Week Four - Ferdinand's Familia

Cali After Being Groomed

Learning How to Tack a Horse

Allie After Being Groomed

One of Their Dog's and Goats Playing

This weekend Alex and I went back to Ferdinand's Familia. The owner was there during the time we went so we were able to talk to him and ask questions. We groomed two horses, Cali and Allie, to then ride afterwards. Also, we learned how to put the tack on the horses. I had to stop riding Allie after a while though because we realized her back foot was bugging her. After riding, we groomed the horses again and put them back in their stalls. The owner, Mike Pratt, showed us around the area where they have two dogs. Alex and I were able to play with their two dogs. Mike said he's trying to work on building an adoption center in the back to help give more animals homes. I could really see how much of a difference this rescue made for the animals and how much it really affected them for the better.

Alex Playing With One of The Dogs 

Waiting to Learn How to tack

Greyhound Adoption Center

This week my partner and I went to the Greyhound Adoption Center to volunteer and take care of the rescue dogs.  We helped out in by working shifts at Turnout. We pet dogs and made sure that they didn't start any fights. We cleaned up after the dogs when they went to the bathroom and we made sure they were comfortable and relaxed. There were five or six dogs in each turnout and we both had two shifts. We met other volunteers there and all of them were very kind. The dogs there were very sweet as well. The dogs that I took care of were all females, they were all very relaxed and easy going.

Week Three - Greyhound Adoption Center

Learning How to Put Muzzles On

Chase

Alex Meeting Radar

Yesterday Alex and I went to the Greyhound Adoption Center for our volunteer orientation. While there we toured the facility and were able to meet most of the dogs they have there. In total they have about 50 rescued Greyhounds or Greyhound mixes. Less than a week ago they received 10 dogs from Mexico that were used as racing dogs. Most of the dogs there are in kennels, mainly for recovery from fractions from racing or they're just resting. Alex and I got to go in one of the pens with the dogs when they were in 'turn out'. That's a time period where the dogs can play and socialize for 40 minutes, three times a day. We also were able to learn how to get dogs out from the kennels correctly, along with putting muzzles on them. The reason behind the muzzles is not because they're mean dogs, it's to protect them. Greyhounds have very fragile skin and by having the muzzle on it helps protect them mainly when they're playing with one another. We were taught how to wash some of the dogs there. After we learned how, we were able to wash around seven dogs before we had to leave. All of the dogs they had there were really sweet and great dogs. I could definitely see that they are great pets. Next week we're going back on both Tuesday and Thursday. Also my mom said that we could continue volunteering there after the project too. Going there really showed me how much help volunteering does and the difference it makes because I could see how much work everything takes. Something that really struck me was how sweet the dogs were that only came 5 days ago from being race dogs. It showed me how much these people worked and took care of the dogs and how much of a difference it made. Overall I really enjoyed going to the Greyhound Adoption Center.

One of the Dogs Resting with and Fraction

Learning to Get Dogs
 Out of Kennels

One of the Dogs Was Adopted 

Tangent Resting at 'Turn Out'

Kennels

Alex at 'Turn Out' with the Newer Dogs

Prime and Plot in Their 'Condo'

Alex Petting Dogs in the Kennels

Alex Learning How to Bathe the Dogs

One of the Dogs in the Outside 'Condos'

Kennels for the Dogs

Paradox Getting a Bath

Dogs in the Outside Condos

The Outside Field

One of the Greyhounds Resting

Ferdinands Familia

This weekend my partner and I went to an animal rescue called Ferdinands Familia. There, we learned about the different animals that they had rescued. Some of the animals there have special needs, for example, there was a horse there named Dakota that has cancer. She is on a strict no grain low sugar diet and we were not able to feed her much. Aside from horses Ferdinands Familia has goats, alpacas, chickens, llamas, sheep, dogs, turtles, and pigs. When we went there we were able to feed and groom the horses and assist our guide with feeding and taking care of the other animals. Volunteering at Ferdinands Familia really makes me want to return and volunteer again and again. All of the animals there are so lovable and you can't help but want to help them. Volunteering here changed me for the better. I feel that even large animals such as horses and llamas have big hearts and I really want to continue helping Ferdinands Familia even after the project is over. 

We also learned that llamas have very long necks.

Week Two Progress

This week Hannah and I figured out exactly where and when we are going places. This weekend we plan to go to Ferdinands Familia and complete the orientation. The Wednesday after that we are going to go to the  Greyhound Adoption Center. We have also started to plan for Exhibition and for the weeks ahead. For exhibition we plan to have rescue animals that we could show to prove that even rescues can be lovable. We are trying to come up with a more permanent display. We also plan to go to Ferdinands Familia the weekend after.

Week Two - Continuing On

For the past week, Alex and I have been working on several different things. One thing we've done is meet with our teachers Darrell and Mrs. Ruff to show our progress to them so far. The critique they gave us was to setup the actual days and times we're going to volunteer at Ferdinand's Familia and the Greyhound Adoption Center. While trying to find days, Alex and I ran into some problems. We had a hard time finding days both of us were able to volunteer, especially over the weekends. Then fixed the problem by writing all the days we were free to go and later talking and agreeing on days. We've also been working on making drafts of emails to send, along with sending out those emails.  Overall this week was successful for our project so far.

Critique For One of the Emails 

 Calendar of the Days We're Volunteering

       

                   

Alex and I Talking About the Blog

Plan for Next Week's Meeting With Our Teachers

                                                                                                                                         

  Alex Editing Photos for the Blog

Project Progress

Final Email to be sent out

Planning to go to the Greyhound Adoption Center

Stray in Mexico

Stray in Mexico

Stray in Mexico