All dogs love walks, but often many are unable to get out as much as they would like, simply because the lovely people who adopted them are not well, older or even terminally ill. Thankfully there are wonderful people who want to help. Many people love dogs but due to their living circumstances, frequent travel or family allergies are unable to live with dogs. In these cases, you may make an ideal volunteer dog walker.
Often people adopt dogs but then get arthritis or their circumstances change, and they don’t want to give up beloved pets, simply because the dogs are unable to go out for walks with them. Let’s take a look at what help is available and how to get help (or volunteer). Many dogs of older and disabled guardians are often old themselves, so may only need a short walk around the block, rather than big hikes.
- Cinnamon Trust (named in honour of the founder’s Corgi, who sadly died just as it was set up) is a nationwide network of volunteer dog walkers, and as you can imagine, demand outstrips supply. So look up your area and see who needs help. The charity also has a list of pet-friendly nursing homes and can often arrange pet adoption (in advance) for terminally ill guardians.
- Contact your local carer agency. Many local charities that offer voluntary help for carers include dog-walking in their line of services. Royal Voluntary Service helps elderly people in all kinds of ways, including walking dogs.
- Volunteer at your local shelter. Many dog shelters need volunteers to walk dogs who are waiting for loving forever homes. As well as being nice for both of you, tired and happy dogs are easier to adopt.
- Set up a TimeBank. This is a community project where an administrator downloads free software, then people offer services to others, each earning ‘an hour of time’. So if you offer a dog walk, you can ‘earn’ an hour for someone else to mend your sticky lock or mend a broken door (qualifications and checks apply for certain jobs). Older and disabled people can ‘pay’ for dog walks, with donated unused hours from timebankers in the community.
Tips for Safe Dog Walks
- Walk dogs in mild temperatures to avoid heatstroke (pavements too hot for your hand are too hot for paws). Wash paws after walks to remove river bacteria or rock salt.
- Check parks and beaches are dog-friendly (no bans or sinking mud) before travel (also check tide times). Don’t let dogs play with seaweed (can expand in the stomach, as it dries).
- Let dogs forage off-lead (vets are not fans of constantly throwing balls as they can cause joint issues – if you use one, choose a brand name the right size for a dog’s mouth). Don’t throw sticks (these can cause mouth injuries if they land wrong). Also train in pet first aid.
- Pick up poop to avoid infecting other dogs, wildlife or children. Keep hands-free with a Dicky Bag (empty when you find a bin).
- Wear hi-glo items to be seen, and don’t listen to iPods while walking dogs. Tell people where you are going, and carry a phone/alarm.
- Positive dog training teaches dogs to recall. Learn how to prevent dog bites and attacks (and know what to do if this happens).
- After walks, brush fur to check for embedded grass seeds or foxtails (look at ears, nose, eyes, underbelly, between toe pads, under collar, private parts, and inside mouth/around lips). Call vet, if concerned.
- It doesn’t happen so often in England. But avoid walking (especially small) dogs near hovering birds of prey.
Tips for Safe Pet Fostering
Often dog walking volunteers also offer other services like looking after other pets, being a pet taxi to the vet or fostering animals, if guardians have to stay in hospital.
If looking after pets in their/your home, make the garden safe for pets and know toxic houseplants to avoid (even brushing a tail against sago palm, lilies or cheese plants can harm). Don’t display foliage to face windows, to help stop birds flying into windows.
