Wanted: Cuddlers for critters
It’s raining cats, dogs, hamsters and other animals in SPCA Hastings, and the organisation is desperately looking for volunteers.
Senior volunteer coordinator Kirsty Whittaker believes a small percentage of the petowning population is to blame for the 1200 animals, on average, which arrive at their doorstep every year.
“There is a percentage of the population that don’t desex their animals and don’t commit to their care for their entire lives.”
The volunteers at the organisation currently fluctuate and some days are better than others. Over the years numbers have declined.
“Years ago we would have five or six regular volunteers everyday. (Now) we have one volunteer to five volunteers on any given day. Some days we have none. Every day is flat out.
“(Currently) we have about 30 regular volunteers and they fluctuate throughout the year.”
Volunteers don’t need to have any specific qualifications apart from a love for animals, Kirsty says.
“All sorts of people volunteer, young and old. There is no pattern except the obvious being that they all have a love and passion for animal care and welfare.
“It would be lovely to have five or six volunteers every day of the week. As we don’t get government funding there is often a shortage of staff so we rely on the goodness of people in the community to help out.”
Duties are varied with “cuddling” an integral part.
“There is a wide range of duties for volunteers from cleaning housing, washing and dishes (particularly in the morning) to the most important job of spending time with all the animals — cuddling cats, kittens, rabbits, guinea pigs and even chickens/roosters sometimes, and cuddling/ playing with and walking dogs.”
However, apart from volunteering, there are other ways to help the organisation, she says.
“If people don’t have time to volunteer there is always fundraising options or maintenance jobs. They could just ring the shelter to speak with someone.”
■ Hastings SPCA is open Monday to Saturday, 10.30-2.30pm, closed on Sundays, cnr Maraekakaho & Heathcote Roads, Hastings, phone (06) 878 8733. www.spcahastings.org.nz