Volunteer

The SPCA Volunteer Program’s Mission

Help the animal first and foremost

Objective

At the Canadian SPCA, volunteers’ contributions are very important for the operations of the shelter. Their support and devotion are crucial in helping the SPCA accomplish its mission. They provide the additional resources necessary for us to continue to expand our services, which exceed the traditional services offered by an animal shelter.

SPCA Volunteer Program Description

All daily necessities that are essential to the shelter’s operations – such as general shelter maintenance, animal care, administration, clientele service, inspection and ambulances are carried out by hired staff. However, the Canadian SPCA goes beyond these standard services, and thanks to the volunteers’ contributions, can expand its actions to help animals.

Beyond food and a clean cage, our animals have needs that are not attended to by our staff. They need us to help them find a good home, to find their owner if they are lost or to find a temporary home. It is because of these needs that the SPCA Volunteer Program was established.

Profile of SPCA Volunteer

The Canadian SPCA is seeking individuals who want to give their time to help the animals, and involve themselves with all their heart. These special people are very concerned to improve the environment for animals in our society and to help the Canadian SPCA save more lives.

The motivation of their involvement is to help the animal, first and foremost!

All volunteers are required :

-          To be 18 and over

-          To be able to commit a minimum of 3 consecutive hours per week

-          To be able to work on a fixed schedule (at the same time each week)

-          To be available for long-term commitment

-          To have a valid email address

-          To have volunteered for a minimum of three months to qualify for a reference letter

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Exotic Animal Care Giver

The exotic department was started by a group of passionate volunteers in order to ensure the well-being of rodents, birds and other exotic animals at the shelter. The team tends to the special needs of these animals. Their responsibilities include feeding, exercise, health monitoring, etc. If you share our passion for these unique animals, and are familiar with them, join this dynamic and dedicated team!

Requirements: The love of exotic animals and previous experience working with them.

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Multitask Team

The Multitask program’s volunteers play a central role in enriching the lives of the animals at the shelter. Beyond their basic needs, volunteers ensure that each animal is as comfortable as possible by performing a variety of tasks in order to improve their quality of life at the shelter. These tasks include doing laundry, cleaning, toy inspection, ensuring that all animals have what they need, etc. If you like physical labour, come join a team with whom you will never get bored!

Requirements: Enjoying manual labour, being in good physical condition, being comfortable around cats and dogs.

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Petfinder

A picture is worth a thousand words! The Petfinder.com website offers a spotlight to all animals up for adoption at the SPCA. The Petfinder volunteers are in charge of photographing and writing a description of each animal looking for a family. Publishing our animals’ information on the web grants them greater visibility, yielding them more chances of being adopted! If you are a talented writer and photographer, come and meet our beautiful models!

Requirements: Having excellent written English or French, enjoys working in a team, owning a digital camera.

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Canine Training and Exercice Program

The Canine Training and Exercise Program provides the perfect opportunity for getting fresh air while burning energy, whether you have two legs or four! The program permits the shelter dogs to exercise and learn the basic commands that allow for a harmonious co-existence with humans. If you are comfortable around dogs of all breeds, sizes and behaviours, come stretch your legs with us!

Requirements: Having experience with big dogs, being in good physical condition.

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Recruitment Team

The commitment and dedication of the SPCA’s 350 volunteers is essential to its mission of assisting an ever growing number of abandoned animals. The recruitment team’s tasks are: providing information to the public on our volunteer program, advising and guiding potential candidates towards the activity that best fits their skills and interests, representing the shelter in special events, etc. If you want to play a part in the growth and development of the SPCA, don’t hesitate to come visit us!

Requirements: Being bilingual, having excellent interpersonal skills, enjoying administrative work and interacting with the public, being familiar with Microsoft Office programs.

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Lost and Found Team

The Lost and Found volunteer team helps bring home countless animals each year. Its members work tirelessly to find the owners of each lost animal arriving at the shelter; namely by posting their pictures on its website. And because we know that losing a pet is never easy, our volunteers are available to lend a sympathetic ear to distressed owners, and to provide them with practical advice on finding their companion. If you are bilingual, empathetic and enjoy interacting with the public, you can be a part of beautiful reunions too!

Requirements: Being bilingual, enjoying working with the public, being empathetic, having great interpersonal skills and a knowledge of Microsoft Office programs.

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Youth Program

Due to the large demand and long waiting list for this program, the registration for The Youth Program is temporarily closed. Please keep an eye on our website for further details.

We thank you for your understanding.

For safety reason, the SPCA requires all volunteers to be at least 18 years old. However, because of the large demand from young people, the SPCA has created a special program for youth 12 to 17 years old to assist with the caring of our cats. This program offers young people the chance to be in contact with cats under the constant supervision of an adult.  The SPCA is searching for adults who would be interested in partnering up with adolescents for this activity.

Requirements :

Adults: Responsible, likes to work with adolescents, likes cats.

Adolescents: Between 12 and 17 years old, is responsible and likes cats.

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Professional Expertise

If you are an expert in any field and would like to help the SPCA by sharing your talent, please send us your information, and we will contact you if a special project pertaining to your expertise should arise!

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Adoption counsellor

Help them find the perfect family! The SPCA’s adoption counsellors are responsible for evaluating potential candidates interested in adoption, providing them with the essential information on their new companion, and completing the different adoption procedures. If you enjoy interacting with the public, and want to play a role in making new friendships possible, come join this team!

Requirements: Being bilingual, enjoying working with the public, being comfortable with cats and dogs, having mature judgement and self-confidence.