HOW TO ENJOY YOUR STAY WITH US KALIMPONG ANIMAL SHELTER (A Unit of DGAS Trust) DARJEELING ANIMAL SHELTER (A Unit of DGAS Trust) GUIDELINES AND INFORMATION FOR VOLUNTEERS Namaste. Thank you for offering to give your time to help the animals of India through the work of Kalimpong Animal Shelter (KAS), and the Darjeeling Animal Shelter (DAS). We have prepared some guidelines for volunteers so that you can understand how our shelters work before you arrive. Kalimpong Animal Shelter and Darjeeling Animal Shelter are both projects of Darjeeling Goodwill Animal Shelter Trust, a registered Indian charitable trust. They are small shelters based in the foothills of the Himalayas, one in Kalimpong and one in Darjeeling. The core funding for the running of KAS comes from Animaux Secours (Arthaz, France). The core funding for the running of DAS comes from One Voice, France. KAS and DAS both conduct ABC programmes, not only in the town of Kalimpong and Darjeeling, but also in isolated villages which are often not connected by jeepable road, and have no phone or electricity services. KAS also conducts a service of treating village goats, cattle, and poultry, and treatment, spaying, rescue and re-homing of pet dogs and cats. KAS and DAS also conduct camps in outlying villages, vaccinating and sterilising dogs. KAS has a cat neutering project. CLIMATE Kalimpong: At an altitude of 1.250 metres the climate may be described as temperate. The monsoon during June/July/August can be heavy. Darjeeling: The winter months of December, January and February can be very cold. During the monsoon there can be heavy rains. WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT VOLUNTEERING? The shelters take volunteers if they are veterinarians, and occasionally non-vet volunteers if they have had previous experience in animal management (for example veterinary nurses, or people who have worked at other animal shelters). Simple guest rooms with attached bathrooms are available, and basic vegetarian meals are provided, cooked in the local style. It is unusual for veterinary students to be accepted as volunteers. Veterinary students are not permitted to carry out operations, even under supervision. Non-veterinarian partners are not accepted as volunteers and KAS and DAS regret that the trust cannot provide accommodation for those who are not working full-time as volunteers at either shelter. Volunteers may be asked to work in any of the areas mentioned above. There could be some desk work involved in the ordering of drugs, keeping of records or other clerical matters associated with the shelters and their various projects. In addition, some animal care and nursing may be required. Some management of projects, organisation and planning is sometimes needed. All in all, we work as a team, sharing duties and responsibilities, thus resulting in shared tasks and a sense of friendship and mutual achievement. The shelters are open seven days a week and the volunteers will be given one rest day per week. If you wish to take time off, please notify us well in advance, because once you have committed yourself to helping, our planning will be influenced by your visit. WHAT SHOULD I BRING? A few years ago, many products now available in India were not obtainable, but these days you should be able to obtain most things you need. It is a good idea to bring mosquito repellent as it seems to be of a better quality from overseas. VACCINATIONS AND INSURANCE Vaccination against rabies is required. This can be obtained before you come to India, or in India itself. For other vaccinations volunteers should seek and rely on their own medical advice. Health cover is not provided. Local doctors are available and by westerns standards are not expensive. Volunteers are not covered by insurance of any sort by the trust. Volunteers undertake service at their own risk, and if desired should take out their own insurances. WE ASK YOU TO PLEASE RESPECT THE FOLLOWING REQUESTS: 1) You are requested to accept the decisions of the trust regarding the animals in the care of the shelters; for example, if an animal needs to be euthanased, please do not argue about this decision. It is a difficult decision to make at the best of times, and we only euthanase animals if they are aggressive, unmanageable or seriously ill. Healthy, friendly animals are not euthanased. 2) If you find that the staff are not doing things in the way which you would like, please do not give orders to the staff, but talk to the management about the problem. 