Gabriel Chaves has donated nearly 700 animals in three years; the goal now is to have room for more pets
“I started to feel useful and the project saved me in a way. I love doing what I do, I love being where I am and I want to do it for a long time,” is what he says. Gabriele Chaves30 years old, founder of House of the mongrel, an animal shelter that is successful on social networks. A Logistics graduate, Gabriel found his life purpose in saving cats and dogs.
It all started in 2019, when he found a litter of 17 puppies near his home, in the municipality of Ferraz de Vasconcelos. To help them, Gabriel housed the dogs in his garage until he donated them one by one. He says he had the support of his father, the only person he shares the house with. “I had to leave the car outside the garage and my father could have criticized me, but he said ‘let’s go on March 25 and buy a camera to see the car on the street, because it’s dangerous'”.
At the time, he created an Instagram called ‘Adote um Cão’ to advertise the adoption of the puppies, but the project grew and became Casa do Vira-Lata on January 4, 2020. “The idea is that the person arrives on the profile knowing what you will find There will be no purebred or small dog, there will be mongrels “, he comments. In just three years, Gabriel has already saved and donated almost 700 animals, between cats and dogs. Only until June of this year, 120 pets from the refuge they were adopted.
In addition to his father, who is retired and has found a new business helping his son, he is joined by his boyfriend and biologist Diego Rueda and by volunteers and partners, such as veterinarians Val and Anabela.
To keep the project going, however, the animal protector also depends on donations and help from Casa do Vira-Lata followers on social media. The routine of first aid, treatment, receptions and adoptions is accompanied by almost 150 thousand people on Instagram, 61 thousand on Twitter and 1 million on TikTok. With no intention of becoming a digital influencer, Gabriel says the growth of networks has happened organically.
“My main strategy is to get the message across and whoever is there right now to consume and enjoy, great. Whoever isn’t, go ahead. You don’t need to be attached to acceptance in networks and that’s why the project had such a success, “he says. The focus of the message is so much that she often repeats to followers the phrase found on the shelter’s Instagram profile: “There are no strays, there are animals on the street and they need us”.
To honor the loyal community, Gabriel usually names pets with the names of the most present followers. “I remember a follower who sent a message saying, ‘My grandmother died and I couldn’t cry, but with this rescue I put everything out.’ Her grandmother was called Gertrudes and we called the dog by the nickname, Trude.”
It was also with the help of social networks that Casa do Vira-Lata concluded its first paid partnership with a major brand. After hiring a Chevrolet Spin to transport the animals, the pimp commented on Twitter that he was sorry to return the car. The followers then captured the attention of the profile of the Chevrolet, who contacted Gabriel and donated the minivan to the shelter. “I never imagined having a zero car, but it was a very interesting repercussion and the people at the company embraced the idea too.”
cat house
currently with 11 dogs and 48 cats available for adoption, the main short-term goal is to have room to receive more pets. Since the start of the project, the animal protector’s house has become a temporary home and is currently being refurbished to have a kennel that supports 30 dogs per period. According to Gabriel, on average, a dog spends three months at the shelter before being adopted.
“When the cat house campaign started, I put my construction aside because now the goal is to buy or transfer the property,” he explains, who faced a great challenge when he was called to help a lady you have. kept 63 cats in the house and several dogs. Now without the resident, the place has become a shelter and has been outfitted with toys, fences, beds, food, and litter boxes so that pets are well looked after until adoption.
With the possibility of buying the property in Guarulhos (SP), Gabriel intends to double the number of animals rescued. “I want to have more autonomy to help, I want to walk on the street, see a dog and put it in the car”. In the long run, the intention is to create a shelter for animals, where they have the dignity of aging: “I think this is the most important stage in the life of the animal.. Even with several goals ahead, the protector is grateful for all the lives he has already saved.
Adoption process
When he donates an animal, Gabriel is careful. The adopter must specifically choose the dog or cat she wants and undergo an interview. It is important that everyone living with the person is aware of and accepts that they have a new pet in the home.
“I ask the person to collect an audio of those who live in the house introducing themselves and saying they agree with the adoption, saying the name of the animal. It is important for us to know if everyone is prepared and also for the family to start digest and understand that there will be a small animal there “, explains the founder of Casa do Vira-Lata.
During the covid-19 pandemic, for example, he says he could have made more adoptions, but he was concerned about putting animals into routines that would change when life returned to normal. Even so, 2020 was the year of the largest donations made by the shelter. After the interview, the adopter is only concerned with taking care of the new member of the house with love and affection, as Gabriel personally delivers the pets Greater Sao Paulo region.
Although it is not always possible to adopt a companion for life, it is possible to help NGOs and animal shelters, such as Casa do Vira-Lata. In Apoia-se and Picpay there is the possibility to donate a monthly amount from R $ 1. Pix keys are available on the shelter’s social networks, as well as crowdfunding for the purchase of the kennel, which has already raised almost half of the total amount of R $ 300,000.
“I always needed to have a role. I lost my mother in 2013 and it was a void. The project brought back a rusty faith, I was very incredulous and today I see working with animals as a purpose. I have found myself and now I understand why I’m here “, concludes Gabriel.
Source: Terra
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
