Update - Tamara has been back twice to visit the Shelter as a volunteer since this story was first posted last year.
Tamara Van Oost is 28 and works as the chief assistant to the head of one of the biggest Belgian Government Ministries. But she is a high-flyer who remains very grounded in her personal life. Her two great passions in life are dogs and horses – so she decided to spend her holiday working somewhere in an animal shelter. She didn’t know quite where to go, so she enlisted the aid of Google … and stumbled on the PAWS website.
This is simply Tamara’s story of two weeks working as a volunteer at PAWS in April 2011, in her own words, which she sent us to go with the video she made after her stay.
“I go horse riding, support groups who are dedicated to animal welfare, I go walking with dogs in the local animal shelter and have taken a course in dog behaviour and care. I have adopted two dogs who couldn’t be homed because of their behavioural problems … an American Staffordshire Terrier, named Tessa, and a cross Belgian Shepherd Malinois with Labrador Retriever, named Duck.
“The last few years it broke my heart to see how many dogs were undeservedly euthanized in animal shelters, so when I started searching for somewhere to go it had to be a No-Kill shelter. And then I found PAWS! I studied Spanish for four years and Spain and its culture has always interested me, so coming to PAWS in Andalucia was the perfect fit."
Tamara wih her own Staffordshire Terrier Tessie, near her home in Belgium
"It was a life-changing experience!. I had never been to a place where the people were so friendly and every day so unselfishly involved with and so concerned for the animals. Since the dogs live in packs, they are socialized and ‘at peace’. Every day the volunteers do their best to make sure that the animals have a nice time there, and have a chance of a bright future.
"Another reason why I think PAWS is great is because they also work on reducing the dog and cat overpopulation through neutering and increasing the public awareness with regard to animal welfare issues. This is really important.
"My stay at Paws was too short, so as soon as I was back in Belgium, I decided to return to PAWS in September.
"I made the video because I would advise anyone who loves animals – help to support organisations like PAWS, get involved in something that really makes a difference. Go volunteering like I did, or adopt, or donate something. It’s really worth it and they can really use all the help they can get!"
You can watch Tamara's video below:
(music to this video is 'The Call' by Regina Spektor)
