volunteering to walk dogs

falabo

Hi all,

Wishing all animal lovers a very happy new year 2012 and may all puppy farmers, animal abusers etc go to hell.

Starting ASAP I have made the decision to do something I really really enjoy doing: walking dogs. I have my own dogs so could only do it once a week saturday for example would be ideal.

Where is the best place to volunteer ? I don't like the idea of dog pounds, I'd rather walk dogs that are in an animal rescue centre.

Do you think by walking dogs in pounds I would actually support the policy they have of putting dogs to sleep after 5 days ?

I am trying to make an opinion on this :in one way I think it's right because if the dogs only have a few days to live it would be nice for them to go out for nice walks but on the other hand I am 100% against putting to sleep perfectly friendly and healthy dogs.

I would love to have your opinions/directions on this. Would I be better off volunteering for a dog rescue or dog pound ? which would be the nearest to Trim Co Meath ?

Thanks all,

cltt97

Well <snip> definitely doesn't put down healty dogs and I have a friend who used to go up there walking dogs most weekends, so they definitely need that type of volunteering. Not terribly close to Trim though I'm afraid...

Jennypops

falabo wrote: »

Hi all,

Wishing all animal lovers a very happy new year 2012 and may all puppy farmers, animal abusers etc go to hell.

Starting ASAP I have made the decision to do something I really really enjoy doing: walking dogs. I have my own dogs so could only do it once a week saturday for example would be ideal.

Where is the best place to volunteer ? I don't like the idea of dog pounds, I'd rather walk dogs that are in an animal rescue centre.

Do you think by walking dogs in pounds I would actually support the policy they have of putting dogs to sleep after 5 days ?

I am trying to make an opinion on this :in one way I think it's right because if the dogs only have a few days to live it would be nice for them to go out for nice walks but on the other hand I am 100% against putting to sleep perfectly friendly and healthy dogs.

I would love to have your opinions/directions on this. Would I be better off volunteering for a dog rescue or dog pound ? which would be the nearest to Trim Co Meath ?

Thanks all,

Walking dogs who are in the pound does not mean you are supporting whatever policy the pound has in place...I think you will find that the likes of Dunboyne & Ashton Pound who have rescues working directly from there rehome a huge number of dogs from the system so getting the dogs out while they do their time is massively beneficial to the animals. Human contact and love at a time when they are scared and havent a clue what is going on? Think you know what the answer is.
<snip> are near Finglas and they are looking for volunteers to help with walking the dogs, cleaning out the kennels and that..if you check out a few of the rescue groups on facebook that should help. Dunboyne pound would probably be nearest to you and <snip> work with the dogs there for rehoming etc, <snip> are amazing and the number of animals they help is unreal. Same with all the rescues- they really are brilliant.

unclebill98

The wife and I often help out int local pound and rescue centres.

We walk dogs, clean out kennels and and groom the lucky ones getting re homed.
Trough this we then get involved in moving dogs between the pounds and to new owners. We even gone around the country sided with the folks to check on animals during winter and help out elderly farmers look after their live stock.

All of the rescue centres I've worked with do not put animals to sleep and try there up most to re home and in some cases we foster animals till they can get homes. Working in pounds with the policy of putting dogs asleep is much harder and something I don't do often, however by helping re home from the rescue centre we than make room to remove animals from the pound.

Call any rescue or pound centre near you and they will gladly help in given you some work. It's greatly rewarding.

Cherry Blossom

No recommendations, links to, or discussion of the activities of individual rescues. - By PM only.

falabo

adrenalinjunkie wrote: »

No recommendations, links to, or discussion of the activities of individual rescues. - By PM only.

whats the point of those Internet forums then ?

falabo

adrenalinjunkie wrote: »

No recommendations, links to, or discussion of the activities of individual rescues. - By PM only.

by banning webistes being mentionned you are making your own website redundant as people will not be able to get the information they are looking for and therefore will stop using it !

Cherry Blossom

If you want clarification on this you can ask for it by PM. People can still make recommendations by PM, you didn't ask for peoples opinions on specific organisations in your Opening post by the way - you asked a general question.

falabo

adrenalinjunkie wrote: »

If you want clarification on this you can ask for it by PM. People can still make recommendations by PM, you didn't ask for peoples opinions on specific organisations in your Opening post by the way - you asked a general question.

ever heard of right of speech ?

planetX

Yet it's allowed to post links to breeders selling puppies, and companies selling dogfood:mad::mad::mad:

Hellrazer

planetX wrote: »

Yet it's allowed to post links to breeders selling puppies, and companies selling dogfood:mad::mad::mad:

Breeders selling puppies and dog food seller havent threatened boards with legal action over some threads.
Thats the sole reason that rescues are no longer allowed to be mentioned.The admins had enough of rescues bitching about other rescues and rescues threatening to sue over posts by users and other rescues and having to deal with the fallout.

Cherry Blossom

planetX wrote: »

Yet it's allowed to post links to breeders selling puppies, and companies selling dogfood:mad::mad::mad:

Try reporting these posts you are talking about.

Back on topic then so!

falabo

Hellrazer wrote: »

Breeders selling puppies and dog food seller havent threatened boards with legal action over some threads.
Thats the sole reason that rescues are no longer allowed to be mentioned.The admins had enough of rescues bitching about other rescues and rescues threatening to sue over posts by users and other rescues and having to deal with the fallout.

this country really is a "little America"

Hellrazer

falabo wrote: »

ever heard of right of speech ?

No free speech here on boards.You agreed to this when you signed up.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/faq.php?faq=bie_faq

Cherry Blossom

falabo wrote: »

this country really is a "little America"

If you have an issue with the forum - there are appropriate channels to voice your opinion. One more off-topic post in this thread though and you can have a month ban from it and you won't be annoyed by it anymore.

Hellrazer

falabo wrote: »

this country really is a "little America"

Exactly.

We gave rescues their own forum--The pre modded one.We gave them their own rehoming thread and we let them post their animals for rehoming any time they wanted to.

What did we get in return--threats of legal action and a headache for the admins.

Users need to know the background before saying we`re over censoring the place.

planetX

Annnnyways, OP I couldn't go near a pound without ending up owning 10 dogs. But it was a good point made that by helping out a rescue to rehome you free up places for pound dogs, and you would be socialising a dog while you walk it which could only help its chances. You would probably end up looking out for potential owners too.
I wish I had energy left after walking mine, but I can't tire him out:( I wonder if you can bring your own dog along when you volunteer?

Discodog

Well done OP. Most rescues are happy to have volunteers. I am not aware of Pounds even allowing dogs off the premises so that may be a no no. But the operation of every Pound is up to the individual Pound keeper so you may find variations.

2sumitup

Its entirely up to you what you decide to do. Contact your nearest rescue centre or pound - they will let you know whether you can walk their dogs. The comforting thing about walking dogs from a no-kill rescue centre is that when you leave them you know they are safe when you turn your back - they will always be okay. Best part (although it might be sad at the time) is that if you go back to visit - they are gone ... to a good home. At least you know that. Happy Days.