10
Wednesday January 19, 2011
7KH 6XQ
one on one with the Sun
S ving lives At the end of last year, SPCA Marlborough farewelled centre manager and inspector Carol Schofield. Now when visiting the centre there are a number of bright, bubbly new faces to greet you including that of Jess Monk, newly appointed animal care officer. Fun, energetic and animal devoted Jess plays with some of the centre’s newest kitten additions as she shares the passion behind her work with Sun reporter Celeste Lodewyk. “Who couldn’t love these adorable Desexing is an essential and little faces,� Jess smiles as she snuggles responsible step that pet owners can into a ginger kitten named Hogan. take to prevent thousands of unwanted “For me, to have a job interacting so animals being dumped at the centre, closely with animals is a dream-come- Jess says. true. I was a little nervous not know“The SPCA would never say no to ing how I would feel seeing the sad any animal in need, but with our decircumstances around these animals, sexing vouchers there is no reason for but I would describe it as being three a cat to have unwanted pregnancies,� percent sad and 97 percent exciting, Jess says. amazing and rewarding!� “There are a lot of gutless people Prior to joining the SPCA who dump litters because they Marlborough team, Jess spent a haven’t de-sexed their pets. There number of years travelling in and out of is no need to dump them; just come New Zealand before coming to settle to the centre, have a cuppa with us, in Marlborough. grab a voucher and Using her vet nursing leave any unwanted training and double animals with us.� “No person degree in zoology and Jess maybe a lover here at the psychology, Jess worked of all animals, but for the Picton EcoWorld she has a special SPCA wants Aquarium and took reserve in her heart on the challenges of two furry friends, to see animals for wildlife manager for her dogs Basil and Lochmara Lodge and lose their lives� Billie. vet nursing at the Picton “Billie, a Norwich Veterinary Clinic. Terrier is the cutest Now in her exciting new role, Jess dog in the world and our Blue Heeler is eager to spread her message – save Basil is a very special boy, he was an animal lives! SPCA dog. “With my love for dogs I hope to “SPCA Marlborough has embraced a new national campaign called spend a lot more time working on Saving Lives which aims to re-home canine behaviour with the centre’s animals rather than euthanasing dogs which is such a rewarding feeling. This combined with the ability them,� she says. “No person here at SPCA wants to to help mistreated animals and find see animals lose their lives so we are homes for them gives me an amazing offering free de-sexing vouchers for sense of worth,� she smiles. cats - not kittens.�
KITTEN LOVE: New SPCA Marlborough animal care officer Jess Monk snuggles with Hogan and receives a kiss from Brad, two of the centre’s new kittens.
&KRRVLQJ D ULQJ IRU OLIH
-ARKET 3T "LENHEIM 0HONE &AX
&RQGLWLRQV DSSO\