Maxdog Monday

Did I ever mention that I love dogs? Anyway that's not the point.  Today I want to write something about rescue dogs.  For about a year I've been volunteering for a rescue centre, Manchester & Cheshire Dogs' Home. Without being biased, I have to say that they do a lot for unwanted and stray dogs.  They have been taking in dogs for over 100 years, and the people who work there really care for them. They have a strict policy about euthanising dogs, they put to sleep only terminally ill dogs. Since I've been there I have seen dogs of any shape, age, health, all being treated with equal dignity. I've seen dogs with tumors being rehomed, and once I also had the chance to rehome a three legged dog.

I started as a dog walker, but soon I got trapped in fundraising and matchmaking. The last one was the one I loved most, it consisted of helping people to find the right dog. I did matchmaking for about a year,  two weekend days a month.  I would describe my personal experience as sad and happy at the same time. Sad, because I had to be there in the kennels and watch the dogs behind the cages. Once I came across a dog whose resemblance with my dog Luna was so striking that I really felt that was too much. But every time I tried to remind myself that I was there for the best, and that every dog was going to be rehomed at last.

I got attached to some of them, especially those that were there for more than a month, but it was still nice to see them going to a new home, especially if they were old dogs. I had to stop at the end of february because I didn't have much spare time with the thesis writing up. Plus the management of bolus insulin, which I had started properly at the end of January, didn't help either.  I still have nice memories and I think that as soon as I move to Cambridge, I'll try to find another rescue centre and get  back to volunteering. Before this experience I would have never imagine that so many people would spend their spare time trying to help unwanted and stray dogs. This is one of the things I like about the UK, and that are totally different in Italy. In general here people care a lot more about pets, and I assure you that on average their lives are much happier here, than in Italy, where most dogs are confined to their gardens for their whole lives.