Volunteer Connection
Happy 2024!
As we welcome the new year, we want to take the time to express our gratitude for your hard work and support as well as the difference you’ve made to the animals and our organization. Together, 206 volunteers devoted 5,467 hours to the care and wellbeing of the animals as well as assisting with upkeep of the adoption center and thrift stores. We are looking forward to your continued involvement and support in 2024.
We have some fun events coming up that we’ll need some volunteers to assist with. We will be showcasing our adoptable pups at Keefer’s Fill the Trailer Event. Other February events include the Tortoise Island Dog Fashion Show as well Ride it Down in Titusville. Be sure to check out the Volunteer News page for details on all upcoming events and other news just for volunteers.
Thanks for choosing to volunteer at the SPCA. We are all looking forward to another successful year of saving animals and changing lives.
Happy 2024 to you all,
Sunni Simmons, Volunteer Program Manager
Volunteer Spotlights
Andrea Monjes and Renata Lerco Prado are Au Pairs working in the Titusville area. They decided to volunteer at the SPCA during their time away from work and did their Bark Buddy training together.
Miranda Wurtz started volunteering in December as a way to earn service hours for school. She was invaluable in our Christmas parade preparations - working long hours helping to get us ready for the event.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
-
Stroll Tortoise Island Dog Fashion Show
Saturday, February 10 from 1 PM until 4 PM at Tortoise Island (Satellite Beach).
We will need info table volunteers as well as Bark Buddies to showcase adoptable dogs.
-
Ride It Down
Saturday, February 24 at the Titusville Welcome Center from 10 AM until 2 PM
We will need volunteers for the info table as well as Bark Buddies to showcase adoptable dogs.
-
Poocharella
Saturday, March 2 at Wickham Park in Melbourne
We need info table volunteers as well as Bark Buddies to showcase adoptable dogs.
Details on the event can be found here - https://www.facebook.com/events/1112346290135321.
-
Kitten Shower
Saturday, March 9 from 10 AM until 2 PM at the Adoption Center.
Save the date - details coming soon.
A Moment With…
Vickie Williams
Volunteer Lead
Please tell us something about yourself
I'm a classicly trained pianist-still active. I've retired from teaching piano in 2016. I've lived in Florida since the late 80's.
How long have you been a volunteer at the SPCA and what made you sign up to do it?
I came to the SPCA Adoption Center in October of 2016. My 20-year-old cat Sam, unfortunately had to be put down. I looked into the volunteer program at the SPCA and found a place to fill my void. I have been here ever since.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering?
What I enjoy the most about volunteering is working with the cats - caring for them and learning as much as I can about them, so they can find their "fur-ever" home. As volunteers, we're only their "temporary" care takers.
What do you think some of the benefits of volunteering are (for yourself or others)?
There are many benefits to volunteering. The satisfaction of matching a potential adopter to their new family member is very rewarding! It's a win-win!
What advice would you give those just starting out as an SPCA volunteer?
Just jump in and learn as much as you can about volunteering here. Make a commitment and stick to it! Ask questions! Observe! Become the Voice of the Voiceless!
Why Do You Volunteer?
We are in the process of updating our volunteer brochure and would love to have you as part of it.
We want to know…Why Do You Volunteer at the SPCA of Brevard?
Send your responses by email to spcavolunteer@spcabrevard.com or by text to 321-604-8717 and let us know. We’ll use the best responses in our new brochure and other marketing materials. If you have a picture you’d like to use with your response (whether its of you volunteering or not) please include that with your response.
Did you know you can earn two volunteer hours each day you have one of our animals in your care? This is an excellent way to earn service hours for school, teach your children about proper animal care, or get your puppy-fever fix. Robyn Copeland is our Foster Program Manager and shared some interesting information (below) on the SPCA’s Foster Connection Facebook Page. Reach out to her at 321-567-3615 x 393 or spcafoster@spcanorthbrevard.com to learn more.
Evidence Supporting a Home-Based Approach to Pet Sheltering
Statement from the Association of Shelter Veterinarians, 2022:
Because confinement has negative impacts on animal behavior, reducing the duration of time spent in cages or kennels is critical. Foster care is the preferred method of housing for dogs and cats who do not need care that must be provided in-shelter (e.g. for safety, legal, medical or behavioral reasons) because it allows for regular social interaction and for animals to choose where and how they spend their time (Gunter et al. 2019 PeerJ).
Positive benefits of foster programs:
Foster reduces pets’ stress levels.
Pets in foster have improved wellbeing compared to pets in the shelter.
Organizations can learn more about pets’ personalities while they’re in foster homes.
Foster placement leads to increases in positive outcomes for pets.
The pet gets an advocate who often helps market them for adoption and continues to be involved in their life at the shelter.
The shelter gets information on the pet’s behavior in a home, which can be different than what is seen in the shelter.
It increases shelter pets’ visibility in the community.
The opportunity to get great photos of the pet in a home environment and out and about.
It leads to a quieter shelter, which benefits the staff and resident pets.
Pets going to foster homes help to open up space at the shelter.
Pets aren’t exposed to as many pathogens as in a shelter.
Short-term foster options are the “gateway” to more fostering. Not everyone can foster long-term. Short-term programs lower the bar and allow more people to participate in fostering.
The organization engages with their community in a positive way.
Fostering Saves Lives
Are You A Member?
Are you a member of our Volunteer Connections Facebook Group? If you’re on Facebook and not yet a member of the group, please visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/VolunteerSPCABrevard/ and request to join. Information may be posted here that you won’t see through email or other means. This is also a place where volunteers can share posts and communicate with each other about SPCA related things.