OSPCA Perth / How You Can Help

We strive to make our community a better place by providing vital and life-saving services to the animals and fostering a humane and compassionate society through education.

Ontario S.P.C.A. – Perth County Branch responds to neglect and cruelty complaints throughout Perth County as well as providing animal control services for the City of Stratford.

While Ontario SPCA investigators are empowered by the OSPCA Act, we are not a governmental agency but an independent charitable organization that relies on the generosity of individuals, bequests, corporate donors and fundraising events to support our animal welfare initiatives.

Ongoing care for shelter animals and education initiatives are supported by individual donations, corporate/business donations and special fundraising events as well as monies collected through our adoptions.

Your help is vital in helping us “speak for those who cannot speak for themselves”

You can help by:

DONATING – all donations designated to Perth County are used locally to benefit the animals – official income tax receipts are issued through our provincial office – Charitable Business # - 889691044 RR0002.
Printable Donation Form

BMO MasterCard Affinity Program – Sign up for an Ontario SPCA Mosaik MasterCard exclusively from BMO Bank of Montreal, and you will help support the Ontario SPCA every time you use your card to make a purchase. Go to www3.bmo.com for details.

Federated Cheque Services – Every time you order the Ontario SPCA personal cheques from Federated Cheque Services, the Ontario SPCA receives more than 10% of the purchase price. Go to www.fedcheque.com to order.

ADOPTING – approximately 1,500 companion animals come into our shelter each year. Consider adopting an animal from your local shelter when choosing a companion for your family and offering it a loving, forever home and a second chance. Check out the animal section of our website for pictures of the many wonderful companions we have waiting for that special new home.

VOLUNTEERING – for people age 16 and up, there are numerous ways of becoming involved with your local shelter.

Volunteer activities include:
DOG WALKING Between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekends, come take a canine companion for a walk.

CAT GROOMING/SOCIALIZING Between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekends spend a little time with a furry feline.

KENNEL HELP assist with the daily care of the animals each morning – 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Must be able to commit to a regular day/schedule.

GROUND MAINTENANCE COMMITTEE If you have a green thumb we could use your help and advice in caring for our grounds – lawn maintenance, flower bed maintenance.

GENERAL REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE if you have carpentry, plumbing or other maintenance skills we could often use your assistance with minor repairs and maintenance at the shelter – building shelves, repairing dog runs, cat cages, plumbing repairs, etc.

FOSTER HOME Open your home to a shelter animal(s) until they are ready to be returned to the shelter for adoption into a new, loving forever home.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE This committee meets once a month (the first Monday) in the evening for 2-3 hours. It consists of committee chairs, and individuals with an interest in finding ways to improve our organization, and the ongoing viability of our shelter.

HUMANE EDUCATION / OUTREACH COMMITTEE A committee that plans ways to increase our visibility in the community, as well as encouraging the humane treatment of animals through workshops, school visits, kids’ camps and other educational programs.

PET THERAPY VOLUNTEERS visit seniors’ residences, nursing home, and hospitals with their own, or shelter animals. These visits are done in pairs (one dog/one cat).

MEDIA / PUBLICITY COMMITTEE Getting the word out there! (Through press releases, Community Events Calendars, and posters) As well, volunteers keep the shelter bulletin board current. Ensure all posters and advertising for events are consistent in looks, content, information, etc. and ensure appropriate promotion is done in community.

NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE Write articles for our quarterly newsletter. Or help by distributing multiple copies to high traffic areas in your community.

VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE Co-ordinates volunteers, and volunteer events.

FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE Give direction to subcommittees, brainstorm and research new fundraising ideas/initiatives. Subcommittees deal specifically with planning and organizing each individual event – Dog Walk A Thon Committee (annual fall fundraiser held in Upper Queens Park); Unique Pet Boutique Committee (Christmas fundraiser – booth at Festival Market in November selling variety of pet gifts and pet theme crafts); Yard Sale Committee (annual June fundraiser held on shelter grounds – sale of used pet items and general garage sale items donated to shelter); Dance Committee (BX93 Dance Party – timing varies); Others as new fundraising initiatives are developed and organized (do you have an idea for a great new fundraiser?)

EVENT STAFFING We are always in need of volunteers to staff shelter events. Come and give a couple of hours of your timer to help us with events such as: Dog Walk A Thon, Unique Pet Boutique, Home Show Booth, Yard Sale, etc.

WORK FROM HOME Create unique pet-themed crafts or other crafts for our Unique Pet Boutique, help with phone calls, knit small cat blankets to be used in cages, etc.

Printable Volunteer Application Form