For the past seven years on a Wednesday, Morley resident Linda Shone has volunteered her time to tackle a seemingly endless stream of dirty washing at RSPCA’s WA shelter in Perth’s north.
In a four-hour shift the 66-year-old grandmother washes and folds about 200 towels and blankets plus dozens of stuffed toys and dog beds. So far this year she has done a whopping 360 loads of laundry.
Mrs Shone says she ended up in the laundry because that’s where help was needed and since the call for help she has never looked back.
“There are plenty of volunteers who want to walk the dogs or pat the cats but nobody was putting their hand up to tackle hoards of dirty laundry every week,” she said.
“I went where I was needed and have grown to find it really satisfying and rewarding.” But Mrs Shone says there is a system in place.
“I always have the animals in the back of my mind. So, I’m strategic about what I’ll wash first depending on the size and types of animals we have in care. I want to know they’re warm and comfortable at night, especially through winter,” she said.
“It can be quite overwhelming when you arrive for your shift and there are 10 massive bins of laundry, plus beds and toys, but I treat it as a bit of a challenge to get through as much as I can.”
Because the laundry is placed at the centre of the shelter, over the years Mrs Shone has seen many dogs walk past and said knowing they are moving into forever homes really motivates her to volunteer.
But despite a love of dogs and cats, she was surprised she found love for some unusual animals during her time volunteering.
“I have adored the pigs and goats we’ve had in care in recent months,” she said.
“After my shift I’d head down to the paddock to give the pig some fruit and I started making my own treats at home with oats and pumpkin, that the staff could use for pig enrichment and training.”
In the past 12 months, RSPCA WA’s volunteers have given more than 23,000 hours and added more than $1 million in value to the WA community.
RSPCA WA shelter manager Emily Smith said the charity is grateful to its 215 volunteers who generously give their time and talents every week to help abused, abandoned, and neglected animals.
“People from all walks of life volunteer with RSPCA WA and fill vital roles across the organisation, including administration, grounds and maintenance, events, and directly with the animals in care,” she said.
‘Like us they’re driven by a love for animals and we simply couldn’t keep operating without their amazing dedication.”
Mrs Shone is one of 24 laundry volunteers who wash, dry and fold a massive 9000 load of laundry each year.
“I remember when the commercial dryer decided to die last winter and we had to hang hundreds of blankets and towels out to dry in the cold,” she said.
“When we don’t have dry bedding, that’s a massive issue when you have hundred of animals in care.”
While Mrs Shone keeps her eye on the weather every Wednesday, she says her set day for her laundry at home is certainly not on that day of the week.
You can find out how to volunteer at RSPCA WA here.
