(File photo/northeastNOW)

By Cam Lee

NESPCA in need

North East SPCA seeking board members, volunteers

Jan 15, 2024 | 8:45 AM

The North East SPCA is desperately looking for board members and volunteers.

According to acting chair Marianthe Strydom, the difficulty maintaining numbers on their board began during the early stages of the COVID pandemic. Some of the members have been on multiple charity boards as well, which is becoming too much.

“In the beginning when we opened in October of 2019, there were 14 board members. At the moment we struggle to make quorum, so we have only six people to do the jobs of 14 people,’ Strydom told northeastNOW. She said the ones that are left are filling multiple positions, and are starting to burn out.

Board members who live out of Melfort don’t need to travel for meetings, as they have a Zoom link they have set up.

While the SPCA is in dire need of board members, they’re also asking for people to volunteer their time if possible. Potential volunteer duties could include walking dogs, socializing cats, answering phone calls and in-person inquiries, laundry, or cleaning.

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“They can help run a spay or neuter campaign, or they can even organize buses from different towns for an open day, and bus people into the shelter so that people can see the shelter and look at the animals,” said Strydom.

Fundraising is always an area in which the North East SPCA could use a hand as well. Tickets need to be sold for their raffles along with cupcake sales. Strydom said volunteers can also help out the SPCA at local trade shows.

While many of the fundraisers are held in Melfort, Strydom said they also need people in other communities to help volunteer at events like barbecues or other sales. The SPCA’s cash calendar is coming up as well.

Meanwhile, the organization will be celebrating their 5th anniversary coming up in October, and volunteers are needed. The SPCA is also out and about volunteering at the bar for several local weddings.

Strydom credited kennel manager Kate Jacobs and Carleigh Weixl as foster coordinators for excellent work through 2023, as 325 of 366 animals were adopted throughout the province.

The shelter is currently at maximum capacity, and Strydom asks that people not take out their frustrations on the staff. When the shelter does have an opening, people still need to prove ownership to surrender their animal.

She also reminded people to spay and neuter their pets and to have them microchipped. A microchip clinic will be held soon in Tisdale and Nipawin, and you can contact the SPCA to book one for your community.

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cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com