BSPCA - Local Animal Shelter

 I volunteered at the BSPCA on Saturday.  It was pretty awesome!  I really enjoyed my time there!  I went with Nora, a fellow ub exchange student and Agang, a motswana who is currently going to vet school in Scotland! 

The shelter was relatively easy to get to! We caught a combi to the bse (?)  mall and then took a cab to the shelter.  The shelter wasn’t all that far.  We walked back to the mall when we left and next time I’ll probably just walk to the shelter.  The walk seems pretty safe.  It goes through a more upscale neighborhood. It will be a nice way to save money.

The shelter was set on a big piece of land.  They had a small office and two small catteries.  Then their were kennels set up around.  The dogs all seemed relatively happy and healthy.  I was pretty impressed.   We walked around to check the place out and walked a couple of dogs.  We then spent time in the cattery playing with the cats.  

Purina and whiskers signs were in a couple places so they must donate food!  Thank you kind people.  

One cool thing is there were a lot of kids out there walking dogs and helping out.  I guess they just come up to spend time and volunteer.  What a great way for them to learn respect for animals and have fun!  

It was great to spend time and give attention to those who needed.  I will definitely go back there!  I am interested to learn more about their policies and procedures.  How many animals do they take in?  How many do they adopt out?  Is it completely no kill?  

I think it’s great that Gaborone has a place like this.  It really says a lot for the city.  

I’m including a bunch of pictures for all my fellow animal lovers out there!  Enjoy! 

This was one of the many dogs just hanging around the area.  The shelter had a large fence surrounding it so they couldn't go anywhere.  Most were just laying in the shade.  The only problem I saw with this was the potential for fights when dogs from kennels were going on walks.  

This is a picture of the center of the shelter.  To the back left of the picture is the office.  The middle section with the shade and tree was a nice place to hang out.   To the very right was one of the catteries. 

This was a small staff only room on the side of the cathouse.  I think maybe they used it for boarding and isolation..... We provided fresh water and love.

  

How freaking cute!

 

I wish I could foster... oh the joys of dorm life.  :P   

I highly encourage any of my readers to consider fostering animals from their local shelter.  (cough cough APL if you are in the Columbia area!)    Fostering is a tremendous help for the shelter but it is also limitless advantages for the pet. Fostering allows for one on one attention and allows for the animal to grow and learn.  It makes them even more qualified for adoption and therefore improves their chances of a speedy adoption!  I can't even explain how rewarding it is to take a dog or cat into your house, learn it's personality, help it improve any behavioral or social issues, give it tons of love, and then have it find a forever home.  It so satisfactory to know that you made a difference in that animals life and gave it a new "leash on life".  I know the main reason people don't want to foster is that they are afraid that they will become too attached and won't be able to give the pet up.  I'd be lying if I said that this hasn't happened to me.  But in the end, you have to love them enough to let them go.  Fostering, is is so extremely beneficial that it is worth becoming strong enough to let them go, so that you can help. Meeting so many wonderful souls, knowing that they are going to a good home, and that you played an important role in that makes it all worth it.  I promise!!

Okay I will stop lecturing!  Hope you enjoyed the pictures from the shelter!