Animal rehabilitation clinic in Amherstburg calls for volunteers to help with 'baby season'
While people look forward to the first day of spring in less than a week, the animal kingdom is gearing up for "baby season" — and that has an animal rehabilitation clinic in Amherstburg, Ont., calling for volunteers to help raise all the little critters.
Jennifer Dalley, wildlife coordinator for Wings Rehabilitation Centre, said she is looking for eight volunteers a day who can help care for its birds and other animals, feed them, serve as emergency drivers and assist with cleanup and food preparation.
People are also asked to become foster parents and care for some of the animals at home.
"Starting now until the beginning of October, we have babies coming in," said Dalley. "Birds need to be fed every four or five minutes. Other animals need to be fed every two to four hours."
In addition to providing care for the animals both on-site and at home, volunteers are also needed as emergency drivers and to assist with cleaning and food preparation.
Volunteers from a variety of backgrounds are welcome, including individuals between jobs, high school students fulfilling volunteer hours and people just looking for a fulfilling way to spend their time.
The centre permits anyone who is 12 years of age or older to volunteer.
"We'll teach them everything they need to know," she added.
At the Windsor/Essex County Humane Society, people are able to drop off injured or orphaned animals. However, the WECHS is not a "licensed rehabber," according to executive director Melanie Coulter.
"So we're very fortunate that Wings will take animals that need to be rehabilitated or just need to be raised to adulthood. So we partner with them and send a lot of our animals there if they need rehab," said Coulter.
Coulter notes that the Humane Society sees a significant influx of animals in need of care during the spring and summer months.
To help alleviate this pressure, Coulter encourages animal lovers to consider opening their homes as foster parents for kittens and other baby animals.
"We provide all the supplies and all the training," added Coulter.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Asking rent prices up 9.3% across Canada, Ontario sees only decline: report
A new report says the average asking rent for a home in Canada in April was up 9.3 per cent compared with a year ago, while a slight month-over-month increase was also recorded for the first time since January.
Prince William says wife Kate is 'doing well'
Prince William said on Friday his wife Kate was 'doing well' in a rare public comment about the Princess of Wales as she undergoes preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
'I may have some nightmares:' Man survives being bitten by 2 sharks in Bahamas
A man who was bitten by two sharks in the Bahamas said Thursday he's 'thankful that I'm here' while sharing his story of survival.
Ontario coroner to investigate death of man who suffered cardiac arrest while waiting in ER
A provincial coroner will be investigating the death of 68-year-old David Lippert, who suffered a cardiac arrest while waiting in a crowded emergency room in Kitchener, Ont.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
'Irate male' assaulted Newfoundland officers with block of cheese, police say
Police in Newfoundland say patrol officers were assaulted Thursday by a "very irate male" wielding a block of cheese.
Dashcam video shows terrifying near-miss on two-lane northern Ontario highway
There were some scary moments for several people on a northern Ontario highway caught on video Thursday after a chain reaction following a truck fire.
Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
Canadian Blood Services apologizes to LGBTQ2S+ community for discriminatory blood donation policy
Canada's longstanding blood donation policy that prevented sexually active men who have sex with men and some trans people from donating blood and plasma was harmful and discriminatory, Canadian Blood Services acknowledged on Friday, in issuing an apology to the LGBTQ2S+ community.