Thank you so much for your interest in the Ontario SPCA Orangeville & District Branch's Volunteer Program. The animals need your help!
Volunteers are vital to our Branch. We rely on our volunteers to help in many aspects of the Branch and we rely on their commitment and their expertise. If you are interested in volunteering you can download an application from this site, pick up an application at the Animal Shelter and Adoption Centre at 650 Riddell Road in Orangeville, or apply online. Upon receipt of a fully completed application, you will be contacted for an interview. Orientation and training is provided for all volunteers.
If your interest is in helping out at either of our Paws and Claws Thrift Stores, please go into the store you'd like to volunteer at and leave your name and telephone number with one of the volunteers. You will be contacted by one of the volunteer store managers. Volunteer Coordinator Joanne Scott may be contacted at: jscott@ospca.on.ca.
You can also think of your own way to help the animals! Build on your creative talents and talk with the Volunteer Coordinator at your volunteer interview about your special skills.
We appreciate your commitment to make a difference in the lives of animals!
Volunteer Job Descriptions
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT [ info ]
ANIMAL CARE: PET PAL [ info ]
BOTTLE PICKUP [ info ]
CANINE COMRADE [ info ]
CRITTER CARRIER [ info ]
FOSTER FRIEND [ info ]
FUNDRAISING & SPECIAL EVENTS [ info ]
GROCERY TAPE GURU [ info ]
HUMANE EDUCATION ASSISTANT [ info ]
KITTY AND/OR SMALL ANIMAL PLAY THERAPIST [ info ]
PAWS & CLAWS THRIFT SHOP VOLUNTEERS [ info ]
SHELTER MAINTENANCE [ info ]
PRIORITY POSITIONS [ info ]
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
The front desk in the shelter is always extremely busy which is why this location is always in need of volunteers.
No two days are ever the same and there is always something going on. As a volunteer admin assistant your duties
will be quite diversified and you will experience a real taste of shelter life. All volunteers acting in this capacity
are trained and supervised by Lisa Irvine, the shelter receptionist.
Administrative Assistant volunteers provide general office support and assist with a variety of administrative projects. Excellent communication skills are an asset, as well as the ability to work well with other people and follow instructions. Previous computer and office experience is also very helpful. Volunteers in this capacity should be willing to commit to at least one hour per week and should be well organized, neat and reliable.
ANIMAL CARE: PET PAL
If you're 16 years of age or older, and you love animals, then this might be the "purrfect" volunteer position for you.
It is certainly one of the positions most in need of volunteers.
The daily care of the animals is definitely the heart and soul of the shelter and we greatly value the volunteers who are dedicated enough to become part of this team.
Animal Care is not always easy because it involves cleaning and disinfecting cages/kennels, litter boxes and dishes, and then setting up the clean cages/kennels with fresh food, water, litter and blankets. Because the animals are hungry when they first wake up, this position must be done mornings. Animal care volunteers begin at 8:00 a.m. or 8:30 a.m. at the latest. Ideally we like it when an animal care volunteer is able to commit to one morning per week because then it helps us to schedule.
We have a very small staff here at the shelter, and so many animals to take care of, so any volunteers who help in this capacity are hugely appreciated. Besides a love of animals and the desire to improve their lives, it's important that you be able to follow instructions well and pay attention to detail. We rely on our animal care volunteers, so it's necessary that you are dependable and are able to work well independently. Having previous experience with animals is an asset when it comes to handling, grooming and simply knowing what to expect from the animals. This position is very fast paced and physically demanding.
Sue Hamilton is our animal care training coordinator, and she will provide a 2-3 hour training session for all volunteers in this area.
This position requires strong commitment, and yet it is extremely rewarding because not only are you providing the basic essentials, but you are also helping to brighten the day for the animals in the shelter.
BOTTLE PICKUP
We require dedicated volunteers to assist with the bottle program.
