Helping animals in needWhat the work at the animal shelter looks like

Dogs, cats, rabbits, reptiles and many other animals live in Germany's animal shelters. They have been surrendered, abandoned, run away or are in need in some other way. To care for all these animals, the experienced animal shelter staff do a great job every day - they are the basis of practical animal welfare.

Every day, full-time and volunteer animal welfare workers put their hearts and souls into caring for numerous animals in animal shelters. They take dogs, cats, guinea pigs and other animals into their care, feed them, provide them with medical care and prepare them for placement with people who love animals. This work is a life's work for many and requires a big heart for animals, a lot of hard work, strong nerves and quick reactions. Emergencies happen unexpectedly and demand a lot from the animal shelters.

Even though no two days at the animal shelter are the same, there are of course fixed tasks. The working day starts early because the animals need food, fresh water, exercise, care and activity. On their daily morning rounds through the shelter, the staff check that all the animals are doing well. Dogs are then given exercise and the enclosures of all animal residents must be thoroughly cleaned. The animal shelters also regularly take in new animals. Animal shelters are not only a point of contact for animal owners, but also for authorities who confiscate animals from poor conditions, for example. Of course, rehoming is also an important part of the work at the animal shelter, as the aim is to find a loving new home for all animals. At the end of the working day, it's time for the evening round, during which the animal keepers usually feed the animals a second time and carry out another inspection. The animals retire to their sleeping areas and the shelter goes quiet.

The phone rings several times a day. It's not just interested parties who want to adopt an animal. Animal shelters are also constantly confronted with emergencies, where help is usually needed quickly: a person has died and the relatives would like to bring the cat left behind to the shelter immediately. The veterinary office announces that it is bringing over a confiscated dog in poor condition. It also happens that several animals from a case of animal hoarding - a medical condition in which affected people keep animals in such large numbers but do not take proper care of them - have to be accommodated in the animal shelter. Walkers report an accident in which a cat was hit by a car and is now lying on the street suffering. The staff often only find out about their new additions a short time before taking them in and have to react quickly.

Visitors and volunteer animal welfare workers are always seriously interested in an animal. However, if an animal is adopted, the shelter staff's responsibility does not end there. This is because they not only provide advice before an adoption, but also afterwards. They also carry out checks in the new home and make sure that the adopted animal is really doing well. In addition, the new owners can return the animal at any time. This makes it all the more important to provide conscientious information and get to know the animal thoroughly before every adoption.

Animal shelters not only open their doors to visitors, they are also grateful for volunteers. If you would like to volunteer at an animal shelter, it is best to contact the shelter in your area and ask what support is needed. There are many different ways to get involved, for example by walking the dogs or taking care of the cats. The staff are also happy to receive support from people who are handy or can help with cleaning the enclosures.