Help my rescue dogs in my beautiful tranquil home with epic views in California, USA

Infos

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  Description

  I am a very involved volunteer with two community groups — one focused on animals, one on protecting wild open space.
  
  Both are described below, along with how volunteers here would help.
  
  I co-founded a grassroots 501(c)(3) working to create better outcomes for animals by building better systems. Through advocacy, education, collaboration, and fundraising, we partner with local agencies, elected officials, shelters, rescues, and community stakeholders to improve the lives of abandoned and owned animals across our county.
  
  The last few years have brought huge wins:
  
  🦋 Our meetings with County Supervisors helped secure $750K over 3 years in Measure X funding — more than the shelter originally requested — for spay/neuter services, mobile vaccination and microchipping clinics, and pet retention grants. Supervisors have invited our continued input on how those funds are spent.
  
  🦋 We helped bring a local advocate bring the SNIP Bus to Contra Costa County — a mobile spay/neuter clinic that brings low-cost services directly to the communities that need them most. Accessible spay/neuter is one of the most powerful tools for reducing shelter intake and preventing animal suffering before it starts.
  
  🦋 Leadership changes at the shelter have opened the door to a healthy working relationship with the new director, and live release rates are improving.
  
  🦋 A colleague's Amicus Brief was accepted by the California Supreme Court — a major victory protecting rescues' ability to save animals.
  
  🦋 We've raised ~$25K through world-class online auctions and in-person fundraisers, with contributions from SFMOMA, Oakland Museum of California, Oakland Zoo, Cheeseboard, Wheel of Fortune, Freight & Salvage, and best of the bay donations..
  
  🦋 Most importantly: more animals are being saved. Every week.
  
  There is (always) lots more work to do — educating the public and recruiting more fosters, adopters, and helpers!
  
  FRIENDS of WILDCAT CANYON PARK (FoWCP)
  
  I also help with a community coalition working to protect Wildcat Canyon Regional Park, the wild open space bordering my home in the San Pablo Hills. Our all-volunteer group advocates for preserving the canyon's natural habitat, wildlife corridors, and quiet trails through public education, community outreach, and engagement with the regional park district's planning process. We table at local festivals, gather community input, prepare public comments, and work to ensure that decisions about the park reflect careful environmental review and genuine community voice.
  
  YOUR ROLE AS A VOLUNTEER
  
  As a volunteer what is most important and central is help care for my rescue dogs at home, freeing up my time and energy to save more dogs and cats in our county and beyond.
  
  Depending on your skill base, you can help with ongoing efforts — helping plan tabling events for both organizations (our "Keep Wildcat Wild" booth is a favorite), outreach, project management and creating materials, videotaping, photography, etc.
  
  My animal rescue and conservation volunteering dovetails with my civic role as an appointed Municipal Advisory Council member (similar to a city council role) — so your caring for my rescue dogs gives me more time to serve the community of bipeds and quad-peds alike. 🐾

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Bénévolat

  Jardinage d'entretien

  S’occuper des animaux

  Aide à la maison

  Garde de maison et d'animaux
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  Centres d’intérêt

  

  Politique/justice sociale

  

  Événements/vie sociale

  

  Animaux de compagnie

  

  Culture

  

  Dev. personnel

  

  Films et télé

  

  Bénévolat

  

  Dessin et peinture

  

  Musique

  

  Histoire

  

  Bricolage / artisanat

  

  Livres

  

  Art et design

  

  Jardinage

  

  Cuisine et alimentation

  

  Architecture

  

  Écriture

  

  Arts du spectacle

  

  Animaux

  

  Yoga / bien-être

  

  Nature

  

  Camping

  

  Danse
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  By helping me, you'd be improving — and saving — lives AND potentially helping the environment!
  
  You'll gain a real sense of achievement and see how your efforts embody "being the change you want to see in the world." You'll also learn by observing: how a rescue project runs, and what grassroots community organizing looks like up close. The biggest perk, of course, is the abundant love you'll receive from our furry family — their company and the bonds you'll form are the best part of staying here.
  
  I'm an outgoing (albeit busy) person, and my home tends to be a bit of a social hub — other volunteers, artists, and DJs often stop by; I'm part of the Burning Man community, for example. Socially, I'm in tune with the pulse of the Bay Area, while living somewhere off the beaten path: peaceful, with majestic views, yet an easy trip into Oakland and San Francisco. And as someone who used to travel a LOT, I genuinely enjoy hearing about other people's adventures! It's an ideal place to land in the SF Bay Area.

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  Aide

  We welcome travelers who LOVE dogs. My foster dogs sometimes need time to decompress — but they and my dogs always need walks, meals, playtime, and people to be the objects of their affection. You'll be responsible for helping us take care of them!
  
  In my home sanctuary, you'll gain valuable knowledge and hands-on experience in animal care and animal advocacy. We've been making great strides and could use the help.
  
  YOUR ROLE INCLUDES
  Walking, hiking, and/or jogging with the dogs — we live right next to a huge regional park.
  Supervising their playtime with each other and other dogs (and keeping the peace — they get along well, and we'll brief you on their individual needs).
  Feeding them twice a day. Currently they eat mostly kibble, but sometimes I feed them (human-grade) food that I cook.
  Cleaning up after them (they shed) and periodic bathing (about once a month).
  