Bottles are dropped off at the shelter on a daily basis. Each Wednesday, a team of volunteers meet at the shelter at 9:30 a.m. to sort, count and place the bottles, cans and plastic bottles into the correct bins. Between 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, The Beer Store sends a truck to collect the bottles. So we need to have them sorted and ready for the pickup beforehand. If you have a couple hours to spare on Wednesday mornings to help with this program, please contact Joanne. We need your help!
Also, for those who have an hour to spare during the week, volunteers can help organize our small bottle shed. Fridays and Saturdays are especially good days to do this. The bottles in the shed need to be placed into bins, and the bins need to be moved to the back of the shed to make room for more bottles.
We celebrate all volunteers willing to help in this capacity. And don't forget...by volunteering with this program, you're also helping the animals! In 2008 our income from bottle returns was $20,000, and our goal for 2009 is even higher! So please help us achieve this goal by telling all your friends and business associates to donate their bottles to us or to help by volunteering. We appreciate all the help we can get with the bottle drive, and the shelter animals appreciate it even more!
CANINE COMRADE
If you are at least 16 years of age and you love dogs, then this could be the perfect volunteer position for you. At the shelter
the dogs are kept in kennels and by the time the shelter staff have finished their daily chores of caring for so many animals,
there isn't much time left to give individual attention to the dogs.
That's why volunteer Canine Comrades are so precious! These volunteers bring a touch of joy to the shelter dogs by getting them out of the kennels and giving them some fresh air and exercise...walking, playing and socializing with them.
When the dogs are walked and socialized, they are happier dogs and better behaved. So as volunteers, Canine Comrades aren't just walking dogs....they are making a huge difference in the lives of these dogs. They are helping to keep the dogs from falling into depression, and by keeping the dogs happy and socialized, they are enhancing their chances of adoptability.
For all Canine Comrade volunteers, a 1 hour training session is performed by Karen McKimmon, the Dog Walking Coordinator. Karen will ensure that all volunteers are introduced to the dogs and fully informed of all procedures. The volunteers are then responsible for following all protocol and procedures established for dog training and safety. Volunteers become familiar with the shelter dogs, and therefore are in a position to provide feedback on behavior and progress.
Canine Comrades only work with shelter dogs that are up for adoption. This means that all the dogs have been tested for temperament and passed. They are up to date on their shots and they have been defleaed and dewormed (routine procedures done in the shelter).
Some shelter dogs have high energy and are physically very strong. Many of them are not trained in the mannerism of leash walking and basic obedience, and they will pull quite hard on the leash. You will need to be able to match them with zeal, motivation and physical endurance. Goal setting and achievement is of wonderful assistance to training. You will need to be assertive, but sensitive with a great deal of patience. Experience with dogs is highly recommended, as you must be comfortable handling many different breeds and sizes. We recommend you be able to lift approx 50 pounds to give you an idea of what kind of physical endurance is required. Furthermore, you must be excellent at following protocol and procedures, and be able to both read and write.
Our dogs love our dog walkers, and so do we!
CRITTER CARRIER
We never know when wildlife will come through our doors, but we do know that by law we are not allowed to hold wildlife at the
shelter. Therefore, if the wildlife require long term care before being released, we must get them to a licensed wildlife
rehabilitation centre. We use several facilities in the area, but the main one used is Ontario SPCA Wildlife Rehabilitation
Centre in Midland.
We rely on volunteers to drive the wildlife to the licensed wildlife rehabilitation centre. The wildlife can be anything from possums and raccoons to fawns, bunnies, hawks or geese. It could be a litter of babies or a single adult. We never know in advance, which is why the position of Critter Carrier is done on an on-call basis. We like to have a few Critter Carriers registered, so that if one is busy and unable to deliver the wildlife, we have other volunteers to call.
All animals are crated.
This position is an exciting one for anyone who loves wildlife and who wants to make a difference.
FOSTER FRIEND
Foster friends assist us in providing temporary care for animals with special needs, in an atmosphere of safety and security within
your own home and to prepare animals for adoption. You will be a crucial person to our work. Being both present to witness the moment
of life and later caring to sustain it, you will work at the very core of our goal to save animals' lives. Your compassion for animals
is a gift that in foster care work you are both admired and revered for by people and animals.
