The Pearl River County SPCA is currently looking for volunteers who have the time to play, walk, socialize and help train adoptable pets at the shelter.
“Everybody loves playing with animals. It’s just a fun and relaxing thing to do,” Maria Diamond, PRC SPCA public relations representative, said.
Playing with the pets is a vital part of keeping them healthy and happy, Diamond said, and if they are happy, they tend to have a better chance of being adopted.
The goal of the PRC SPCA is to become a no-kill shelter, Diamond said, which means they would no longer euthanize healthy or treatable animals due to the shelter being full.
However, in order for that to happen, a large number of volunteers are needed.
Along with playing with the adoptable animals, other volunteer tasks include brainstorming during the planning of fundraising or educational events, assistance with training and socializing the pets, transporting animals to spay and neuter appointments and even working around the shelter to assist with minor repairs, if needed, the PRC SPCA website states.
Foster care volunteers are needed at the shelter to help take care of the growing number of animals still looking for homes.
Foster caretakers do not have to pay for the expenses of temporary care of the animals, such as food, medical treatment and more. Instead, they are only required to provide a safe home for them until they are adopted or room opens up in the shelter, Diamond said.
The benefits of volunteering at the shelter are endless, Diamond said, especially for high school students who wish to gain work experience. While at the shelter, volunteers will learn how to organize off-site adoption events with other stores or companies, coordinate with a team and develop community outreach skills, which are necessary in many professions.
“No one should worry about not knowing how to train or care for the animals because we will show you how it is done,” Diamond said.
Anyone interested in volunteering at PRC SPCA can call Cindy McDonald, PRC SPCA volunteer program director, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 601-749-3562.