Helping out at your local animal refuge in France is a great way to help the animals, get involved in the local community and make new friends says volunteer Jane Hunt…
Producing 160 promotional posters for 160 dogs in one weekend is water off a duck’s back (or should we say, dog’s?) for Emma Lee, one of LAARF’s finest. This is what we found her doing when we contacted her.
Emma lives in the Charente in a house full of dogs. When she’s not walking or caring for them, she is either writing, teaching or volunteering at her local dog and cat refuge. That’s how she got involved with LAARF - Les Amis des Animaux des Refuges en France.
LAARF was formed by a group of people who care deeply about the plight of animals in France. The point of the group is to infiltrate, if you will, the refuges of France with volunteers who, amongst other things, walk dogs, cuddle cats, knit coats, collect bedding, help promote the animals for re-homing and perhaps most importantly, support each other in doing so.
Emma is arguably one of the hardest working “LAARFers” as they call themselves. Of the 200 or so dogs at her nearest SPA (refuge) in Angoulême, where she volunteers and sits on the committee, Emma knows them all. Ask her anything, and she will either know the answer, or she’ll find out within minutes. Emma falls in love with every single dog and that is manifested in the promotional adverts that she produces for them, an effort which has significantly increased their adoption rates. And this is on top of holding a full time job.