- By Junior Journalist Ashlee Peng
In the crisp late morning, I arrive at the SPCA (The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Incorporated).
The air is filled with the joyful sounds of excited dogs, kittens and more animals waiting to be cared for.
The dedicated volunteers here work tirelessly to ensure these animals are safe, healthy, and happy.
Today, I’m going to spend the day with them to experience the rewarding but challenging job of caring for animals who need a lot of love and attention.
This isn’t just a place for animals to stay. It’s a comforting haven full of kindness, hope, and endless compassion, all thanks to the amazing and hardworking people who are committed to helping these animals.
The SPCA is New Zealand’s largest animal welfare charity and helps all kinds of animals – dogs, cats, guinea pigs, and more – find new homes where they can feel safe and happy.
It rehomes animals through adoptions and upholds the Animal Welfare Act 1999 and prosecutes where necessary.
Its main goal is to stop animal cruelty and give every animal a chance at a better life.
I was met by Alan, who’s volunteered there for 15 years! He works mainly in the canine area, where he spends most of his time caring for the dogs.
Alan told me about a typical day, which includes feeding the dogs, walking them, cleaning their cages, and spending time with them so they feel loved and cared for.
The volunteers also groom the animals to keep them healthy. Alan shares that each dog is different, so they all need special attention.
It’s clear the volunteers do much more than just the basics – they make sure every animal is treated with care.
“Another thing that’s great about SPCA is that not just the animals are great, but the people are all very friendly,” Alan says. “Take it from me.”
Once, there was a big dog brought in for the SPCA to care for. It looked really scary and like it would bite anyone but it turned out to be a big softie and wanted me to rub its belly!
It was challenging because no one would want to look at it and it was hard getting him adopted, recalls Alan.
While the job is rewarding, it’s not always easy. Some animals come from difficult backgrounds, and it takes a lot of patience and care to help them trust people again.
Alan’s favourite part of volunteering at the SPCA is walking the dogs and being around all the friendly people. When an animal finds a forever home, he feels happy for them.
Something the community can do to help support the SPCA is to desex their pet if they have one. It’s not that expensive and it helps a lot.
Also, if you see an animal, don’t harm it because it’s probably really scared. Animals typically act nervous and frightened when they first arrive.
Even if they’ve been in a bad home. Why? Because it was still their home and going somewhere else not knowing anyone there, having different food, different surroundings and different smells can frighten them. Socialising helps when this happens.
To volunteer at the SPCA you must be 16 or over, but if you’re under 16 or can’t go there for some other reason, you can help support them by making toys or decorations for the animals to have fun with.
For more information, check out the SPCA website at www.spca.nz.
- Ashlee Peng is in year 7 at Bucklands Beach Intermediate School
