I think you all remember our really hard work in 2014 (feel free to click here if you don't!) and in 2015 too, we tried to change for the better the life quality of those dogs, the conditions they live in and their chances for a brighter future, and for a while, we did it but a new management at that time, worked against us. Well, that management finally changed about the end of last year just about when all seemed lost and new changes came upon and the lives of these dogs certainly improved a lot. I know you are all curious if I could possibly get to the point already :) well please, bare with me, or just scroll down until I wrote it in bold so it catches your eye, but I would like to take you on a little trip down memory lane too, oh won't you join me?
Do you guys remember when it started building new kennels? in 2014 of course, as documented in this (6 minutes long video, 6 minutes for which we worked so much more than that, wanna see?
OH YES the most important change is building much much much more new kennels.
Why is that important? Well first of they look fantastic, modern, well designed and all that, but more important they offer the dogs a chance to not stay crowded! Less dogs in a kennel (1, 2 or maybe 3 at most, in most kennels vs the old days when they were, don't know, 9) means calmer dogs, reduces fighting for territory, decreases chances one eats more and others less, it just calms it all down.
What else did I observe? The dogs seem now placed in kennels not at all at random! I saw dogs perhaps less social or who knows maybe their colleagues left into homes, but I saw dogs living alone (see above, last 3 pics as examples) and I saw dogs living together arranged according to size. Well a few more pictures would come in handy, let's see it!
Another thing I didn't see was skinny dogs. Sure there were a few not optimal weight but still, the vast majority seems to me, fat and healthy, and mostly, content. The usual loud barking sensation fades out, sure, they bark when they see you, is enough just one to be curious what you want to give the signal! but if you were to stay a while, to nicely walk among kennels on a lazy spring afternoon as I did, when the sun caressed us with some warmth, it was rather peaceful, and at times quite quiet, I felt good, for a change, I felt in a safe place, and that is why I have decided to come back!
Do you guys remember when it started building new kennels? in 2014 of course, as documented in this (6 minutes long video, 6 minutes for which we worked so much more than that, wanna see?
AND that continued in 2015 too!!! The only contribution I have made to google maps that brought so many views that Google praised me? Yes, many views as many people hoped to see more, and yet those are long built and so many other new ones too and no one talked about it much? Well seeing is believing, isn't it? Ok this was my picture in 2015 (you may click on it to view it larger) or even search Danyflor on google maps, and while at it, you may also want to look at it in the map, see it in 2d and see how it developed.
OH YES the most important change is building much much much more new kennels.
Among other things one expects to see in a public or even private shelter is maybe not to be so clean, because is hard to keep it clean as dogs might do their.. mmm business just when you figured you had it all covered. And YET! it looks surprisingly clean, don't you think? Some serious good work here!
Another thing I didn't see was skinny dogs. Sure there were a few not optimal weight but still, the vast majority seems to me, fat and healthy, and mostly, content. The usual loud barking sensation fades out, sure, they bark when they see you, is enough just one to be curious what you want to give the signal! but if you were to stay a while, to nicely walk among kennels on a lazy spring afternoon as I did, when the sun caressed us with some warmth, it was rather peaceful, and at times quite quiet, I felt good, for a change, I felt in a safe place, and that is why I have decided to come back!