Cat lovers volunteers of the month

Raymond O'Keefe and Dawn Bunker are volunteers of the month for March and April. PICTURE / PAUL BROOKS

Brother and sister SPCA volunteers Dawn Bunker and Raymond O'Keefe are Volunteers of the Month for March and April respectively.

They were each awarded a certificate of recognition, a volunteer badge and a Mud Ducks $40 voucher by Volunteer Whanganui manager Sandra Rickey.

Both were very surprised.
"We do it because we love it," says Dawn. "We were brought up with animals. We're cat mad, so we're mainly in the cat area. We feel the same as any volunteer — it's that satisfaction that you're doing your little bit. It's a great team here and there are heaps of other really good volunteers."
Dawn has four cats and two dogs of her own.
"Everyone says that when you become a volunteer here you end up with a cat. I did.
"We don't consider it hard work," she says. "It's not always a nice job, even though some people think volunteering [at SPCA] is just cat cuddles."

Dawn had always wanted to be a volunteer.
"We were brought up in Pitt St and there were always animals being dumped nearby in London St, so mum was always having to bring animals up."
When SPCA put out the call for volunteers, Dawn talked it over with her husband, attended an open day and filled out a form. She got the call. Dawn's husband has since died but she found volunteering good therapy.
"A few months later I was telling Raymond how much I was enjoying it but how we were really short of staff. So he came along." That was more than a year ago.
"We bounce ideas off each other and there doesn't seem to be a lot of male volunteers during the week so it's good to have him here." Raymond finds himself doing some of the heavy lifting.

Dawn and Raymond are rostered on for Thursday.
"That's a full clean so you're getting into the nitty gritty, but we'll come in whenever we're needed," she says. "I often come in during the week with one of my kids for what we call socialisation. It's with the really shy cats, so they get one-on-one cuddles. Sometimes you're so busy with other stuff you don't get the time for that.
"And there's that satisfaction that you're doing your little bit, and it's so great when an animal gets adopted."

Raymond is an animal lover too.
"I don't work any more and I need something to fill in my time, so I thought, why not? And I really enjoy it. I don't have any animals at the moment but my neighbour's cat comes over for half the day."
They both look forward to their working days at the SPCA. Dawn says she pulls the big sister card and Raymond says he does as he's told.
"If you get sick [and don't come in] you feel guilty but there often isn't anyone to take your place," says Dawn. "We need more volunteers. Even if people can't commit to a regular day but could make themselves available to come in at short notice for a couple of hours, that would be good."

They have seen some interesting creatures at the SPCA.
"We've had turtles, and a baby possum once and we had a pukeko from across the road. I think that went to Bird Rescue," says Dawn. "And we've had goats," says Raymond. "But mostly small animals."
They both agree that one of the big rewards is seeing a sick animal get looked after, restored to good health and adopted out to a good, forever home.
"And, of course, animals don't judge you," says Dawn.

Whanganui SPCA centre manager is Francie Flis. To ask about volunteering ring the centre on 345 3369. The centre can also use old, clean sheets and towels.