The St. Paul Animal Shelter is on the lookout for more volunteers to help care for its furry clients, along with needing forever homes for the many cats and dogs in its care.
“The three main (volunteer tasks) are general cleaning, dog walking, and bingos,” says shelter manager Trish Ellis, describing the responsibilities of volunteers that are needed at the shelter.
In particular, the shelter is in desperate need of volunteers to help work bingos.
“Out of all the things we need volunteers for, we need bingo volunteers big time – that’s how we pay the bills,” says Ellis, adding, the funds raised from working bingos cover overhead costs such as rent, and electricity, whereas most donations go directly to the animals at the shelter, paying for animal care.
“We need about 10 to 15 bingo volunteers for one bingo a month,” says Ellis. “They can volunteer for anything in general, but bingos are where they’re most needed. We regularly post on Facebook that we’re looking for volunteer assistance.”’
Ellis would like to see the shelter work two bingos a month, if enough volunteers step up. She says that other volunteer responsibilities can include cleaning of cat kennels in the morning, “cuddling kitty cats,” being on laundry duty, dog walking, and taking dogs out to play.
Volunteers receive direction from the shelter staff, and “it’s all relatively simple.”
Right now, the shelter is at capacity for cats and large dogs.
“We’ve had nine new cats and kittens come in in the last three weeks,” says Ellis. “There are two pens for large dogs inside, and they’re currently all full, taken by large dogs.”
Ellis says there are three new puppies in quarantine, just finishing their health watch before being spayed on Nov. 15, and that there are a number of pound dogs that stay at the shelter as well, because the shelter doubles as the town’s dog pound.
“Any dog that is micro-chipped, or identified, we’ll take them in and hold them until their people can pick them up. This is one reason micro chipping is so important,” says Ellis.
Also, in an effort to encourage the adoption of cats, the shelter has started a special offer where adoption fees for adult cats have been reduced to $50. The initiative will last until the end of November.
For more information on volunteering with the shelter or adopting a cat or dog, contact Ellis at (780) 645-2262. The shelter is open daily from 1 to 4 p.m.
