Our Sousan, a beautiful Galgo, has been with us for a while now. Once you get to know him, you can only fall in love! Since he has been with us, we have got to know him as a super social great guy, sweet with big and small and the biggest cuddler you can ever imagine...
Today it is Easter, not like so many other years, but different from the Easter that we were used to. We must all go through this, also for the many lives that we stand up for. Let's pray that it will all be ok...
Maxwell was rescued from a killing station in Zafra, a village far in the countryside of Spain, where there are little chances for simple should like this one... Once they have outgrown the puppy phase, they often will be placed once more in the killing station and they life will end before they reach the age of 2...It is sad but unfortunately, reality.
Seven dogs, a lot of cats and so many other animals were found on a terrain after their owner had to go to the hospital... She had found her happiness somewhere in the countryside, with all of her animals, but unfortunately, they were left alone when she got ill... When she had to go to the clinic, because nothing else was possible anymore, the real family drama came up..
Our Bep has been with us for a while now, after she was found on the street by our Viv, somewhere far away. She came walking to our car when we were feeding the cat colonies, and she jumped straight into the car like she wanted to tell us that she fed up with wandering around and trying to survive. Viv immediately brought her to us.
While we are trying to survive here, we are doing what we can, we are with a small group. We respect the rules, keeping distance with some many dogs is no problem.. we are busy with it..
Just before the Lockdown Dirk received a phone call from a German couple who were on their way back from Ronda.. They had stopped for a short break and heard noises from the garbage cans... Two black little balls with the umbillical cords still on them, were fighting to get some air from with the plastic bag that they were in... The people didn't know what to do and ended up with Dirk.. And Dirk... he didn't know what to do at that point. We were still on our way from the volunteer days so he called up Kelly... He couldn't find words anymore, but he showed up with the 2 bottle puppies...
The streets are empty, the silence is scary... Spring is in the ait, but nobody can be seen,, The fear is real inside all of us, but life continues, also for the many thousands of dogs, wherever they are in the world.
We had already closed our doors because of the general lockdown in Spain, and we were cleaning at the entrance. A Spanish couple was there all of a sudden with 3 Galgo's and a little dog at our gate. They didn't use many words, but they were determined... They were sent, and they were told they could come. it was all organized. We didn't start a discussion; there is no use; these dogs would have been left alone. In regular times you already don't do that and definitely not now, now that most animals on the streets don't get many chances anymore. They are caught by the killing stations and being put to sleep almost immediately, or they will look to starve to death...
Dear all,
Bobke once was the dog of a Spanish family, and he lived with us since he was a little boy and thought could enjoy a long life with the people he loved. But once he was in an accident and ended up under a car, Bobkes life changed. He was rushed into a clinic, but he couldn't walk anymore.. He stayed for a day, and when the owners heard it was a matter of life and death, they asked to put him to sleep. They no longer wanted him, they, by the way, had no time for him anyway and it was better to put him to sleep.
Yoda was found in a little village in the mountains, she walked around, without a goal, unknowing where to go. She was rescued and went along with the people, but they could not keep her. They went to a local shelter, but no, they were full, they went to the next one, also full. And then they came to us, told us the whole story and showed us the blood test they had done already, and the papers of all the place they had been to.
Santi, a Breton, walked in the middle of the highway, looking scared.. When the vet stopped with her car, he looked at her and spontaneously jumped in her vehicle, layed down on the chair en fell deep asleep. He knew it was over, and he no longer had to be afraid, it was over... The vet takes him into foster until we have found his lucky ticket for a home, a ticket to happiness, being spoiled, and lots of very soft dog beds...an owner that loves him.
Here comes the story of a mama and her two puppies. Since a while one of our volunteers saw a mama and her puppies regularly in her neighbourhood, over the streets, through the mountains... and then to disappear in the bushes and find their way in the mountain area. They were shy and scared, skinny and malnourished... First, you think: they must go to a nearby farm, but we saw them so often, they must have been abandoned, and nobody knew anything about them.
