CANA celebrates the heart and dedication of animal welfare volunteers this National Volunteer Week 2025
As National Volunteer Week (May 19 - 25) approaches, national animal welfare charity Companion Animal Network Australia (CANA or Australia CAN) celebrates the volunteers who are the lifeblood of its member agencies across the country and highlights the positive impact volunteering has on animals, communities and the volunteers themselves.
More than 6 million people volunteer through organisations across the nation, with 18.3% volunteering for animal welfare causes, according to Volunteering Australia. Australians are also estimated to contribute over 165 million* volunteer hours each year to support animal shelters.
“National Volunteer Week is a perfect time to reflect on the incredible contributions volunteers make, not just to animals in need, but also to the wider community and themselves,” says Trish Ennis, CEO of CANA.
“From walking dogs and fostering vulnerable pets to raising funds and providing vital behind-the-scenes support, volunteers from all walks of life play a crucial role in improving the lives of rescue animals and helping them find loving homes.”
 |
| Credit (& lead image): Animal Welfare League Queensland volunteer playing with a shelter dog |
CANA members provide rescue, shelter, re-homing, fostering, health care and enrichment services to more than 50,000 animals every year, and include the Animal Welfare League QLD, Dogs’ Homes of Tasmania, Sydney Dogs and Cats Home, Saving Animals From Euthanasia Inc (WA) and Lort Smith Animal Hospital in Victoria.
Beyond the vital support volunteers provide to animal shelters, the benefits of giving back reach deeply into the lives of the volunteers themselves. According to Volunteering Australia, volunteering fosters social interaction, boosts mood and helps reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Giving back also strengthens relationships, encourages learning and deepens a sense of belonging within the community.
“We see older Australians, particularly retirees, thrive through the purpose and connection that volunteering in animal welfare provides,” says Ms Ennis. “Their kindness helps transform the lives of animals, and in return, many volunteers tell us the animals transform their lives, too.”
Volunteers find community in giving back
Approaching her 88th birthday, Jocelyn Sellers is Lort Smith Animal Hospital’s longest-serving volunteer, and her dedication is as unwavering as ever.
 |
| Jocelyn Sellers excels at crafts sold to raise funds for Lort Smith Animal Hospital |
For nearly 30 years, Ms Sellers has done just about everything to help animals, from knitting dog coats, blankets, and enrichment toys to handcrafting festive bone- and fish-shaped Christmas bags and button-eared sausage dogs that were a hit with children and pet lovers alike.
Her creations were sold to raise funds for the hospital. “Anything that could make a few dollars for the animals, I made it,” she said.
At the heart of Ms Sellers’ volunteering is a commitment to helping animals in need, far beyond simply raising funds.
“Animals never judge you. They don’t care how you look or what you’ve been through—they just know how to love. I do things where I feel help is needed. I feel animals need me,” she said.
Another Lort Smith volunteer, Jean Ford, 75, has also found purpose and community through giving her time to animals.
Her creations were sold to raise funds for the hospital. “Anything that could make a few dollars for the animals, I made it,” she said.
At the heart of Ms Sellers’ volunteering is a commitment to helping animals in need, far beyond simply raising funds.
“Animals never judge you. They don’t care how you look or what you’ve been through—they just know how to love. I do things where I feel help is needed. I feel animals need me,” she said.
Another Lort Smith volunteer, Jean Ford, 75, has also found purpose and community through giving her time to animals.
 |
| Lort Smith Animal Hospital's volunteers Lesley & Jean Ford (right) - Jean tackling the laundry! |
Since 2016, Ms Ford has been volunteering two mornings a week, helping with the physically demanding work in the laundry.
“I had just retired and wanted to give something back, preferably doing clerical work, but I ended up doing a shift in the laundry. After my first day, I said, ‘I can’t do it’... and I’m still doing the laundry!” she laughed.
“I’m forever lifting, filling machines and dryers, stocking shelves, and taking out rubbish. It’s always busy, but it’s very rewarding. I’ve been behind a desk for years, so I do enjoy this. It keeps me fit.”
Through volunteering, Ms Ford has also built many friendships, fostering a “real feeling of community.”
“I had just retired and wanted to give something back, preferably doing clerical work, but I ended up doing a shift in the laundry. After my first day, I said, ‘I can’t do it’... and I’m still doing the laundry!” she laughed.
“I’m forever lifting, filling machines and dryers, stocking shelves, and taking out rubbish. It’s always busy, but it’s very rewarding. I’ve been behind a desk for years, so I do enjoy this. It keeps me fit.”
Through volunteering, Ms Ford has also built many friendships, fostering a “real feeling of community.”
“It gives me satisfaction to be able to give back, and it’s rewarding to know I can do something to help out,” she said.
 |
| Dogs' Homes of Tasmania Director & volunteer Denise Bower and Chrysta |
Since 1977, Ms Bower has held leadership roles including Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice President, as well as organising fundraising events, coordinating appeals, overseeing the Canine Commendation Awards, and producing the Dogs’ Homes calendar featuring hundreds of adopted dogs each year.
For Ms Bower, what makes the Dogs’ Homes community so special is its devotion to dog welfare.
