Field report: Volunteer at Finca Noah, July 2021 (Livia)

This summer I spent my holidays for the first time as a volunteer in the animal welfare organization "Animal Police" on Mallorca. Looking back, I can enthusiastically say that it was worth every effort and every single blister on my fingers and feet to have been there, because the finca is truly a paradise and I would not want to miss any of the great experiences. The original plan was for me to stay for a week. In fact, I was so captivated by the work, the idyllic location and the warm people that I extended my stay by a week.

Immediately after my arrival I noticed how tidy everything is, because Farah attaches great importance to it and is only satisfied when everything is in its desired place. The environment is invitingly designed and you feel comfortable from the first moment. My accommodation - the little house called "Casa Jeannine" - was full of charm. It was located in the middle of the grounds between the dog and cat kennels and contained everything you need. Only to the toilet it was a few steps, because this was about 20m next door. The kitchen was top equipped and enabled me to cook every day. You have to be aware that many animals live here, so it should not bother you if a dog barks early in the morning or late at night times exceptionally. In addition, it is rather warm in the cottage, but this did not bother me personally.

The daily work with the animals was demanding and cannot be underestimated. As I normally work in an office, it was difficult for me to assess what to actually expect. After the detailed training by Farah, I was able to gradually work more independently and quickly noticed how much I enjoy everything. My morning started with cleaning the cat kennels. The countless litter boxes had to be cleaned, the cats had to be fed and the kennels had to be brought up to scratch. The same chores had to be done with the dogs, rabbits, ducks, horses, etc. In addition, some of the dogs were walked twice a day and the entire sheep enclosure (3'200m2!) was meticulously cleaned of every single "Schafböleli" with a broom. To make this a little more precise: Cleaning the sheep enclosure alone usually takes several hours a day. We viewed it as a sort of "meditation" 😉 . In total, I was busy for about 8 hours per day. The morning routine (starting no later than 8am) is much more detailed than the evening round, which lasts from about 6pm-8:30pm. Occasionally the heat got to me a bit, the more I enjoyed the few hours I had left to rest at the nearby bay.

The entire team on site was very helpful and open-minded, so that I immediately took everyone to my heart. Farah is aware of the enormous responsibility for the animals and always makes sure that all rules and measures are observed. Should this not be the case, she can also get loud sometimes. Her motto is "arrange everything for the animals as you would live here yourself". This was a very fitting anecdote for me. So far, I have not seen a place that was as well kept as this. Conversely, this also means that a volunteer is expected to pitch in and help out. Personally, I can recommend it to everyone to experience Finca Noah independently!