After your Application has been submitted and received by the Committee, the entire process can take approximately 2 or 3 weeks. However, you can help us speed the process along by answering all the questions on the Application in detail and alerting your personal references that our Reference Coordinator will be contacting them by phone for a reference check. Delays are often encountered when we cannot reach an Applicant's references or their Applications are incomplete. Please verify all telephone numbers and e-mail addresses prior to submitting your application. Of course during peak holiday periods and vacation times, it can take longer as we are all volunteers and have jobs and other life functions, outside of rescue. Your approved application will have a "shelf life" of six months.