Volunteer Petra about her work at Perro & Co

Who Petra is

Petra Vervoort was born in South Limburg but has lived in North Holland for over 35 years with her husband and their two dogs: Nola and Feira.
Nola is afkomstig uit Roemenië en Feira is een Portugese hond die het stel letterlijk van de straat heeft gehaald tijdens een vakantie aldaar.

Petra worked from her own company in the field of etiquette and integrity, until health problems forced her to put an end to her career.

Fortunately, she soon found a new passion in volunteering for Perro&Co. in a position where she could combine her knowledge and her love for animals.

From headstrong dogs to the Portuguese Stray Dog:
how Petra's love for dogs grew

Since she adopted her first dog from the shelter, Petra has had a special place in her heart for dogs with difficult backgrounds.

Her first dog, Monty, was a big boy of almost 70 kilos with a heart of gold, but he also struggled with severe separation anxiety. That's why Doerak from the island of Sint Maarten came along. A particularly dominant diva with a soft heart.

After a long time without a dog, Portuguese Podengo Andy arrived, who changed her life forever. Andy turned out to be not only a loyal companion but also a true soulmate.
"If I wanted to know how I felt, I looked at Andy," Petra says. "He often knew before I did."
Andy was protective of Petra, but because of his past, he was sometimes fearful and unpredictable with others. He had a "rattling set of teeth." Nevertheless, Petra knew that his love for her conquered everything.

Andy's arrival prompted Petra and her husband to delve deeper into the often horrific fate of (hunting) dogs in Portugal and Spain, and they became active in the world of stray dogs and shelters in Portugal. After finding a terminally ill Feira on a busy roundabout in inland Portugal, Petra became actively involved in helping the dogs in that region. Through an acquaintance, she connected with Perro&Co, which sponsors the Guadi shelter, among other places, located in a location she already knew from her other volunteer work.

Petra's work at Perro&Co: administration with a heart for dogs

Petra's role at Perro&Co revolves around managing the sponsorship program.
She keeps the administration up to date, ensures that the sponsors are kept well informed and that the certificates are sent out.

Petra loves the personal contact with the sponsors and likes to tell that little bit extra about their chosen dog.
“Some sponsors even leave the choice of a dog up to me, and then I always try to find a dog that is a good fit for them.”
In this way, she ensures that the sponsorship is more than just a financial contribution; it becomes a personal commitment to the welfare of the dogs.

Motivation and pride: why Petra is committed to Perro&Co

Animal welfare is therefore close to Petra's heart.
She is aware of the responsibility people have for animals, especially when it comes to street dogs that are completely dependent on the help of others to survive.

What I love about Perro & Co is that the foundation focuses primarily on the well-being of the dogs in the shelter, not just on adoption. Ultimately, the long-term solution will have to be in Portugal, through improved animal welfare, education, and certainly also sterilization.

Petra also appreciates the foundation's transparency: donors see that their contribution goes directly to the dogs and even receive photos when the dogs receive deworming or other care.

Looking back, she's especially proud of the smooth start to the sponsorship year. "The collaboration went like clockwork," she says. "It truly felt like a team effort that we can all be proud of."

Dreams for the future

Petra still has plenty of ideas for the future of Perro&Co.
She hopes that there will be more updates and stories about the dogs in Guadi, the shelter in Portugal that Perro&Co works closely with.
"I'd love it if we could give our sponsors and followers a better understanding of what happens daily at the shelter. That would bring it all to life and give people a glimpse into the lives of the dogs they support."

She also advocates more periodic consultations, streamlining processes and newsletters to keep volunteers well informed.
“It is nice that everyone knows what we are doing as a foundation and how we can continue to grow together,” says Petra.

Petra's story shows how big the impact of volunteer work can be.
At Perro&Co, Petra and her colleagues ensure that stray dogs in Portugal are not forgotten and that they receive the care and attention they deserve.

Through her work and dedication, Petra really makes a difference for these dogs.
With love and patience she proves that every dog, no matter how difficult the past, deserves a chance at a better life.