Local profile: Zoe
What do you do when you volunteer? When I volunteer, it is normally in the form of something to do with conservation, such as leading beach cleanups, dive cleanups or helping at conservation days.
What is your favourite part? Seeing how I can inspire people to step up and also help out in the community. I also really like that I can combine my passion of the outdoors with volunteering. It also benefits me as giving back to the community is a key way to improve mental health.
Why did you start volunteering? I started volunteering because I was interested in giving back to the community and creating a better world for us to live in. I also think it's important to create awareness about the problems in our society and how we can all contribute to the solutions.
How do you feel your volunteer work impacts the Marlborough community? When I do beach clean-ups a lot of people say to me that they never knew about the effect on rubbish in the environment so it is really cool that those people who come to the clean ups will decide to change something about their life that will benefit the environment. Getting my dive certification also means that I can encourage young people to learn to dive.
What do you do when you are not volunteering? When I’m not volunteering, I’m usually enjoying the outdoors by tramping or diving, playing the piano, hanging out with friends, or reading a good book!
What would you say to someone who is thinking about starting volunteering? Go for it! Volunteering is a great way to get involved in and give back to the community. I think the best thing to do is find something you are passionate about and see what volunteer options are available surrounding that passion. But really just try it! If you don’t try, you’ll never know what it’s like.
Worst Xmas ever?
There's a a lot of planning that goes into Christmas day and sometimes things just don't go to plan. But it can be a good thing - a family mishap or hilarious memory that you can laugh about in Christmases to come.
Whether you burnt the dinner or were stranded at an airport...
Share your Christmas mishaps below!
⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️