3) The staff and managers are busy with the running of the shelter and they should not be used for carrying out your private requests, such as booking buses, driving you places (unless on shelter business), posting your letters, etc. 4) Student vets from abroad volunteering at HIS will not be permitted to perform surgery on animals, as this would contravene Indian laws. ABOUT GOING OUT In your spare time you will want to see the sights, to enjoy the hospitality of the Hills people, and to buy some of the local handicrafts; or perhaps to do some trekking and see Mount Everest. Please let us know before you go out, and give us the time of your return so that we do not worry about your whereabouts. For volunteers staying for one year, the room is allocated for the full year. However, we request that volunteers working for only a three month period should be prepared to clean and vacate the room should they be going away for more than a few days. USING THE TELEPHONE AND E-MAIL We request that phone calls, e-mail and faxing should be done from a commercial office, except in an emergency. Our phone lines must remain dedicated to shelter business, and our staff should not be interrupted unless it is urgent. Furthermore, an overseas call made from the shelter will cost you slightly more than if made from a pay phone. If possible bring your own mobile phone as reception is good at both shelters. RESPECT LOCAL TRADITIONS Please wear clothing which covers arms and legs. Our shelters are open to the public and we do not want to cause offence. Please do not consume alcohol in the grounds of the shelters. Please respect the vegetarian ethic. It is the case that people who are working for the shelter are seen by the public as a representative of the shelter, whether inside or outside working hours, and we therefore request you behave accordingly. REMEMBER OTHERS If you use the kitchen please tidy up afterwards. If you break and damage items, please replace them. Your friends may come to visit you at the shelter for brief periods, but they cannot stay overnight in the rooms, which are reserved for the volunteers only. We do not provide accommodation for casual visitors. This is because the room has to be prepared, and the foreign registration office needs to be informed - this involves a senior staff member having to spend an afternoon in town. Please remember that this is an animal shelter and not a hotel, and that a charitable trust cannot provide the same facilities or services as a hotel. CONDITIONS AND TAKING HOLIDAYS There are three periods of time for which we take volunteers: three months, six months and one year. You will need to let us know well in advance of your coming, for how long you wish to stay, so that we can plan ahead for the other volunteers who may also wish to come. All volunteers, 3 months plus, are given one day’s holiday per week. These days can be saved up so that three days can be taken at once, after consultation with the other members of your team. Please notify us in advance. All volunteers are provided with basic vegetarian lunch and dinner and simple accommodation. You will need to provide your own breakfast and you may wish to supplement the other meals with fruit and other items. Cooking facilities are available for this purpose. Volunteers who are coming to the shelter to work for one year are given four weeks’ holiday, reimbursement of their economy discount international return air fare at the end of their year of service, plus a living allowance of $US200 per month. If you are coming to work for six months, you can take two weeks’ holiday, and half of your return airfare will be reimbursed. You will also receive a living allowance of $US100 per month. If you are only coming for three months or less, you must come at your own expense. We ask that you take your longer holidays before and/or after your three month period of work, and not in the middle, as this creates discontinuity. Please note: Normally the living allowance, where applicable, will be paid into your home bank account in the currency of that account – it will not be paid in India, nor into an Indian bank account. At the time of the first payment, the equivalent amount, in the currency of your account, to US$200 will be calculated, and that is the amount that will be paid into your account each month regardless of subsequent currency fluctuations. You will be responsible for any fees which your bank may charge in respect of such payments. VISAS You will require a visa. Once you have been accepted as a volunteer you will need to consult with us as to the most appropriate visa for which you may apply. Thanks for bearing with us! We have found through experience that it is best to sort out the terms and conditions from the beginning, so that we don’t face misunderstandings, and we can work together with good spirit, and, most importantly, love for the animals. KALIMPONG ANIMAL SHELTER DARJEELING ANIM AL SHELTER Middle Bong Busty, Kalimpong 734301 District Darjeeling West Bengal, INDIA TEL: + 91 3552 270534 EMAIL: Deo Pandey: [email protected]