“Do the cats really watch TV?” asked local eighth-grader Fernando as he stared at a television set inside a cat “apartment” at the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
“It’s actually really good mental stimulation,” said Jamie Lundy, an SPCA staff member.
Lundy was there to teach a group of six youth volunteers how to care for and work with animals at the SFSPCA as part of the organization’s Community Service Saturday this weekend. The organization, headquartered in the Mission, has hosted the event for kids in grades 6 through 12 since 2009. During the school year the SPCA welcomes the students three weekends per month.
“We try to instill in them a sense of responsibility,” said Lauren Taylor, the group’s humane education coordinator. “We wouldn’t exist without volunteers.”
The SPCA takes in homeless, ill and abandoned animals and gives them medical treatment and care until they are ready to be adopted.
Many of the student participants return for multiple Community Service Saturdays, and some join the SPCA’s high school volunteer program when they’re old enough. Fernando hopes to continue volunteering when he moves on to high school.
“I like animals a lot,” he said. This was his second time participating in the program. “My favorite part is when we go to the dogs and cats and play with them.”
The day started with an orientation, followed by window cleaning in the cat apartments. After the hard work, the participants were allowed to sit in the apartments and play with the cats for an hour.
When it was time to play, Lundy reminded the volunteers to sit down and let the cats come to them. These are shelter animals, she said, and some are a bit shy.
“If you are a big, hulky monster standing over a tiny animal, that’s going to freak them out.”
Inside a cat apartment, a student named Eliza laughed and smiled as a small orange kitten played with her shoe.
“It’s a fun way to do community service,” Eliza said. Later in the day, students spent time cleaning dog rooms and learning to walk the dogs.
The cost to participate in the Community Service Saturday is $50. Students who are interested can sign up online by clicking here.
