Penticton - Cat Care & Wellness
Cat Care & Wellness volunteers support cats through enrichment and by keeping their spaces clean. You’ll follow staff-guided plans, follow safety protocols, and record each interaction to help cats thrive. Responsibilities: Provide cat enrichment through mental stimulation, play & affection. Follow any/all recommended behavioural plans outlined by the staff. Assist with cleaning and disinfecting cat rooms and kennels. Clean dishes, laundry, and litter boxes, and prepare and provide food to cats. Adhere to all BC SPCA policies. Follow all Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and biosecurity protocols as needed. Follow the centre’s task list for the Cat Care & Wellness position, which may require volunteers to complete cleaning tasks before interacting with available cats. Requirements & Training: Philosophical harmony with our mission, vision, values and strategic directions. Open to completing cleaning tasks prior to interacting with the animals when needed or required. Knowledge of animal behaviour is preferred. Able to follow and interpret verbal and/or written directions, signage, and procedures. Completion of BC SPCA provided online training must be completed prior to starting to volunteer. Volunteering Conditions: Animal Handling: Working directly with animals may involve low-stress handling, or caring for them, which requires attention to detail. Safety Protocols: Volunteers must adhere to safety protocols to protect themselves and the animals. This includes using personal protective equipment (PPE) where necessary. Potential Hazards: Be aware of potential hazards such as bites, scratches, or exposure to zoonotic diseases. Training will cover how to minimize these risks. Support Workers: If you are a support worker, or wish to volunteer with your support worker, please see the following important information: Support Workers must submit their own application and complete all required steps, including online training. Support Workers are expected to provide the level of supervision and support needed by the volunteer while volunteering. Youth Volunteers: Youth under 12 years of age are not able to volunteer. Youth between the ages of 12–15 can volunteer only when accompanied and supervised by a parent/guardian (19+ years old). Youth between the ages of 16–18 can volunteer with the consent of their guardians. Youth volunteering for school requirements: depending on program requirements and the number of students submitting applications for this purpose, not all centres will be able to accommodate these requests. For more information before submitting an application, contact your local centre and include the location and details of your school program. Note: Youth volunteering directly with animals is at the discretion of the Centre staff and may vary depending on the current animals at the Centre and other applicable factors. Not all centres are able to accommodate youth to volunteer directly with cats. Time Commitment: Approximately 1 hour of online training is required for entry into the volunteer program. Attendance at an in-centre orientation and/or tour may be required before starting to volunteer. Due to the level of training provided for volunteers to work with cats, we request a minimum commitment of 3 months with one shift per week. Benefits of Volunteering: Sense of pride and accomplishment in helping animals prepare for finding their forever home. Involvement with a new community of animal lovers and supporters. Opportunities to attend BC SPCA events, training and more. Excellent training in low-stress animal handling which can be added to your resume. Questions? Email volunteers@spca.bc.ca Mission PROTECTING VULNERABLE ANIMALS AND MOBILIZING COMMUNITIES SO ANIMALS AND PEOPLE THRIVE TOGETHER.
