Last weekend I did my 'turn' at the kennels although I arrived a bit later than intended as a new roundabout meant the road I normally take was closed. As I am not the world's best at directions it took me about half an hour to work out an alternative route but I got there in the end!
Today we had a meeting of the local branch of ENPA who organise the volunteers who run the kennels. It was great to see so many people turn up and there were the usual announcements about elections for president and so on. The current president, Claudia, is resigning as she is just snowed under with work. What started off as quite a small job (the Casentino kennels has not been going that long and currently houses about 25 dogs)has grown exponentially and the poor girl can't cope on her own, although she is ably assisted by the amazing Domenico, Betta and her husband Roberto.
I learned a bit about the power (or not) of ENPA. Even if they get called out to see a maltreated dog they have no power to seize it, that has to be done in conjunction with USL, a local vet and various other bodies. It is quite a palaver to actually prove a dog has been the victim of abuse and neglect and ofte they have to leave a dog they are pretty sure needs to be removed. They are talking with the town council to see if their powers can be increased at all.
Some good news is that we may be going into local schools to teach the kids about the kennels and how to care for dogs. I also suggested we team up with local old people's homes to do some kind of pet visiting programme like they do in the UK and the States. I think my suggestion was met with a bit of good natured bewilderment (actually a lot of my ideas are met with bewilderment - could be "the way I tell'em!") But I am determined that as a lone straniera I am going to speak up when I think of something even if they do think I am slightly loopy!
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