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Animal House People
Interview with the Stratford Upon Avon Dog Warden
This is our latest interview with Sophie the Stratford Dog Warden who has been running her own rescue centre for years. We have specifically asked her about the challenges of her rescue work.
Q. What made you start your own rescue?
A. I had already started rescuing dogs with behavioral problems. abuse cases and abandonments but after a while I could see that the strays I was collecting on a daily basis in my job as Dog Warden/Animal Welfare Officer needed somewhere to go that was not going to put them to sleep after the 7 days statutory time, so I took them on as well.
Q. What types of animals does your rescue care for?
A. Mainly dogs but I have taken on the occasional cat and feral cat group when desperately needed. These were the ones who would have been destroyed if not helped.
Q. Why are these animals homeless?
A. Most of the dogs have come through the Dog Warden system where the owners have not identified their dog with a microchip or I.D. tag and have not come forward to claim them during the 7 day holding period. Others are from owners who are no longer able to look after them.
Q. How does your rescue get funding?
A. Funding is in short supply as I do all the fundraising myself outside of my normal working hours as Stratford Dog Warden. My rescue work is completely self-funded and relies on donations and events like Dress Down Days, Canine events etc. We can always use more funds!
Q. How many hours per day does it take to look after the rescue animals?
A.It takes a full day to clean, feed and walk the dogs, 7 days per week, every week, every day of the year.This is done by myself and volunteers, I mainly do weekends and a couple of hours every day or so is spent on training, bathing and rehabilitation.
Q. Can anyone offer a home to one of your rescue pets?
A. Yes, anyone can approach us about dogs for re-homing.
Q. How is it best to contact you to see if you have a pet for suitable them
A. E-mail is best as a lot of the time I am driving and pursuing Dog Warden duties. I will always pick up my e.mails so I can respond quickly. My e.mail address is :- t.a.r.r.s@hotmail.co.uk
Q. Do you need more volunteers?
A. I currently have a number of dog walker volunteers but would love volunteer help with fundraising, events organising and newsletter editor.
Q. What is your most valuable type of donation?
A. Money is always useful as it can be used for a variety of purposes, but dogs toys, towels, fleece blankets and vet bedding are invaluable too.
Q. Why aren't there enough rescue centres around for unwanted animals?
A. There are so many unwanted animals, not just dogs and cats but also horses and small animals. My work as the Dog Warden shows me this each day. People but animals without researching how much time and energy they need. They also do not seen to think that when they acquire a pet this is for life. It is easy to abandon an animal if you don't want it anymore. All rescues are bursting at the seams often with a waiting list of 6 months or more to take in an unwanted pet. There is just not enough room for all the animals while more puppies and kittens are being born every day and a lot of them will ultimately meet the same fate.
Q. How would you reduce the number of animals that need a rescue centre?
A. The best way is to stop so many puppies and kittens being born. Educating people about neutering and the responsibilities of pet ownership would have many advantages and dispel many myths.
Q. Are there any people who you would not allow to take on one of your rescue animals?
A. This depends on the circumstances. I have not allowed dogs to go to people in rented accommodation UNLESS I have had written permission form the landlord/landlady. I have also not allowed dogs to go to homes where the garden has been unsecured in certain cases. We can see the practicalities of matching a particular pet with a particular owner when we homecheck. We homecheck to make sure that the pet will be secure and the new owner able to accommodate the rescue pet.
Q. What is a typical day for you in rescue?
A. Mainly, cleaning, feeding and exercising the dogs. This is something I take great pride in. I want these dogs to be in a comfortable, clean environment. As they are properly fed and comfortable they respect, bond and trust me a lot more when training and rehabilitating which is the main goal.
Q. What is you main goal in rescue?
A. The ultimate goal is to prepare them to go into the world again, to a proper family who will give them security, routine, stability and lots of TLC. They deserve a chance to live with someone who will not give up on them. This is the one thing they all have in common as at some point in their past they have all been abandoned.
Q. What types of call do you get asking you to rescue?
A. My last call was to rescue 6 feral cats from a lady who could not care for them. I trapped them, had them neutered and re-homed them to a farm where they can live as a colony in peace. The call before that was to remove a lurcher that had been tied up and left in its own faeces for weeks. He is already doing really well and is very playful and handsome.
Q. What happens to animals who are not lucky enough to find a place in a rescue?
A. Many dogs will be put to sleep in stray dog pounds up and down the country. I get lots of e.mails every week about dogs that are due to be destroyed as they have not been claimed by day 7. There are too many unwanted dogs and not enough non-destruct kennels. The short answer is-they will be destroyed
Q. Do you turn animals away?
A. I do not have the space, staff or money to be in a position not to say no. I only turn away the ones who still have an owner when I do not have room at the time. This makes me feel terrible but my priority is for pets who have no home at all.
Q. What advice do you have for people thinking about acquiring a pet?
A. This is a very serious decision. Are you able to make a lifetime commitment no matter what problems arise? You should choose a pet that has the same energy as you. Dogs need walking at least twice a day in all weathers. They need training, routine guidance and most importantly your time and love.
Many thanks Sophie and good luck with all your rescue pets.
This was an interview with Sophie Peacock.
The Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation Society
t.a.r.r.s@hotmail.co.uk
www.tarrs.org
A Small Rescue saving the lives of abandoned, ,abused, death row dogs and dogs with behavioural problems.