DSPCA

Bubblefett

Hi,
Just wondering is there anyone here from the DSPCA? O know who I should contact? I sent in a volunteer form about 2 months ago and never heard back. Would really love to help out if they could use my help.
Thanks

Jellybaby1

Lately I'm getting conflicting information about the DSPCA. A few months ago the DSPCA was on the RTE news saying because they weren't getting as much grants from Govt or donations they had stopped taking animals in and were letting staff go. A friend of mine went there to ask if they'd take some pets as he was having to downsize and couldn't keep his pets and they said yes, they'd take them, but when he went to drop them in they refused them and he had to take them home again. A rotten way to treat people and animals. Another friend recently got a puppy and when we asked where he got it, he said he had gone to DSPCA but wasn't impressed so went to another animal charity. Now this week on RTE radio I heard a DSPCA centre outside Dublin were calling for animals to be handed into them instead of abandoning them. I also know someone who wanted to volunteer but as she didn't like the way she was treated prior to her interview she withdrew her application. It's all very strange.

RacoonQueen

Surely if they're letting staff go they could use all the extra volunteers they can get?

http://www.dspca.ie/cat_news_detail.jsp?itemID=2659

Jellybaby1

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Surely if they're letting staff go they could use all the extra volunteers they can get?

http://www.dspca.ie/cat_news_detail.jsp?itemID=2659

Lots of charities have these 'volunteers needed' notices up permanently on websites, shop windows, etc., but I know for a fact that one charity stopped taking volunteers because they had a long waiting list but they still have the notice up.

seamus

Experiences can be mixed at the DSPCA depending on who you're dealing with. Some members of paid staff and volunteers alike have ridiculously bad people skills, either because they're just not very social, or because they've been working with cruelty cases so long that they've built up a general dislike of human beings.

A lot of people also go up there expecting to be treated like a customer, however the staff mindset is that the animals are more important than the "customers", so I know many people get very offended and irate when they get spoken to in a short or rude manner rather than as a "customer".

This is coupled specifically in the DSPCA with a very poor organisational structure where there are few processes in place and fewer people to ensure those processes are followed. It's not so much about looking at things logically and making things better, it's about doing whatever the hell management feels like doing that week.
So it's all a bit chaotic. One person might tell you one thing and the next day someone else will tell you the exact opposite, because that's the information that both of them have been given.

This would account for the experiences Jellybaby describes, especially in relation to the girl who was interviewed to volunteer. On another day, she may have been interviewed by someone else and left with a great impression of the place.

It's also worth noting that there is only one DSPCA in Rathfarnham. There is no other DSPCA outside of Dublin, that's the ISPCA, who are a different organisation.

So people often get confused when the ISPCA make an appeal on the radio for something, then they contact the DSPCA who tell them they can't help.
As of the moment, with the cutbacks and staff redundancies, they're no longer taking owner surrenders - only cruelty/neglect cases and abandoned dogs.

In terms of the OP, rather than wait for your application to be seen, it would be worth going up there on a semi-regular basis. You will be allowed to go and take the dogs for a walk even if you're not volunteering there, and if you chat to the people working on the kennels/cattery, they'll get to know you (and you them) and you're more likely to be asked to volunteer regularly.

seamus

Bizarrely enough, this just went up on their website:
http://www.dspca.ie/cat_news_detail.jsp?itemID=2659

Worth going along to OP, you don't seem to have to register for it.

Jellybaby1

I would very much agree with most of what Seamus posted above. 'Chaotic' seems to describe it very well. Still, as the charity/staff depend so much on voluntary donations from the public, I think they should well be expected to deal with callers and use just a little common courtesy. They can't be bereft of good manners surely just because they deal with animals all the time. I do understand they see a lot of cruelty cases and this can effect them but can you apply that to ambulance drivers, firefighters, etc. I can't agree on that one I'm afraid. Members of the public who call to the centre are also potential volunteers who have been put off the place because of the incivility they encountered. It's a shame, but because of information I have received I have directed my own donations to another charity. Others may have done the same, hence their financial situation I expect.

MacNaBola_94Xx

I work their , im making a model of the building aswel

JasperKat

Whilst I agree with some of the points made I can only give you my experiences....

I put in a request form for volunteering, but when I didn't hear anything back after 2mths I rang to ask if they still needed volunteers or what was the story? I was told that emails were going out that week & my name was on the list (I did have an element of doubt as it seemed too good to be true) but, sure enough, the next day I go an email re the next orientation (it was that sat/sun) there were some spaces left - would i like to come along? I did & have never regretted it....

At the orientation we (about 50-60 ppl) were shown around, introduced to some staff & other volunteers who were all very nice people, given info on what; how; where & when volunteers help out, told to make ourselves known to everyone on our 1st few visits & don't be afraid to say 'i'm new here'.... we were then told we would be given access to their scheduling program. We were urged to consider how much time we as individuals could commit each month & (depending on where we helped out) what hard work it was.

My 1st volunteering session I was very nervous 'cos I'm not an outgoing person & don't mix well... but I did say 'i'm new' to a lot of people & it was the quickest way of getting help - everyone was so nice, friendly, helpful & welcoming.

I'm helping out one session a week & hope to do more as well as the recent Santa Experience (it was absolutely magical), I don't get involved in the politics (but I haven't heard any anyway) I would highly recommend it to everyone.

PM me if you've any specific questions.

Jasper

Myrddin

Hi Jasper

Is it all based in Rathfarnham, or are the other locations to volunteer/help out? I filled in the forms there earlier in the week so it'll be a while yet before I hear anything I'd say

seamus

The DSPCA only have one shelter, in Rathfarnham. They do have a mobile clinic though that heads out from Rathfarnham.