FORT LAUDERDALE, FL -- The Humane Society of Broward County (HSBC) is excited to announce more than 100 teens have earned thousands of  hours in the past three years for their required high school community service hours by partnering with a parent and becoming a Teen Adoption Ambassador.  The shelter Adoption Ambassador Program is similar to foster care… but goes a step further.  Adoption Ambassadors provide temporary homes for select dogs, cats and even rabbits, which will be spayed or neutered and given their preliminary vaccinations before arriving in their temporary homes.  Ambassadors will help maximize their dogs’ availability and exposure to  potential adopters by putting a bright orange “Adopt Me” vest on the dog while walking their companions in parks and other pet-friendly, highly visible public venues.

Teen Ambassador Tatsiana Leckie of Davie with her ambassador dog Polo, a three year old American Staffordshire terrier mix who is looking for a home. Tatsiana attends West Broward High School and has been a part of the program since July 2014. She has found loving homes for four dogs already.

As a Teen Ambassador, you will earn three hours for every day the pet is at your home.  In addition, you can earn hours for walking your Ambassador Dog in public with their “Adopt Me” vest on; making and hanging signs; promoting your pet through social media; and making phone calls and sending emails to let people know you have a loving pet that needs a home! All food and supplies needed to care for the pet are provided to you.

Once they have found the perfect home for their pet, Ambassadors will process the paperwork and present the adopting family with their new loving companion.  As a further reward, they’ll know that as a result of their efforts, the pet will not have to spend another day at the shelter.

If you can’t have a pet in your home but still want to help the Adoption Ambassador program, you can earn service hours by becoming a Teen Adoption Ambassador Advocate.  You will spread the word about the program in your community by hanging posters, setting up an education table at places you are welcome, presenting to church and school groups and by using social media.  Your goal will be to recruit people interested in becoming Adoption Ambassadors.  The more families we have in the program, the more pets we can help.

If you or someone you know is interested in helping an HSBC pet find a forever home, please contact Rachel Bryan at 954-266-6839 or rbryan@hsbroward.com  to attend an upcoming orientation. 

Becoming an Adoption Ambassador is a wonderful opportunity for animal lovers to give back to the community, and help even more pets find the loving families they deserve.  Since the Adoption Ambassador program began in August of 2012 over 420 animals have been adopted.