Animal Rescue New Orleans
As part of the FIU Alternative Breaks Program, my fellow participants and I were responsible for being active members of the group while preparing for, and during, our community service trip to Animal Rescue New Orleans. I contributed to the overall success of the group by being proactive and present at all meetings. I collaborated with my site leaders with their assigned pre-experience preparations and attended most of our team's fundraising events, such as tabling and car washes.
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During our service at Animal Rescue New Orleans, we worked with small domestic animals. In the morning, our responsibilities included dog walking, feeding cats, cleaning cat condos and litter boxes, and scrubbing and disinfecting food and water bowls. In the afternoon, we performed chores like doing laundry, sweeping, and disinfectant mopping. We were also involved with afternoon dog walks, supervised playtime at the designated play area, cat socialization (petting and brushing), and clipping cats nails.
Carolina Tiger Rescue
My co-site leader, Kacey, and I during the Site Leader Retreat.
Photo by: Briana Soliman
While participating in the Alternative Breaks program, my co-site leader, and I, were responsible for organizing our group's community service trip to Carolina Tiger Rescue. We coordinated nance and logistical plans, educational training, team building activities, and issued-based reflections. We also met regularly with the steering committee and AB advisors to report our progress. At our group meetings, we discussed the experience-planning process, planned fundraisers, and delegated tasks to each member of the group.
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During our service at Carolina Tiger Rescue, we learned everything about the sanctuary, met the animals, heard their personal stories, and learned information about different species, such as behavior, habitats, descriptions, food sources, and threats. While working near tigers, lions, cougars, and other powerful carnivores, we assisted the rescue's site manager on different maintenance projects. Our duties included building new enclosures, clearing vines and brush from enclosures, and digging trenches.