Happy Paws
Happy Paws is a charity run by volunteers to raise funds for animals in need. One of the organisation's first initiatives was a "supermarket scheme" - customers in supermarkets were asked to buy an extra tin of dog or cat food to be distributed to...
Happy Paws is a charity run by volunteers to raise funds for animals in need. One of the organisation's first initiatives was a "supermarket scheme" - customers in supermarkets were asked to buy an extra tin of dog or cat food to be distributed to feeders of colonies of stray animals around Malta. So far over 4,000 tins have been collected and distributed.
The scheme aims to help feeders neuter the strays - feeding without neutering just creates more strays. Happy Paws issues vouchers to feeders for spaying or neutering. So far Lm3,000 worth of vouchers have been issued to feeders, the funds for which were raised through The Charity Shop, which opened in Mensija Street, San Gwann, opposite "Martin il-Furnar", last November.
The Charity Shop is stocked with donations from individuals and shops. Items include clothes, books, children's goods, records and CDs, ornaments, and sports equipment in very good condition and priced to sell.
The shop is especially popular with collectors. Happy Paws started to compile a list of collectors of items ranging from porcelain angels to books about motorbikes, and informs collectors that items have been put aside for them. There are now 80 collectors on the list.
The shop is run by volunteers on a roster, who meet every couple of months to discuss Happy Paws matters. We believe in sharing responsibility equally and we have a very small working committee of four people.
To participate in the neutering scheme, feeders have to fill out an application form. We ask how many animals feeders are looking after and what they think they need to make the animals' lives a bit more bearable.
Application forms are available at The Charity Shop which is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. until the end of August. The shop will also be open in the afternoons from September between 3.30 and 6 p.m.
Happy Paws is always looking for volunteers for the shop and to collect tins and donations (it would be wonderful if a lady would volunteer). We also need gentlemen with a car and lots of free time to help in our storage in St Paul's Bay where all donations are sorted. Positive people with good ideas, willing to help us grow, are welcome to contact us.
For more information contact Maike Beekman van Dinther at maike@onvol.net. or call tel. 9927-2486. Alternatively contact Happy Paws volunteers Vivian on 9924-2340; Tom (9920-7369) or Victoria (7926-9548).