PAWS

Interested In Being A PAWS Volunteer?

We welcome volunteers at any time during OPENING TIMES:
Monday - Friday: 9.00am - 4.00pm
Except Wednesday: CLOSED for maintenance/training/etc.
Saturday - Sunday: 9.00am - 4.00pm

WE ARE USUALLY OPEN ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.
IF IN DOUBT PLEASE RING US TO CHECK...

	As a regular or occasional volunteer, you are always welcome.

	You can choose to spend time with any animals that you want and do the work that you enjoy. Even if you only stay an hour or a whole day it is still helpful for the animals. There are various types of jobs to be done, ideas of what to do are listed according to the animal. Points to remember:

-	a) All volunteers will be required to fill an application form and submit it to the office before being accepted as a volunteer. Approval must first be obtained from the Shelter Manger to ensure that volunteers are given adequate orientation and guidance. b) There is also a form for junior volunteers (under 18) and they should obtain this from the office or download and print from here so they can get their guardian/parents to sign before they first come. c) if a first timer it will be helpful if you call the office ahead so we expect you and can arrange for someone to be available to show you what to do. As such "come any time" doesnt really apply these days. Adult volunteer application form click here. Junior volunteer application form click here.

-	Wear suitable clothes: the older the better and you may want to wear long sleeves because there are mosquitos around!

-	Wear disposable gloves for dirty jobs (available from the treatment room).

-	Always latch the doors and gates behind you.

-	Wash your hands often, especially if moving between families with young animals.

-	It is important to talk to visitors when they arrive. Give them information on the animals you know about or direct them to one of the staff. Please supervise all children that come round to visit.

-	Please register with the office by signing the volunteer register everytime you visit.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HELPING!

WORK WITH PUPPIES:

-	Puppies love cuddles! It is important that animals, especially the little ones learn to interact with people. Going around and spending time individually with these animals, holding them, giving them exercise and playing games is important if they are to learn to interact with people. It is less likely that somebody will want to adopt an animal if it is unfriendly and not used to human contact, so this can be an important part of volunteering at the centre.

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Change dirty newspapers. Go around the cages and ensure that the animals inside have clean newspaper and rags for bedding.

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Refill water bowls.

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Put groups of similar size pups out to play in play pens (ensure pen is clean, has fresh water bowl and check with staff to see which pups can go out).

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Bottle-feeding (only if we have tiny pups with no mum).

WORK WITH KITTENS:

-	Older walking kittens will benefit from human contact, cuddles and play. Please give some attention to the Mother cat too! Wash your hands in-between handling families.

-	It is not advisable to disturb a mother cat with really young kittens. Small kittens should not be handled unless absolutely necessary. The mother is likely to be very protective of her young. Just make sure she has enough food and water.

-	If you take them out a couple at a time, kittens can be taken out of their cages for exercise and play. Make sure you supervise them at all times. DO NOT let them wander into the dog pens.

-	Change dirty newspapers. Go around the cages and ensure that the animals inside have clean newspaper and rags for bedding.

-	Refill food and water bowls.

WORK WITH CATS:

	-	Join the cats in their enclosures for cuddles, they love and need your attention.

	-	Hose down the floor of the adult cat enclosures. Be warned that this is a messy job and should be done quickly to ensure minimum stress is brought to the animals.

	-	Change dirty newspapers. Go around the cages and ensure that the animals inside have clean newspaper and rags for bedding.

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Refill food and water bowls.

WORK WITH ADULT DOGS:

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Give a dog a bath, they get pretty grubby and we do want them looking their best when their new owner finds them.

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Just like you need to comb your hair dogs need to be brushed, knots and loose hair become irritating and a well groomed dog is the best dog to take home.

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It gets cramped and boring to be locked up all day, take a dog for a walk but be sure to check with staff which animals can be walked.

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Play with the dogs or teach them a trick, have you ever played fetch?

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An obedient dog has a far greater chance of being adopted, teach a dog to sit or stay it will surely help it to get a new home

ANIMALS NEED YOUR EXTRA ATTENTION AND LOVING CARE. WE HOPE YOU HAVE FUN AND LEARN MORE ABOUT ANIMALS TOO!

MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING AT PAWS:

Our Staff are always in need of help with their daily routines. Just ask if you would like to be given a job to do:

-	Hosing down animal enclosures.

-	Help at feeding time (twice a day).

-	Painting, repairing fencing etc.

-	Spring cleaning of cages and enclosures with brushes and detergent.

-	Wash feeding containers and water bowls etc.

SPREAD THE WORD FOR US PLEASE!

Please talk to others about the work at our centre. Tell people about our need for help and with the household items we need for donation. Perhaps you are involved with another organization that is looking for a charity project?

Many Thanks to all our volunteers!