Our Latest Volunteer - Jo
Jo spent her extra holiday time volunteering for TOLFA this year. Not only did she donate time and money but she also donated 3 much needed heatpads from our Wish List. Here’s her story:
I was a volunteer at the TOLFA animal hospital for three weeks in October 2009 and helped mostly with the dogs. From the moment I arrived I felt welcome – the driver was there at the airport with my name card, one of the trustees phoned while I was in the car, and then I was joined soon after arrival by the other volunteers at the very pleasant hotel.
Jo giving lots of puppy love
As a non-vet volunteer I did wonder if I would be less useful than the other volunteers, but all were quick to assure me I was just as useful in my own way.
Rachel arrived back in India shortly after I began. I was so pleased to meet her and see her in action (and attend her wedding party!). She said the benefit of love given to the dogs couldn’t be overestimated and was an important part of their recovery and that made me feel good.
My day would start with a check of the puppy house, and a quick individual cuddle for each one, then a tour of the dogs in the section allocated to me for more ‘good mornings’ and a treat of milk. All dogs in for more treatment other than sterilisation are allocated to one or more volunteers. My block (F) had up to 15 dogs at any time.
After the ‘good mornings’ were done I would exercise ‘my’ dogs – in the hospital grounds if they were well enough, or in one of the walled yards for the less able, where they could walk a little or just enjoy being outside. For these I would sit and stroke them, brush their coats, have a play or just a chat according what they wanted – but each had some individual attention. Some we would help get back on their feet by supporting them with a towel under the tummy as they learned how to re-use damaged limbs.
Jo and doggy friends
After all my dogs had been attended, I might help with a daily task such as nail clipping, checking ears for mites, or with very basic physio for the paralysed dogs (often following a road accident). Any spare time was then spent back in the puppy house, helping them learn to accept each other, washing them if necessary ( how do puppies get quite so dirty?), and otherwise just cuddling or playing with them.
The high points were when a shy puppy began to interact with the others (Shady Lady), when a dog began to walk again, or when an unapproachable dog gradually came to trust. One such dog (Nelson) went, with treatment and patience from head in paws growling when approached and refusing to come out of his kennel, (perhaps because he was trying to hide his missing eye?) to being the most ardent sunbather in the exercise yard, and then soon became well enough to go home.
Shady Lady
There was sadness of course, when a dog didn’t recover, but we took comfort from knowing they were with people who cared and were not alone on a street.
Although I am considerably older than most volunteers I always felt completely accepted by everyone and fully part of the team, and would certainly say that age should not be a deterrent to volunteering.
Overall I felt I did make a difference to the daily life of a number of dogs, and I enjoyed myself while doing so in the company of a very pleasant set of volunteers/staff and I definitely hope to return one day.
Jo and ladies at Rachel’s Indian wedding
Jo Pilc
Project Raja Volunteer
October 2009