TIME TO HELP

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Time To Help
Have you visited the PAWS Dog Shelter? If so, you will have seen first-hand the high standard of cleanliness that is maintained of the compound and resultant good health of the resident dogs. This success is credited to the band of volunteers who give up their precious time to look after the lovable residents. The volunteers are overseen by the two Kennel Consultants. PAWS has in its care an average of 150 homeless dogs and puppies at any one time.

Do you have the time to offer to help the PAWS team? If you have a love of dogs and some time to spare in the mornings we would like to hear from you. We have lots of jobs that need to be done within the shelter compound. Some involve working with the dogs but there are also many other tasks which do not bring you in close proximity to our four-legged friends.

We require help with maintaining the premises including: repairing of fences and gates, filling in holes, painting, spreading stones in the compounds, adding shading, gardening, pruning, strimming, and weeding. Although that sounds like a lot of work, not all these tasks need to be done at the same time so if you could lend a hand with ANY of them, please contact us on the number shown below. Simon, who is in charge of maintenance, would be very grateful. We also need assistance with maintaining the cleanliness of the public areas such as the office, tea area and toilets. There is a small second hand shop located at the shelter where people bring donations which require to be sorted, arranged and displayed. Assistance with this would be appreciated.

If you enjoy the company, exuberance and affection that dogs and puppies give, then perhaps you would like to volunteer to work with the dogs one morning a week. The shelter is divided into 12 sections and every day each section is cleaned thoroughly. Once the hard work is done, you could spend some fun time with the dogs – playing with them and generally making a fuss of them. You would then feed the dogs and finish off by washing up their dishes. Initially you would be working alongside either a Kennel Consultant or an experienced volunteer. You would get to know the dogs in your section and you would share their delight when they see you in the mornings, then when one of them is lucky enough to be homed, you experience the bitter-sweet feeling of over-whelming joy for the dog coupled with the feeling of the loss of a friend.

Grooming is a separate but important part of dog care and regular grooming helps to ensure that dogs are comfortable. If you enjoy clipping, grooming, giving them a bath or even just a good brush, then we would love to hear from you. PAWS welcome people who have time in the mornings to walk some of the resident dogs. By doing this, you would be bringing some variety and enrichment into their lives, teaching them social skills and giving them some well-deserved exercise. All of these factors can increase the chances of dogs finding new homes, which is of course our ultimate aim.

Interested or want more information about any aspect of volunteering? Contact Kennel Consultants, Matt and Pete on 99683775 or come and along and see us between 08.00 and 12.00. PAWS Shelter is located just off the coastal road between the villages of Acheleia and Timi (diagonally opposite the road leading up to the motorway and Ayia Varvara).