egg-cited!! :D

i'm finally injecting new meaning into my life! just received a reply from Action for Singapore Dogs & i feel so excited about starting my volunteer journey with them every Sat...but that'll mean that i won't be able to go for sessions too..i know rspid is in good hands though :) will still go own to help out if they are short of volunteers or if they need any other kind of help!

this is the reply i got from them:

Dear Deoborah (typo)

Thank you for expressing interest in volunteering at our Adoption and Rescue Centre (ARC). We'll explain some of the kennel duties so you can have a better understanding of what is required of you.

Your responsibilities include socialising and walking the dogs. A number of the dogs at ARC are quite fearful of people so your job is to interact with them and draw them out of their shell. If you are able to help train them to understand basic commands, that would be a bonus.

If you see any pee or poo, you are expected to pick up the poo and clean up the pee with a mop. We strive to maintain a clean and spotless environment so volunteers are not encouraged to wear footwear into the premises.

We have mainly medium to large size dogs at the ARC so you must feel comfortable being around them. Dogs can detect fear and will take advantage of the situation if they sense that you are afraid. Our dogs are generally not aggressive but they can bite if provoked so care needs to be taken by the volunteer.

Besides interacting with the dogs, volunteers may also be asked to help with other tasks such as painting, gardening, moving funiture and other heavy items as well as cleaning and tidying rooms.

ARC volunteers are expected to help out at our kennels every Saturday from 12 noon - 3.30pm on a long term basis. The ARC is located in Lim Chu Kang and is quite inaccessible if you don't drive. Getting there by public transport involves taking an MRT to Kranji station and either continuing the journey by taxi or taking a bus and walking a distance in the sun or rain.

If you can only help out on an ad hoc basis or if you find that you cannot handle the responsibilities we have mentioned but are still interested in volunteering with us, please sign up on our website (www.asdsingapore.com) to receive our quarterly newsletters and other updates. We occasionally call for volunteers for ad hoc events (as puppy minders for example) so maybe you will have the opportunity to help out with our dogs in future.

If you are still interested in becoming an ARC volunteer, please let us know when you wish to start.

Thanks and best regards
Wendy Low
Action for Singapore Dogs Society

reading it just makes me more passionate to start! the only thing is transport arrangements, but i guess i'll work it out somehow :) i replied that i'll be able to start this coming sat (16 Oct), will update you all on how it goes! :D