and other online sites, and engaging with the media)
3. Excessive complaining about challenges, workload, colleagues, etc. Rather, focus on finding solutions when problems arise.
4. Undermining or interfering with another volunteer’s or team’s work.
5. Comments or behaviors which might cause another person to become uncomfortable or offended. What constitutes offensive language or behavior is subjective. Please be sensitive to the fact that those with different life experiences may find actions or language offensive that might not seem so to you; take responsibility for your words and actions and make amends when appropriate.
6. Unacceptable behavior including — but not limited to — rude behavior, using verbal, written, physical or visual means to harass anyone associated with CRAN. 
7. Reporting for volunteer work while under the influence of alcohol, narcotics or any other intoxicating substance.
8. Taking unauthorized possession of property, including animals, that do not belong to you.
9. Engage in any activity that may damage property or any other illegal activity while carrying out your role for CRAN.
10. Refrain from bringing dangerous materials including firearms, weapons, explosives or similar items to your volunteer assignment.
11. Seeking any gifts, rewards, financial advantage or gain as a result of your volunteer work with CRAN. Minor reimbursements for expenses incurred (e.g. gas reimbursement) are acceptable.
12. Improperly disclose, during or after your involvement with CRAN ends, confidential information gained over the course of your role with CRAN.

CRAN volunteers commit to upholding this Code of Conduct, embodying its principles and values in our work and interactions. We recognize that the trust placed in us by the public and our partners in rescue is contingent on our commitment to these ethical standards. I understand that I am required to consistently adhere to the Volunteer Code of Conduct in order to remain in good standing.

My signature below affirms that I have read and agree with the above statements.