Volunteering | Volunteering Application Form

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Volunteering

Wellington SPCA is an animal welfare charity consisting of two animals shelters. These are located in Newtown and Kapiti. We cover a large area which spans north west from Wellington up to and including Otaki, north to the Silverstream bridge and north east to the Wainuiomata hills. Lost, injured, neglected and unwanted animals are treated and rehomed from the Newtown and Kapiti shelters.

Volunteer work involves many duties. Washing bedding is just one of the many duties that our volunteers carry out.

As well as shelter work we aim to improve the welfare of all animals, and actively campaign against certain issues such as factory farming practices.

Wellington SPCA employs around thirty full-time staff and has a pool of volunteers. We operate a veterinary clinic, which is open to the public and has special rates for those on benefits or low incomes. We also offer a low cost Desexing service.

Outside office hours we have an Inspector and a Vet on call for emergencies.
Newtown shelter has a dog run, puppy run, cattery, surgery (veterinary clinic) and clinic (cats, kittens, rabbits, birds, etc).

Volunteer Information

For health & safety reasons, volunteers must be 15 years or older. All interested applicants will go through an interview process. Our clinic supervisor will contact you to arrange a time.

Note: Volunteer work at our shelter is popular, consequently we may not be able to place everyone in voluntary positions immediately.

Policy & Practices

As Wellington SPCA is a hospital for animals, our standards of care and cleanliness are high. Failure to maintain these standards can result in serious compromise to animal health.

Our Society is committed to providing a safe workplace for SPCA volunteers and employees, it is therefore important that volunteers follow instructions and any health and safety requirements.

Animal Adoption

All shelter animals are desexed, vaccinated, wormed, defleaed and vet checked before they are rehomed. A property check is required on the prospective home before rehoming dogs, puppies or any animal housed in a hutch or cage. An inspector will carry this inspection out to ensure the new home has adequate fencing and shelter for the animal. Wellington SPCA is opposed to giving animals as surprise gifts, and asks that the people concerned choose the animal themselves. All animals are individuals and one does not choose ones friends on appearances only! Animals are not products to be brought and sold at will. The adoption or rehoming of an animal is a responsible act which needs care and consideration of many aspects. Our staff are there to guide and help people through this process and to facilitate a good outcome for the animal and the new caregiver or family.

Note: Kittens in the hospital areas are not available for viewing by the public.

Euthanasia

There are four main reasons for euthanasia at Wellington SPCA.

Health/Injury
A Veterinarian checks all animals on admission to the Shelter. Animals whose health and future quality of life is found to be less than fair, are euthanased. Animals who suffer from a contagious disease which may place other animals at risk, or have life threatening diseases or injures will be euthanased.

Dealing with euthanasia is one of the most difficult aspects of our work. About 60% of animals are euthanased due to health of injury. Euthanasia is carried out by a veterinarian using a lethal injection.

Temperament
Wellington SPCA has a primary duty to see that all animals offered for adoption are of good temperament and sound health, SPCA staff assess the animals to a given set of criteria. If found unsuitable the animal will be euthanased.

Age
If animals are of an age where their health status is in question they may be euthanased.

Overcrowding
If Wellington SPCA has more animals coming in than space available, euthanasia will be necessary. An assessment based on each of the above will be carried out on the animals in question, before euthanasia.

All euthanasia decisions are made by a team including a Veterinarian, and the caregiver, with the right of appeal to the Director.

Areas where volunteers can work:

Dog Run
The dog run houses up to twelve dogs at a time and the volunteers duties are to clean out the kennels, change bedding, feed and water the dogs and clean the outside dog runs. Gumboots and overalls are provided. Volunteers in this area should be confident and comfortable with handling dogs – some of which have had limited or no training.

Puppy Run
The puppy run houses up to twelve puppies at a time and the volunteers duties are to clean out the kennels, change bedding, feed, water and socialise the puppies, and clean the outside puppy enclosures. Strict quarantine guidelines are in place at all times to protect puppies from disease. Volunteers in this area should be confident and comfortable with handling puppies.

Cattery
Duties for volunteers working in the cat run areas are to clean thoroughly four cat runs to a strict procedure. Duties include, disinfecting floors, walls and shelves, changing bedding and litter trays and feeding up to fifty cats. Overalls are provided. Volunteers in this area should be confident and comfortable with handling cats and kittens.

Clinic
This is the incoming area for cats, kittens, rabbits, ferrets, birds and other small animals. Animals are housed in this area to have their health assessed or to locate caregivers if the animal is lost. Volunteers in this area must maintain high standards of hygiene to prevent cross-infection and understand the reason for these procedures. The work involves cleaning cages, changing bedding and litter trays, socialising, feeding and watering the animals. Volunteers in this area should be confident and comfortable with handling a wide range of animals. Overalls are provided.

Note: The clinic is not the veterinary clinic.