Featured Charity
Millstream Animal Shelter,
Clayton Bridge,
Nr Stalybridge,
Manchester
England
It is always important to recognise an organisation that is doing the best it can for the animals in its care, no matter how large or small.
Millstream Animal Shelter, based near Manchester in England, may have few facilities and very little money, but it is living proof of what can be done with a little thought and creativity. Dogs, cats and goats have found refuge here amongst former kennel buildings that are almost derelict, in a corner of England that is known for its deprivation. But for the staff and their foresight and creativity, the Millstream shelter could be a miserable, cold and heartless place.
Amidst the dilapidated runs and broken concrete with tufts of grass growing through, this is hardly the kind of shelter that would normally be even cast a glance when considering the kind of environment normally held up as an example. Yet Millstream is, in fact, just that shining example that any shelter would be hard pressed to beat. The buildings themselves may not be in pristine condition, and the staff certainly have to make do with less than adequate facilities, but the animals looked after here couldn’t be better cared for in this home-from-home.
Sandra Lockwood, the manager, has the welfare of the animals at the centre of her policies. The section in which the dogs live, for example, is unique amongst rescue kennels. Staff priorities are to ensure that each dog has an environment in which calm reigns, senses are stimulated, natural abilities are encouraged, and community life can thrive. The aim is for as stress-free an environment as possible, and this shelter is the only one that I have ever witnessed coming close to creating the perfect kennels for dogs.
Having attended my two-year long International Dog Trainers’ School in 2000, Sandra found that one area of study in particular, that of enriching the environment, held her attention. For Millstream, this was to be the way forward: to provide for the needs of each and every dog entrusted to the shelter. Considering the social, psychological and physical aspects of dogs as a species, Sandra began to implement strategies that would address each area, amidst initial suspicion and lobbying amongst some staff members.
Allowing access to appropriate outside toileting areas means that less time is needed for cleaning, freeing up staff to spend quality time with dogs. It also means that prospective owners will find that dogs are already in the habit of practicing good toileting habits, fitting into the household routine more easily once rehomed. This shelter does not have the usual smell of cleaning fluid that not only invades the human nostrils but must be so offensive for the more sensitive nose of the dog. Nor is there a smell of urine and faeces, but the remarkable odour of … nothing! Having more time to be with the dogs, staff are in the routine of being able to offer dogs the company they need, spending their time in rehabilitating each dog in order that successful re-homing is more likely. Along with dogs being carefully selected to live in small, stable groups, it is little wonder that they have such a highly successful rate of re-homing. With a success rate of 1.27% of dogs returned in 2006 , this is an extraordinary figure.
Enrichment is high on the list of priorities, and when visiting the kennels with a group of students recently, the feeling was one that we would be quite happy to curl up on the comfortable beds and find sanctuary here ourselves. This a restful, yet stimulating atmosphere, with resources used to create interest in the effort to create a homely environment. There are chairs covered with blankets as resting places; a tailor’s dummy redressed regularly in a variety of clothing to help with desensitisation; plants in pots that can be moved to provide screening and new environments to explore; working areas such as washing machines in a part of the kennels that the dogs have access to, which means that when staff are carrying out their duties, the dogs are there too, getting used to the sounds of daily life as well as sharing their time with the staff.
There is one other unique feature of Millstream: peace and quiet! No barking! Having visited the shelter on three occasions to date, it was only on my most recent visit that I truly believed that dogs actually lived here, but only because I caught sight of saw one of the staff members relaxing with a group of dogs in the paddock. How many other kennels can achieve such a feat!
There are so many more features of Millstream that deserve a mention, and that are examples of good practice that even the most futuristic kennels world-wide could learn from. Although the There are many strict rules and regulations laid down by the government about how to care for dogs, and for many of those running shelters, it would seem at first glance that it is impossible to follow in Millstream’s wake. However, guidelines are followed, but staff are creative enough still to provide an environment where dogs can be dogs, and where there is room to provide for the individual’s needs.
However, Millstream is desperately in need of funds to be able to continue its incredible work. A recent flood swept away some of the land, a retaining wall costing £74,000 (around 100,000 €) and funds have been depleted as a result.
The kind of work carried out here is the future of our rescued animals, and we need to promote such organisations to raise their profile in the hope that others will follow suit. If anyone has the resources to support this worthwhile venture, I would urge you to make a donation.