.jpg?20260305')
With the sun beating down and the perfect weather urging us out of the house, my little family decided to dedicate our time to a truly worthy cause: volunteering at the BSPCA Animal Welfare Centre in Askar.
It’s the ideal way to spend a few hours getting a bit of exercise while making some precious animals’ days just that little bit brighter.
The shelter relies on volunteers and public donations, and welcome help from Thursday to Saturday, 9am to 1pm.
My husband, our daughter, and I arrived ready for action.
Our little one was particularly excited, zooming along beside us on her tricycle as we set out on our main mission: walking two wonderful dogs, Malibu and Yulya.
Malibu, a small, fluffy dog, and Yulya, the bigger, energetic companion, were absolutely beside themselves with joy.
They were ever so friendly, and as we walked them along the path, it felt like such a perfect, wholesome family jaunt. It really is a fantastic way to get your own steps in while ensuring these lovely canines get the attention they deserve.
Tortoise trail at the shelter
But the real drama started when the walk was done and the heat became a bit much! The minute we brought them back to their area, both Malibu and Yulya clearly decided that the nearest drinking water wasn’t just for quenching thirst, it was for cooling off! They didn’t hesitate, diving straight into the bowls and paddling around, instantly turning their water break into an impromptu bath to beat the heat. It was the most hilarious, soaking-wet spectacle and certainly gave us all a good laugh!
After the excitement of the ‘dog bath,’ we headed to a quieter corner to meet some other residents.
We spent some lovely moments stroking and playing with the cats, who were all so sweet and purring happily.
We even managed to watch some tortoises slowly ambling about their enclosure before it was time to leave. Every single animal we met was incredibly friendly. It just goes to show you what a difference a small effort can make.
All these wonderful pets are, of course, available to adopt (and are health checked, vaccinated and spayed/neutered before leaving the shelter), so if you’re looking for a new family member, you know where to go!
Do try to spare a moment, every little helps!
n For further information, follow the shelter’s Instagram @bspca
&uuid=(email))