It’s been said that volunteers are ordinary people with extraordinary hearts. They offer the gift of their time and talents to teach, to listen, to help, to inspire, to comfort, to build. They expect no pay, but the value of their work is priceless.
I caught up with Jean Lavers, one of the amazing volunteers at the SPCA Cape Breton Shelter. Jean has always loved animals and has always believed in giving homeless animals a second chance at happiness.
She shared “After years of asking my parents, they agreed to adopt a cat into the family when I was 12. I remember opening my Christmas present, and unwrapping a litter box, collar, toys and all kinds of cat goodies – I can still feel the excitement when I think of it! We headed to the shelter a few days later, met a few of the kitties, and adopted a fur-baby we named Willow. We had Willow for 15 years before we had to say goodbye.”
Jean had always wanted a dog too so in 2013, she adopted Toby – a 5-year-old Collie/Shepherd mix – from the SPCA. She explained “I wanted to adopt an older dog, since I feel like they often get overlooked as many people want puppies. Adopting an adult dog is a special experience – you get to know each other and to enjoy their unique personalities. Toby went everywhere with me and was the best companion you could ask for. He was my BFF for 10 years before he crossed the Rainbow Bridge.”
In 2023, Jean finally felt ready to adopt another fur-baby, but wasn’t quite ready to adopt another doggo. She set out to adopt two kitties so that they could keep each other company while she was at work. “That’s when I met Charley and Ivey,” said Jean. “They had been rescued from a hoarding situation and were both so small and timid. They hid for weeks but slowly started to come out of their shells and show their adorable personalities.”
In October 2023, Jean began her volunteer journey with the SPCA. She originally started volunteering because she really missed her dog Toby. She shared “I still wasn’t ready to adopt another dog, but I thought that walking the shelter dogs would give me an opportunity to do some good and at the same time, get my ‘dog time’ in.”
Jean’s shifts as a dog walker are invaluable. “With limited staff and volunteers, and so many tasks that need to be done daily, I know it’s not always possible for the dogs to get out for longer walks,” she said. “Depending on daily needs and the number of dogs that are at the shelter, I try to take 2 to 3 dogs out for about 30-45 minute walks each when possible. This gives them time to stretch their legs, burn energy and get exposure to different things in their environment.”
With a heart of gold, Jean asks each week what items the shelter needs, and she brings treats, toys and harnesses in any case. She explained “The shelter has limited resources, and sometimes smaller items don’t make it onto their wish list. I try to purchase budget-friendly items that will make both the fur-babies and the staff smile. Treats are so essential for training and are helpful to coax the dogs back in their kennels, as most of them don’t want to go back in.”
Jean makes bandanas for the dogs, donating them for use in taking photos of adoptable pups and then giving them to adopters for free. She said “The bandanas definitely help raise the cuteness-factor of adoptables and hopefully will increase their chances of being adopted.” She also makes videos of SPCA animals to put on her small business webpage. “I don’t have a lot of followers, but I thought that it would help the animals gain more exposure. Videos also show a lot more of their personalities than just photos.”
Jean works full-time as a nurse, so it is challenging to find time each week to volunteer. But she tells herself “Two to three hours out of my day is not that much time and it can make a difference for as many animals that I can interact with. I admire the staff at the shelter and the amazing work they do. Mentally, it is very difficult (I find), to process a lot of the day-to- day needs and the various cases that you see. It’s also very hard to see the same beautiful souls there for long periods of time, wondering why they are being passed up and hoping to find their forever homes.”
In January this year, Jean and her partner Will decided they were ready to open their hearts and home to another deserving dog. Jean recalled “We wanted a dog that we could be active with and take for walks and hikes.” Enter Chaos, a one-year old Amstaff mix who had been at the shelter for several months and was extremely high-energy. “We loved his goofy personality and thought he would be a great fit for us. We brought him to his forever home and renamed him Leonard.” Lenny is now living his best life and has a safe place to be able to show off his personality. “Leonard, Charley and Ivey are still not entirely sure they like each other yet, but we keep slowly and gradually getting them comfortable with each other.”
Ask any volunteer and they’ll tell you how rewarding the experience is. Jean is no exception. “It’s heartening to know that you’re able to make a difference in the animals’ days. They are so happy, excited and grateful to spend time our of their kennels, and to socialize and soak up the extra love. It’s also nice to know you can help the staff with some of their tasks. It can be draining physically, mentally and emotionally and I’m glad I can potentially alleviate some of this strain, even if it’s only for a few hours.”
Jean encourages everyone to volunteer. “Even if you aren’t able to commit to a scheduled shift each week, you can still drop in to walk one of the pups or cuddle the kitties. An hour or two of your time can make a huge difference in the day for the animals!” There are also lots of ways to help outside the shelter – sharing SPCA posts, fostering animals, helping at various events, working in SPCA Thrift Stores and fund-raising to name just a few.
With thousands of abused, neglected, injured, homeless animals to care for annually, there is much work to be done and never enough hands. Please consider becoming a volunteer and make a difference in homeless animals’ lives. There’s a wide range of volunteer opportunities to engage and inspire you. Check them out here.