Animal Advocates Watchdog

15. The complete lack of benefits to the volunteers

15) The complete lack of benefits to the volunteers

All the volunteers currently at the SPCA are there in spite of the SPCA and not because of it. They come because they feel sorry for the animals. There is nothing wrong with this but the SPCA could attract more volunteers and perhaps better volunteers if some benefits were offered. They also could ensure that volunteers would feel like they belong and would therefore remain with the society longer. Almost all other volunteer organizations offer some form of benefits, the SPCA only offers disrespect and hurdles, no job training and an unorganized environment.

This conflicts with the SPCA Code of Ethics: Point 4)

Solution: Provide some benefits for the volunteers, some sort of simple achievement system, at least a T-shirt. Perhaps after so many hours of service a pin or written certificate could be awarded, anything that would recognize the contribution that has been made….also see point 4)

Symptoms: Disgruntled volunteers who do not perform at peak efficiency and are less than enthusiastic, and frequent volunteer turnaround.

Messages In This Thread

1998 letter from Scott and Natasha Baker: Still relevant because not enough has changed
The Vancouver SPCA has completely failed in this regard by: 1. Not providing any form of useful public education
2. Presenting a bad example when dealing with shelter animals
3. Practicing unnecessary euthanasia
A more careful reading of our notes to conversations with Natasha
4. Not providing enough kennels despite the space to do so
5. Not providing young animals with sufficient stimuli
6. Inadequate screening of potential adoptees
7. Being too rigid with respect to enforcing adoption hours
8. Not showing or adopting sick animals
9. No adoption councillor for the dogs
10. The wanton separation of an animal from its personal belongings
11. Insufficient effort to promote the adoption of shelter animals
12. Not suggesting alternatives to the surrender of animals
13. Poor and sometimes cruel displays of animals
14. The complete lack of training of volunteers
15. The complete lack of benefits to the volunteers
16. The complete lack of and adequate job description for volunteers
17. Lack of any hierarchy or chain of command
18. Lack of respect and trust by the staff
19. General lack of manners
20. No attempt to show compassion
21. Lack of a adequate communications channels
22. Lack of follow-up on adoptions
23. Not allowing for the pick-up of a lost cat after visiting hours
24. Misuse of donated funds
25. Inadequate seclusion of “stray” animals
From my time volunteering at the Burnaby SPCA, I came to these conclusions as well
We welcome comment from the SPCA
From the Prince George Free Press
Natasha is just one of hundreds: Brigitta MacMillan also tried to make the SPCA change, with no luck *PIC*
So too did Christine W.
So did Laura Dean
Another letter from Laura Dean
What has changed since November 2001? If I find out that anymore animals have been euthanized, I will go to the media
The organization of as large a scale as the SPCA needs critics and scrutinizing

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