The way we conduct our help projects.
Most animal shelters focus on just one rescuer or shelter.
He or she can then count on structural help with regard to finances and often even for the mediation of their animals.
However, hundreds of great aid workers fall between the cracks. Especially in countries where tourists come less, such as in Eastern Europe.
No one to help them, no one to even see them unless it's a follower on Facebook who happened to read their posts.
These are the care providers who 'drowned' in their work. Who are usually busy day and night every day of the year. Full of worries, the ever-increasing number of animals that all need food, medicines, vaccinations, etc.
Often the bills are so high that the local vet refuses to help any more animals from a rescuer, unless payment is made in cash. Or you only can get animal food if you pay the supplier in cash.
They also usually have no money for pens or straw. Or for repairing fencing which is broken to the point that animals injure themselves.
Those are the people and animals for whom Dierennood Foundation (Helping stray animals) jumps into the breach!
Unfortunately, typically only once. Simply because there are so many requests for help.
We can only alleviate the worst needs of the moment so that they get some relieve. So at that moment they are able to pay a high bill, get some animals sterilised, or can happily have all their puppies vaccinated and dewormed.
And rescuers will be relieved to be able to buy straw for the whole winter and finally be able to fix the fence, so that animals can no more escape, risking the danger of being shot by neighbours… (Yes, that is unfortunately the harsh reality, especially in countries in Eastern Europe!)
For this we contact such a helper, and after we have chosen someone to make a Monthly or Small Project for him or her, endless emails and WhatsApp messages follow back and forth to get a good overall picture.
After all, we need to know what is most important and urgent in order to be able to properly care for their animals. In the short term, but preferably also in the longer term. We then base the project to be made on that.
It usually takes many months or even a year before it can be published on our website.
We also keep in close contact during and after an aid project. We still want to know how and for what purposes the donations have been used. The emergency services must report to us on this.
After a few months, an update will be posted on the website and on our Facebook page. With this, we thank our donors and immediately prove that their donations have ended up well.
Actually, then our part towards the care provider is done. But in practice, the 'friendship' remains and there are often emails and messages back and forth.
Labour-intensive but oh so grateful…
We hope to have given you a good idea of how we work, in order to alleviate as much animal suffering as possible – wherever possible.
But of course we are completely dependent on animal friends in the Netherlands and Belgium for this, who want to support us financially.
Together for the stray animals, they really need us!
