LOCATION: 959 Derry Road East, Mississauga (Derry and Dixie) –
Hi Team, we have a big day tomorrow with lots of moving parts. As of right now, the expectation is that the flight lands at 5am, customs starts work at 6am, trucks get loaded for 830am and arrive at Location at 9am to get started! We will keep you updated as we know more, but for now this is the plan. Please plan on being there earlier than your expected time. Meaning, if your dog is on truck and offloading starts for 11am, maybe you aim for 10am. This allows for earlier timelines, and it allows you to get your supplies, or any other issues that may arise. Being late is not an option, so build a “be early” buffer into your planning.
If you are volunteering, same applies! Be there with lots of time to spare and watch your group chat for any changes in times and schedule.
Inside is new to us….lots of moving parts and lots to learn. 😜
Timing:
- DW will be setting up supplies. Available for pickup starting at 8
- Kayla and Reio’s will set up inside at 7:30
- Pickup is anticipated to be 9:30am for Truck 1 and 11am for Truck 2 (this time is dependent on so many factors and approximate only). Updates will be sent via our chat group, real time. (NEW INFO!)
- Flight lands at 5am approx, customs will take a few hours
- Inside & Outside volunteers can arrive at 8:30am
- Pre-team meeting will be at 8:45
- Real time timing updates will be via the group chat in Messenger. If we say “pushed out by 30 minutes” it means add 30 minutes to original timelines”
Food – Nadia is bringing sandwiches, and we have drinks available (alcohol free….sorry!)
(this document focuses on inside roles….outside stuff….we can do in our sleep!)
When SOS did it last time, they had 4 collaring stations, 1 person per crate getting dogs collared. They had 6 people unloading trucks, moving crates into back room, bringing crates forward to collar station. Their summary:
– dogs come off truck into back area in front of the bar.Truck one will take up most of that area plus hallway to front door
– team crate moves a few up near-ish leading to front room
– once collaring tarp is empty, lead calls up for next coloured crate (each collaring section is 2 peeps on a tarp)
– once crate is on the tarp, crate person stays and waits for dog to be ready to go
– crate person walks the dog outside to runner
Last time, Covid limited their volunteers to 10. Restrictions are better so we can have a few more peeps (up to 15, i think?). Note, outside peeps can’t come inside. There will be bathrooms onsite for immediate volunteers, but not fosters etc. So don’t share that info!)
Explaining photos on the right:
- dogs were unloaded into area by the metal railing, and into a holding station.
- When ready to be uncrated, they moved down to the collar stations, to the left of this photo – its the front vestibule/lobby of the hall (second photo, red carpet area).
- area of chairs was off-limits/not used
- bathrooms for tier 1 volunteers only is beyond far right of this image
- we can keep door open between crates and uncrating area. Close door if you are worried about a nervous dog. SOS kept it open most of the time for easier communication.
- keep lobby double doors shut at all times. Shut one set before opening second set (dog park door style)
Our immediate thoughts:
- Team Collar: 4 stations, with 2 people per station = 8 people
- Team Crate: 6 people unloading and moving crated dogs around
- 1 person doing overall roll call for dogs as they come out (vs many different chats). Liv would be positioned between the crates and the collar team, announcing dogs as they start uncollar process.
- 2 floaters to fill gaps as needed
- CONCERN: that peeps may get tired in their role: We want to ensure all are present for meeting, and that roles can be swapped to give peeps a break when/if needed.
Supplies:
- For each station, we will have a tarp on the ground, and cleaning supplies. We have asked for a donation of towels/sheets for the crappy bits
- Each rescue is to provide their own dog gear. We have asked for details on their protocols but we expect them to each be a bit different. Once we know them, we will list here, and Kayla will make up a large cheat-sheet for the day of. Supplies will be centralized at the stations (on or under tables…wherever makes sense for easiest reach/grab). We have asked that the tough things (ie tractives, harnesses, etc) be handled by each rescue on their own. We will coach each rescue on good protocols, but if we feel a gap, we will have some spare leashes/slip-leads to sacrifice for the greater good.
Prioritization for Uncrating:
- fosters traveling more than 2 hours. SOS will put a gold sticker on these crates at the airport, for priority designation
- dogs that seem anxious – barking, poop, crate too small
- BATM and PAWS (should be both on truck 1)
- F&R and CHR, spread them out as they have more process. Don’t rush these ones, but also don’t leave until the end. (they tend to be slower, and we need to help them pace, but don’t want to wait 2 hours at end of day for them to finish up)
Considerations for Uncrating:
- dogs traveling together. SOS will gather info, provide list. Janice or Kayla will colour code crates.
