WESTFIELD-Animals in the care of the Westfield Regional Animal Shelter periodically require veterinarian visits and volunteers play a vital role in assisting the staff by transporting them.
Elf is one of four cats currently at the Westfield Regional Animal Shelter that needs a forever home this holiday season. (Submitted photo)
“Transport for vet appointments can happen any day that we have appointments set up,” said Lori Charette, animal control operations manager, who is seeking to add two to three volunteers to transport animals. “We have the appointments scheduled ahead of time so we would look for transport when we have the appointment.”
Charette noted that transport volunteers can expect to assist a wide range of animals and wildlife including adoptable dogs, cats, and other domestic animals, as well as wildlife including birds of prey, opossums, raccoons, squirrels, song birds and bats.
“As animal control, we do pick up injured or abandoned wildlife,” said Charette. “If the animal can be helped, we bring it to a wildlife rehabilitator who handles that species of animal.”
Charette said that transporting wildlife usually occurs during the day but can be scheduled later in the day, depending on the rehabber’s availability.
Currently, Charette has one transport volunteer and is hoping to recruit others to “lighten the load” for her.
“If our current transport volunteer is not available, the staff needs to transport,” said Charette, adding, “This leaves us short-handed in the office and for animal control related calls.”
Charette is assisted by new animal control officers Jenna Swotchak and Spenser Afonso.
Persons interested in volunteering are required to complete an application form and a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check is done on all applicants.
Charette said the shelter’s main veterinarian is located in Blandford, however, on occasion, the shelter uses other vets who can see the animals.
“Mileage for transport volunteers is not offered but we will give a gas card to the person transporting our animals,” said Charette.
All animals being transported are placed in a carrier or other suitable container, noted Charette.
“No animals will be allowed to be ‘free’ in the vehicle,” she said, adding all necessary paperwork also travels with the animal.
“The biggest weight challenge would be dogs,” said Charette. “Dogs would be traveling in a crate and may just need assistance getting out of the crate and into the crate at vet appointments. The vet staff is willing to help if it is needed.”
During the winter months, Charette said animal shelters tend to be “typically slower” in animal numbers. Currently, four cats, one chicken and one dove is awaiting the right person or family to adopt them.
The shelter is located at 178 Apremont Way.
For more information on volunteer transport opportunities or adopting animals, call (413) 564-3129 or stop in during shelter hours.
