Diary of a volunteer - Kennel cleaning, poo picking and introducing long-term resident Eddie
Hi, my name’s Paul and I’m a volunteer with Fetcher Dog.
Most days you’ll find me hard at work (or at best working) in our kennels and around the centre, keeping things clean and safe. I’ve started this series of blogs to give you a real, behind-the-scenes look at life in a busy dog rescue and to share some of the stories of our long-term residents.
My days are packed with these tasks and, by the time my shift ends, I may be tired and a little smelly, but I’m also deeply rewarded by a real sense of accomplishment.
- Kennel cleaning - Poo Picking, scrubbing floors, changing blankets
- General centre cleaning - Rubbish Clearing, washing dog bowls, floor cleaning, loading blankets in and out of washing machines and dryers and ensuring they are close to kennels.
- Website posts and Monthly Newsletter production, you can subscribe for the newsletter on the homepage - www.fetcherdog.com
We are at the end of January and the weather is bleak, rainy, wet and cold and the dogs and staff are reluctant to venture outside. All the dogs require daily mental and physical stimulation so we achieve this inside.
Am sure you can imagine, that the dogs create a lot of mess and rubbish clearing is an integral part of the daily chores, skips are expensive but we only have a couple of months to clear the centre in preparation for the move to the new kennels so here we are having fun with garbage.
If anyone does want to volunteer I have enclosed a link below....
Some of these jobs are not glamorous, at times tiring but are an essential part of the day to day running of a busy rescue centre and to be honest it is a privilege.
I’m also pleased to introduce some of our “long‑stay” residents – deserving dogs who, for many different reasons, haven’t yet caught the eye of an adopter. I want to reassure you that I only spend time with dogs who are relaxed and comfortable in my presence.
Please note: Some of our dogs, because of their past experiences, are understandably wary of men, and in those cases Fetcher Dog ensures I do not interact with any dog who finds me, for whatever reason, intimidating or the situation overwhelming.
This way, their wellbeing always comes first.
This week I am spending time with Eddie.
Eddie may be a golden oldie at around 14, but don’t let his age fool you—he’s brimming with energy and absolutely lives for a good game of fetch with his favourite toys, always hoping a treat is waiting as his well‑earned reward. He’s been part of the center for some time now and has claimed his very own “man cave,” complete with a luxurious dog bed, comfy sofa, and a prime spot in the heart of the kennels where he soaks up endless attention.
He walks well on the lead, relishes his outings and one‑to‑one time, and is an absolute joy to be around—even with his wonderfully high‑spirited personality.
Sex: Male - Date Of Birth: 2011 - Size: Medium
Breed: Staffie mix - Spayed/Neutered: Yes - Microchipped: Yes
Vaccinated: Yes - Location: Kent
Eddie was a local owner surrender to us at the rescue centre. He came to us through no fault of his own at 12 years old and we hope that someone will open their heart and their home to him despite his age.
Eddie is a sweet and caring boy.
He is very friendly and loves affection. He loves his toys. He had a very sheltered life in his home for the last three years, not leaving his crate except for small trips into the garden for the toilet.
Before this, he enjoyed his walks.
Despite his age, he is an energetic boy who would enjoy going on walks. He can dislike some dogs and be reactive on the lead as he was previously attacked by a husky but this is not with all dogs.
We do not know much about Eddie's life so please expect to do full training upon adoption.
If you would like to adopt Eddie follow the link Adopt A Dog – Fetcher Dog
If you would like to volunteer for Fetcher Dog, you can find out more at Volunteer Week - Different ways to volunteer for Fetcher Dog
