SPCA Seeks Volunteers for 2026 Fill the Bucket Street Appeal

SPCA New Zealand is calling for volunteers for its annual "Fill the Bucket" street appeal, which takes place nationwide on Friday 30 October and Saturday 31 October 2026.

The SPCA describes the appeal as its biggest fundraising event of the year. Volunteers will be out at collection sites across the country, and all funds raised support the SPCA in caring for abused, neglected and abandoned animals, and in preventing cruelty before it begins.

Collectors work in pairs on two-hour shifts at collection sites, and are supplied with stickers, bibs, buckets and other materials. The SPCA is also recruiting Volunteer Area Coordinators, who manage the collection sites in their allocated area. Coordinators help set up sites, distribute materials, handle the cash collected, and act as the point of contact for collectors on the day.

Dog owners can bring their dog along to many sites. According to the SPCA, the majority of its collection sites are dog friendly, and volunteers should look for the dog icon on a location when registering to be certain dogs are welcome there.

The SPCA asks that any dog joining a shift is healthy and fully vaccinated, well socialised and happy to meet new people, tolerant of children, comfortable being touched, and calm and under control. Volunteers bringing a dog should make sure it has enough water and bring bags to clean up after it.

A two-hour shift on a busy street can be a lot for some dogs, so it is worth thinking about whether your dog will genuinely enjoy the attention before signing up together. For tips on choosing the right gear for a long stint on a lead, see our guide to dog leads, harnesses and collars in NZ.

Registration for both collector and Area Coordinator roles is open on the SPCA website.

Sources

• https://www.spca.nz/how-you-can-help/volunteer/fill-the-bucket-appeal