Cleaning Cages and Kennels for a shelterThis is extraordinarily fulfilling. It takes diligence, and the ability to follow strict rules for cleanliness and sanitation, but if they will let you do it, don't pass up what might be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. Pick a shelter near you and volunteer for this job.Speaking from personal experience... I was fortunate enough to be able to work for a couple of years at an animal shelter. One of the jobs I had for a while was to clean the cages in one of the cat kennels (wards). There were 9 cages in the ward. Before I was given this job, I had worked at the shelter for about a year and a half, and I knew how much work all the staff were responsible for. So when I was given this job, I really felt it was one which would make an immediate difference for the staff member who didn't have to do it that morning. I was pleased to be doing something that would make their day easier. What I didn't expect was the real sense of pleasure I would have in doing this job. You laugh, but this is fact. Let me tell you about it. A cat being what it is, after being confined to it's cage overnight, can you imagine what the cage is like in the morning? I firmly believe that (as my cats do) when the lights go out, the fun begins. Paws reaching from the top cage, down in an attempt to reach the playmate below. Or burrowing underneath the newspaper to hide from the imaginary playmate. Scooting the pieces of food around the bottom of the cage, pretending "it really did move". In any event, when morning comes, the newspaper floor is shredded or scooted to one side, leaving only the stainless steel bottom of the cage to lay upon; the litter box has often been overturned scattering litter and ... all over the place; often the water or food dish has been overturned. So, for a while, my job was to clean up this mess. I took the first cat from her cage and put her into a clean cage while I cleaned hers. Then I proceeded to take out the dishes, and throw out the trashed everything else. I then washed top, bottom and sides of the cage and dried them. Then I lined the bottom with some fresh newspaper (probably more than normal) and filled a clean water dish. I put a good helping of food in a new food dish and filled a new litter box with fresh litter. I placed each tray in a position I thought least likely to be upset and examined my work proudly. I thought, "job well done". Then I took cat and put her into her freshly cleaned cage. And wonder of wonders, but there was something more important I had done here than to clean a messy cage. As I placed cat into her cage (before her feet even touched the floor) she began to purr. She gave a quick look around with her tail floating up in the air with pleasure. She looked back at me still purring and went immediately to her dish of food for breakfast. As I continued my cleaning, each time I passed near her cage, she rubbed the length of her body along the door of her cage and I realized that more important than cleaning up the mess, I had given immense pleasure to a creature living in most unfortunate circumstances. Because again, a cat being an immensely fastidious creature, she had been given a precious gift...at least for a while. She wasn't the only one to show her apreciation this way. In fact, all but a few feel the same. There is nothing in the world more safe and cozy than a clean bed and fresh food and water. |
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