Pssst...guess what? (Updated: the account of my first day!)

[Miss Z]

Hey all,

I would have told you all this sooner only I had to take a little few-days break from PT ;) Soooo, without further ado...

I'm going to start volunteering at my local RSPCA animal shelter next Saturday!

:D :D :D

Of course, this first session will be more of a 'trial' than an actual, definite work position, just to see how I get on with the jobs I will be doing. But I'm still really excited! The types of things I will be doing will be kennel assitant, dog walking, cleaning out small animal pens and taking part in fundraising activities.

I'll let you all know how I get on once I've done the first day. Maybe after a while, if all is successful, they will allow me to take my camera and I can show you all a few pics.

Oh, and maybe-possibly-perhaps I'll just fall in love with a kitty, and from there who knows....;)

[K9soul]

Congratulations! I can certainly understand your excitement! Oh I have no doubt that sooner or later you will fall in love with some needy kitty :D. I hope you are able to get pictures, I'd love to see them!

[Chilli]

Thats great! =D
I know you'll have so much fun.
It'll be wonderful if you're able to show us pictures.. I'm looking forward to it!

Good luck! =]

[Freedom]

How will you ever be able to leave them when it is time for you go to home? I think this is wonderful, you will elarn so much about so many different types of pets in a short time. Great news!

[DrKym]

WOW! congrats hun! The RSPCA is blessed to have you, and I know that you will make such a huge difference to so many animals lives!

LES here! I am very proud of you!

[moosmom]

Congrats, Zara!! I know you'll be a wonderful volunteer. Just TRY not to bring home anything. It's very hard to do. ;)

[Karen]

Congratulations! The RSPCA is lucky to be having you! Give any bunnies an extra kiss from me, okay? Actually nose rubs are more universally appreciated by bunnies, so give them each one fom me!

[Miss Z]

This is a page on their website of some of the animals they have there, and oh lookie Karen, do I spy a big squishy bunny??? :D

http://www.rspca-preston.org.uk/pets_adopt_preston.php

Thanks so much for all the compliments everyone, and yes, I expect they'll have to drag me out of there kicking and screaming when its closing time ;)

[Blue_Frog]

Yay Zara! The animals and RSPCA are lucky to have you there!! :D

[chrissycat21]

Congrats and good luck! I can't wait to hear about your first day.

[Chilli]

Aww! I think if I were in your place, I'd be bringing Tookie(ferret) & Arnie(rat) home without hesitation! Then again, I think thats the reason my mum doesn't really allow me to volunteer full time at an actual rescue. :p

[Miss Z]

...it was GREAT! http://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/biggrin.gif

My toes and back aches and I can't seem to get the smell of dog biscuits off my hands, but after 5 hours spent with animals who can complain? http://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/wink.gif

OK, so I started off feeding and watering the rats, there are 3 and they are all adorable. Yes Courtney, I met Arnie and he is a sweetheart, he decided that my knuckles were quite tasty and tried to nibble them as I was putting his food bowl back in his cage!

Then it was on to muck out the two goats, it was fun putting the towels on the floor and then 'scooting' around on them to dry the stall up after hosing it down.

For the rest of the day I was mostly occupied with dogs, I popped in to have a look where the cats, rabbits and birds were all kept, but it was the dogs that required most work. I took a few dogs for walks, the first one being a gorgeous saluki named Solo, and then what I think was a curly-coated retriever named Bess, she was a doll! At first she was a bit wary of me, but after 5 minutes or so of playing fetch she soon allowed me to take the ball from her mouth. http://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/smile.gif I also walked a lovely staffie who's name I can't remember http://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/redface.gif .

Of course, I had to do lots of cleaning, which involved cleaning the outdoor pens, the puppy pens and the dog bowls. They have the most adorable litter of rhodesian ridgeback puppies, and a sweet doberman youngster named Bobby who is extremely friendly. One of the things we have to do is put on ear muffs when we enter the kennels to stop our ears being damaged by the barking!

Finally I fed a few of the dogs and also helped give a couple tablets in their food. I had to feed a staffie named Diesel, who is a very excitable and strong dog and had a big 'staff only' sign on his pen, so I was a little nervous that when I opened the door he'd bound out and run riot http://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/tongue.gif but thankfully he allowed me to open the door like a true gentleman.

So that was my day! It was so enlightening and really enjoyable, but in other ways it was very sad. The shelter does the best it can for all the animals there, but in your heart you know all the pets there deserve so much better than the pens they are in for most of the day and should have homes of their own. I also found it sad that there are no dogs like labs, poodles etc, the majority are stronger dogs such as german shepherds, mastiffs and american bulldogs, along with an overwhelming number of staffies. Guess people get these dogs and just discard them when they become too much of a handful http://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/frown.gif

But of course, it was wonderful, and I'm counting the hours until next Saturday!

[DrKym]

Sounds like you made a huge difference in your life and theirs!, I am so glad you enjoyed it, and I bet they cannot wait til Saturday either, when their Angel comes to brighten their Week End!!

I am so proud of you! Hugs to your Mum for raising such a GREAT kid! :)

[sweetpatata6]

Congradulations!!! I hope you find a cat!!! I love my kitty and that's where I got him from!!!

[Miss Z]

Sounds like you made a huge difference in your life and theirs!, I am so glad you enjoyed it, and I bet they cannot wait til Saturday either, when their Angel comes to brighten their Week End!!

I am so proud of you! Hugs to your Mum for raising such a GREAT kid! :)

AAAAAAW! (((big hug))) :D