We help those who have been abandoned by others

• How did the history of the shelter “Timoshka” begin?

– The history of the shelter “Timoshka” began more than 15 years ago with the first saved life. Then I found a downed dog on the side of the road. To my surprise, we were refused assistance in several veterinary clinics. Nobody wanted to mess with a cur. This is how we met Tatyana (now the co-founder of the Timoshka Shelter), the only veterinarian who agreed to help and put the unfortunate animal on its feet.

There were more and more rescued animals and it became irrational to place them for temporary overexposure. We thought about creating our own shelter.

Over the years we have gone through a lot together and have become a real family. On account of the shelter “Timoshka” hundreds of rescued and attached to the families of animals.

• How do animals get to the shelter?

– At the very beginning of our journey, we decided that we would help severely injured animals. Those who are rejected by others. Who no one else can help. Most often these are animals – victims of road accidents or human abuse, cancer patients and spinal invalids. They say about such people: “It’s easier to put to sleep!”. But we think otherwise. 

Everyone should have a chance for help and life. If there is even a vague hope of success, we will fight

Most often, animals come to us straight from the roadside, where they are found by caring people. It happens that the owners themselves at a certain stage of life simply abandon their pets and tie them to the gates of the shelter in the cold. Increasingly, we are collaborating with volunteers from other cities in Russia, where the level of veterinary care is at such a low level that even a minor injury can cost an animal its life.

• Can anyone give a pet to a shelter? Is the shelter required to accept animals from the public?

“We are often approached with a request to take an animal to a shelter. But we are a private shelter that exists solely at the expense of our own funds and donations from caring people. We are not required to accept animals from the public. We have every right to refuse. Our resources are severely limited. 

We help animals on the verge of life and death. The ones that nobody cares about.

We rarely take on healthy animals, puppies and kittens, offering alternative care options, such as looking for temporary foster homes.

• How many wards are currently under the auspices of the shelter?

– At the moment, 93 dogs and 7 cats live permanently in the shelter. We also take care of 5 spinal-disabled dogs. Each of them perfectly mastered the movement on a special wheelchair and leads a fairly active lifestyle.

There are also unusual guests, for example, the goat Borya. A few years ago we rescued him from a petting zoo. The animal was in such a deplorable state that it could hardly stand on its feet. It took more than 4 hours to process the hooves alone. Borya was chronically malnourished and ate waste.

We help chinchillas, hedgehogs, degu squirrels, hamsters, ducks. What only wonderful animals are not thrown into the street! For us there is no difference in breed or value.

• Who takes care of the pets? How many volunteers does the shelter have? How often do they visit the shelter?

– We are very lucky with the permanent employees of the shelter. There are two wonderful workers in our team who live on the territory of the shelter permanently. They have the necessary veterinary skills and can provide emergency first aid to animals. But more importantly, they sincerely love and care about each of our ponytails, know in great detail the preferences in food and games, and try to provide them with the best care. Often even more than necessary.

We have a group of permanent volunteers. Most often, we need help with transport to transport injured animals. It is impossible to predict when a new call will be heard asking for help. We are always glad to make new friends and never turn down help.

• How are aviaries arranged? How often are cages cleaned?

“From the very beginning, we decided that our shelter would be special, that it would be different from the rest. We deliberately abandoned the long rows of cramped enclosures in favor of spacious houses with individual walkers.

Our wards live in twos, rarely three in one enclosure. We select pairs according to the character and temperament of the animals. The aviary itself is a separate house with a small fenced area. Pets always have the opportunity to go out to stretch their paws and watch what is happening on the territory. Inside each house there are booths according to the number of residents. This format allows us to provide dogs with not only spacious, but also warm housing. Even in the most severe frosts, our wards feel comfortable. Cleaning in the enclosures is carried out strictly once a day.

Cats live in a separate room. A few years ago, thanks to a crowdfunding platform, we were able to raise funds for the construction of the “Cat House” – a unique space that is designed with all the needs of a cat in mind.

• How often do dog walks take place?

– Adhering to the idea that the Timoshka shelter is just a temporary home on the way to a permanent family, we try to create conditions that are as close to home as possible. Our ponytails walk twice a day. For this, 3 walkers are equipped on the territory of the shelter. A walk is a special ritual with its own rules, and all our wards follow them.

Discipline is necessary to avoid possible skirmishes between dogs. Like pets, our pets love active games, especially with toys. Unfortunately, we cannot always afford such a luxury, so we are always very happy to accept toys as a gift.

• Is the shelter officially registered?

 – Yes, and for us it was a matter of principle. 

We want to refute the prevailing stereotypes about shelters as dubious organizations that do not inspire confidence.

• Does the shelter have social media? Does it conduct campaigns or events aimed at promoting the responsible treatment of animals?

“Nowhere without it now. Moreover, social networks are the main way to attract additional funding and donations. For us, this is the main communication tool.

Our shelter actively participates in various actions aimed at promoting responsible attitude towards animals. For example, these are the shares of the Kotodetki, Giving Hope funds and the Rus food fund collecting feed for shelters. Anyone can donate a bag of food to help shelters.

Recently we had a wonderful project with one of the largest beauty corporations Estee Lauder called Day of service. Now a box for collecting gifts for the shelter has been installed in the company’s main office in Moscow, and employees regularly come to visit us and spend time with our wards. Some of them have found a permanent home.

