I Got To Go Too!!!!

So I was super jealous that Mom was getting to go help ARC on Wednesday...I assumed they wouldn't need anymore help by Friday...but they did and they called me!!!! I was so excited that I could go and help and see what it was all about. So, on Friday morning instead of heading to NHA I headed to the fairground and I was there from 9-1. It was a great experience and all the volunteers new and regulars were so nice. We started the morning of course with the dos and don'ts and the how tos. Then we all split up in pairs and got the 51 dogs left fed. Of course it was very well organized and it was cool to see how each task was approached and kept in order. The dogs were all in groups called pods. Each dog had info attached to their crate to help know what had happened with that dog for the day and what kind of food they were to have. The good eaters got the extra healthy food...the older dogs got softer canned food...the picky eaters got either the cheap mix or that with canned food. They were so use to eating crap food or scraps they weren't ready for the good stuff yet. And all got extra nutrients sprinkled on top. With all the help it didn't take too long to get them fed. We took another break and went over some other info while the dogs finished eating. Then it was bathroom time/exercise time/crate cleaning time. We had to big pens so we split into groups and would on wheels roll crates one by one to the pen and let the dog run around and do their business while their crate got cleaned. Each dog was different...lots went pee or poop moments before we could get them in the pin...some where happy to be out of their crate others where scared. Regardless it was a great feeling to get these dogs moving around and give them a nice crate to return to. Once they made it back to their regular area they got a peanut butter filled kong...which most were very happy for. This process took the rest of the morning and was slow paced. If there had been more pins it could have gone a little faster. I can't imagine what it was like when there were other types of animals there and 130 dogs. The volunteers and workers there were amazing...I am so thankful for people like them. They were all really awesome. I was so happy to have this experience and so happy to play a small role in a local rescue. The situations these dogs came from are so sad...but I know they are all going to much better places now, thanks to ARC!

Below are some pictures from their website concerning these rescues

This is Lady one of the older dogs. She was there when I was there on Friday. I helped feed her and take her to the pin. She even got a cushy bed to make her crate softer for her. 

This is Kerry who was a leader when I was there. 

She was very helpful and nice to work with. 

Look at all that food!!!

This is where all the dogs were and this is what I mean by pods. 

ARC figured out that a lot of these dogs did better if they were in groups

and could see some of the others. 

I wasn't there early on when they were cleaning these babies.

Look at that water!!!!

This is one of the pens they let the dogs run in while they clean. 

Another pen

Lots of supplies donated!!!!

 

More supplies!!!

These dogs had little shelter and shade...little water and very little food.

Much better...clean and plenty of food and water.