Back in 1991, the first Ilyinka shelter for homeless animals was founded in St. Petersburg . Then the organization was engaged in the Society for the Protection of Animals. In 2017, the Ilyinka animal shelter in St. Petersburg was already 26 years old. Over the years, the house for dogs, cats, and birds has experienced reorganization and difficulties associated with the financial crisis. They wanted to close them several times - epidemics raged, sanitary standards were violated, land issues were not resolved.
After some time, Alena Filyanina came to the shelter for dogs "Ilyinka" as a volunteer. The nursery went through hard times, and after the arbitrariness of a fragile, but brave girl, her heart trembled, and she decided to take shelter under her care. The guys moved from Ilyinskaya Sloboda to Rzhevka, and now Alena works as a director. Every day she has to face difficulties and solve the problems of wards animals.
Everyone needs a house
The problem of stray animals arises sharply in the absence of places for accommodation. There are several shelters in St. Petersburg. But there are very few good ones that can be trusted with an animal without fear.
Cats and dogs find themselves on the street for various reasons: some of them are already born homeless, others are thrown out by irresponsible, negligent owners, and others are lost on the streets of a big city and after unsuccessful searches remain hungry there, in the hope of meeting their man. Four-legged friends really need help. Without affection and food, they can become aggressive, and without proper care and treatment, they become a source of infectious diseases.
Charity funds
Alena Filyanina, heading the Ilyinka dog shelter in St. Petersburg, founded the Homeless Animals of Our City charitable foundation in 2010. The co-founders are Alena herself, Igor Anatolyevich Medvedev (member of the Public Council under the administration of the Krasnogvardeisky district), Yury Nikolaevich Fedorov, Irina Teodorovna Shemetova. The fund raises funds for the maintenance and care of the sponsored, as well as for other needs of the Ilyinka dog shelter.
Rzhevka became the new home for animals in 2010, when a charity there allocated land for long-term leases. Now dogs and cats have much more room for accommodation, and around there is a large enough area for dog walking.
In addition to the main fund, Ilyinka Shelter is also assisted by other charitable organizations in St. Petersburg. Employees of various commercial companies come to the dogs for walking to contribute to a good cause. To this, the shelter workers call them in a group in the contact "Ilyink Shelter in St. Petersburg."
Help shelter
Animal shelter "Ilyinka" will always be happy with the help of volunteers. Workers will take dry dog food and canned food, including medicinal food, animal medicine (Amoxiclav, Sinulox, Heptral tablets, activated carbon, Mikstim, means for the prevention and elimination of fleas, Sibazol and "Relanium" in ampoules. Still need disposable absorbent diapers 90 x 60, safe toys for pets, cages for transportation and wood fillers for cat's toilets, household chemicals.
So that efforts are not wasted, the exact dosage of the required medications and the list of necessary things are recommended to be clarified by phone. Directly in the nursery you can find out the latest information on the required things, medicines for animals, offer other items for the shelter.
There are also sick animals that periodically require constant monitoring by veterinarians in a hospital. It costs a lot to the shelter. The administration will be glad of any financial assistance.
It is important to understand that animals need certain feeds and medicines, so before buying it is best to call and clarify the list of items for pets with the director or her assistant secretary.
In addition, the shelter needs building materials and free working hands. The administration is trying on its own to provide enough space and, if possible, the most comfortable conditions for each of the animals, to give them a warm and windproof bed, large enclosures for walks and games. The buildings were designed for 150 dogs, but now there are about 240 dogs and 20 cats. Therefore, the issue of expanding the space for animals is now number one.
Weekend walk
By appointment and strictly on weekends, volunteers are taken to walk the dogs. The main purpose of walks is to adapt animals, train them to leash, teams and communicate with people. The event is held every Saturday and Sunday from one to five. But can be canceled depending on weather conditions. There are not enough people to walk all the dogs. Therefore, they can break out and pull the leash strongly. Persons under 18 years of age require adult support.
Information about walks necessarily includes the phone number of the person who will need to be contacted in case of unforeseen situations, delays and other things. Animals walk in groups, you can not fend off their colleagues. Both dogs and shelter workers will be happy if they turn an ordinary walk into affectionate communication, a game. Dogs can be combed, taught how to behave properly, etc.