• How is animal welfare organized? Through what resources?

– Animal accommodation is carried out through publications on social networks and ads on Avito. It’s great that recently there have been many specialized resources for finding a home for animals from a shelter. We try to place questionnaires on each of them.

• Who can adopt a pet from a shelter? Are potential owners interviewed? Is there an agreement with them? In what cases can a shelter refuse to transfer a pet to a person?

– Absolutely anyone can take a pet from a shelter. To do this, you must have a passport with you and be ready to sign a “Responsible maintenance” agreement. 

A candidate for potential owners is being interviewed. At the interview, we try to find out the ins and outs and the true intentions of the person.

Over the years we have been in residence, we have developed a whole set of trigger questions. You can never be 2% sure if an extension will be successful. In our practice, there were very bitter stories of disappointment when a seemingly ideal owner returned a pet to a shelter after 3-XNUMX months.

More often than not, we refuse a home when we don’t agree on the basic concepts of responsible content. Absolutely, we will not give the pet for “self-walking” in the village or “catching rats” at the grandmother’s. A prerequisite for transferring a cat to a future home will be the presence of special nets on the windows.

•  Does the shelter monitor the fate of the pet after the adoption?

– Of course! This is spelled out in the contract that we conclude with future owners when transferring the animal to the family. 

We always provide comprehensive assistance and support to new owners.

Advice on adapting the animal to a new place, what vaccinations and when to do, how to treat them for parasites, in case of illness – which specialist to contact. Sometimes, we also provide financial support in case of expensive treatment. How else? We try to maintain friendly relations with the owners, but without excesses and total control. 

It is an incredible joy to receive sparkling good greetings from home.

• What happens to seriously ill animals that end up in a shelter?

– “Complex Animals” is our main profile. Severely injured or sick animals are placed in the hospital of the clinic, where they receive all the necessary medical care. Our shelter is already known in many clinics in Moscow and is ready to receive victims at any time of the day or night. 

Our most difficult task at this moment is to find funds for treatment. The cost of veterinary services in Moscow is extremely high, even despite discounts for the shelter. Our subscribers and all caring people come to the rescue.

Many make targeted donations for the details of the shelter, some pay for the treatment of specific wards directly at the clinic, someone buys medicines and diapers. It happens that the pets of our subscribers save the life of an injured animal by becoming a blood donor. Situations develop in different ways, but from time to time we are convinced that the world is full of kind and merciful people who are ready to help. It’s incredible!

As a rule, after treatment, we take the pet to the shelter. Less often, we immediately betray from the clinic to a new family. If necessary, Tanya (co-founder of the shelter, veterinary therapist, virologist and rehabilitation specialist) develops a program for subsequent rehabilitation in the shelter and a set of exercises. We “bring to mind” many animals already on the territory of the shelter on our own.

• How can an ordinary person help the shelter right now if he does not have the opportunity to take a pet?

 – The most important help is attention. In addition to the notorious likes and reposts on social networks (and this is really very important), we are always happy to have guests. Come, meet us and the ponytails, go for a walk or play in the aviary. Come with your children – we are safe.

Many do not want to come to the shelter because they are afraid to see “sad eyes”. We responsibly declare that there are no sad eyes in the shelter “Timoshka”. Our wards really live in the full feeling that they are already at home. We are not lying. Our guests like to joke that “your animals live here very well”, but, of course, nothing can replace the warmth and love of the owner. 

We will never refuse gifts. We always need dry and wet food, cereals, toys and diapers, various medicines. You can bring gifts personally to the shelter or order delivery.

• Many refuse to support shelters financially because they are afraid that the funds will go “in the wrong direction”. Can a person track where his donation went? Is there transparent reporting on monthly receipts and expenditures?

“Distrust of shelters is a huge problem. We ourselves have repeatedly encountered the fact that scammers stole our photos, videos and even extracts from clinics, published materials on fake pages on social networks and collected funds into their own pockets. The worst thing is that there are no tools to combat scammers. 

We never insist solely on financial assistance. You can give food – class, there are unnecessary beds, mattresses, cages – super, take the dog to the doctor – great. Help may vary.

We usually open donations for expensive treatment in clinics. We cooperate with the largest Moscow veterinary centers. All statements, spending reports and checks are always at our disposal and published on our social media pages. Anyone can contact the clinic directly and make a deposit for the patient.

The more projects we implement with large funds, international corporations and crowdfunding platforms, the more confidence in the shelter. None of these organizations will risk their reputation, which means that all information about the shelter will be reliably verified by lawyers.

• What do animal shelters in our country need the most? What is the most difficult thing in this activity?

– In our country, the concept of a responsible attitude towards animals is very poorly developed. Perhaps the latest reforms and the introduction of penalties for cruelty to animals will turn the tide. Everything takes time.

In addition to funding, in my opinion, shelters most lack common sense among the general population. Many consider helping homeless animals to be stupid and an absolutely unnecessary waste of time and money. 

It seems to many that since we are a “shelter”, then the state supports us, which means that we do not need help. Many do not understand why spend money on treating an animal when it is cheaper to euthanize. Many, in general, treat homeless animals as bio-garbage.

Running a shelter is not just a job. This is a calling, this is destiny, this is a colossal work on the verge of physical and psychological resources.

Every life is priceless. The sooner we understand this, the sooner our world will change for the better.