You will be supporting the animals that need it most. Whether providing a comfortable, isolated place for pregnant animals, or feeding orphaned kittens every four hours, you will be contributing to the health and well being of many animals. Though all food, supplies and medical care are provided by us, the time, commitment, benevolence and understanding will be up to you. In the rare circumstance that you encounter a medical emergency you would need to be able to take the animal to the veterinarian yourself. You will not be caring for healthy, adoptable animals but rather pregnant or young animals is a more common scenario. This is a truly varied position with many animals that will require your empathy. The time commitment is one week to two months, depending on the needs of the foster animal. On rare occasions, an animal may require a longer term commitment. To learn more about fostering, click here.
FUNDRAISING & SPECIAL EVENTS
Every year we run numerous exciting fundraising events such as our annual Friends for Life Walk-a-thon, Fore the Animals Golf Tournament,
Family Pet Photos with Santa and the Spring Garden Tea to name a few. These events are essential to the shelter as they help raise the
funds necessary to keep the shelter running. But at the same time, each event represents a huge amount of work and volunteers are always
needed in order to make each event a success.
Every event is different, and therefore the duties vary according to the event. But what remains constant is the amount of fun to be had by all volunteers. Not only do volunteers have fun while knowing they are helping such a needy cause, but events also provide volunteers with the opportunity to meet other genuine and caring animal lovers.
Volunteer help is often required before an event as well, since there is always a lot pf prep work that goes into each event. Phone calls have to be made, flyers distributed, items picked up and mail-outs to be done etc.
It is essential that any volunteers helping with events be totally reliable, dependable and committed to doing that which they signed up to do. Events are organized by our Community Relations Coordinator, Barb McCreath, and although all volunteers work under her supervision and guidance, there is also the opportunity for volunteers to act as project managers or team leaders on various fundraising events.
Third party fundraisers are also welcomed provided they are pre-approved. These could include events such as garage sales or BBQ's etc., where the proceeds are donated to the shelter.
So whether you choose to work the actual event or help out behind the scenes, you're guaranteed a fun and rewarding experience.
GROCERY TAPE GURU
Everyone has to buy groceries. But what everyone doesn't know is that buying groceries can actually contribute to helping animals. Through
the Save a Tape program run by Zehrs, charities remit the tapes and receive money in return. This unique program helps to raise hundreds of
dollars for our Branch.
This is a task which can be done at home at your leisure. Thanks to wonderful community support, caring members of the public save their grocery tapes from Zehrs and bring them into our shelter. As a Grocery Tape Guru, you simply pick up a stack of these tapes, take them home, sort them, total them, bundle them and return them to the shelter where they will be submitted for refund.
All volunteers helping with this must be a minimum of 14 years of age.
This program goes a long way towards raising funds for the care of the animals, and by helping in this capacity you are helping to make a huge difference.
HUMANE EDUCATION ASSISTANT
Throughout the summer we offer the BARC Summer Camp for children as a fun and exciting way to encourage young people to respect animals
and the environment. Volunteers are always needed to assist the camp leader. The camp is held at the Monora Park Pavilion.
BARC Summer Camp is not only educational, but it's loads of fun as well, and the children involved are between the ages of 7 to 12.
If you love children and animals, this volunteer position could be very rewarding for you. You would be assisting the camp leader with the activities such as games, discussions and interaction with the visiting animals.
Applicants must have strong communication skills, and be able to work with others cooperatively as a team. All applying volunteers must be a minimum of 14 years of age. First Aid certification and teaching or coaching experience would be considered a strong asset, and a clear police record check will be requested. Creativity and the ability to take initiative are welcomed qualities as well. Applicants must be reliable, punctual and educated on the basics of animal care, safety, wildlife and current issues affecting animals.
If you enjoy working with children and animals, and you want to make the world a better place through education, then this could be the ideal volunteer position for you.
