FA+
Shop
The day I got dog poo in my face.
13 years ago
It was yesterday.
Yes, I did, literally.
A girl I am giving singing lessons to at the moment asked me if I could help her and go with her to a dog shelter in my neighborhood, since she wasn't sure where it was - and sure, helpful as I am, of course I couldn't refuse. She wanted to get a pet. So we went.
Oh my. It is always heartbreaking when you see all the pups in the cages and... How it usually looks like in a shelter. But a dog shelter in Serbia? You really don't want to see how that looks like. And this one was actually decent.
All the dogs are in the open space, outside, in 30-40m2 areas surrounded by concrete walls, and there is kind of a bungalow like building in the middle, made of clay and concrete, where dogs can hide. Something like an improvised dog house. And there is a lot, I say a LOT of dogs in such area. They are all well fed, and really sweet, but dirty as they can be, standing with their paws sank in that mud made out of dirt and feces... The smell... You really don't wanna know how it all smells... And it is winter and cold at the moment, I just can't believe how it smells in the summer on +40C. Staff is super sweet, all the vet technicians and volunteers or simply guys who are payed minimum salary to clean and take care of them. All of them were super nice, and helpful, one could totally see they love those dogs, but since there's so little of them, and so little money for supplies and better care, there is nothing more they could possibly do. It was so...bittersweet. The disappointment in their eyes, the anger and even sadness for this terrible situation.
Two guys who were showing us our way around this place of about 1000 dogs were dressed in working clothes, with rubber boots up to their knees - totally covered in mud, poo and dog hair. But the way the were talking about almost each dog we asked or had our attention to was incredible. They know them all, and they treat them so well, despite the conditions. They were not afraid to get in this concrete cell and get in the mud up to their ankles, since all the doggies are running to them, waging and smiling!
The dogs... they were all so sweet, dirty smelly, but sweet! I came closer to one of the cages in the middle, and a little pack of medium sized dodges just ran towards me, wagging and jumping out of happiness with 'take me home, pick me, pick me!' bark! That's how I got splashed with the poopy goo from the ground! All around my face, my coat and scarf. Same happened with my friend, when a huge fluffy chubby sweetheart jumped on her to give her a kiss on the nose. XD
Yes, we could wash ourselves immediately, but.... I had to wash my coat right away when I got home. xD
So bittersweet....So tragic, yet so comforting to see how they care of them... I am both sad, heartbroken but somewhat revealed to see there is such place - even looking like a mud prison, it's a place where dogs are being at least well fed, under some sort of a roof, and with people who care about them, and are given a chance for a second home.
Just few days ago I caught a status on FB, where another friend of mine was crying for a Maltese puppy, but she couldn't afford it, they are really expensive to get. Even before I knew I will have such an experience yesterday, I wrote her a comment about how every dog can be a sweet pet, if you give it a proper chance and a good home, no matter how it looks like, and it's always better to take a shelter dog, especially if you can't afford an expensive dog. It would even give you more love and affection than a bought dog would, and so much gratitude for being saved. Not to mention the good deed to all of the shelters that are crowded with pups. She wrote back that she only wants a Maltese for it's looks, and is not interested in any other dog.
I just had a slight urge to punch her in the face.
I really hope there will be a day when all of this will change...For the better... :/
Yes, I did, literally.
A girl I am giving singing lessons to at the moment asked me if I could help her and go with her to a dog shelter in my neighborhood, since she wasn't sure where it was - and sure, helpful as I am, of course I couldn't refuse. She wanted to get a pet. So we went.
Oh my. It is always heartbreaking when you see all the pups in the cages and... How it usually looks like in a shelter. But a dog shelter in Serbia? You really don't want to see how that looks like. And this one was actually decent.
All the dogs are in the open space, outside, in 30-40m2 areas surrounded by concrete walls, and there is kind of a bungalow like building in the middle, made of clay and concrete, where dogs can hide. Something like an improvised dog house. And there is a lot, I say a LOT of dogs in such area. They are all well fed, and really sweet, but dirty as they can be, standing with their paws sank in that mud made out of dirt and feces... The smell... You really don't wanna know how it all smells... And it is winter and cold at the moment, I just can't believe how it smells in the summer on +40C. Staff is super sweet, all the vet technicians and volunteers or simply guys who are payed minimum salary to clean and take care of them. All of them were super nice, and helpful, one could totally see they love those dogs, but since there's so little of them, and so little money for supplies and better care, there is nothing more they could possibly do. It was so...bittersweet. The disappointment in their eyes, the anger and even sadness for this terrible situation.
