The winter in Samegelo is not the best time for a large-scale construction. Therefore, rough weather is our permanent condition, we have to find dry days or hours for developing the shelter facilities little by little.
Today we have summarized our main achievements in the first three months of the year.
1. The quarantine facility
With no doubt, this is the biggest story of this winter.
We had been dreaming of a full-fledged quarantine ward for over a year, since we started transferring the first dogs from the old ranch in Zemo Tskluleti. At that time the process of constructing our new shelter was really intensive; we were building a farmhouse and dog enclosures. While travelling between villages, local construction material storages, animal food shops, veterinary facilities and so forth, we began picking up animals in need. Initially, those animals had to be kept separately from the others. But all we had at that period was just three small kennels for adult dogs in the corner of our ranch and the living area plus the corridors in the farmhouse for weak dogs and puppies.
Finally, we can proudly announce our insulated quarantine ward with 4 isolated blocks. Apart from touching everything up and some other minor improvements, it is absolutely ready. It is equipped with electricity and it’s already functioning.
The framework of the future quarantine block
Treparing for wall insulation
The insulation of walls, eaves and the roof is ready. The doors for enclosures have been aligned
Building partition walls between the sections
Tiling the floor
The first ‘habitants’ of the quarantine building
Extending the roof over the going-up disinfection corridor
2. The stairway to the planned disinfection corridor
The steps to our future disinfection corridor, which is connected to the quarantine ward, is definitely worth mentioning.
The maintenance of that corridor in front of the quarantine block is our main goal right after warmth incoming. When we build the walls, it will be the coolest place during the hot season.
The workers are discussing the new staircase
The ‘extreme test’ of the new stairs
3. The walking bridge
We had been dreaming of a river crossing that would be safe both for humans and animals for quite a long time, too.
No matter if it is raining or it is the snowmelt from the mountains (either of those often occur in the area), the water level rises up immediately. Not every car is able to ford that stream. And crossing the river by jumping from one slippery stone to another is simply impossible.
Constructing the pillars of the future bridge
Testing the river crossing
Adding the railing and some extra logs
4. The two-storey ‘multi-residential’ kennel
At the end of the previous year we already told you about a spacious two-storey dog house that we had built. The framework has proved itself to be good. So due to the lack of space in the overcrowded upper yard we have built another similar enclosure.
At such a pace, ‘skyscrapers’ for dogs are no joke.
The first kennel
Building the second kennel
5. The terrace around the house
An awning on the west side of the house that already was in the original plan has also proved to be remarkably effective. Due to the lack of supplies for fully fledged enclosures, we are adding an extra terrace to the northern side of the building.
Here we are planning to accommodate the dogs that are harmed by other dogs, and also the ones that have to stay closer to humans.
The framework of the future terrace
All construction works on the territory are under control by our ‘residents’
Rainy days do not let us work, but the wall studs and the floor are already built
The terrace is ready for housing
Building the roof
6. Stabilizing the slope behind the house
The Georgian region of Samegrelo is famous for frequent rains. In addition, the winter was snowy and severe.
The red clay slope behind the ranch house began to collapse under the influence of water derived from snowmelt. We use stone gabions to stabilize the slope and also to prevent landslides and plant growth.
Filling the second layer
Working on the third layer
7. The kennel for the tiniest
We have hosted a lot of puppies of the youngest age for the last few months. Initially, we are keeping small and weak ‘newcomers’ in the farm house separately from the others. But when they become strong enough, we try to pound them in kennels because it is impossible to keep everyone inside the house.
To let the puppies safely spend time outdoors we set a special enclosure in the upper yard opposite the ranch house.
8. The new enclosures
Back to our new kennels that are never enough. That is how 2 cubic metres of wood and EPS turn into our famous insulated dog enclosures.
Almost ready for mass production
How we make them
The batch of new cubicles
Ready for installation
Setting a new crate in the enclosure for puppies
Plans
Are those plans for the spring, for the summer or for the following year? In our case it is hard to say because we always make massive and, at a first glance, impossible plans.
We bought a plot of land for our new animal shelter twenty months ago. In just a year the number of our dogs more than doubled. So, we have to gradually develop our territory for animals that we have already impounded.
- to re-grade 800 metres of roads (the gravel slid downhill due to heavy rains and partly went under the road surface)
- to expand the cattery
- to build one more enclosure, at least for 80 animals (for dogs we are keeping in the farm house and in the upper yard)
- to finish the disinfection corridor in front of the quarantine facility
- to plant more trees (and to create shade in the future)
- to make awnings
- to repaint old facilities (that we have got a lot)
- to make a pool for dogs and to install a sewage system (it would become a huge problem by midsummer)
- not to mention the house for volunteers (so far it is something way off)
Thanks to everyone who is helping us!