KITTY AND/OR SMALL ANIMAL PLAY THERAPIST
If you are 16 years of age or older, and a cat lover, this is a wonderful opportunity, and it's extremely rewarding. Play therapy can also
be done with the shelter bunnies and other small animals for those who are so inclined.
At the shelter, cats, kittens and bunnies are housed in cages 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and most have been at the shelter for several months before reaching the point of going up for adoption. As a result, many cats become bored, lonely and depressed if they don't receive social interaction. This can have serious consequences, since depression can at times lead to illness or aggression. Play Therapists help keep the cats from becoming bored, lonely and depressed by allowing them play time out of the cage. The goal is to keep every cat happy, healthy and friendly so that they have a greater chance of being adopted quickly into loving forever homes. Many of the cats and bunnies enjoy being brushed by Play Therapists as well.
All volunteers interested in becoming Play Therapists will be given a training session before starting.
If you are considering this position, compassion and a sincere love of cats (or bunnies if you prefer) is necessary. Experience dealing with and handling cats is a definite asset, but not a requirement, since everybody accepted into the Play Therapy program will go through the training session regardless of experience or qualifications. As a Play Therapist, you must be willing and able to follow instructions and have a good understanding of animal behaviour and communication. Ideally, a weekly commitment of one hour per week would be appreciated, but we love it when our Play Therapists come more often.
Volunteers doing Play Therapy work with the cats already up for adoption. These cats have been dewormed, defleaed and are up to date on their shots. They are also socialized. These cats are kept in the Feline Adoption rooms. Any Play Therapists choosing to work with the bunnies would be working in the Small Animal Room.
If you love cats (or bunnies), this is a very rewarding volunteer position, not only for the volunteer, but for the kitties (and bunnies) as well. Shelter staff are so busy and don't have the time to give each animal individual attention. That's why Play Therapy volunteers are true gems!
PAWS & CLAWS THRIFT SHOP VOLUNTEERS
Operating a shelter with so many animals is very costly, and one major source of funding comes from our two Paws & Claws Thrift shops...one
in Orangeville at 162 Broadway, and the other in Shelburne at 126 Main Street East.
Amazingly, both these shops are run totally by volunteers, and it takes many volunteers to keep the shops open and operational. Volunteers must be at least 14 years of age.
Volunteering in the Paws & Claws store offers great retail experience (which looks good on a resume). The duties required can vary from sorting merchandise to stocking shelves, dealing with customers, handling cash, setting up displays and keeping the store clean and tidy.
Volunteers in the Paws & Claws stores also have the opportunity to promote the shelter by providing information on the animals up for adoption, special events, general pet care, various animal issues and the services provided by the Ontario SPCA Orangeville and District Branch.
If you are interested in being a Paws & Claws volunteer, you should be motivated by a strong compassion for animals. You will also need excellent communication and people skills. Good work habits such as punctuality and honesty are important, and it helps to be charismatic, patient, and organized with an eye for detail. You must be extremely reliable, committed to a regular schedule and able to work independently.
All funds raised at the two locations go directly towards the care of the animals, and that's why our Paws & Claws volunteers are true treasures.
SHELTER MAINTENANCE:
The animals are our main priority at the shelter which means that all funds raised go towards animal care and upkeep, leaving none to cover the
cost of janitorial help. Therefore, any volunteers who would like to help with odd jobs around the shelter would be greatly appreciated. Odd jobs
include things such as cleaning windows, floors, bathrooms etc., or maintaining the shelter garden.
PRIORITY POSITIONS: Updated January 27/09
Throughout the year our need for help in particular areas of the shelter becomes a priority, and the positions listed below indicate which areas we are currently in the greatest need of help with. These are positions of great importance and your consideration to help with them is greatly appreciated.
BOTTLE PICKUPS
PAWS & CLAWS THRIFT STORE SALES HELP IN SHELBURNE
ANIMAL CARE VOLUNTEERS (Pet Pals)
CRITTER CARRIERS
FUNDRAISING & EVENT VOLUNTEERS
SHELTER MAINTENANCE