Charlotte Varcoe
WHILE studying a Certificate III in animal care services, South East Animal Welfare League (SEAWL) volunteer Abby Parker enjoys one day a week in Mount Gambier/Berrin tending to strays and surrendered animals.
Ms Parker first began volunteering at the welfare league eight months ago after needing to complete her placement for her studies.
Driving from Kingston each week, she said she was not aware of the league’s services until deciding to volunteer there.
“If I travel from Kingston I don’t come down Penola Road so I never saw the welfare league,” Ms Parker said.
“My studies lead me here and since then I have been learning more about looking after animals while also doing jobs around the shelter.”
She said the league was a great place to volunteer with flexibility always on hand.
“I work in Kingston so whenever there are days where I can’t make it into Mount Gambier to volunteer they don’t make it hard for me,” she said.
“They push me to do some of the physical on-the-job assignments like giving different health treatments for cats and dogs and always push me to try different stuff and get comfortable with the job.”
Ms Parker said those wishing to volunteer at the welfare league should do so but be aware it was not all about working with cute and cuddly animals.
“We get in some animals which have been strays or have no training and although there are other jobs that come along with it, if people are fine with this they should volunteer,” she said.
“It is rewarding work being out here and it is really nice when you see the animals get adopted, especially those who have been here for a while and seeing them matched up with other people.”
She said although volunteers enjoyed looking after the animals at the welfare league, it was nicer to know they were going to a good home and have freedom and a family.
“It is not nice to know animals aren’t getting looked after and some of them that come in here have come in from terrible conditions, but it is also nice to know when they come here they come out of their shell a lot,” she said.