- not sending too many dogs from one rescue out at once (so that we have enough runners). Think skittles of colours, vs focusing on one colour at a time. Shannon or Jackson can just point at the next crate to go. Consideration: if PAWS just has 2 runners, it is something to consider, vs sending 4 PAWS dogs out at once. Again, skittles.
Each Rescue has a Preference on how their dog is geared up:
- Dog to not be handled with BOTH things in one hand (this is a universal thing for any dog wearing multiple leashes/harnesses, etc.
- DIBS – slip lead and leash on collar. (Spare collar goes on in car)
- BATM – martingale and leash. Slip lead.
- SOS – replace TDGP collar with our martingale; double leash with slip lead and leash to collar (Leave TDGP collar in pile to give to Nora later)
- CHR – slip lead and leash on collar (collar, tag, GPS, harness at their offsite area)
- PAWS – providing collar and 2 leashes per dog
- F&R – double martingaled (Gaby’s + ours) and double leashed
- If you can just make sure the collars are nice and snug that would be great! Bonus points if you can put our collar on the bottom of the neck and Gaby’s on top for easy removal once we get the harness on (we don’t send dogs home with Gaby’s collars).
Steps for the dog to get from crate to out: SOS took one dog out at a time, shut the crate behind them. Once done, did the next dog. If we have 2 or 3 volunteers per station, we can maybe unpack a few at a time. (keeping skittles in mind). If there are 3 dogs in a crate, maybe you holler for “helper”
- Jackson selects which crate goes next
- Olivia will look up crate number and begin process of sending whatsapp message (this lets rescues/fosters know their dogs are up next)
- Note, if 4 crates are going at once, Liv needs to PAUSE so that none are missed.
- Team Crate will pick up crate and carry it to an open tarp area. They will wait with crate/dogs.
- Team Collar will open crate, get dog collared (know protocol for opening crates with appropriate spotters, etc)
- Check out the photo on the crate (remind crate guy to NOT remove crate until dog is good to go)
- Siblings may be in the crate, so refer to photos. Check for penis’, etc
- Collars are on the dogs. (On past charters, we have been given wrong dog twice…last time we saw Coconut given away to another rescue….which i stopped…but…. The other time, we did a penis check and we’d been given Rafael’s sister instead)
- NOTE!!! While we are being efficient and fast, etc…..take a moment when doing this and pause. The pups are likely scared and have no idea who you are and what the heck is going on. Be patient, gentle, kind. Be sure their first moments on Canadian soil set the tone for their days ahead. Lead with love!!!!
- Once dog is collared and has all required gear on, Team Crate will walk dog outside to hand off to the runner.
- Door person (Christine) will communicate which rescues needs more/less dogs, etc.
- Runners (per rescue) will take dog to the car, get them ready, and come back for the next dog.
Words to Know:
- PAUSE – this means you need a second to catch up with your step. It’s ok to remind us all to slow down a minute. A pause is better than a missed step.
- HELPER – use then when you need an extra hand. If you hear this word and are free, jump in to help
- SWITCH ROLES PLEASE – ideally we can keep peeps in their role for the day, but if you have had enough and need a break, please just ask!!!
Volunteer List:
- Front of House Lead: Kayla (overseeing crate team, jumping in where needed
- Back of House Lead: Jackson (responsible for crate team, prioritizing, deciding who goes out next)
- Front Door Lead:
- Christine (liaising b/t inside and outside, determining which runners are available to grab dogs)
- Angela is backup for Christine
- Roll Call Person: Olivia Reio (this may be an area to call “pause” as 4 crates may be moving at once. All need to check in with Liv before moving. She will see crate number, cross reference dogs, whatsapp text per dog sent. (If this step is missed, all other steps fall apart. Be patient / pause as needed)
- Team Crate (to start the day):
- Sharon Cairns
- Duane (with Sharon)
- Ryan Grant
- Julie Czobit
- Amanda Reed
- Jackson Reio
- Team Collar (to start the day)
- Alanna Dempsey
- Shannon Grant
- Erin Schmidt
- Vanessa MacDougall
- Amanda Colgan
- Kate Montgomery
- Katherine Ryell
- Kayla Cote
Non-Inside Help
- Supplies Lead: Donna Williams
- Runners: Ruth Rosenstock, Dan Reio, Nadia Mocan, Mary Lessard (Nicole Talbot as backup if Mary has to go!)
- Tractive Lead: Mary Lessard
- Vetting Lead: Candice Brooke
- Food Lead: Nicole Talbot
Truck 1 vs Truck 2
