Coming from the Czech Republic with our European Solidarity Corps project, veterinarian Natália Duchonova returned to her home after two months of volunteering service. Natália took care of the sick, weak, disabled and orphaned cats and dogs in the Sinop and Gerze shelters and the ones under our protection. She also took care of animals in need of medical assistance in the Sarıkım Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center.

Her main responsibility was caring for animals in the village, where they had enclosures housing cats and two dogs. Her daily tasks included feeding, cleaning, and performing regular health checks. She also established a dedicated hospitalization room for sick cats, where they received treatment and special care. In addition to her work in the village, she looked after sick animals at her house. One room was designated for cats undergoing FIP treatment, and she had a garden area for disabled animals, where her focus was on cleaning and feeding.

At the shelter in Sinop, Natalia assisted during surgeries and helped with ongoing treatments. In Gerze, she was more actively involved in performing operations, including castrations and sterilizations for both cats and dogs.

One of her and her volunteer friends’ key achievements was establishing a dedicated room for sick cats, which allowed for more focused and effective treatment. She also carried out a thorough health check of all the animals and created a catalogue to better track their conditions and needs.

Professionally, the most valuable part of the experience was her work in Gerze, where she participated in numerous surgeries. This hands-on practice significantly improved her skills and confidence in surgical procedures.

Natália also adopted a stray cat after treating it. She named it Ceta. Once the documents for her departure abroad are completed, Ceta will be going to the Czech Republic to join Natália in September.

Thanks to Natália, many of our friends regained their health and received better care. We would like to thank Natália for all her efforts for our stray friends and our friends living in the wild.