For five weeks we have wandered through Spain. Chasing the sun. Seeking out the beautiful spots in nature. Wandering after the sun was not our only goal. The reason I was eager to go to Spain was to help the homeless animals there. So, during our last weeks in Spain, we helped animals in need.
As you may have already seen on my Instagram stories and feed, Lex and I did volunteer work at a Spanish animal shelter. For two weeks we labored to help the shelter animals.
I’ve wanted to do volunteer work at an animal shelter for years. Yet, because of my studies and work I never had the time or energy. I needed all my energy for the daily grind in my life. Since we now both work part time and set choose own hours, I finally have the time and energy to help animals!
The Animal Shelter
The shelter we volunteered at is a very well-run shelter. There are many volunteers who come daily to clean, walk, groom and cuddle the animals. I was truely impressed with how smoothly the care of the animals goes. I appreciated all the hard work to take care of the primary needs of the animals, because it meant that Lex and I could take care of the things that the shelter doesn’t have time for.
Volunteer work
Lex kept himself busy with the chores around the shelter. There are always things that need to be fixed or optimized. He repaired broken locks, mended holes in fences, carried bags of dog food and made a sluice so the dogs couldn’t escape. Even though you don’t help an animal directly, it does help in the long run. These kinds of improvements help the volunteers do their job better. Which means the dogs get taken care of even better!
Occasionally I helped Lex with these chores, but I mainly spent my time with the dogs themselves. For example, I helped walk dogs. Especially the big ones. There are many volunteers, but not every person can handle such a strong and heavy animal. The dog may pull the walker over on accident…
I also gave extra dedicated attention to each dog. They get attention during the day from the volunteers and staff, but real one-on-one contact does not happen daily for every dog. Some dogs enjoy it when you just sit there and talk to them or pet them. I also enjoy this, so win win!
Tackling Bicycle Aggression
I also practiced with a bicycle. I was told that one particular dog attacked cyclists. This dog, Charlota, I knew by now and it surprised me. She is one big cuddly buddy. She prefers to be close to you and to be petted. She had been adopted once already, but because of her aggression towards cyclists she was brought back. If this was the only downside to her, I would make sure she would get better at this.
I borrowed a bike from one of the volunteers and immediately started working with the dog. I built up the cycling process slowly. First I walked along a bike standing still against a wall, then I walked with the bike in my hand and eventually I cycled with the dog next to the bike. Dog Charlota was a champ next to the bike! At first she was a bit anxious, but once she figured out what her task was, she ran along wonderfully beside the bike. Finally, I also tested what she would do when a cyclist would pass her. This did not interest her at all. A great success!
Cycling with dogs
After I helped this dog get rid of her problem I started biking with the other dogs. Sometimes with one dog, sometimes with several. Most of the dogs loved it. They got into a focus mode where they ran along beside the bike. This was wonderful to see.
Some dogs didn’t like it at all. They would rather sniff and pee on everything instead of actively run along. There were also a number of dogs that did not get the hang of running next to the bike … Interestingly enough, these were mainly the large dogs…
My Calling
After these two weeks of volunteer work, I know my purpose on this earth. To surround myself with animals, to help, train, love and understand them. This makes me happy. Intensely happy. This is what I want to spend my time doing. Since I was a child I knew animals were in my future. I actually wanted to become a veterinarian when I was young! Why I strayed away from this path, I don’t know. I only know that I am relieved, and also proud of myself, that I am now heading in the right direction again.
Last Words
I recommend volunteering at an animal shelter to everyone. Especially if you love animals. We spent two full months in Spain. But those last two weeks at the shelter, those were the highlight of my stay in this country.
