๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ก๐๐ฆ ๐ข๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐จ๐๐ฆ ๐๐ก ๐ฆ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐
Unless one has worked or volunteered at an animal welfare organisation it is difficult to comprehend the complexity of sheltering and protecting animals.
Despite South Africa being a developing country many of our Animal Rescuers are leaders in their fields with organisations ranging in size from very small to very large.
They range in variety from dealing primarily with dogs and cats and in some cases farm animals and wildlife to those specifically focused on horses and donkeys, farmed animals and wildlife (land and marine), animal welfare hospitals.
๐๐๐งโ๐ฆ ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ง ๐ช๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ง ๐ข๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ฅ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐๐ค๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ง๐ฆ
- Admin
- Adoption
- Animals
- Cruelty Investigations
- Education
- Feeding
- Financial
- Fundraising
- Home Checks
- Hygiene
- Kennels and Cattery
- Management, Committee
- Management, Staff
- Personnel
- Premises
- Record Keeping
- Registration
- Rescues
- Structure
- Veterinary
- Volunteers
๐ง๐ฌ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฌ
Letโs put that myth to bed, there are few typical days in animal welfare organisations.
However, for the sake of this exercise letโs look at an organisation which is neither very small nor very big but does have sufficient staff to have people in specific roles but no onsite clinic or hospital which few animal organisations have.
๐ข๐ป ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น
Although most may have a staff member at the premises, the staff who arrive early will be tasked with greeting the animals and checking them to ensure that there have been no problems during the night. For example their stools and urine will be observed for abnormalities.
๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด
This will be undertaken early. Standard will be to check if everyone is eating, and if someone is not, to make a note on their health record, notify the kennel supervisor and observe them. Their bowls will also be freshened up.
๐๐๐ด๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ – ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐น ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด
This ideally takes place before the rescue centre is opened and with minimal noise so as not to scare nervous animals. During this process faeces and urine are also observed for abnormalities.
Removal of faeces should be done two to three times daily.
๐๐ป๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ย
When the Inspectors arrive, reports which have not been attended to from the previous day as well as new cruelty reports are triaged, although the previous reports would normally be given priority.
When the Inspectors return later in the day they will write up and submit their reports on each case.
๐๐ผ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐ฉ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ย
The collation of animal collections might be placed under the Inspectorate and the Driver/s given the list of animals to be collected. Should there be any sick animals in the kennels a Driver would also have to take them to the Vet who works with the organisation or the Vet might come to the facility as many do.
(It should be noted here that the majority Vets support animal welfares by providing them with free services and only charging materials and medicines at cost.)
The Driver/s also collect supplies as well as assist with the transport materials required for outreach programmes.
๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐น๐
Kennel staff check the documentation of newly arrived animals, taking in animals and completing admission forms, ensuring that all documentation and records are completed up to date, taking lost and found reports including those which arrive by e-mail, assisting potential adopters with the animals and screening them, making arrangements for pre- and post-home checks via the Inspectorate and following up on young animals which have to be sterilised.
They are also responsible for observing the characteristics and temperament of the animals in their care.
๐๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด
These two functions require a great deal of expertise comprising planning, strategy and action and are a key component to making an impact in the prevention of cruelty by empowering people with knowledge and making the organisation sustainable through bringing money in by way of donations, attending markets, charity shops, auctions, legacy programmes, grant applications etc.
(In rural areas animal welfare organisations often cover vast areas with few fundraising opportunities.)
๐ฃ๐ฅ/๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด
This is different function to Fundraising and ideally the two roles are not combined although in smaller organisations separation of the two roles is not easy.
PR/Marketing is essential for building the brand, promoting projects and programmes via different media and dealing with the media where high profile issues arise. This is particularly so in a country like South Africa where there are few donors available and many welfares across all categories (estimated at 200,000 in 20201) competing for the same funds.
๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฟ
Last but not least is the person who holds it all together and liaises with the Management Committee. The General Managerโs role is critical in ensuring that the organisation is running smoothly and following instructions from the Management Committee.
The GM, in conjunction with Department Managers, ensures that all departments are running smoothly and within budget, determine the need for vehicles and trailers and equipment, staff deployment,ย
It also essential for the GM with the Admin Team ensure that monthly and annual financial reports, statistics and departmental operational reports are provided to the Management Committee. These reports are essential for providing knowledge and back to Fundraising and PR/Marketing.
The adage โthe buck stops hereโ applies to the GM and rests on his/her shoulders.
Source and author:
D.B. Thorpe who has spent almost 40 years in animal welfare in South Africa with experience as Adoption Counsellor, document design, Cruelty Inspector, General Manager, Poundmaster, Director of the NSPCA as well as in the development of education materials, fundraising and grant applications.