“Some of our staff and volunteers have served Tasmania’s beautiful dogs for decades. We’ve walked together in good and difficult times. When facing difficulties, we always ask, ‘What’s best for the dog?’ We work together to make that happen, year after year,” she said.
Ms Bower believes volunteering—whether for a short or long term—offers benefits to both individuals and the organisations they support.“If you feel passionate about a particular cause, do what you can for as long as you feel you are meant to contribute,” she said. “A benefit to the organisation is us having a background of understanding and experiences to call on as we continue to go forward doing our best for the dogs who need us.”
Do you want to be a volunteer?
 |
| Paralympic swimmer Maddie McTernan volunteers with the Animal Welfare League Queensland and Riding for the Disabled |
If you’ve ever considered volunteering, now is the perfect time to get involved! Visit CANA’s website to find an animal welfare member near you and learn how you can help.
"Not everyone can give time, but they may wish to support volunteers through donations to fund resources, training or supplies. You can make a tax-deductible gift to the Australia CAN Foundation where funds are shared among our member organisations across the country. You can also fundraise to support CANA or one of our members in your state," says Ms Ennis.
To learn more or get involved, visit australiacan.org.au
References:
* 166.1 million volunteer hours per year in animal welfare. This figure is based on national volunteering data showing that 18.3% of Australia’s 6 million volunteers support animal welfare causes. Volunteers estimate they contribute an average of 151 hours each year—adding up to around 13.8 million hours every month spent helping animals in need.
[1] National Volunteer Week 2025 theme is Connecting Communities. www.volunteeringaustralia.org/get-involved/nvw/
"Not everyone can give time, but they may wish to support volunteers through donations to fund resources, training or supplies. You can make a tax-deductible gift to the Australia CAN Foundation where funds are shared among our member organisations across the country. You can also fundraise to support CANA or one of our members in your state," says Ms Ennis.
To learn more or get involved, visit australiacan.org.au
References:
* 166.1 million volunteer hours per year in animal welfare. This figure is based on national volunteering data showing that 18.3% of Australia’s 6 million volunteers support animal welfare causes. Volunteers estimate they contribute an average of 151 hours each year—adding up to around 13.8 million hours every month spent helping animals in need.
[1] National Volunteer Week 2025 theme is Connecting Communities. www.volunteeringaustralia.org/get-involved/nvw/
[2] 18.3% of volunteers in Australia work for animal welfare organisations.
www.volunteeringaustralia.org/wp-content/uploads/Volunteering-in-Australia-Volunteering-Experiences-by-Sector-May-2023.pdf
[3] Volunteers aged 18 – 29 are more likely to volunteer for animal welfare organisations than average, accounting for 37.8% of volunteers in this sector.
www.volunteeringaustralia.org/wp-content/uploads/Youth-Volunteering-Factsheet-2023.pdf
[4] Volunteers aged 55 – 69 do account for approximately 24.9% of the volunteering population, and those aged 70 and over account for around 28%.
www.volunteeringaustralia.org/wp-content/uploads/Volunteering-Australia-Key-Volunteering-Statistics-2024-Update.pdf
[5] https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-welfare/volunteers
[6] Volunteers estimate that they spent 151 hours volunteering on average
https://www.volunteeringaustralia.org/wp-content/uploads/Ongoing-trends-in-volunteering-in-Australia-November-2023.pdf
About Companion Animal Network Australia
www.volunteeringaustralia.org/wp-content/uploads/Volunteering-in-Australia-Volunteering-Experiences-by-Sector-May-2023.pdf
[3] Volunteers aged 18 – 29 are more likely to volunteer for animal welfare organisations than average, accounting for 37.8% of volunteers in this sector.
www.volunteeringaustralia.org/wp-content/uploads/Youth-Volunteering-Factsheet-2023.pdf
[4] Volunteers aged 55 – 69 do account for approximately 24.9% of the volunteering population, and those aged 70 and over account for around 28%.
www.volunteeringaustralia.org/wp-content/uploads/Volunteering-Australia-Key-Volunteering-Statistics-2024-Update.pdf
[5] https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-welfare/volunteers
[6] Volunteers estimate that they spent 151 hours volunteering on average
https://www.volunteeringaustralia.org/wp-content/uploads/Ongoing-trends-in-volunteering-in-Australia-November-2023.pdf
About Companion Animal Network Australia
Companion Animal Network Australia (Australia CAN or CANA) is a registered charity representing the companion animal welfare work of our member organisations across the country: Animal Welfare League QLD, Lort Smith (VIC), Sydney Dogs and Cats Home, Dogs’ Homes of Tasmania and Saving Animals From Euthanasia Inc (WA). Our members provide rescue, shelter, re-homing, fostering, health care and enrichment services to more than 50,000 animals every year.
Through national campaigns, partnerships and initiatives, we advocate for the human-animal bond and promote responsible pet ownership. We use our national voice to lobby for the humane treatment of all companion animals and we rally support for our member programs that deliver high welfare standards. Australia CAN national campaigns include Pets in Aged Care, Rent with Pets and Pets in Business. To discover more, visit www.australiacan.org.au
No comments
Post a Comment