My Three Weeks as a Volunteer Helper at KATs
by Michael Smerling
This short report is supposed to give you an impression on the situation at KAT’s sanctuary by a person who was never involved in animal welfare before.
Before my arrival on Kefalonia I exchanged several e-mails with Claudia and the only thing I knew was that help was needed urgently. At this point I would like to express my sincere thanks to Pat, David, Claudia and Antonia for their warm reception, not to speak of the many invitations I got.
After my arrival I stayed with David at the Dolman’s former home, Pat had already been staying for more than two months in their camper on the new land. Meanwhile most of the animals had been moved there, but the new building wasn’t finished and the land wasn’t fenced. Pat was afraid of poisonings and thus she spent even the nights there in the camper.
However things improved and all of us could move house the week after.
Our daily work started every morning with feeding the cats .There are so many cats living in the cathouse and the floor is crowded so we had to watch not to step on them.! Then it was the dogs’ turn, who were already welcoming us with cheerful barking.
As soon as the feeding was done, we put the dogs into the run - also the pups enjoyed it - and let out those of cats out who were allowed, to stroll around on the land for the rest of the day.
Now we could start cleaning the cathouse and the kennels, even the run had to be cleaned which turned out to be not an easy job as the dogs took every opportunity to get some cuddles and attention. If only I had a hundred arms I could have dealt with all of them. Apart from this daily routine which included also medical treatment, walking the dogs and many other things, I tried to spend much time with the dogs in the run to give them as much attention as possible. All in all, a working day at the sanctuary lasts about ten hours, as construction work has still to be done (extension of the run, new kennels, etc) and in the evening all of us were quite tired.
I would like to emphasise though, that not for a single moment did I regret my decision to come to Kefalonia because the animals there gave me so much in return.
I left Kefalonia after three weeks with the feeling of having found friends but also with the certainty that I would return soon for a new “mission”.
My return journey home turned out to be a trip in the camper with David and eleven dogs ! Ten of them had already been found already new homes in Germany, and number eleven, a lovely little female, lives now with me.
I tell all those who consider to adopt a dog from a sanctuary, what fantastic pals the dogs at the sanctuary were - perfectly sociable even with other dogs and cats and how sweet and grateful they were.
Now while I am back in Germany, I am asking myself how long Pat can manage to do all the work by herself. The charity’s budget is tight, so Pat must do most of the work herself, and I must take off my hat to her commitment to the stray animals on Kefalonia.
UPDATE Click here to see Michael with Sammie at home in Germany
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