It has been two months since I started feeding the dogs, which was pretty much the amount of time I wanted to take to analyse how I was going to tackle this project. Strategic thinking and all that!
Five key trends have been weaving through my thinking during this time. I've explained them here, and they’ll help explain where I am heading with this.
1. Feeding 300 Meals A Week
On average, I now feed between 40 and 50 dogs per day or 300 meals per week. But, of course, the number varies as some might be missing or skip a meal, while I might spot some needy new dogs when out and about.
It takes about two hours every day. Morning meals take about 90 minutes, while evening meals take about 30 minutes (only the odd needy dog gets a 2nd meal) including handing out medicine.
I like feeding them. It doesn't feel like work, and I feel blessed that I have the time, money, and freedom to do this. I know that feeding the dogs isn't a solution to the core problem, but I don't want to lose that two hours every day. It keeps me grounded to the overall bigger problem and my mission to save 10,000 dogs per month.
So I'll always do that no matter what. They are like little parts of my family now and characters I know to the point where I miss them in the evenings and jump out of bed to see them again the next day. Wonky is one of my favourites…
2. Tyson And Tommy Dying
I've had two dogs die on me this month. One was Tyson, who touched my own heart and many people online. A friend spotted him at the side of the road. We got him to the vet, and he started to recover, but he took a turn for the worse, and we lost him. It was pretty brutal watching him die at home, but I promised Tyson as he was taking his last breath that I'd use his memory to make a difference to many more dogs.
Tommy was a puppy with who I'd been making progress with. But unfortunately he didn’t make it either. I didn't share him on social media as there is enough bad news in the world without people hearing about a dying puppy.
I've realised that the odds are massively stacked against the street dogs, and their lives can be fleeting. That needs to change.
3. Puppies Galore
Just when you think you are getting on top of feeding and nursing some dogs back to health, another batch of puppies will come along. Ten have been dumped on my small route this month alone. I've learned there is a thing called "puppy season" where they all come along at once. So I am expecting more to pop up.
The only answer to this is neutering and spaying the dogs. I am doing my first one on Thursday morning as a trial and will be ramping that up from then onwards. I've identified it as the quickest way to impact and improve the quality of life for dogs.
Neutering is expensive, logistically challenging, and hard to execute. I have concluded that I have to develop the solutions to get thousands of dogs done. Nothing is more important.
4. How Can People Help?
It's the question I get from literally hundreds of people every week. People want to donate money or do lots of other things to help. I've even had six people come along this month to help out with the actual feeding. People also ask me about specific updates on dogs. Unfortunately, I can't keep up with my DMs anymore, and in general, the reaction has been insane.
At the moment the best thing you can do is tell people about Instagram and Twitter. I got Bella adopted via Instagram. Tell a couple of fellow dog lovers to follow along and it will help the overall mission.
I want people to get involved with this project and to feel some ownership. So that’s what I am going to start from Monday onwards. I spend about $2000 a month of my own money on this (food, vet bills, medicine etc) and I will always keep spending that amount personally.
Where I will start to need help is neutering and expanding to more dogs. I’m going to start getting help from the community from Monday onwards. I’ll continue to donate all my time for free as well and hopefully people can feel they have some ownership of the project as it grows.
5. My First Dog Fixed Up And Rehomed
Bella was in a bad way when I found her under a shack. She got fixed up by the vet. She has a cast on her leg and is staying with me. I found her just after Tyson, and I wanted a big win after his loss, so she is doing great. I've found her a home, and she will have a happy end to her story.
While neutering will stop thousands of dogs from appearing on the streets, I want to get more dogs rehomed as that will also help cut down the numbers. It is also slow and challenging but worth doing. Bella will be the first of many.
More than anything, I am blown away by the online reaction and interest from people who love dogs. I've run enough marketing campaigns and started enough businesses to know that this level of interest is just not normal. But, people love the dogs and their stories, and I think we are all grasping for some good news and hope in the world we live in right now.
To sum up my thoughts and where this is heading next…
Continue feeding my 300 meals a week
Start a programme to neuter and spay dogs en masse
Get more dogs off the street by rehoming them
Accept help from the community to ramp this up faster
Cut down the suffering of dogs on a daily basis with medical care.
I've had some good learnings over the last two months, but now it’s time to step on the gas and ramp this up to help way more dogs.
Thanks for following along so far
Niall
Well done Niall! This is amazing 🙌❤️
Keep up the amazing work