Tomsk regional public charity animal protection organization "Dog House" has been working in Siberia for almost 10 years. Many citizens of Tomsk know the shelter "Dog House" firsthand. It can be safely called a family one, says Galina Mayer, chairman of the animal protection organization.
"It is impossible to count how many guests come to us, both adults and children. And children are our future and it is necessary to establish an attitude towards animals from an early age. Excursions and activities for children are a "feature" of our shelter, - says Galina. - Every year we hold holidays on the territory of the shelter: the traditional "Maslenitsa", a New Year's marathon of gifts, a wish tree and a festive greeting of tails from Ded Moroz and the Snow Maiden."
But one of the most striking events for Tomsk, perhaps, can be called the annual city children's drawing contest "Ponytail Dog House", it is held among schoolchildren and pre-school children. As well as the summer holiday "Birthday of the shelter" - a show of soap bubbles, holly paints, a foam party, which was repeatedly written about by local media.
Thanks to the support of sponsors, the Dog House dog shelter has found a new home. The renovated shelter, which was simply built from scratch, has everything that volunteers and their pets have been dreaming about for a very long time. Therefore, now Tomsk animals, and that's the only way they call four-legged guests here, can live comfortably and wait for their new owners.
"During planning, we tried to think through everything to the smallest detail. Comfortable aviaries - booths are located under the roof and protected from the winds, a walking area in each aviary, all dogs sit according to their characters, without overpopulation, we are for the safety and convenience of our wards. There are medical enclosures and quarantine, which makes it possible to keep patients separately, without fear," continues Galina Mayer.
The new shelter has large kitchen and utility blocks, a volunteer room, and even several heated enclosures to accommodate sick or weakened animals. Well, the most important achievement is the medical unit.
"A medical office is our own hospital and an operating room is our dream come true," Galina Mayer shares her impressions. - Equipping the office took a lot of time, but it was worth it! Affordable sterilization is our goal, which we are confidently moving towards and plan to launch a social program."
Today, 163 dogs live in the Tomsk shelter "Dog House". And many of them are participants in social projects. Tomsk dogs became prototypes for performances by children's studios on the theme of homeless animals, took part in filming for advertising posters, and were the heroes of videos about abandoned dogs on local TV.
Photos from Galina Mayer's personal archive