Let me introduce you to the refuge in Figeac! says San Barto
When a dog has been found and brought to the refuge, we will first scan the dog to see if it is chipped. If a chip is found we try to contact the owner, otherwise we will take some pictures and place a message on the various sites for dogs lost and found. We will assess if the dog needs any medical care and its first stop is then the pound. The pound has 9 kennels separate from the rest of the refuge. It will be fed and watered, and a fresh bed will be placed in a clean kennel. Most dogs are placed alone in a kennel to avoid any possible diseases being passed on but if it is found that they are stressed on their own, a partner is found. Dogs stay in the pound for a fortnight to give owners the chance to collect their dog. During this time the dog's health and behaviour are assessed, and vaccinations, and tick, flea and worm treatment are given. After this fortnight the dog will be put up for adoption and it will move to the main kennels.
The main kennels have 16 large and 12 small kennels. The large kennels can have up to 4 dogs, whilst the small ones only have single dogs or pairs. Om average we have about 65 dogs in our care. Every morning the dogs are fed and any medication or treatment is given. Most dogs are fed dry food, but elderly or poorly dogs are also given wet food, minced meat and bone, and soup. After that the dogs in each kennel are given the chance to have a run around in the fenced park while their kennels are one by one cleaned, and bedding ischecked and/or replaced. This takes up the rest of the morning.
Work in the afternoon is varied and depends on what needs doing most. Taking dogs to the vet for sterilisation or treatment, or to a local dog groomer who sometimes gives one of the dogs a reduced price grooming session. Visitors come and go: to donate food and bedding, to drop off dogs that are found or abandoned, to look at the dogs in the hope of finding that special friend or to pick up the dog of their dreams. Volunteers arrive to take the dogs for a walk, to play with them in the enclosed park giving them much-needed cuddles and love, or to simply sit in a kennel with a shy dog to convince them that all will be well. As we only have 1 full-time and 2 part-time paid employees, you can imagine that all volunteers are very welcome to do some of the daily tasks or to give the dogs some attention and love.
So please have a look at the dogs on my FaceBook page 'Helping Homeless Hounds' and feel free to come to Figeac to walk the dogs!!!
It's called Refuge de Nayrac, Le Causse, 46100 Figeac. Their tel. no. is 05 65 34 19 07. People are also very welcome to call me: 05 55 91 40 22.
