First Day at the Canile

Well, I am now an official volunteer at the Casentino Canile. I'm on the rota and yesterday morning was my first time, from 9.30 – 12. If strays have to be in a kennel then this is the one to be in. They are housed in two blocks, both immaculately clean, with a good amount ofspace. The first bloc is the quarantine one for new arrivals and the second one houses males on one side and femals on the outher, but not facing each other. there's a central corridor and then the kennels are either side with a small run.

I met a really nice couple of volunteers Hilkka and Falvio who showed me the ropes. First the food is taken to the kennels and placed out of reach. The females are let out for a good run around the fenced wood in which the kennels are housed while one volunteers hoses down the inside and then the outside. I copied Hilkka who went into each kennel in turn and brushed it out. Once done we put the bowl of dog food (top quality vet standard croccanti) and a slice of meat in the covered part of the kennel and close the door, then on to the next one. The 'girls' were out for about an hour, although some were taking advantage of the shade in the trees as it was really hot. We gave them cuddles and brushed them and then it was the turn of the boys, so we followed the same routine. The males were a lot more energetic, there was one with three legs who ran more than any of them and a huge good natured Rottweiler called Boss who was a bit of a soppy date really.

I wore old jeans and a t shirt which was just as well as while sitting grooming one of the dogs one crept up behind me and peed on me! 'Hmm, he tends to do that!' said Domenico the charismatic head of the volunteers as he gently chastised the naughty dog!

I'm off again in a minute to a meeting at the kennels, so all in all quite a busy 'animal' weekend!