Would you join/help this type of organization/group? | ExpatWoman.com
 

Would you join/help this type of organization/group?

135
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 August 2011 - 00:18

Hello ladies,

On FB i follow the DARC group and often find myself torn with pain at how many unfortunate abandoned/hurt/mistreated animals there are. Today especially they posted pictures of a dog they had rescued who'd been tied with a rope to plank...smack in the middle of the desert. It took me back to my one childhood dream; to help abandoned/mistreated pets and of course i started bawling like a baby. I really am weak hearted when it comes to such things, and decided that i can no longer just "dream" or "hope" to dedicate my time to helping. I always make excuses like, i am not financially stable enough, and what not, but i figured with a little creativity and effort, i would like to at least try doing something. It would require help from the community, but i do hope we can gather enough strength to make at least a little difference.
I would like to organize a group of dedicated people who would offer their time to go around Dubai (and other Emirates should we find the volunteers there as well) and scope out abandoned/homeless animals(on weekends for example). Of course this would require significant participation from established animal housing groups/centers, and i am hoping through various connections of the women on here, and my efforts in calling these various centers, we can eventually set up a solid group of volunteers who can regularly, through collective efforts, help save some of these furry friends and deliver them to the centres/organizations who can home these animals temporarily and eventually find permanent homes to these unfortunate creatures.
I know this may sound far fetched right now, hence why i have posted it here. I'm hoping that anyone who wishes to help and has the time (perhaps those who do not have young kids or busy working schedules), would offer advice. suggestions etc. I think through community brainstorming sessions we can start something no at least a small scale, but make a big difference. Those opposing these kinds of ideas would also help with warnings, possible failures etc
Please do not judge me and tell me im too weak hearted and wasting my time, and "you can't save them all", i already know that, and have been told so often enough. But i still insist we try. Worst comes to worst it doesnt work at all and i'll try something else, but i believe in trying.
To the admins; could you please keep this thread in this section for now. Not many people visit the pets section, and i'd really like those without pets to see this as well. Thanks in advance for all your suggestions/advice/warnings, and even judgements :) :)