  THE BENEFITS
  Workawayers who stay with me typically get a beautiful place to chill and awesome dogs to help out with (2–4 are here regularly). My space is serene with off-the-hook views — a great place to land. Beyond learning about my animal advocacy work, you'll get a taste of Bay Area culture that tourists rarely find. I'm part of the burner community and can point you to off-the-beaten-path places and experiences you won't find in a travel book or on a website. We're in close proximity to San Francisco, Napa, Sonoma, Oakland, and Berkeley — so you can soak in the Bay Area at your leisure and discover all the beauty it holds.
  
  WHO IS not A GOOD MATCH: THIS LIKELY ISN'T A GREAT FIT IF YOU:
  Don't communicate clearly, don't know English well, don't follow instructions, or don't listen
  Aren't detail-oriented or responsible
  Know NOTHING about dogs, or are nervous handling medium/large dogs
  Have trouble receiving direct feedback or being asked to adjust how you do something
  Plan to be gone or work all day, every day — or work remotely on a rigid full-time schedule that can't flex around the dogs' needs. The dogs need morning and evening care daily.
  Can't commit to agreed dates and hours
  Are local to the Bay Area and only looking for a housing solution, temporary or otherwise
  
  Logistically, it's also not a fit if you have dog allergies or need a fur-free home — this is a dog household, and hair happens.
  
  TWO PEOPLE TRAVELING TOGETHER
  If it's your account and you're traveling with someone NOT on the site, know that you are responsible for how they show up for the experience. The good news: each dog needs their own walk — they can't be walked together... except at night. More details when you get here!
  
  DOGS RULE
  Obviously — if you don't like dogs, this is not the place for you.
  
  I love hosting people who are communicative and enthusiastic about cultural exchange. If you want to improve your English, I can help with that!
  
  Having hosted quite a few workers now for almost a decade, I know what typically works — and communication and listening are key.
  
  If this (still) seems like a good fit for you, let me know! We'll conduct an interview by WhatsApp or Zoom.

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  Langues

  Langues parlées
  Anglais: Courant
  Espagnol: Intermédiaire
  Hebrew: Intermédiaire

  Cet hôte propose un échange linguistique
  Happy to help someone out with English!
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  Hébergement

  You'll have a furnished private space with a full bathroom (shower and tub) shared only if there are other people staying here (and for people who come in and out of house).
  
  I provide breakfast basics: oats, bread, jam, butter, and tea, and you're welcome to use the kitchen to cook your own meals.
  
  Sometimes I cook for everyone — but that's a bonus, not a guarantee. Anything you need or want beyond the basics is up to you; just communicate upfront. When you arrive, I'm happy to take you to the supermarket and point (or take you to) you to places that offer inexpensive or even free food in the area.

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  Autres infos...

  IDEAL FIT
  Having hosted many Workawayers, I've learned what works. The ideal fit is someone self-directed, communicative, and comfortable running their own life — I RARELY accept volunteers who have never lived out on their own.
  
  SCHEDULE
  Taking care of the dogs means your day includes a longer walk in the morning (shorter in the evening, sometimes a midday walk) and feeding them in the morning and evening. During the day, you might play with them; about once a month, bathe them; and as needed, clean up after them.
  
  It's fairly relaxed here, but we do keep a rhythm — especially around walking, feeding, and play. We can cover for you on afternoons or days off. Digital nomad or working while you travel? I can definitely be flexible about timing — just let me know your schedule and commitments up front. We want you to fully enjoy the area; we just need to know when you WON'T be at the dogs' house.
  
  You're in charge of your own living space. You'll arrive to a clean room, and you leave it that way for the next guest: bedding washed and dried (yes, there's a laundry area), room (including microwave and fridge) and bathroom fully cleaned. We also share chores to keep up the common spaces, plus garden upkeep and harvesting about once a month — we grow some of our own food.
  
  TRANSPORTATION
  My place is gorgeous, and there is public transportation — but know the realities: the bus is a good walk away (about 20–30 minutes, downhill/uphill) and connects to BART. An Uber/Lyft between the house and BART runs about $8–10 USD. And if I'm already heading out, I'm happy to drop people at BART.
  
  TIME OFF & LOCAL SIGHTS
  On your time off, you're perfectly positioned. Step out the door and you're at the edge of a huge regional park with miles of hiking trails, wildlife, and majestic views. Venture further and you've got San Francisco (Golden Gate, museums, neighborhoods galore), Berkeley and Oakland (food, music, culture), and Napa/Sonoma wine country all within reach — BART makes San Francisco an easy trek, and if you have a car, exploring is even easier. I can also point you to off-the-beaten-path spots and experiences you won't find in any guidebook — the kind of Bay Area that tourists rarely see.

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  Informations complémentaires

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    Accès Internet

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    Accès Internet limité

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    Nous avons des animaux

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    Nous sommes fumeurs

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    Familles bienvenues

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  Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads

  I have hotspots in house and may be adding more.

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  Possibilité d'accueillir les animaux

  It depends. We need to speak about it.

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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Plus de 2

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  Mes animaux

  

  Chata, Murphy and Koda (13 ans)

  Thee are three dogs: Chata who the princess of the house. Maybe 11 or 12. Very sweet and cuddly.
  
  Murphy is the prince. He's super sweet, fun and loves an adventure. GREAT to walk with.
  
  Koda is my foster and I have him 1/2 the week. He is amazing to run with, but is a big boy and Waaaaaay smart. He's the king of the house. But a benevolent king. more like a Wise man.

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