An older man loved his Sonny so much. He bought him as a puppy, gave him the right and loving upbringing, he shined like the best-taken care of dog... He loved his Sonny, and Sonny loved him. But his owner got older, and lesser walks and exercise. How much he loved Sonny, he didn't want Sonny to not have the best life because of his age.. He asked for help at the dog hotel where he brought him several times, and that is where we came into the picture...We will help find an active owner for this beautiful Boxer... The happiness of Sonny is important for the older man, how painful it is, but he wants to see him happy.
This sweet cat was walking on the streets for a while, with a fracture on her paw. Everybody saw her, but nobody took her in. She knew to find her way to a nearby colony, where a lady fed her, talked to her and gave her some courage. The fracture was never treated and grew back together. The pain was getting better, but she walks with a limp, and she will remain disabled.
Olivia had to survive on the streets for a long time.. She was part of a family, but on a day, the door was closed for her, and she was banned from the home that she loved so much. She got some food here and there, tried to survive, she fought and fought to be able to find a home somewhere, but it didn't work. Once she had a huge hernia underneath her belly, the neighbours tried to convince the owners that they had to help her and give her surgery, but he didn't want to do anything for her anymore. He said she didn't belong to him, and that she should do from that bump that she caused herself, it was not his problem. Just let her die...
Peterpan was rescued from a killing station. A Bully that must have had a hard life, we think, but we never get to know the backgrounds. Fact is that he is disposable because he is ill, he has a heart problem, an eye problem and there he is... 9 years, a crazy Bully, shared life and love for many years with his owner, through storms and summers... he loved his owners, you can still see that because he is so sad. He barely eats, and his eyes don't sparkle,, He doesn't want to keep going anymore..
Our Frutske...
Sendra, Semillo and Sancho were all alone in the streets of an industrial area. Nobody came to ask for them, and nobody knew where they came from.. they were looking for food and somebody to give them attention, but that didn't happen... That is how they came to us.
Anubis is a beautiful Sheperd of less than a year old.. He was bought as a pretty puppy, the classic and daily dumping story. He was loved, and they adored them, but... And there the excuses from A to Z came... And there he came, this sweet and big dog who thought he had found his home, who is so friendly, but he would have loved to be loyal and forever at the side of his owner.
Galena and Goleta are two sisters who were rescued from a colony. They arrived together with Galetta and Galileo. All cats were born from different mama's, but they were all from the same colony. Galena and Goleta had a very nice and pleasant character from a really young age.
His previous owner was a hunter, one of the worst kind, one who shouldn't have the right to even touch a dog. But unfortunately, the reality is different, so many go in and out of hell in their hands, but only a few get to know heaven... That is so sad about these cases... But for Mickey it is different... He was saved from such a hunter. He was locked up in a small and filthy cage, with dry bread and faeces from years around him. He didn't see much daylight and never heard a friendly word. He lived in hell...
He was found several months ago, somewhere in a Campo, entirely left alone, alone and searching for ways to survive... Shyly he came forward to take a piece of bread and then ran away very fast again... But after a few days, you could tell he wanted to belong somewhere... He went to a foster family where immediately was accepted by the other dogs and cats, and he showed himself to be a sweet and social dog.
He lived on a short chain in a filthy cage, could barely move and had to live here day and night like a little puppy... His need for attention and love was not seen by anybody or heard... His life was a big hell.. Until a lady saw him and could not believe that in that stupid little village, a dog had to live like that... She took him with her and asked the owner to give him up... That was a whole process as he thought that the dog had a great life..
When she was bought as a little 'Princesa' in a local pet shop, she was a beautiful fluffy puppy... The classic story here, after six months she was dumped in a nearby shelter because the children were bored of her and mama did not want any hairs in the house, even though she hardly looses any as she is a Perro de Agua... But that was the problem, she was sold as a Perro de Agua, but when she grew, it became clear that she was not purebred enough...
