SPCA calls for more volunteers

The idea behind the programs is to get the animals acclimatized to being handled so when they go into their new homes they aren’t scared of things like a vacuum or people dropping things.

“They transition into the homes easier, Maloney said. “A lot of animals end up in the shelter because they have reactive behaviors that aren’t looked after, so we’re going to try to nip that in the bud before they get out to their new home.”

The Feline Friends program is based on the same idea, with volunteers participating in certain activities to help the cats calm down and expend their energy, which helps make them more adoptable.

“They’re all strategies we’re using to help move the animals out of the shelter and make them transition into homes easier, and this way the volunteers can be actively involved in it,” Maloney said.

The meeting Monday night will also go over a number of events coming up, like Paw Prints in the Park, dances and paint nights.

“We also need people who can sew that might want to do some sewing at home to help us fix cat beds and dog beds, and some things like that, and some clerical work as well,” Maloney said.

Volunteering, she said, is not just about walking dogs.

“We have a whole variety of things we can use people for and we want people to know they are welcome to come in and we want to make sure they have a good volunteer experience,” she continued.

Maloney said there is also a need for volunteers to transport animals to other shelters, which may give the animals a better chance of adoption.

“If we have drivers that can drive the animals, do a day trip and drive them to Regina or Moose Jaw for us,” she said, “those kind of things really help us because they can help us make more room for available animals to come in and give these animals a second chance.”

The Prince Albert SPCA sent another 20 cats to BC this month, where cats are in higher demand. (http://panow.com/article/613823/pa-spca-sends-kittens-find-homes-bc-and-nwt)

“Every new set of eyes is a new chance for a new life,” Maloney said.

Fostering is also a vital program for the SPCA.

“Basically it’s bringing animals into your home for a temporary amount of time to help with certain things. Sometimes we have animals, like a litter of kittens or puppies that need to be fostered. The SPCA pays all the expenses; you give them love and attention, which is the key thing they need,” Maloney said.

She said other types of fostering which include older animals, like an 18-year-old cat who just came into the shelter.

“He’s better off at a home then coming into a shelter environment,” Maloney said. “Sometimes we’ll have a puppy that’s very scared or not used to people. Before we can adopt him he needs to be used to a home environment and then we can get him into a regular routine and get him adopted.”

Sometimes, she said, fostering means taking an animal for a couple of weeks, or just an emergency placement for a night.

“These are all vital to our running day-to-day operations, so we really need those kinds of volunteers as well,” Maloney said.

Maloney said the SPCA wants to match the right animal with the applicant’s home environment because they wants to make sure the foster is able to look after the animal without causing stress to either party.

“We do the best we can to provide a very stimulating and good environment, but when you’re dealing with 133 animals with our six staff it’s hard to give everybody one-on-one [attention], so to be able to give them that is vital,” she said.

Volunteers, Maloney said, don’t have to give up a whole day in order to help out.

“We appreciate any time given to us,” she said.

The volunteer information night will take place at the lecture theatre at Carlton Comprehensive High School at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 16.

swallace@panow.com

@sarahthesquid

by Sarah Wallace

SPCA calls for more volunteers

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