The Lloydminster and District SPCA is looking for people to come work with their animals this year.
The SPCA’s volunteer program is now taking applicants for this year. Volunteers play with the animals, take them outside for exercise, make treats and toys and overall enriching the lives of animals in the shelter.
Lloydminster and District SPCA Executive Director Jon Punshon says that volunteers have a huge impact on the animals.
“Animals, just like people enjoy social interactions. They enjoy a variety of different activities and mental stimulation. A volunteer can provide that additional attention and enrichment to the animals while they’re staying at the SPCA.”
Punshon adds that an animal that is given a volunteer’s attention can become more social, happy and ultimately more adoptable. Volunteers can sign up for training in a variety of programs such as dog and cat enrichment, adoption assistant programs and the book buddy program for younger kids, where children come read to the animals.
Punshon says they have as many openings as they can fill for volunteer and there’s still lots of room for growth in the program.
“The eventual goal in a very robust and successful volunteer program at an SPCA or humane society is really having enough volunteers coming in throughout the day consistently. Until we reach a point where we have more volunteers than there’s space to accommodate then we would revisit that.”
People interested in joining the Lloydminster and District SPCA volunteer program can sign up on their website. The first orientation program is Thursday January 18th.