He was bought as a puppy, purebred born for a beautiful life, but that was not the case... It was on a blue Monday when his owner contact us if we could take their Perro because they were moving to Saudi Arabia and of course they were not taking him... Because we are full at the moment, we always ask if they can stay with them a little longer until we have found a solution, and therefore they don't have to go through the trauma of a shelter. But the lady just started to laugh at us and said: we are leaving on this Friday. and then she let us know that she was going to bring him to the killing station...
On December 24th, two dogs showed up at the front door of a family in a small village... They did not surrender immediately and not the little girl. They were scared and hungry.. they wanted to but were afraid. In the end, one of them could be caught, the boy was so hungry and jumped on his bowl of food, it was impossible to capture the girl, but the people kept trying..
A beautiful Sheperd puppy was bought by a Maroccan family back then, because they were looking for a tough guard dog. The first few months he was well taken care of and was raised well, but too strict for this specific puppy. He became scared of his owner and the owner started to be more hostile to hom. When he was out of the home, the children and the wife took care of him. They loved Yvanovich and he loved them. Their friendship was beautiful and sincere.
Elfa is a Podenco of barely 6 months old.. she was brought to us after she was laying next to the road for 2 days. Nobody took an effort to help her... There were lots of people who saw it happening that she was hit by a car and that she has flown through the air, but she was left alone..
She is little and fragile, but tired and used up... She was brought to a nearby killing station.. She still is a bit shy, but once you pet her, that lovely French Bull character comes out... A nice cuddle, play a bit crazy.. and her funny teeth make your heart melt. We don;t need perfection, it is the character that counts, and that is truly touching with this little sweetie.
Yesterday, late in the evening, a lady called that she had saved a dog from death.. She ran into a car, and the people wanted to do everything to avoid that the police would take her and bring her to the killing station. That is how this sweetie came to us.
Some of our volunteers were having a coffee on an ordinary sunday, on a terrace in the village.. It was raining cats and dogs and when they came out and wanted to go home, they found him in a corner, curdled up, very miserable... A puppy that was about to give up.. He did not know where he was, no more orientation.. He was soaking wet, he looked at them with sad, and scared eyes, begging to be saved... And so they did, they took him them... He rolled up in their arms, closed his eyes and slept... and slept..
Several years ago this lady already was at our gate... Life did not go in her favor, she lost her home, work and haven... She lived in a small car... She asked our help back then for some of her dogs, and we took them in. Her situation was already very sad and we did what we could, saving the dogs, and she lef afterwards.. And we could only hope for the best for her...
Indara lived in and around a shopping centre... every time somebody tried to touch her, she walked away. she didn't trust anybody...She was kicked and abused so often... She came from a hunter who had dumped her because she was too old... She had to survive, she wanted to survive.. she held on to life, in every way..
Pumba, a French Bull of 9 years old, had been their dog since so many years... But for some reason, with so many apologies, he had to go... We already don't listen anymore to the many excuses we hear when people dump their loyal friend... but his world collapsed yesterday... He did not eat, did not sleep.. he just kept looking at the door whether his owner would come back or not... His sweet loyal eyes looked sad en desperate... afraid and not understanding... the loud noise from the many other dogs made him even sadder...
Since a few weeks, we have this problem with electricity... It was difficult but it is recovered for now... We have electricity again.. it just stops a lot of times... But we keep going...
We got a call that the days of a lot of dogs in a nearby killing station were almost over... The prettiest dogs, the small ones and most wanted ones were already gone, also the puppies were in better places. But 14 average, scared or Podenco like, unnoticed dogs, were never adopted.. And now they had the last chance because of this call...
We celebrate our 20th anniversary today! 11.12.199 - 11.12.2019!
