My day volunteering at Kyrenia Animal Rescue was an eye-opening experience I won’t forget. Seeing how much effort the team puts into making the animals feel safe and comfortable was truly remarkable. They desperately need all the help they can get and, unfortunately, don’t have as many staff members as they would like. That’s why they love when people give up some of their holiday time to volunteer and help out. They also run regular fundraisers, so please go and support them if you can. (KAR)
The shelter itself is much bigger than it first appears when you arrive. There is a main building with a staff room, toilet, food preparation area and a couple of kennels. Surrounding it are rows of large kennels, each home to anywhere between two and five dogs. The cats have their own separate area away from the dogs.
Every kennel had dog houses for shelter, along with large buckets of water for drinking and cooling off in the Cyprus heat. Walking through the shelter, you could hear barking echoing through the mountains while dogs watched hopefully through the gates, waiting for attention.
The cattery was amazing and full of personality. I believe they currently have around 27 cats, and there was so much for them to do. Swings, climbing poles, baskets, toys and little hiding places filled the space. They also had separate kennels for sanitary reasons and to help prevent the spread of illness if needed.
One of the most mind-blowing things about the shelter was that they have no electricity or running water. Water has to be delivered by lorries and stored in huge containers because the shelter is located high in the mountains. Seeing the team continue to care for so many animals despite those challenges made me appreciate their work even more.
My role for the day was to walk as many dogs as possible, as it’s something they sadly don’t get enough time to do. I walked some dogs in pairs and others on their own. Spending one-on-one time with them was honestly one of the best parts of the day. So many of them simply wanted affection, attention and a chance to feel close to someone.
Some of the dogs I met were already waiting to travel to their new homes, while others were still hoping for their forever families. Each one had such a different personality, and it was impossible not to become attached to them.
As much as I love all animals, cats are definitely creatures I usually admire from a distance! But I still made sure to spend time with them, and once the purring started, I completely understood why people fall in love with them.
Despite the lack of funding and limited staff, the people working at KAR are true superheroes. They made me feel incredibly welcome, and you can instantly see how much they love the animals in their care.
Elaine, the rescue manager, is especially amazing. Not only does she help care for the animals every single day, but she also works tirelessly to find homes and organise travel for every adoption through KAR. I know this first-hand because she did everything possible to help Babybel become healthy and travel-ready so I could bring her home to the UK. (Babybel’s Story)
Adopting an animal from KAR is not just giving one animal a home. It also creates space for another animal to have a second chance and a life off the streets. 🐾