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You are here >>> Assessment Centre >>> Volunteers working with dogs |
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| Border Collie Rescue - On Line - Volunteers working with Dogs | |
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Volunteers working with Dogs |
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Before we had the facility of an assessment centre, people used to phone us and offer to help out with our dogs 'at the kennels'. Well, we don't use kennels as all the dogs are kept in foster care, so we were unable to offer volunteer placements of that nature and had to disappoint. Now things are different and we do have a facility where dogs need attention and exercise so if you want to help care for dogs there is somewhere that you can. |
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The centre has staff resident overnight in the 'Big house' who can oversee the site when the dogs are put to bed and take are of any problems and sudden emergencies, should such arise, but during the day BCR has to have extra staff on the premises to care for the needs of the dogs, not just the resident dogs, but those coming in for the day for assessment. |
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This involves a variety of hands on jobs and duties and we would welcome interest from anyone near enough to York or anywhere in reach in Yorkshire who would like to get involved in the direct handling and care of Border Collie Rescue dogs. |
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In the words of one BCR volunteer who has joined to help at the Centre. |
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Nicky Read with Mr. Tod (left) and three rescue dogs. |
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| Voice of a volunteer - by Nicky Read | |
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You may think that giving up your precious free time to lend a hand with a local voluntary group is difficult, and not really your cup of tea, I used to! |
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But since volunteering at Border Collie Rescue I cant get enough of it! |
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Every week I try and spend at least one morning or afternoon helping with all sorts of things like exercising the dogs and assisting with their training through to lending a hand in the office with filing and administration. |
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The dogs are a pleasure to be around and all have their own characters and personalities which you get to know and understand as you work with them. Border Collies are also very affectionate and of course enjoy my company as much as I do theirs. My favourite part of working with them is the everyday training and obedience that we teach them as this is important to get right if they are to be re-homed as working dogs or pets. |
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| Of course, when we successfully re-habilitate or re- train a dog it makes it easier to successfully re-home it and also leaves a space at the centre for another dog to be brought in for assessment. | |
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Working in the office is always fun and full of lots of learning as people are always ringing for advice about their own dogs. Looking at the files in the office you soon realise how many dogs have been successfully re-homed over the years that Border Collie Rescue has been established, it’s amazing! |
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| There’s no such thing as an average day at this charity as there is always something going on but you are always guaranteed to meet really nice people, great fun with the dogs and a plenty of cups of tea!! | |
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I can emphasis how rewarding it is to be a volunteer, especially at Border Collie Rescue. There’s not one day that I haven’t left with a huge smile on my face knowing that I have made a difference in these lovely animals lives. |
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Please give them a call on 0845 6044941 even if you can only give just an hour of your time. |
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DOT |
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| Dot is another keen worker at the BCR Assessment Centre. Dot joined the BCR team during the year of the Foot and Mouth outbreak in 2001. She came to us from a farm in North Wales when we attended a neighbouring farm to collect 4 dogs. On request we also took Dot in at the same time. Dot is ISDS registered. She had been mainly trained and handled by a lady. She was very confused and sensitive when she arrived with us. Results of enquiries into her medical record indicated that had been bred from once and there had been complications. She was left with a problem which could present a high risk to her life if she were to be spayed and also meant that she was at risk if she was to have any more pups. This presented us with a dilemma. We could not have her spayed, but at 8 years old we could not take any risk of her becoming pregnant. It was decided to offer Dot the job of Resident Working Sheepdog at BCR where we could keep a close eye on her and provide her with a lifestyle she could enjoy. | |
| The position of Resident Lead Working Sheepdog involves gathering, controlling, positioning and holding the sheep when assessments are being carried out with inexperienced dogs. Sheep aren't that daft that they don't know trouble when they see it and will usually leg it into the nearest corner when a new dog enters the field. Dot's job is to persuade them to stay in the centre of the field so the new dog can go round them. She also has to go get them back when the new dog scatters them to the four corners. She takes her job seriously. Her duties are shared with another dog, a neutered male of the same age called Cap. Cap is just as keen but has a drawback - several actually - they are called teeth. Cap is a good sheepdog, loyal, affectionate, kind to other dogs, playful and very obedient, but is not fond of strangers and can not be applied in public situations, whereas Dot is kind, amiable, polite and good natured and wouldn't hurt a fly. | |
| Dot is a valuable asset in the work of BCR. She lives in the care of Nicki Oliver our National Co-ordinator and is an 'indoor' dog. She lives at the centre and does what is needed. In 2002, one of her only litter of pups, Glen - run by Vic Morris, became the English National Sheepdog trials winner. We missed that, but saw him run at Bala in the first World Sheepdog trial. Came 14th out of 40 in the Semi finals on Saturday. Certainly a world class dog, just like his Mum! | |
| BCR is an organisation with no paid employees - we all work as volunteers - from top to bottom and in every capacity. | |
| Join us at our centre and help us make a difference. | |
| If you can come here once a week on a regular day for a few hours you will truly be an asset to our work, but don't worry if you can't make a regular commitment, if you just want to register with us and come in as and when you have free time, that can be a great help as well. | |
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Call us during office hours - Weekdays - 2pm to 5pm - on 0845 6044941 and join in with our cause. |
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| See some videos of our work at the centre | |
| Meet the Crew - an introduction to the dogs that work at the centre | |
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| Interview with Volunteer Carolyn Dowd | Interview with Volunteer Carol Dulson |
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| A day in the life - a short video about a day at the centre | |
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| To download a standing order form - click here | |
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You are here >>> Assessment Centre >>> Volunteers working with dogs |
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