A Mastin with a severe fracture.. all left alone... wandering on the streets... He screamed from pain, he probably was hit by a car or had an injury of something we don't know.. He didn't use his back leg because it hurt so much... All facebook screamed for help, so many people knew but nobody stood up for this very sweet dog. He is big, not a little guy, but he has a gentle character.
Milo already has a special story to tell, in his short life... He was left behind at the entrance of a cemetery, this poor cat who was used to living in a home... He was terrorized by the dogs of the neighbourhood and the other cats. He could not defend himself as he has never learned that. On a day he was attacked by several dogs but he could be saved by a lady who brought him to us...
Gorro, an old, tired, used up and weak Podenco, walked on the streets with a rusty chain still on his neck... He could no longer continue... he stumbled, looked from left to right, what I am doing here? Where should I go? His old body could no longer keep going... People saw him, but nobody cared for him... She saw him, but at the same time did not see him... people had a quick look and then went back to their own comfortable world... That is how Gorro kept stumbling in this world..when he hears a friendly world, he will wag his tail.. when you cuddle him, you can hear him enjoying it, when you give him food, he is so happy... he doesn't need a lot more than a rescue human who understands him, and understands that his life was once a hell, that his body needs some medication and that he will be so happy with a heater, a soft basket with a blanket and a nice cushion in it...
Two little poor things left alone. put out of a car, and they had to find out how to find food and water... how they could survive... They always stood at the bar where their owner had left them behind... With every visitor, every car, or persons that passed, they thought: he is here, they are here... But that was not the case... They did not return...
Tinta, a Podenco lady, a bit older, not in years, but in life... a life of producing... every time she got in her heats, a lot of dogs were put on her and every time she got pregnant and pregnant and pregnant... years and years after another.. Until the day that she no longer produced what her hunter expected of her and she was put out of his dirty cages, thrown away like a piece of garbage..
Venus and Serena are two sisters who were found in a plastic bag, with the umbilical cord still attached to their bodies and with the fluids of their mother still on their fragile bodies.. The killing station was called to pick them up but luckily we were also informed and that is how they came to us.
This gorgeous Sheperd mix was left behind at the killing station by his owners... without emotions they turned their backs at him, knowing that there was a big chance that he would not come out of there alive... Luckily we could make the difference for him in time!
Christina and Alejandro were found in a Campo by two ladies.. they have been walking around for a longer time, didn't belong to anybody, we're looking for food in the fields daily... Mama Christina was heavily pregnant at the time... Alejandro was a son from a previous pregnancy... Where the others have remained unanswered...
Lia, a heavenly cross between a Galgo and a Shepard, was dumped with her whole family somewhere in Cadiz. A lady found them in the trash can and gave them a chance on survival by bringing them up with the bottle. When they got older, they knew why the owner must have dumped them... they were cross Galgo and Shepard mixes... Very unique combination, at least a lot of people thought so and they were all adopted.
There he was, at the gate, on a nylon rope and next to him his hunter... I don't want him anymore, he is useless for the hunt, will you take him? Otherwise I will have to bring him to the killing station, because he is not going home with me anymore.. That is how our Achilles came to our refugio... a good soul whou wouldn't hurt a fly, who is social and gets along with everybody... Who doesn't understand why he can't go back to his dirty cage... Who quietly and with pride walks next to you and rests his head in your hands.. A lovely Galgo as they can be so often... With his head high, sensitive and quiet, present but modest at your side... and not to forget, so incredibly sweet...
Bouleke was noticed in a gypsy camp... he was given from hand to another until he was so weak and thrown away because he was covered in ticks and pests... The doggy became more and weaker because of the heat until someone called Isabelleke and she went to take him and started caring for him.
There she was, 11 years old, an old Cocker lady, She also brought her basket, collar, and bowl along... She has always lived in a home.. always has been the favorite of her owner... The happy pictures of the previous were in her passport... Never in her life, this Cocker lady would have thought that she would have to live in a cage... She is very upset, looks scared and doesn't understand anything about this situation...