After more than a decade helping keep Salt Spring’s canines cared for while their families shopped at the Saturday Market, the Doggy Daycare program faces a volunteer shortage — and without more, the program won’t be offered this summer.
As of last week, according to Jerry Lewandowski, manager of Salt Spring Island’s BC SPCA Animal Care Centre, fewer than half the number of volunteers needed to run the popular program have reached out — and perhaps even more alarmingly, there has been no interest in taking on the volunteer coordinator position.
“Dogs are not allowed in the market — or in Centennial Park — so this is a service we provide so the dogs don’t stay in hot cars,” said Lewandowski. “Prior to Covid, we would have 18 to 20 volunteers in a day; last year, we had about four or five of us who were regular.”
It’s one-on-one dog sitting, Lewandowski said, generally between the May and September long weekends — when it’s warmest — and for animal lovers, it’s usually a pretty fun time. Volunteers are given a dog on a leash while the owners shop, and depending on the animal’s temperament and needs they’ll sit in the shade with them, play with them and give scritches, socialize or even offer a little brushing.
“We try to match the dog with the volunteer,” said Lewandowski. “For example, we get a lot of seniors helping who can’t have dogs that pull, so we try to give those to the stronger, younger people.”
Volunteers are expected to stay a minimum of two hours during market hours, with most demand coming usually between 9 a.m. and about 2:30 p.m., Lewandowski said.
The Doggy Daycare coordinator has additional responsibilities, including setting up and breaking down at the park every Saturday and matching the right dogs with the right people.
“That takes a little more time commitment, and some organizational skills,” said Lewandowski. “But that person is a necessity; if we don’t have that, we definitely cannot do Doggy Daycare.”
Dog owners pay a fee when they drop off their dogs, $20 for one hour of daycare — although there are often additional donations, Lewandowski said, all of which go directly to the Salt Spring Animal Care Centre and are an important funding source that helps support their work.
“Depending on the volunteer interest, we may have to start later in the year,” said Lewandowski. “Or if we don’t get enough, we might have to put up a sign saying, ‘We’ll be back next year.’ Hopefully not.”
To sign up to help, visit spca.bc.ca/volunteer and click on “Apply Today” and then scroll to “BC SPCA – Salt Spring Island” to see all the local centre’s volunteer opportunities — or call the shelter at 250-537-2123.