Some people head for the beach on holiday, for others it’s about soaking up the local culture and cuisine – but an Aberdeen rail worker went to Portugal to care for abandoned, injured street dogs.
Jackie Milne from Stockethill spent a week volunteering at the Bianca Associacao sanctuary for stray animals south of Lisbon after reading about it in the Press and Journal.
She was moved to do her bit after reading about the Friends of Bianca charity, which was set up to support the shelter by well-known Aberdeen playwright Mike Gibb, who had seen for himself the terrible plight facing unwanted dogs in Portugal.
Ms Milne, who works in customer service at Aberdeen railway station, was shocked to see the conditions of some of the animals during her stay earlier this month.
She said: “One of the worst situations was with these three little Yorkshire Terriers.
“They had been left abandoned in the middle of the street the week before I arrived, all tied up together with a piece of string, two were blind in both eyes and one was injured.
“Another one was this little white poodle, it had its hip broken in more than seven places, the vet was genuinely surprised that it was still alive.”
By spending her holiday walking, caring for and gaining the trust of the dogs, Ms Milne helped the charity prepare them for rehoming with new owners all across Europe.
The charity can only afford to employ four permanent kennel workers, so volunteers make a world of difference to the prospects of the 300-plus dogs in the sanctuary’s care at any one time.
She continued: “We volunteers would spend all day interacting with the dogs, walking them, making them feel comfortable with humans again so they can be re-homed.
“Later on in the day the permantent staff would have their siesta, so then we got to really socialise personally with the dogs.
“We would let them out about the yard, cuddle them and let them sit on us, it seemed like all they wanted was a little cuddle.
“The centre is amazing, it’s absolutely incredible what they do for the dogs out there, and now that I’ve been I can’t wait to go back again later on this year.”
For more information on fundraising or volunteering, go to www.friendsofbianca.org.