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Ailyn Agonia
Doha
Home to around 100 dogs and 60 cats rescued from abandonment, neglect or abuse, the 2nd Chance Rescue Qatar is a shelter that runs with the savings and time donated by a handful of good-hearted volunteers.
But it needs more than that to keep on doing the good work, especially as the summer is coming.
Lina Serafini, one of the regular volunteers of the shelter, said most of its donators go on vacation in the summer, leaving the shelter struggling to find money for feeds and paying the veterinary bills.
The non-profit organization, which seeks to re-home the pets it rescues, marked a decade of its existence by throwing its doors open to the public on Friday, in an effort to create a deeper understanding about the plight of homeless pets.
“The biggest thing we have done is we have been able to rescue hundreds of animals… from abuse or abandonment,” Serafini said.
She said the priority for the shelter was to find homes for the pets under its care within the country. But in some cases, she added, the centre had carried out rescues and facilitated adoptions overseas as well.
Serafini said Qatar had a big community of animal lovers consisting of both Qataris and expatriates.
“They have been helping us stay open with their donations,” she said, but emphasised the need for more support.
“The biggest thing we need right now is for the authorities in Qatar to step in to help, because until that happens we basically fight for survival everyday,” she said, highlighting the need for a centralised rescue centre.
The 2nd Chance Rescue Qatar is currently managed by a committee of about five people. With summer around the corner, Serafini said the going gets even tougher for the shelter.
“Summer is the hardest time for us. When people leave the country, we struggle. So if they can even buy a couple of bags before they travel and drop them off here at the shelter or at Parkview Pet Center, that’s good enough. Also, we actually need two new ACs in the shelter.”
Doha
Home to around 100 dogs and 60 cats rescued from abandonment, neglect or abuse, the 2nd Chance Rescue Qatar is a shelter that runs with the savings and time donated by a handful of good-hearted volunteers.
But it needs more than that to keep on doing the good work, especially as the summer is coming.
Lina Serafini, one of the regular volunteers of the shelter, said most of its donators go on vacation in the summer, leaving the shelter struggling to find money for feeds and paying the veterinary bills.
The non-profit organization, which seeks to re-home the pets it rescues, marked a decade of its existence by throwing its doors open to the public on Friday, in an effort to create a deeper understanding about the plight of homeless pets.
“The biggest thing we have done is we have been able to rescue hundreds of animals… from abuse or abandonment,” Serafini said.
She said the priority for the shelter was to find homes for the pets under its care within the country. But in some cases, she added, the centre had carried out rescues and facilitated adoptions overseas as well.
Serafini said Qatar had a big community of animal lovers consisting of both Qataris and expatriates.
“They have been helping us stay open with their donations,” she said, but emphasised the need for more support.
“The biggest thing we need right now is for the authorities in Qatar to step in to help, because until that happens we basically fight for survival everyday,” she said, highlighting the need for a centralised rescue centre.
The 2nd Chance Rescue Qatar is currently managed by a committee of about five people. With summer around the corner, Serafini said the going gets even tougher for the shelter.
“Summer is the hardest time for us. When people leave the country, we struggle. So if they can even buy a couple of bags before they travel and drop them off here at the shelter or at Parkview Pet Center, that’s good enough. Also, we actually need two new ACs in the shelter.”
