SINEAD

Please tell us a little bit about yourself

My name's Sinead and I live in a tiny village that's very rural and pretty much the middle of nowhere but at the heart of the Gaeltacht Múscraí. I grew up locally, so the area has been my home for a long time. No shops or pubs close by but plenty of sheep and cows to torment the lovely dogs who come to stay😊

How do you volunteer with KLAWS?

I volunteer with KLAWS as a fosterer. Thankfully I live alone, so currently it's just me and the foster dogs when they come, which is great as they get all my attention to themselves😊

I had fostered previously for other rescues before volunteering with KLAWS and knew how rewarding it could be but had always taken significant breaks, as my own little doggie was poorly. But when I saw the appeal for foster homes by KLAWS I felt like the time was right to volunteer again. And here we are a year later.

But initially, I guess, what drew me to fostering was to be able to help, to make a difference, to give these dogs a chance they may not have otherwise and see them settled and their unique personalities come out.

What have you learnt from volunteering?

One of the main things I've learnt from volunteering is that each and every dog is different, they all come with their own unique quirks and personalities. No two are ever exactly the same and the ‘one size fits all’ approach doesn't work. Some dogs can be more challenging than others, especially the more scared /shutdown ones.

And I won't lie – there have been plenty of times I've felt way out of my depth and unable to cope, but then you just have patience and plough through: you usually find a way together. It’s very much a learning curve at times, but it's OK to ask for help. We all make mistakes at times and have to learn, and we gain experience and knowledge as we go.

Is there anything about volunteering that you didn’t expect?

One of the main things about volunteering that I didn’t expect was the challenges and complex issues that the more traumatised/abused dogs can have. It's not that I didn't expect there would be issues. But just actually being faced with those issues is totally different in reality; especially with a dog that's totally terrified and shut down like one of my previous fosters was. Trying to navigate around a situation where something as basic as house training becomes gargantuan and seems insurmountable at times; especially when you're feeling totally out of your depth, but you do learn as you go and gain experience. Also, that it's OK to realise that and ask for help or guidance in a situation, even if it means finding a more experienced foster home. And how bittersweet it is when you have to let them go. Sad they're going but happy they're off to great new homes.

We know that working with rescue animals can be challenging — it can be stressful and heartbreaking at times. How do you cope with difficulties?

How I cope with difficulties varies. I guess it's to just remind myself why I'm doing it in the first place, to help the doggies that I can when I can, to have more patience and acknowledge that I'm doing the best I can and gaining experience constantly. But also, that it’s ok to reach out for help and guidance if needed, to relax and just try and really enjoy my time with them and their funny little personalities. Seeing them happy and settled makes it all so worthwhile.

I'm also very lucky in that I'm blessed to have been able to stay in contact with some of the adopters and knowing the great life they're giving the dogs is amazing. And KLAWS is different as they really involve the fosters with rehoming through speaking with potential adopters and really being able to get a chance to showcase your foster pups’ personality.

What have been the high and low points of your time as a volunteer? Maybe you have some standout (foster) stories to tell?

In terms of highs and lows if I had to pick just one specific dog it would also be Sam the traumatised collie who was totally shut down and terrified when he came and spent weeks hiding in his safe corner not wanting to move.

To see him very, very gradually go from that to wanting to interact and actively seeking cuddles and attention and even sleeping on the bed with me and my little dog Ruby was amazing. Still, the outside world and all its noises and scary people was still terrifying for Sam. And he became obsessed with his other safe place – the park, which was the only place I could take him walking. However, he always found a way to escape. So, the painful decision was made to find him a new foster home after 5 months. It absolutely broke my heart the day he left. He was such a sweet gentle soul who once again was absolutely terrified as I lifted him into the car. But I never forgot him and shared appeal after appeal for a special home for him. Until one day a fantastic lady called Toni got in touch to offer him his forever home where he is absolutely adored and spoilt rotten and even has a doggie sister. Such a dedicated, patient family willing to work with him and give him the chance he needed!

What would you say to someone who’s thinking about volunteering?

If someone is thinking about volunteering, I would say absolutely just do it in whatever way you can, be it foster, transport etc. It's so rewarding knowing that you're actually helping to make a difference for the cats /dogs for whom this might be the only lifeline.