Crisis

Re: Crisis

Sal the 1st — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 19:31:41 GMT

[quote user="Lorena Williamson"]

I love the sound of this, but guessing Im too late to apply this year, how did you get into it?

Im not a massive Christmas person, and am usually the one offering to cover the out of hours/emergency shifts at my practice. This would be perfect as Im not allowed to take every christmas bank holiday!!

[/quote]

I got into this through voluntary with Salvation Army initially just homeless humans and got to know about other groups through contacts there. If you have a volunteer bureau, CAB, YMCA, Salvation Army where you live you can often get details through them or just give Crisis a call - its never too late, one year I wasnt given a 'station' until Christmas eve afternoon which was starting just 2hours later. Sometimes the local council have details of soup kitchens/community centres open over Christmas for the homeless too. I hope you can find somewhere, I am sure your help will be gladly received. Which part of the country are you in?

Re: Crisis

JaneRVN — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 14:36:04 GMT

I don't think its ever too late - I would try.

I wonder if Dogs Trust do anything with their HopeProject for the homeless, maybe somewhere else to try?

Good luck and enjoy!

Re: Crisis

Lorena Williamson — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 11:35:35 GMT

I love the sound of this, but guessing Im too late to apply this year, how did you get into it?

Re: Crisis

Honeybadger — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 22:38:36 GMT

Me and my boyfriend are volenteering at the Crisis dog shelter too! It will be nice to meet other VN's there

Re: Crisis

Katie Mansfield — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 17:03:22 GMT

[quote user="Sal the 1st"]Interestingly I found quite a few of these dogs that live on the streets with their owners are a lot healthier than some of the dogs of comparable age that are living in comfortable centrally heated homes. [/quote]

That is interesting!!

[quote user="Sal the 1st"]9 times out of ten when we saw them in use it was the dog wrapped in them and the owner sharing what was left! [/quote]

and that just lovely

I take my hat off to all the volunteers - amazing ppl

K x

Re: Crisis

Sal the 1st — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 22:09:19 GMT

I used to do this - there are groups (or were groups) in Sheffield, Hull and Grimsby too and I know there used to be a group running Liverpool way pretty recently. Interestingly I found quite a few of these dogs that live on the streets with their owners are a lot healthier than some of the dogs of comparable age that are living in comfortable centrally heated homes.

One year we had a load of duvets donated from one of the big hotel chains that they were getting rid of . They were very gratefully received by those we could give them to and 9 times out of ten when we saw them in use it was the dog wrapped in them and the owner sharing what was left! We used to offer a quick once over for the dog (and a few of cats - it isnt only dogs) checking ears etc , clipping nails sometimes, and before all the SQP rubbish came about giving out wormers when we had them donated to us, gave general advice when it was asked for and the owners at the same time were given the opportunity of getting a a mini health check/ advice for themselves from the dr and human nurse that were with us and directions to the nearest place to get a meal for both themselves and their companion.

http://www.groundswell.org.uk/

this is one of the organisations I used to volunteer for

Re: Crisis

JaneRVN — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 18:02:03 GMT

Thats lovely. They appreciate people with dog experience to help with the dogs over Christmas - quite a big thing in London, not sure of coverage elsewhere.