Small Animal Care & Wellness
Small Animal Care & Wellness. Small Animal Care and Wellness volunteers help ensure guinea pigs, rabbits, birds, and other small pets receive clean habitats and socialization. Your support keeps them healthy, comfortable, and ready for loving homes. Responsibilities Care for small animals such as guinea pigs and rabbits by removing and refreshing old bedding, uneaten • food, and visible waste as needed. Take out bowls, bottles, toys, and hideouts before cleaning. Wipe down surfaces with a pet-safe cleaner or disinfectant. Care for birds by cleaning perches, grate trays, and food scatter as needed. Rotate and sanitize toys. • Note unusual waste, odors, or mess patterns, (such as diarrhea, excessive shedding, unusual droppings, • and report any concerns to staff. Provide engagement through mental stimulation, play and affection. • Follow any and all recommended behavioural plans outlined by staff. • Follow all Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and biosecurity protocols as needed. • • Adhere to all BC SPCA policies. 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. • Comfortable working with small animals of various species for example birds, rabbits, and guinea pigs. • Knowledge of small 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 patience and 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: o Support Workers must submit their own application and complete all required steps, including online training. o 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 o Can volunteer only when accompanied and supervised by a parent/guardian (19+ years old) • Youth between the ages of 16-18 o Can volunteer with the consent of their guardians. • Youth volunteering for school requirements: o depending upon the program requirements and amount of students submitting applications for this purpose, not all centres will be able to accommodate these requests. o For more information before submitting an application, contact to inquire. 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 to an in-centre orientation and/or tour may be required before starting to volunteer. • 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.
