Despite challenges related to the pandemic we decided to organize another edition of our University campaign. We already know it was worth it! Together we have managed to collect 600 kg of food as well as blankets and accessories which we have donated to the furry charges of the Animal Shelter in Lodz.
This is a great result and a huge support. However, the needs of the shelter are much greater. 600 kg of food is enough for about 3 days of feeding the animals that stay there. That is why we remind you that you can support the shelter all year round. How?
The greatest need of the animals that stay in the shelter is obviously a responsible home. That is why adoption is a priceless gift, the best possible. However, apart from a new home, the first need is food – good quality maintenance pet food. Why good quality? Because it's not true that a dog or cat that stays in a shelter will eat anything. On the contrary. These animals are under enormous stress, and then the appetite decreases. We have to put really tasty morsels under the nose for some dogs or cats to make them want to eat. We do not have to explain that the lack of appetite and apathy is the first step to the occurrence of diseases, and we do not want to let this happen.
- says Marta Olesińska, director of the Animal Shelter in Lodz and she adds:
Another thing is that some of the animals staying in the shelter have just been at home and perhaps they were fed with delicacies there, so it is difficult for them to switch to low-quality food.
And the last thing, but probably the most important – good food means health, it's a nutritional value, but also energy, vitamins and minerals. That's why it's so important for pets to eat good, valuable food with high meat content. Therefore, when giving food to our dogs and cats we should follow the principle: it's not the quantity that counts but quality. It's better to give less food, but let it be good good, than to give a lot of food, but of poor quality.
Currently, there are about 260 dogs and 70 cats in the shelter. With such a number of animals, the daily food requirement is about ... 200 kg! Therefore, any help matters.
Animals staying in the shelter in Lodz are lucky that many private people, schools and institutions remember about them and support the shelter regularly, for example by providing food, especially in winter. This is also the case with the community of the University of Lodz, for which we are very grateful and thankful. Good quality maintenance pet food and textiles (blankets, towels, sheets) – apart from adopting a pet, constitute a very important help.
- sums up Mrs. Olesińska and suggests how to help in the era of a pandemic:
Every day the shelter receives many inquires – how to support the animals staying in it. We always answer: new home, good quality food and blankets. In this order.
At the moment, due to the pandemic, gifts should be left in front of the main gate to the shelter. Simply leave the things you donate there. Employees of the shelter see everything via monitoring and only after some time collect the donated stuff. You do not need to make an appointment or make an announcement. Gifts can be left 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Many people shop at online pet stores and the shelter receives shipments directly from the stores. There is no problem with this, courier companies come to us every day with parcels.
We are glad that the community of the University of Lodz can, thanks to the Psia kość! campaign, make a contribution to helping homeless animals. We know how important this support is and we will certainly continue our initiative. We join the thanks from director Marta Olesińska:
Thank you very much for yet another edition of the Psia kość! campaign. We would also like to thank everyone who joined the collection and this way supported the animals from the shelter. Such help is very important and necessary. On behalf of myself and all the animals from the Animal Shelter in Lodz, I would like to thank you once again.
Psia kość! [Dog’s Bone] campaign at the University of Lodz is a collection of gifts for the Animal Shelter in Lodz that takes place every November. University of Lodz as a socially committed University, has been supporting pets for many years. During ten editions of the campaign we have managed to collect 4.1 tons of pet food, as well as blankets, medicines, toys and accessories that the dogs and cats need.
Material: Marta Olesińska, director of the Animal Shelter in Lodz
Edit: Promotion Centre, UL