SPCA volunteer shortlisted
South Waikato’s Aimee Lee Ireland, has been named as a finalist in the SPCA Purina Volunteer of the Year Awards.
Entries for the award were received from SPCA volunteers across the country and narrowed down to a shortlist of seven finalists.
SPCA New Zealand acting CEO , Andrea Midgen, said, ‘‘The SPCA Purina Volunteer of the Year Awards aim to recognise the fantastic efforts of our volunteers nationwide. Without volunteer support, the SPCA simply could not function.’’
For the past 15 months, Aimee has been helping out at South Waikato SPCA.
She starting on feeding and cleaning duties, and quickly proved herself to be hardworking and dedicated.
‘‘Together with her great initiative this saw her quickly elevated to the position of weekend supervisor,’’ said Midgen.
Despite working weekends to oversee all aspects of the running of the shelter, Aimee also works several shifts during the week to manage and train volunteers and various admin tasks.
South Waikato SPCA Chairperson, Leanne Jacobi said ‘‘I can’t speak highly enough of Aimee. I am always blown away by what she does for the shelter. I’m not sure how we could have kept going this long without her.
‘‘Aimee is willing to help out the shelter at ‘the drop of a hat’, day or night.
she said Aimee works around the clock to help all the animals.
Aimee said that she is shocked to be a finalist and didn’t expect anything like this to happen.
‘‘I certainly didn’t come down here to expect to be nominated for anything, I just came down to help the animals,’’ she said.
She said out of the 46 SPCA’S in New Zealand, to be one of the seven is a big deal for ‘‘our small town.’’
‘‘I just come to work every day and look after the animals.. I felt more that they [the bosses] appreciated me that much to put me forward for it.’’
The awards are sponsored by Nestle´ Purina Petcare, a principal partner of SPCA – supplying more than 80,000kg of dog and cat food annually.
The winner of SPCA Purina Volunteer of the Year Awards will be announced at the end of May and will win a one year supply of PURINA ONE cat or dog food and a $1,000 Prezzy Card.