When you walk into the Charlottesville-Albemarle Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, you are greeted by a world of woofs and meows. The SPCA, a non-profit animal welfare organization, has become one of the most popular volunteering sites for University students.
Located north of Grounds off Rio Road West, the SPCA serves primarily as an adoption center that shelters Charlottesville cats and dogs in an effort to provide them with nurturing and permanent homes. Until that day when the animals find permanent families, the SPCA requires additional aid outside of its staff, and that's where University volunteers come in.
University students volunteer at the SPCA through Madison House's Pet Pals program. "Every semester, new volunteers attend training at the SPCA where they learn the basics of dog walking and cat socializing and go to the [SPCA] shelter," said third-year College student Ashley Chappo, who serves as the Pet Pals program director. "Volunteers are responsible for doing two hours a week. The shelter relies on student volunteers because dogs need to be taken out."
Chappo noted that University volunteers, among other local volunteers, are very valuable to the SPCA work effort. Because the shelter relies on steady volunteer contributions, Pet Pals requires students to commit a minimum of 14 service hours each semester.
The Pet Pals Program is part of Madison House's larger Animals & Environment program, which works with various groups in the community to improve the welfare of Charlottesville animals and environment. This semester, four University students serve as directors for the Pet Pals program; Chappo, third-year Commerce student Sruti Balakrishnan and fourth-year College students Linh Duong and Eunbee Kim. Among other responsibilities, these student leaders coordinate carpools for the 150 students involved and also set up training sessions for interested students.
What does the life of an SPCA University volunteer entail? Once a week for two hours, a University volunteer either chooses to attend a shift of dog walking and socializing, cat care and socializing, or vet clinic assisting, second-year College student Jessica Kearney said. Responsibilities of volunteers differ from one shift to another. Volunteers for dog walking and socializing exercise dogs and teach basic training skills to shy, new puppies. Volunteers responsible for cat care and socializing play with cats and are responsible for taking care of the cat cage, laundry and checking up on the cat food supply.
Volunteers also can apply to become Vet Clinic assistants, affording themselves the special opportunity to work with a staff veterinarian to observe medical procedures and surgeries while learning about the diagnosis and treatment of animals. Other volunteering opportunities consist of on- and off-site adoption and fundraising events, such as dog walks on the Downtown Mall, PetSmart adoption outing events or rummage sales.
Student volunteers are strongly supportive of the SPCA facilities and mission. "I feel like [the SPCA has] a really great facility and a really good environment for the animals to stay in," Kearney said. "I really appreciate that."
She also noted that while the full-time staff at the SPCA does a great job of working with the animals, sometimes volunteers are able to add that extra bit of attention. "Sometimes the animals need a little bit more love," she said. "No one can ever have too much love."
Despite the rewards of volunteering at the SPCA and the popularity of the Pet Pals program, the off-Grounds location makes it difficult for some University students to volunteer.
"It's hard for the [first-year students] to get to the SPCA because they don't have car [but] that is something we have to deal with every year," Chappo said.
Staff Adoption Counselor Ashley Litton agreed that the students are spending their time in a worthwhile manner, noting that the volunteers "are always happy, and that makes it a very positive experience for everyone that comes to the shelter."
She also noted that student volunteers often attract others because of the enjoyment they bring to the job. "I think it makes people want to volunteer because [people who visit the adoption center] realize how much fun [the volunteers] are having," she said.
At the end of the day, the volunteers take away "a really great feeling," Kearney said. "The dogs really cheer me up and it's a really great to go to a place that makes you feel really great"
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