This holiday season, we invited a very special helper to SPCA Wake: Buddy the SPCA President Elf!
While he may not be a trained animal care professional, Buddy brought his unique brand of cheer (and chaos) to the shelter as he learned the ropes of animal welfare.
From scrubbing dishes to walking dogs, Buddy showed us just how much heart it takes to care for the animals we all love — and how much we rely on incredible supporters like YOU to make it happen. As we wrap up another wonderful year, we wanted to share this fun photo series as a big thank you for everything you’ve done to help pets in need.
Let’s take a look at Buddy’s adventure and celebrate the joy, love, and laughter you’ve made possible this year! 🐾❤️
First stop: spreading holiday cheer on four paws! Buddy forgot the GPS but sang carols, so the animals didn’t mind the scenic route. 
‘This is like digging for treasure!’ Buddy exclaimed while dramatically sifting the litter. The cats were… less enthusiastic. 
‘Why is every basket heavier than Santa’s sleigh?’ Buddy asked, barely visible behind a mountain of wet laundry. 
Buddy’s festive spirit hit a snag when he realized scrubbing bowls doesn’t involve glitter or frosting. 
Buddy yelled, ‘It’s a Christmas snowflake!’ after spotting bacteria under the microscope. Turns out, he’s not quite the lab tech we were hoping for. 
Buddy insisted on doing a neuter surgery himself. He was so excited to help, we didn't have the heart to tell him it was just a stuffed animal... 
Buddy’s training motto: ‘Sit for Santa!’ It worked… until he started handing out candy canes instead of proper treats. 
Buddy walked Sal straight to a Christmas tree lot, insisting he needed to 'sniff holiday joy.' Sal agreed. 
Who knew syrup wasn’t a great cleaning agent? Buddy made the floors sticky but smelled like breakfast for hours. 
‘Hi, this is Buddy the Elf. What’s your favorite animal?’ Visitors were greeted with a lot of enthusiasm but not many answers.