THAILAND / Save Elephant Foundation
The Dog Rescue project in the Elephant Nature Park Small Animal Clinic cares for over 350 dogs who live on site. The clinic also provides free medical care to small animals in the nearby communities, in exchange for pet sterilization and vaccination.
The permanent veterinary staff certainly has their hands full with a seemingly never-ending stream of rescued animals getting dropped off at our doorstep! Thus, general, non-medical volunteers play a crucial role in the operations of the Dog Rescue project. Volunteers are an essential part of our dogs’ day-to-day lives.
Job Description
* Cleaning Cages: Each dog in the hospital needs it’s cage cleaned twice a day, and as soiled. This includes taking the dog out, removing soiled paper and bowls/ blankets, sanitizing and drying the cage, and putting the dog back in with clean water. Cats need their cages cleaned twice daily, litter box and paper changed. This task requires frequent bending and kneeling.
* Feeding: Our dogs are fed twice a day. Dry kibble in the morning and a rice/veg/meat mixture in the late afternoon. Staff may require help in distributing bowls, observing to make sure every dog eats, and cleaning bowls and buckets.
* Walking Dogs: Most dogs in the hospital need to be walked twice a day. Mobile patients will be taken outside by lead to walk. Those with limited mobility need to be supervises while walking loose in the hospital area. Dogs on chemotherapy (up to 8 at any given time) need to be let into a specially designed enclosure one at a time. Not all the dogs have had lead training, a good deal of patience is required when walking these dogs.
* Bathing & Grooming: There are many dogs with skin conditions that require scheduled bathing, different dogs require different shampoos and treatments. We have a specially designed washing station that makes bathing easier on the dogs and on the backs of those doing the bathing.
Socializing & Checking dogs in the runs: Caring for dogs is about so much more than keeping them fed and healthy. Real care includes one on one attention and affection. Volunteers will spend time in the runs playing and cuddling with the dogs. This one on one time is also a chance to examine the dogs for any health issues, skin problems, bite wounds, etc. and bring these issues to the attention of the medical staff.
* Behavioral and Lead Training: Our dogs have a much better chance of getting adopted if they can learn about how humans expect them to fit into their world. The ability to walk on a lead and knowing not to jump up on people can make a huge difference in the eyes of a potential adopter. No previous dog training experience required.
* Media Projects: Volunteers have the opportunity to help work on a variety of media projects benefiting the exposure and funding of the shelter. Writing, pictures and video are needed for use in social media, adoption efforts, traditional print and film media, and for educational purposes. Volunteers are encouraged to designed their own projects. Bring your camera!
* Office Work: There is always filing to be done and data to be entered. We use an easy to learn program to maintain hospital records, no experience needed.
* Construction: Our shelter facilities are constantly being improved. Those experienced in construction may be able to help staff with pouring concrete, welding, or constructing housing. For those with less experience, there is always planting and weeding to be done in the runs.
* Community Trap & Release: There may be occasion for volunteers to participate in the setting of traps to catch community stray dogs for sterilization and vaccination, followed by their release a while later. Help assisting medical staff traveling into the surrounding communities for treatments and education sessions may also be required.
Getting Started
So you want to be a dog mahout?
* Volunteers must be comfortable with cleaning dog crates/cages, and cat litter boxes. Possible including those of animals who have contagious diseases. No prior knowledge of cleaning protocol is expected, but is it expected to be followed once taught. All necessary protective equipment will be provided.
* Working around animals can be a dangerous job. While volunteers will never be asked to handle aggressive animals if they are not comfortable doing so, all volunteers must be aware that we do rarely get bitten by dogs and cats at the shelter. All ENP dogs are vaccinated against rabies and other transmissible diseases, but community member’s pets brought into the hospital, new arrivals, and dogs picked up in the community trap and release program, may not be.
* Northern Thailand is home to many weather extremes. Depending on the season, days can be blisteringly hot and sunny, or humid with heavy rain. There are many activities at the shelter that need to be performed outside regardless of the weather. Volunteers will be expected to work outside in these conditions.
* Volunteers will be working closely with western volunteer management and local staff. Language barriers can make things difficult at times, but it is expected that volunteers will make an effort to abide by local customs regarding conflict resolution, interpersonal communication, and modesty in dress.
Above are the expectations of the position. If you think it’s a job for you, please visit http://www.saveelephant.org/dog_volunteer.html and fill out the application form.