Vivien Kelly was chatting with the ‘Journal’ after the animal welfare charity introduced with ‘great pain and immense sadness’ that it had determined it might not be persevering with on the canine pound from subsequent May.
Pet FBI has been primarily based at Pennyburn since 2021.
Hundreds of dogs – a few of which can in any other case have been destroyed – have been efficiently rehomed because of its work.
“We took over the pound two-and-a-half years ago. I’ve taken over since January and since January I’ve successfully rehomed 120 dogs alone in the 11 months that I’ve been there.
“It’s been a lifeline for Derry at the minute with Pet FBI taking over the pound. In the past quite a few dogs were being put to sleep with the council, that weren’t being rehomed.
“The fact that we have been there these last two and half years has saved literally the lives of hundreds of dogs. It’s not just a small number. It is hundreds of dogs.”
On Monday, November 6, the charity mentioned stress ranges amongst volunteers have been at an ‘all time high’.
“I’ve 5 keyholders who all do kennel shifts, morning and afternoon. We all have our personal full-time jobs as nicely so we’re going between our personal full-time jobs and the kennels and never one in all our volunteers is being paid for the work that’s being carried out by means of Pet FBI. It has been an actual lifeline to Derry and I do know it’s such a loss to the individuals in Derry and the animals additionally.
READ MORE: ‘Great pain and immense sadness’ as Pet FBI decides not to renew lease at Derry dog pound
“It could be very traumatic. We are doing it in our free time. We do all have households as nicely with young youngsters too. We are there on the weekends as nicely and it’s limiting us from our household time with the kids. We may need to do issues on a Saturday or a Sunday however are tied in what we will do and the way far we will go as a result of we’ve got to return again to do our kennel shifts.
“It will be traumatic juggling our full-time work, the volunteering work and household life as nicely.”
An element within the resolution to not renew the lease on the pound is what Vivien describes as demoralising ranges of negativity on social media.
“Social media has been one thing that has actually extremely impacted on our psychological well being right here on the minute as a result of there may be a lot negativity that may be placed on Facebook and the negativity is not all the time the reality.
“There have been quite a lot of issues which have been placed on social media which have been absolute lies which have been focused in direction of us as a rescue. It occurs with all rescues, not simply ourselves. This goes on with all rescues in NI. They do get the brunt of the general public,” she mentioned.
Ms. Kelly mentioned points have arisen with some pet homeowners who’ve contacted Pet FBI searching for to choose up animals out-of-hours.
“We work together with the council and home any strays that are available in by means of the council. There could also be dogs introduced in by means of the canine wardens and our accountability is to reunite the dogs with their homeowners.
“We are going through quite a lot of stress when a stray comes. We are getting quite a lot of negativity as a result of some individuals anticipate us to be there as and after they need to come and elevate a canine whether or not it’s in opening hours or not.
“We do have opening hours for a cause. We have households exterior of opening hours who we don’t see every day due to our work.
“We are usually not spending a lot time with our households after which we’ve got the stress of individuals anticipating us simply to return and bounce to their command after they need to come and get their dogs.
Derry rescue organisation Pet FBI on how to adopt a dog in their care
“Yes, in fact, each canine must be together with its proprietor however throughout the cheap opening hours which are clearly displayed.
“The dogs are secure. They are fed. They are walked. They are watered. They have clear bedding. They have every thing that they want so the canine is not going to return to any hurt till it may be picked up on our subsequent opening shift,” mentioned Vivien.
The lease on the Pennyburn pound is up in May.
“Unless issues drastically change throughout the attitudes of the general public we will not proceed on like this. We all the time put the dogs first in our lives however it has come to some extent the place we’re so extremely confused that we have to put ourselves first,” she mentioned.
There stays, nonetheless, a risk the lease might be renewed.
“Personally, I will not communicate for remainder of the staff and the way they’re feeling on it, however for myself I’ve been with Pet FBI now for 11 months now and have put quite a lot of work into Pet FBI and acquired Pet FBI to the place it’s now at the moment.
“Pet FBI means an terrible, terrible lot to me personally, so in my coronary heart I might like to be within the position to maintain Pet FBI going and maintain the pound lease going however I do have to respect all of my volunteers as nicely and the way they really feel mentally,” mentioned Vivien.
A Council spokesperson mentioned it has been liaising with Pet FBI who’ve confirmed they’ll proceed working from the kennels for the complete time period of the prevailing lease.
It will additional liaise with Pet FBI previous to contemplating choices for the service past the tip of the contract.
The Council spokesperson defined canine wardens settle for stray dogs whereas undesirable dogs are handled by Pet FBI and different charities. The Council will proceed to work with charities to assist discover undesirable dogs a brand new home.
