It's hard to be cute when you're scared. When people come to the Haven to adopt a puppy or a kitten, or a dog or a cat, they usually pick the cutest - the happy friendly animals who come running up for attention. But it's the timid and the anxious animals who need a loving home most, and they are the ones that hide at the back of their cage or kennel or ignore the attentions of visitors. They are the ones left behind when the prospective new owners have come and gone!

Many of the animals taken in by the Otago SPCA have been neglected or badly treated, or they might just have had very little contact with people. So they don't trust anyone. Sometimes they seem disobedient - they just don't listen or cooperate - because they've never been rewarded for good behaviour.

Our volunteers spend many hours with them - patiently coaxing and reassuring to build up their confidence and restore their faith in humans. It's a form of 'resocialising' that the animals really need if they are to have a good chance of finding a good home. It's only because of the kindness of our volunteers that we are able to find homes for so many of our animals.

The volunteers come to the Haven at times arranged with Haven Staff. Much of the time, of course, they help with all the routine chores - feeding the animals, giving them water, cleaning out their cages and runs, grooming them and helping care for the ones that are sick. But then, when there is time, they give the animals lots of TLC - tender loving care. This means taking the older puppies and the dogs for walks and spending time teaching them to obey basic commands; or spending hours in the puppy run and in the kitten house playing with the animals there; or stroking and cuddling the adult cats and grooming them if necessary. And of course the volunteers enjoy it all just as much as the animals!

The volunteers range from 16 to 75 years old. Some can come only for a few hours, others come day after day, week after week. And there are volunteers who deserve special mention - Tracy, Val (pictured folding washing!), Frances,Phillipa & Maddie , Shonagh, Sheryl, Uncle Dave, Alister,Les and Leslie. They have been regular volunteers to the Haven for years, and they've spent many hours with hundreds of animals - consoling and reassuring, playing and just 'being there' for them. Thanks to these volunteers and others like them, many frightened and lonely little animals have begun to trust people again, and they've been adopted out to new homes. The whole Otago community owes these volunteers a huge debt of thanks.

And the Otago SPCA desperately needs more volunteers right now! If you are 16 years old or more and would like to help, please contact the Otago SPCA.