Rules of conduct in the shelter
For a good organization of life in the territory of the Ilyinka shelter a number of rules have been developed, the implementation and submission of which is mandatory.
Visiting animals is allowed from 12:00 to 18:00 on weekdays. From 9:00 to 12:00, nursery workers go around the animals, and after 18:00 they are fed. For the passage you need in advance, by phone, to coordinate the visit with the administration. Otherwise, this may be denied.
Visitors should have a change of clothing with them. Moving inside and entering enclosures is possible only with the assistance of an administrator. This is a mandatory rule. While in the enclosure, make sure that the doors are closed and pets do not run out.
If an animal enters the shelter, if it has decals (chip, stamp), then the owner’s search activities are carried out. In the absence of such, the pet is sterilized 2 weeks after placement. All animals of the shelter undergo chipping.
You can take custody of pets. In this case, it remains to live in the territory of the shelter, but the trustee, if he wishes, can deposit funds by agreement of the parties.
How to give an animal a house
In the animal shelter Ilyinka, they take seriously the provision of wards with new housing conditions. You can take a dog or cat for free, but following the established conditions.
It is worth talking about the fact that each pet is individual: it has its own history, character, habits. There are dogs that are used to people, adapted dogs, and there are those who need a long time to get used to a new person in order to have a sense of security, so that due to an excess of mistrust the dog does not run away and does not get into trouble. For such dogs, the future owner will come to the shelter for several weeks, where they will meet and communicate with the selected dog.
Who can become the owner of an animal from the nursery
Owners of the shelter have a very negative attitude to the fence of dogs on a chain to the territory of various enterprises, summer cottages without fences, rented apartments. Puppies and kittens are not given to families with small children and the elderly.
When transferring the animal, an agreement is concluded, according to which the new owner agrees to walk the dog only on a leash for the next year, to care for and maintain it in good conditions, to provide all the information at the request of the shelter, to immediately notify about the loss or death of the pet.
Employees of the organization must conduct conversations with those who want to pick up their sponsored ones. They relate strictly to the living conditions and the nature of the future owner, they can even refuse without giving reasons.
How to get there
Information about the exact address of the nursery is carefully hidden to avoid harm to living animals by ill-wishers. In this place there are immediately three shelters for dogs: "Ilyinka", "Rzhevka" and "Friend". Shelter owners are trying to do everything possible for the safety of the wards. They are located at the Rzhevka station, street and house number, how to get there should be found out by calling in person. There are electric trains to the Rzhevka station from the Finland Station (20 minutes), 30 buses and 64 trams from the Ladoga Station (30-40 minutes), as well as the k409 and k218 minibuses (35 minutes) from the metro stations Prospekt Bolshevikov and Dybenko Street.
Shelter reviews
The responsible person will want to know the reviews and any other useful information before taking the dog or cat from the shelter. The conditions of detention during a long stay, the conscientious implementation of all vaccinations and legally executed documents - all these points should be carefully checked.
In the early 2000s
About the shelter "Ilyinka" speak differently. In the 2000s, volunteers and supervisors who came to help raised the alarm and in all seriousness raised the question of closing the nursery, as the animals were kept in terrible conditions, were sick and caused an exceptional feeling of compassion and pity. The home for the homeless was more like recreation for the sick, with the smell of sewage.
How is it now
With a change of leadership and relocation to a new habitat, the situation has changed. And although the nursery does not have enough funds, and sometimes salaries are not paid to workers, it is much more comfortable for animals to live in a new house, in which they are trying their best to provide significant support to single four-legged pets, investing in this significant amount of personal funds.
Now about the shelter speak favorably. All visitors see that they are fighting for animals here, they are loved and satisfied with everything that in general can be in the power of several people.
Those taking pets under their wing tell that before taking the animal, they had to go through an interview with the director and talk about themselves and their housing. After the fence, they needed to report on the health of the now pet. They look at this positively - this is due to the indifference of the owners of the shelter, which means that they look at the pet well, make sure that they are not offended, and wish not only to get rid of parasites, but to find a decent, good and loving home for them.
Many talk about the onset of friendly relations with the owners of the shelter: people themselves call and talk about the new life of little friends. The administration is very happy about this. After all, caring for animals, during overexposure they become attached to them wholeheartedly and then it is difficult to simply let go of the “graduate” unaccompanied in another family. The people are different, and the shelter's concern about this is expected.