1759
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 25 August 2011 - 16:57
Just because you are "1" person with limited resources (like most of the rest of us) doesn't mean that your efforts don't help. As I said to someone who commented when I took in my last stray (you can't save them all you know), well, I can save "this" one and that makes a difference for him and me. I appreciate you want to initiate real change and improvements - neither of which happen overnight in the real world. Start where you can, talk to and educate others, push - and expect setbacks and disappointments, because they will happen. I repeat, start where you can to contribute to animal welfare - and push for reform, someday (slowly) things will change but you have to start somewhere.
2362
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 25 August 2011 - 11:53
How ? Call K9 Friends and ask them how you can help. Put your ideas forward to them - many of the things you want to do you might find they are already doing and you could help with that. The same for FF - ask them what is required and get doing it. They are always desperate for volunteers, more so in the summer when so many peole go on vacation. exactly! DARC have certain days that you can go and offer your time (weds and saturdays) you can chat things through with them, get on the road, collect animals, do vet runs - i'm going on saturday 10th if you want to join.
27
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 August 2011 - 11:48
How ? Call K9 Friends and ask them how you can help. Put your ideas forward to them - many of the things you want to do you might find they are already doing and you could help with that. The same for FF - ask them what is required and get doing it. They are always desperate for volunteers, more so in the summer when so many peole go on vacation.
713
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EW GURU
Latest post on 25 August 2011 - 11:43
Perhaps, at this particular time of Ramadan (the time for giving) it would be a good idea to petition - again - the Government - or Sh Mo - to donate land and finances for an animal rescue center?
136
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 August 2011 - 11:40
Everything you suggest seems to already happen with FF and K9. Another organisation will need money and effort to set up. Surely this financial and volunteer help would be better used on the existing groups? Or am I missing something?
135
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 August 2011 - 11:38
yes, but how? Just me on my own with a few ideas isnt going to get far....i dont' have many "forces" to offer :) but collectively, sure why not, whoever we join it makes a difference Im not trying to re-invent the wheel...im looking for group ideas/effort to help..as i said, one person's help doesn't have as much impact as a group of people will...maybe if we gather enough people, we can offer whatever help to K9, FF....they do need help, i agree, and why not give them that help, through a collaboration of efforts, ideas, and resources. dmum; im not saying they're not doing enough...im just saying with a bit more help and enthusiasm from others, they can do more...again...collective effort and help. <em>edited by PN on 25/08/2011</em>
27
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 August 2011 - 11:37
I think you are seriously under estimating the work that K9 Friends, FF and other groups do within Dubai and the Emirates. K9 Friends have done amazing things to get their new shelter - it took time, effort, diplomacy and HUGE detmination and dedication to get that amazing new facility. It didn't just happen over night but was the culmination of a lot of time and effort by a lot of people. Just because these charities are not shouting and yelling about what is needed doesn't mean that things aren't happening behind the scenes to make the situation re abandoned, unwanted and homesless animals better within UAE. Softly, softly catchee monkey. All the volunteers at these organisationi work their butts off to get the money they need to do what they do. I admire your enthusiasm and empathy - but think you would be better aiding an established organisation who would really appreciate your help and commitment.
1953
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 25 August 2011 - 11:35
why not join forces with FF and K9? agreed - they need so much help ...why re-invent the wheel? Exactly - pool resources and make a difference.
2362
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 25 August 2011 - 11:35
why not join forces with FF and K9? agreed - they need so much help ...why re-invent the wheel?
1953
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 25 August 2011 - 11:26
why not join forces with FF and K9?
135
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 August 2011 - 11:25
Morning Ladies, I do what i can with my free time, and i realize all these places are over flowing, especially lately..a lot of people leaving and abandoning their animals, and a lot of people unable to adopt due to their own situations...and i agree, there aren't enough places around that can take on more animals...money wise, i donate whatever it is that i can..i help some vets as well...but these are all my little individual efforts, and i wanted to know how possible is it to do something more through a collective effort...there's only so much one person can do on their own...if i could, id take in more animals, but my house is full with four pets, and i simply wouldnt be able to accommodate more at the moment....hence why i posted this here... maybe if we can organize more awareness groups, bigger volunteer outlets, perhaps something CAN actually be done? I am sure many people help, individually with their own efforts and money, but perhaps a group effort would be able to do more.... i like the idea of fundraisers, organizations to raise more money, awareness, and unfortunately this country doesn't really offer much support to such ideas...in any case, i've done this in the past...i would just drive around with friends through areas that seem to have the most abandoned animals and pick them up...and then either foster them with friends, or find them place in shelters....but as most of you pointed out, there isnt' always room...so again, this is why i wanted to bring this issue up...maybe through brainstorming we could come up with enough people to actually have a potential and doable plan on our hands. Maybe in a big group we would have a slim chance of something hearing us in the proper authorities to support such causes...or maybe we could actually come up with a big enough fund raiser/event to give this a good kick start...im basically calling out to mass effort rather than me doing my usual donations/individual help
100
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 August 2011 - 09:17
Second that.....an animal shelter is so badly needed here. I feel the same way you do PN about trying to help as many of the animals in need and would be happy to get involved. I've just started volunteering at FF but would like to help out with something to do with getting a shelter set up also. As others suggested maybe it would be a good idea to concentrate on the established groups such as K9 & FF and speak to them about a joint shelter that they end up running with their volunteer staff and set up a team to regularly look for animals in need as you suggested once a shelter is in place. Might be a really big ask but what about some major fund raising efforts with corporate sponsorship to get the money and also the use of equipment/materials to build the shelter? QAWS in Doha very sadly had a fire burn down their animal shelter a few years back but they luckily had help from local and international companies that donated their services to design and start building a new shelter. <em>edited by EJC on 25/08/2011</em>
1953
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 25 August 2011 - 08:43
If you really want to do something productive - perhpas try and figure a way to get some land and establish an RSPCA style animal shelter...... That's what the UAE is crying out for, rather than K9 and FF havign to rely on foster famalies..
2322
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 25 August 2011 - 08:39
PN, I think at this stage you would be best to offer your time to one of the established groups, DARC, FF, K9, any of the animal shelters. All of whom do huge work with rescue. The main problem that I can see with your idea is that if you start actively searching for yet more animals to deliver to an overloaded, fill to the brim system, is, we'd begin compounding the issues. There are not enough foster families, not enough potential adopters, not enough money, not enough space. Whats to become of these animals? At the very least euthanasia, which is a far kinder end to an animal that may suffer long and unessecarily otherwise. You will find that many people are kind and softhearted, to their detriment at times. They will take in any stray they happen to see, or animals just seem to 'know' that these people will help them. Out of their own pocket and in their own time they make heroic efforts to nuture, nurse back to health and rehome these animals if they can. It's not always possible.
1759
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 25 August 2011 - 02:45
Many of the established animal rescue groups have a sort of "informal" network of people who report abuse or abandoned animals. The biggest issue is not finding them, the biggest issue is that most of them are nearly always full to overflowing and find it difficult if not impossible to accept more rescues/strays. Perhaps focusing on assisting these groups expand their facilities (I'm sure they'd welcome any help) - fundraising is a major issue because you have to be a registered charity to accept donations and I'm not sure how many of them fall into this category. However, that said, you can give money to the actual vet offices that provide services for these organizations.
 
 

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