Shelter Visit 12/1/2019
The morning started off pretty cold and the majority of us nearly missing the train, but we made it to the shelter on time and in good spirits! We were 12 people strong and divided ourselves into cat and dog teams. Siiri, Anne, and a few other volunteers took cats, while Sarah, Morgan, and the remaining volunteers took dogs. With so many people, we were able to accomplish a lot: both the complete cleaning/santitizing/feeding of the cats and walking all the dogs! Some of the dogs were even able to get walked twice.
Our biggest challenge was coordinating the movement of each dog from their cage to the door and back again. Many of these dogs can’t be taken out around other dogs due to their aggressive behavior. Much of this behavior stems from the stressful environment of the shelter and the constant competition for attention. To prevent any fights, we only allow one dog out of their cage and through the door at a time. And with so many volunteers, this caused a “cola de colas,” or a “line of tails” waiting (not so patiently) to get out and play.
We realize this is a good problem to have, with so many volunteers willing to give their time, but it felt like an inefficient use of time. We want to maximize their time outdoors, not stick them in a line. We have some ideas on how to improve this process, one of which is to give each walker a time to return. This would cut down on the build up of dogs waiting to go in or out, but also regulate who’s walking who and which dog has been out already. Do you have any ideas on how to improve this?
We wouldn’t have been able to do this without our amazing volunteer team. We have people messaging us through Instagram, Facebook, and email about how they can get involved. Some people live here in Barcelona, but others live far away and we have opportunities for them all! There are many ways that we envision creating a larger team and stronger network of people with big hearts willing to donate their time. If you are interested in getting involved, message us or post a comment! We would love to bring you on board!
