By Laura Bower

It took me 20 years to find Didim animal shelter. Not because it’s particularly hard to get to, but because I’d heard horror stories about the conditions there and I couldn’t bring myself to go. It’s thanks to Pete King, the longest-serving volunteer, that I finally did.

The dog shelter, as it’s known locally, is on the edge of town, situated on an open area between two industrial estates. There isn’t a direct bus, and when I visited in mid-April there was a constant buzz of people hopping in and out of cars or on and off of bicycles, carrying cats in baskets for their neutering appointment with the vet.

Didim council offers a free neutering service for street cats, but you need to book in advance and bring the cat yourself to the animal shelter in a suitable basket, and pick it back up again later.

The shelter is surprisingly large. It has recently been renovated, and has fenced-in areas with shelter and open space for the dogs that live there. There are strict rules about who is allowed in, when, and what they can see.

Not that there is anything to hide, it’s a cultural thing as the manager currently in charge has an ex-military background and applies that to the running of the shelter. I was only allowed as far as the entrance area, where a very tall, intimidating-looking security guard in mirrored sunglasses kept a watchful eye on me for any transgressions – though he sweetly chatted to my 8-year-old companion and let him play with the Jack Russell cross that was the only dog roaming free within the bounds of the shelter.

The dogs are fenced in not out of cruelty but for safety. The shelter is home to hundreds of animals, all different breeds and sizes, with different temperaments, and different backgrounds. Some have only ever known life on the street, while others may have had an owner and be used to people, for better or worse, so they are mainly kept in group pens to keep things manageable until it’s time for walkies.

Pete let me join that day’s group of volunteer walkers. Even Pete, with his two decades supporting the shelter, is considered a visitor and is only allowed to come between 9.30-11.30am, on the four days a week that visitors are allowed.

In that time, the volunteers walk as many dogs as they can, including the 48 that are classed as dangerous breeds. Regulations demand that those dogs are muzzled whenever they leave their caged area, but the volunteer walkers had a great rapport with the animals and I got no sense of any threat, though in some cases it was hard to see whether it was the volunteer walking the dog or the other way around!

It’s a struggle to get all the dogs out and exercised in the two allotted hours as there are far more dogs than there are walkers. It’s a testament to the discipline of the volunteers, mostly retirees in their 60s and 70s, that they get it all done, even if it means they might go back several times in those two hours, rain or shine, to make sure no dog is left behind.

For those who want to support the shelter, there are a few ways. The shelter isn’t a charity so it can’t accept money, but much of it was built through private donations of building work and materials, sometimes in memory of a loved one.

People also donate medications to the shelter vet. CoDA Care of Didim Animals, is a charity and does fundraising, so can accept money donations. And of course the dogs always need walking. Pete, his wife Sheila, and their friend Paul run DAS Volunteer Walkers Facebook page, so join up to help!