Hello my Friends,
What an amazing couple weeks we have had weather wise. Yes, I know it's cold, but it could be raining or snowing instead of being absolutely beautiful out. So much fun here when the sun comes out. Everyone becomes more active and happier, staff included. Nothing makes my heart sing more than seeing Charlie pig out of the barn hay and sunning himself outside, you know spring has to be close. I do have a couple updates, nothing earth shattering but things that need to get passed along.
- We'll start with the dog folk: We have a new trainer that will be on site twice a week. She's not an employee; we are contracting her services. I don't know what days she will be here, stay tuned.
- For the NARN crew a couple requests that I have received for you: First, In an effort to conserve a bit of the pellet bedding were designating Delilah's stall as spot clean only. She doesn't make enough of a mess to warrant a full strip. I know this is a common practice already by most of you, but I guess not everyone. Second request that I was told was could you all please stop rough housing Victor. I didn't know this was a thing, but I've been asked to ask those that like to wrestle with him to please stop. He's arthritic and we don't want to aggravate it. Now that being said the other day, I had an issue with him. A kids group came through and annoyed him, and I guess he needed someone to take it out on. I had 2 volunteers with me and when we got close to the NARN he was all over us. We like to say to just walk away from him because that usually works, but not every time. So, I ended up wrestling him so the 3 of us could get behind a gate. Pro tip on handling Victor - I know he is big but he's not nearly as strong as he used to be. If he comes at you swinging his head, you can direct the blow away from you. When he starts the swing put your hands on the side of his face and neck and either stop the action before it starts or redirect his head and body around you. A stern authoritative NO also works sometimes. He's not fast and his movements are slow and deliberate. Running away also works, but as what happened in my situation he followed and tried picking us off one by one. Morale to this long winded story, don't wrestle with him unless he doesn't give you any other choice.
- Following up on Jens post last week about suspicious people at the gate and what to do. Our I&R team has been more active lately. Most of the animals we have here came from abuse/neglect or hoarding cases. Sometimes the owners are not all that pleased the animals got seized and may try and find them. Remember don't let anyone in the gate that you don't know. If someone is at the gate trying to get in when you arrive don't open the gate for them, nobody is going to mind at all if this makes you late for your shift. Make sure you stop and wait for the gate to close and if someone follows you through try and identify them. If you're not comfortable confronting someone, no problem just let a staff member know. Preferably Jen or myself but if we're not here any staff member will do. If you have any questions about what to do in certain situations, please reach out to one of us..............I'm feeling an SOP coming from this, stay tuned.
Ok that's it, Its Friday and I'm over the top excited to have another weekend that will be full of sun and slightly above freezing temps. Have an amazing weekend and week ahead. Get outside, do something fun maybe come frolic in the fields here with the goats or pigs, Llamas, more pigs, maybe a sheep or two......really the possibilities are endless.
Take care everyone,
Shane Greenfield
Volunteer Coordinator
shaneg@pasadosafehaven.org
