Animal shelter “Penkta koja”

public, non profit organization

Volunteer: Aistė Karpušenkaitė

2015, Kaunas

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Who we are?• Private animal shelter;• Established in 2010;• Mostly dogs;• Funded mostly by private

persons;• Only 2 staff members,

everyone else – volunteers;• Located in Linksmakalnis

and Garliava;• We don‘t put down animals

after some periods of time;

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How our pets lived at start (3 metres of chain)

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Were we started

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Daily routine• „Authorities“;

– Drives sick animals with serious problems to specialists;– Aranges organizational matters;– Picks up lost / found / injured animals and brings to shelter

• Volunteers:– Feeds;– Gives water;– Tidies the cages and fenced areas;– Walks the dogs.

• Our vet: – Small operations and procedures;– Treats pets;– Vaccinates;

• Temporaly custody:– Sick animals;– Animals of their choosing;– Problematic animals;

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Daily routine in Linksmakalnis

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What is left to do• Finish second half of the building and

transport our dogs from Garliava to Linksmakalnis;

• Install fully functional vet cabinet;

• Install quarantine room;

• Finish staff rooms;

• Establish day centre for everyone interested in the second floor;

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Inside / outside politics• Serious selection of new owners;• Females given away mostly only sterilized;• Prevention of unlimited / unwilling reproduction;• Help sick / injured animals no matter the cost;• Give away dogs to live outside (fenced areas, warm and

cozy shelter to hide) mostly if they are problematic for indoors;

• Educational visits in our shelter, to schools, events;• Keeping pets till their last day if they are not adopted;• Donations at will;

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Top stories of our animals

• Emigration;• Sterilization / castration too expensive;• Became violent, destructive;• Don‘t need anymore;• No one to take care of them;• Grew up too big/ small/ friendly/ quiet ...;• Injured in accidents;• Lost / found;• Etc.

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Memorable stories• Siberian husky returning home after 1,5 years;• 11 years old American stafordsshire terrier mix

last happy days at home;• Joris end of days in shelter;• Alsis days in shelter;• Margo accident, litter and new home;• Antisocial quartet;

And never ending others....

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Survival of the fittest

• They write an email / msg on Facebook – never call;

• They call – never arrive;

• They arrive – never return;

• Returns – for few times;

• Stays....in one way or another.

Natural selection 13

Pros and consPros:•Experience with various dogs;•Work with similar minded people;•Various experiance and knowledge;•Development of strong character;

Cons:•Strong physical work;•Meesy and dirty work;•Dangerous and responsible work;•Emotional work;•No bindings to homeless pets;•Now quite expensive journey.

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Questions?

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Discussion & taskIn three groups, 1 question per group:

1.Your strategy to increase the number of survivors of ‘natural selection’

2.What should volunteers ask of new owners before giving the dog away to see whether the new owners are trustworthy?

3.If you were a volunteer in a shelter, what kind of social action/campaign would you start to promote the adoption of stray dogs?

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