Volunteering with Animals
There are many opportunities to work with well organised groups who care for animals or work with animals to help people. These include:
RSPCA ACT
(click on the logo to go to the RSPCA ACT website)
Visit the RSPCA ACT volunteering web pages for voluntary vacancies: www.rspca-act.org.au/volunteers/jobs.php
Types of voluntary roles may include:
-
Assisting in the shelter – administration, customer service, sales and enquiries in the shop, cleaning cages and pens, feeding, etc
- Walking shelter animals
Contact: Emma Padovan
6287 8127
RSPCA Wildlife
(Click on the image to link to the RSPCA Wildlife site)
After training and accreditation, volunteers assist with fostering and rehabilitation for eventual release of Australian native species of mammals, birds and reptiles
Contact: Emma Padovan
6287 8127
PAWS (Pets are Wonderful Support)
Established in Canberra by previous Body Shop co-owner Jan Phillips and based on a model from America, PAWS provides in home support for the pets of those who have difficulty caring for their pets due to age, illness or other infirmity. Volunteers may walk dogs, groom pets, assist with feeding, transport animals to veterinarians or other services, provide respite care for pets while owners are away from their homes (eg in hospital), and assist with rehoming if that becomes necessary.
Co-ordinator Lauren Davies
Mobile 0428 267 624
DAS Dog Walkers
Join a group of volunteers who regularly walk dogs residing in the ACT Pound in Mugga Lane, Red Hill. When the dogs at DAS get regular exercise and training they are less stressed and remain the friendly family pet they were when they were brought in. And if they are comfortable with strangers they are more attractive to potential new owners.
To find out more contact DAS on 6207-2424 or e-mail dogcontrol@act.gov.au?subject=Volunteer Dog Walkers.
DAS Dog Walkers now have a newsletter (first issue May 2010) available at http://www.tams.act.gov.au/live/pets/domestic_animal_services/das_volunteers
ACT Rescue and Foster
(Click on the image to link to the ARF website)
ARF takes pets who have been residing in the Pound for longer than the requisite 7 days and which are judged to have a temperament suitab le for rehoming. The dogs are fostered in volunteers homes, vaccinated, desexed, microchipped, tested for heartworm disease, given basic training and socialisation, and loved!
Delta Purina Pet Partners
(Click on the image to link to the Delta Pet Partners website)
The Delta Society is a not for profit organisation with three arms – providing high quality training to those interested in working with dogs (Australia’s only certificate IV qualification in this area) (Vicki Young CGC is our trainer at GVH and Animal Behaviour Consulting)); training volunteers for and organising the Delta Dog Safe Strategy which teaches children how to minimise the risks of dog bite and injury; and the Pet Partners Program. Now sponsored by Purina Pet Foods, Pet Partners accredits dogs and trains owners to take their pets into nursing homes, retirement villages and the like, to enable all the benefits of contact with animals and animal assisted therapy. A coordinator for the ACT and south-eastern NSW has recently been appointed
Contact: Ruth Stockton 6922 7866
Pegasus – Riding for the disabled
(Click on the image to link to the Pegasus RDA website)
Pegasus Riding for the Disabled of the ACT is a not-for-profit community organisation that provides equestrian activities for people with a disability. Pegasus is located at Pegasus Farm on the outskirts of Canberra. About 90 riders with a disability ride at Pegasus each week and about 100 volunteers assist with the operation of our programs.
Pegasus relies on volunteers for many functions within the organisation. Volunteers can:
- Lead horses or assist riders in classes.
- Help with the care and grooming of horses.
- Help with stable management and cleaning tack.
- Help with farm maintenance tasks.
- Help with administrative tasks.
- Help with fundraising and catering.
- Help in working bees.
- Become a member of our Management Committee.
119 Drake Brockman Drive,
Holt ACT 2615
(02) 62549190
prda@bigpond.com?subject=Volunteering
Several local obedience clubs also visit nursing homes and other facilities where animals can interact with children and adults
This page last edited on 00/00/0000
