BC SPCA - Kelowna

Animal Fostering.  Foster Care volunteers give vulnerable animals a safe place to heal, grow, learn, and feel  secure. When animals need extra support, fostering provides an essential level of care that  helps them prepare for their forever home or gives them a safe place to stay before being  reunited with their families.  Responsibilities  Communicate urgently with the centre when an animal requires veterinary attention.  • Spend quality time with foster animals daily by providing enrichment activities, play, grooming/petting,  and exercise.  • Provide a suitable environment that meets the animal's needs.  • Ability to transport to/from the centre and/or veterinarian as needed.  • Complete behaviour and health reports as needed.  Requirements & Training  • Philosophical harmony with our mission, vision, values and strategic directions.  • Fosters, or lead fosters in a family, must be 19+ years of age and have housing where pets are permitted.  • Completion of BC SPCA provided online training must be completed prior to starting to foster.  • Previous experience caring for injured/ill animals preferred.  • Open to learning new animal care and training methods.  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.  Time Commitment  • Approximately 1-3 hours of online training is required for entry into the foster program. Length of  training will depend upon animal type you are interested in fostering.  Attendance to an in-centre orientation or interview may be required before starting to foster.  • We request that fosters commit to being on the foster list for a minimum of 6 months after application  has been accepted.  • The length of each foster placement varies depending upon a variety of factors and can be just a  weekend, or months while an animal heals from surgery or a new mother raises her newborns.  Benefits of Volunteering  • Fostering makes a direct impact on animals in need, can bring joy to volunteers, and strengthen family  bonds. It's also a great way to gain valuable skills for future careers in animal care.  Quality time with animals who need your support.  • The intrinsic reward of making a difference in an animal's life by caring for them as they transition into  their forever homes.  • Opportunities to attend BC SPCA events, training and more.  Is fostering with the BC SPCA Right for You?  LEARN MORE  Questions? Email volunteers@spca.bc.ca  MISSION  PROTECTING VULNERABLE ANIMALS AND MOBILIZING COMMUNITIES SO  ANIMALS AND PEOPLE THRIVE TOGETHER.

Grounds Maintenance.  Join our team of passionate individuals as a Grounds Maintenance volunteer with the BC  SPCA! In this role, you'll help care for our lawns, gardens, walkways, and outdoor spaces by  supporting seasonal tasks.  Responsibilities  • Assist in maintaining planter boxes, vegetable gardens, flower beds, and lawn maintenance. Tasks will vary  by location.  • Utilize FireSmart landscaping when possible and pollinator and wildlife friendly gardening practices.  • Seasonal tasks may include lawn mowing, raking, and weed pulling.  • Winter:  o Ensure common walkways and entrances to the Centre are free of snow and ice accumulation.  o Apply sand and ice melt to walkways and entrances to mitigate the risk of slips and falls.  o Clear BC SPCA fleet vehicles of snow and ice when needed.  • Communicate promptly with BC SPCA staff if any concerns or issues arise, such as equipment  malfunctions or potential safety hazards.  • Follow Centre's processes for volunteers checking in/out and ensuring your volunteer hours are logged.  Requirements & Training  • Philosophical harmony with our mission, vision, values and strategic directions.  • Age requirement of 16+ years of age: Youth 16-18 years must have their guardian complete the consent  form in the application to be able to volunteer independently.  • Completion of BC SPCA provided online training must be completed prior to starting to volunteer.  • Familiar with or open to learning FireSmart landscaping, pollinator and wildlife friendly gardening  practices.  • Ability to identify potential hazards and take proactive measures to address them.  • Ability to assess snow accumulation and determine the most efficient starting points for shoveling,  ensuring that high-traffic areas and critical pathways are prioritized, and snow is moved to appropriate  area.  Volunteering Conditions  • Weather Conditions: Outdoor tasks may require working in a variety of weather conditions, including  rain, snow, ice, or heat. Volunteers should dress appropriately and be prepared for seasonal changes.  • Physical Activity: This role involves a high level of physical activity, including tasks such as shoveling  snow, lifting bags of sand or ice melt, moving bags of dirt, lawn clippings, and other hands-on outdoor  work.  • Safety Protocols: Volunteers are expected to follow all safety procedures related to yard and grounds  maintenance, including the safe use of tools and equipment, proper lifting techniques, wearing  appropriate protective gear, and reporting any hazards or concerns to staff.  • Potential Hazards: Volunteers should remain aware of potential risks associated with using and handling  outdoor equipment and tools.  Time Commitment  • Approximately 1 hour of online training is required for entry into the volunteer program.  • Depending upon location and time of year, a minimum of 2 hours per week can be expected.  • A minimum commitment of 3 months is requested.  Benefits of Volunteering  • Sense of pride and accomplishment in helping centres look welcoming and well-kept, as well as keeping  them safe for staff, volunteers, and community members.  • Engagement in a new community of like-minded individuals.  • Opportunities to attend BC SPCA events, training and more.  • Excellent training 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.

Clean Team.  Join our Clean Team at the BC SPCA and with every task, whether folding laundry or  sanitizing a room, help animals stay healthy, reduce risk of disease, and support their path to  adoption.  Responsibilities  • Cleaning tasks will vary by location and may include:  o General Cleaning: Sweep, mop, sanitize surfaces, and clean windows throughout the facility.  o Animal Dishes: Wash, sanitize, dry, and put away dishes. Keep the wash area clean and organized for  the next volunteer.  o Laundry: Wash and dry towels, bedding, blankets, soft toys, and other machine-washable items. Sort  dirty laundry, run loads through the washer and dryer, fold as needed, and return clean items to their  designated areas. Ensure machines and the laundry room are clean, organized, and ready for the next  use.  o Transfer Cleaning: Assist with cleaning before and after animal transfer days. Tasks may include  setting up crates, preparing to receive incoming animals, and supporting transfer-out preparations.  • Connect with Shelter staff or the Volunteer Lead at the start of each shift to prioritize tasks.  • Organize cleaning materials and notify staff when supplies are running low.  • Follow all required 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 a variety of tasks as needed or required.  • Organized, dependable, and can work well with others or independently.  • Able to follow and interpret verbal and written directions, signage, and procedures.  • Completion of BC SPCA provided online training must be completed prior to starting to volunteer.  Volunteering Conditions  • Volunteers must adhere to safety protocols to protect themselves and the animals. This includes using  personal protective equipment (PPE) where necessary.  • Tasks may involve long periods of standing, bending, and walking.  • Able to work safely around cleaning chemicals, detergents, and disinfectants.  • Comfortable working on wet or slippery floors and taking precautions to prevent slips or falls.  • Able to lift, carry, or move items such as laundry, crates, or cleaning supplies as required.  • Comfortable working around soiled laundry, animal dishes, and other materials that may contain fur,  dander, or biological contaminants.  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 volunteers@spca.bc.ca to inquire.  Include the location and details of your school program.  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  • Involvement with a new community of animal lovers and supporters.  • Opportunities to attend BC SPCA events, training and more.  • Build practical skills in cleaning, sanitation, organization, and time management.  • Gain experience working in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.  Questions? Email volunteers@spca.bc.ca  MISSION  PROTECTING VULNERABLE ANIMALS AND MOBILIZING COMMUNITIES SO  ANIMALS AND PEOPLE THRIVE TOGETHER.