Two guys who were showing us our way around this place of about 1000 dogs were dressed in working clothes, with rubber boots up to their knees - totally covered in mud, poo and dog hair. But the way the were talking about almost each dog we asked or had our attention to was incredible. They know them all, and they treat them so well, despite the conditions. They were not afraid to get in this concrete cell and get in the mud up to their ankles, since all the doggies are running to them, waging and smiling!
The dogs... they were all so sweet, dirty smelly, but sweet! I came closer to one of the cages in the middle, and a little pack of medium sized dodges just ran towards me, wagging and jumping out of happiness with 'take me home, pick me, pick me!' bark! That's how I got splashed with the poopy goo from the ground! All around my face, my coat and scarf. Same happened with my friend, when a huge fluffy chubby sweetheart jumped on her to give her a kiss on the nose. XD
Yes, we could wash ourselves immediately, but.... I had to wash my coat right away when I got home. xD
So bittersweet....So tragic, yet so comforting to see how they care of them... I am both sad, heartbroken but somewhat revealed to see there is such place - even looking like a mud prison, it's a place where dogs are being at least well fed, under some sort of a roof, and with people who care about them, and are given a chance for a second home.
Just few days ago I caught a status on FB, where another friend of mine was crying for a Maltese puppy, but she couldn't afford it, they are really expensive to get. Even before I knew I will have such an experience yesterday, I wrote her a comment about how every dog can be a sweet pet, if you give it a proper chance and a good home, no matter how it looks like, and it's always better to take a shelter dog, especially if you can't afford an expensive dog. It would even give you more love and affection than a bought dog would, and so much gratitude for being saved. Not to mention the good deed to all of the shelters that are crowded with pups. She wrote back that she only wants a Maltese for it's looks, and is not interested in any other dog.
I just had a slight urge to punch her in the face.
I really hope there will be a day when all of this will change...For the better... :/
Anyone who wants a dog just because of its looks is just... sad to me. I once had a pug, and when trying to rehome him (I feel guilt to this day over that choice, but I wasn't in the place to be a good mommy), everyone would ask "How much?" over ANY OTHER QUESTION. It's like, do you want to know about his separation anxiety? His other health problems? Anything? How he is with cats, dogs, children? The price tag shouldn't be important. He didn't even have papers. I don't know how things are there, but in United States, we have rescues for a lot of dog breeds specifically. People will still shell out hundreds for their pedigree dog with papers, but if you really want a breed, chances are there is a rescue for it here. Heck, in my shelter last week, we got two boys from a farm brought in together. A sheltie and a Great Pyrenese!
And really? Malties? There are cutie ragmuffins out there. x3
So I am really happy we have something at least! Even though the conditions are poor....
No women were really going in those big areas, since they clean it with shovels and there's a lot to lift up and just it's impossible for a girl of 160cm height (me for instance XD) to handle a dog that weighs almost over 100kg! They have areas with really really aggressive dogs... The guy showed me couple of them that were locked right behind the ambulance, and said they actually killed an elderly person :/ I think they were about to put down....
I would really much love to go and help, but such shelter is not a place I could really hold myself for long... I think I'd really get seriously depressed or something :/ I am not that good with dogs, but I am really excellent with cats, I'd go and help around cat shelter some day, when I have less work to do!
But, I did the math. Very short. O_O AW. AWWWW.
Yeah, it can be that way. Rewarding when you see them go home. My shelter is a no kill, so we don't deal with the heartbreak of them putting down unless it's a health issue. That I don't think I could deal with, which is why I could never be a vet tech or anything. Dogs are more my thing over kitties though. I'm ready to adopt another cat mentally again, just not physically with current housing n stuff. =[
Isn't that right, my little ocelot?
As for the state of animals in society, I can't say anything, keeping pets is quite impossible for me - too much travelling. I guess they could be let loose on the streets, but I fear that that'd be a worse condition than the one in the shelter you mentioned. I find it very nice that you'd go pick a dog out with a student of yours, though! I love my students, when I have them, but not that much, heh, I'm humbled by your dedication.
And of course, such artist as yourself shouldn't waste time on teaching, you should sing for us more! :D I love to coach young sopranos or even beginners, since I see what kind of joy it brings to them! I guess I would have less time on my hands once I start singing in the theater or somewhere again. :)
And sit tight! Soon I shall be singing in praise of the Virgin Mary, for blessed is she, Rose of roses and Flower of flowers, Lady of ladies. =P