The Street Dog, Shelters & Post Operative Care. Some thoughts ..

The Street Dog & Shelters. A guide for animal Welfare Volunteers.

Our Street Dog & Shelters, words that often get connected often in the ever day life of an animal welfare volunteer. If not a shelter, then the hostel but the responsibility is the same.

It a huge responsibility that I have taken on myself when I lift a street dog from its home and place it in a shelter whatever the circumstances. The grave responsibility stems from the indisputable truth that I am making decisions for the street dog but the consequences of these decisions will not be faced by me but by the dog.

Following are the guidelines that I often set for myself before taking any decision regards sending a street dog to a shelter, hospital or hostel.

Is the reason to pick up the street dog grave enough ?

Anything I do for the street dog, there is one question I keep running through my mind …

“Is this good for her ?”. Ensure the question does not become ” Is this good for you? … the caretaker!”

As each year goes by, experience has been a great but sometimes a bitter teacher. Initially I wanted to pick the street dog for just about any reason. The logic being that they will be safer off the street .. never have I been so wrong.!

Under the guidance of a reliable vet you can do a huge amount medical aid of the dog on-site itself. A lot of injuries and sicknesses of a street dog can be handled onsite. In fact if the vet is experienced with the treatment of street dogs, the vet, herself will indicate to you whether the dog can be taken care of onsite or not.

The only prerequisite is that the dog should come to the same location everyday and you can assist the dog in a regular manner. The rest depends on your commitment and dedication. If you are willing to medicate the dog as per the vet’s instructions everyday and feed the street dog nourishing food, you can complete the street dog’s recovery on-site itself. The street dog always recovers quicker in its home environment and surroundings.

Picking up a street dog and placing it in a shelter, hospital or hostel should be be your very last resort. Cases where surgery is involved, post operative care is needed and you cannot have the dog running around then there is no choice but to pick up the dog and place him in the care of a shelter, hospital or hostel.

Background check of the shelter, hospital of hostel.

I encourage all animal welfare volunteers to visit shelters, hostels and hospitals in their areas or the ones that are commonly recommended. Do it in your free time such that you have done your required homework before the actual need arises.

Collect Feedback

Start collecting feedback from other animal welfare volunteers as to which hostels or shelters they had admitted their street dogs.

1. Were they happy with the treatment of the dog ?
2. Was he fed well ?
3. Did they notify them on a timely basis in case of any emergency ?
4. Did they administer medicines on schedule ?
5. Was it clean ?
6. Was there a change in behavior of the dog after release ?

… these just some the questions that need to be asked

Actually VISIT the premises.

This is a very crucial step and that is to take the time out and visit the premises of the shelter or hostel.

Some questions that could be asked ..

1. Where would your doggy be housed ?
2. Are there kennels or cages ?
3. How crowded is the premises ?
4. How clean and organized is the kitchen ?
5. What is the the food that will be given ?
6. Is the place clean ?
7. Is there a paramedic on premises ?
8. Do they have a Vet on call ?
9. How are the medical records kept ?
10. How are the medicines stored ?

Take the time to meet the helpers, chat with the supervisor or owner. This interaction will give you an idea of the attitude and belief of the people that are going to take care of your injured dog.

Vibrations and Aura of the premises.

As an animal welfare volunteer, one should know how to read the vibrations and aura of the animals that are currently at the shelter or hospital. Unless under medication for pain, check whether the tails are wagging, do they bark at you happily when you come near their cages, are they fearful of a visitor or a helper, is there constant yowling , whining or barking , these are some signs to be aware of.

Policy, Rules And Payment Terms and Conditions

If the shelter or hostel is well established there will definitely be policies and rules in place regards admission, health status of the dog, visiting hours, payment rules so on and so forth. If there is feel of arbitrariness in the same, it does not bode well. The rules and policies might not be agreeable to you but the fact that they are rules and policies in place says a lot about the place.

See if you are comfortable with accepting the rules and policies and picture yourself following them if you had admitted on of your street dogs in the said shelter. Do not except them to change the rules for you and get all upset and angry about it. This is their shelter, their policies and that is why you need to follow them.

Visit the patient

Your responsibility does not end with just sending a street dog for post operative care to a shelter. You must also monitor progress till the dog is released. A couple of phone calls is not enough. You MUST visit the street dog that you have admitted into the shelter during it’s stay there.

Primarily it will be a BIG MORAL BOOSTER for the dog to see her care taker. She is in pain, not well and in a unknown environment. It will give her great comfort to see her caretaker.

There is a BIG difference getting an update on Whatsapp or on the phone versus actually seeing the dog. There is a lot you will realize when you actually make these visits. Would you admit a family member into a hospital and not visit that person at all ? The same applies and here it is more important that the street dog cannot talk for itself.

Your visits also place you in another bracket by the caretakers of the shelter or hospital. They realize the level of your care and concern and the same is absorbed by the staff in a positive manner.

There is also this issue that get raised often which is ‘I am not allowed to visit the dog..’. My advice is to build a rapport with the organization, take permission and play by their rules. Most often than not, you will be allowed to see your admitted doggy.

Conclusion

All in all, avoid sending the street dog to a shelter unless absolutely required. Work with other volunteers and your vet to take that decision. If the decision to send to a shelter has been taken the ensure your background homework has been done.

Finally, most importantly VISIT the admitted street dog during its post operative or rehabilitation stay at the shelter.

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