TORONTO – The Ontario SPCA provides care and shelter to tens of thousands of animals every year.
The animals at the centre are cared for by dedicated volunteers like Mahsa Nasseri and Sue Lentze.
“I wanted to start volunteering here because I have an interest in pursuing veterinary medicine,” says Nasseri.
“Volunteering here at the OSPCA gives me a chance to work with animals in a shelter.”
For Lentze, her involvement stems from her desire to help others.
“I believe in giving back to the community. And I also really strongly believe that animals can’t talk for themselves, so we’re the voice of the animals.”
Through its province-wide network of more than 50 communities, the Ontario SPCA is one of the largest organizations in the country.
For more than a century, volunteers have been the backbone of the organization, respecting and protecting homeless and abused animals with a goal to find them a home forever.
“Ontario SPCA is all about animal adoption, animal rehabilitation, humane education, and… our lovely volunteer program,” says Kallie Milleman, community development assistant at the Ontario SPCA.
Milleman says the key to being a good volunteer is dedication.
“We want to make sure our volunteers understand the work that we do. It can be somewhat sensitive at times, but at the same time can be very rewarding.”
On a daily basis the duties Nasseri and Lentze are tasked with can range anywhere from grooming to cleaning litter boxes and disinfecting food and water bowls.
“Whatever needs to be done… no job is too small,” says Lentze.