Jose Feliciano - proof that there's hope for them all.

Many shelters take in only the dogs they know for sure they can re-home. Understandable, but not much help if you don't fit the category. Which is to say that some shelters will only accept little or medium sized dogs who are in good health. They won't take old dogs, dogs with health or mobility problems and certainly not dogs who are deaf or blind.

Luckily Fabienne's policy is quite the opposite. If the dog is in trouble she'll take it in, as long as she can possibly squeeze in one more. The recent intake has included Lai, a beautiful Collie-Cross who is almost blind as well as several dogs who are totally blind - Placido Domingo, Stevie Wonder and others. Then there's Fortuna - one of a long line of handicapped dogs. Poor Fortuna was attacked for no reason by a group of young gypsies who cut off her paw and part of her ear.

These are just some of the unfortunate dogs who's fortune changed when we rescued them. Many of our special dogs, which is what we call them, find happy, loving homes. Below is a translation of the letter sent by Trix,  Jose Feliciano's new delighted owner.

"It's all going well with Jose Feliciano. He's an affectionate little fellow who knows what he wants. He is indeed very old, he no longer has any hair on his back, he's almost blind and his hearing is poor. But that hasn't stopped him finding his way around here and getting attached to his new owner. 

When he arrived he immediately found the food and then went to explore the house, as if he had a map in his head. Since then he knows exactly where to find everything, even though he's blind. The other dogs are impressed and treat him with respect. At night he sleeps with them and they keep him warm. Though once, when another dog tried to take his bone, they got a rude awakening. Blind or not, Jose won't allow anyone to take his bone.  Since then they know to leave him alone when he's with his bone!

Jose has his own routine. He takes a tour around the house and then finds his bowl full of goodies. Then he goes into the garden for a little walk and when he get's back is ready for a little lie down with his bone. He sleeps a lot in his bench. I am really happy with Jose and it feels as if he was always here. And when he crawls to me and snuggles up and puts his head on my arms and falls asleep I am completely lost. When I see how Jose still enjoys his old age I am very grateful to ACE-Shin for their commitment to old and disabled dogs. I would also like to thank ACE-Shin very much for the careful guidance during the adoption process."

I have a lovely warm coat to cover my back.

This is my bone. My very own bone. No one else's bone.

Look at me now, I'm such a lucky fellow.

Nobody wants me ...

... this is what happens when a tidy house is more important than a faithful companion. It's always the poor little dogs who suffer - too young, too old, too smelly, too expensive, too sick. Thanks again go to Fabienne for sending it.

Don't come in here ...

With thanks to Fabienne.

60 Happy Dogs and 1 Happy Cat

Thanks go once again to Ineke for her splendid collage. Here are the darling souls adopted into the Netherlands in December, among them some whom you will have read about on Fabienne's diary and on this blog and the other blogs - for instance Koke, Jose Feliciano, Bartje and Mr Napoles. Christmas joy for loving families. Devoted people who will care for these fortunate dogs for years to come. Because they know that a dog is not just for Christmas but for all of its life. Their reward - a lifetime of unconditional love and loyalty. With thanks to everyone concerned in making this happen.

New Year at El Refugio

Many thanks to Ineke for the compilation. So lovely to see all those familiar faces. 

Our beautiful, lost and lonely Bodegueros and Podencos

These happy Christmas pictures sent by Fabienne hide a sad truth. And she makes this appeal. Of all the wonderful dogs in our care, there are two breeds that so often get overlooked. To make it worse, we have a larger proportions of these charmers than of any other breeds. This in spite of the fact that both breeds are are intelligent, loving, loyal and great with children and other dogs. Why? Who knows!

Perhaps it's because people are not familiar with these breeds. It's so worth getting to know them. The Podenco is a noble, hunting dog that adapts wonderfully to family life. They are bright, loving and adorable, loving hugs and cuddles and eager to please and love you. Bodegueros were once bred to chase and kill rats in the bodegas - the wine cellars. They are not Jack Russells, even thought they look a little similar. And they don't have some of the more difficult Jack Russell attributes. Instead they are happy little clowns. Funny, endearing, loving - great fun to have around.

These are working breeds so there are hundreds and thousands of them in Southern Spain. Neither dogs nor bitches are sterilised and castrated. The hunters and farmers don't believe in it. Instead they allow them to breed litter after litter of puppies. They choose the best and dump the others. Even those they keep are expected to hunt well, if they don't they are at worst mutilated and hung from trees, at best abandoned and left to fend for themselves, with many ending up in the killing stations. Luckily we are able to rescue some, though not enough.

In these pictures you see our poor Duardo. He did have a home once but his owners dumped him and he's pining away. He's already lost half his body weight and is in urgent need of a home. His situation becomes more desperate every day. I will post again when I know the name of the other little dog, the small Podenco so you can look him up on the website as well.

Duardo with his friend the Podenco, who has already been with us a long time.

Sad times. Sad eyes.

Poor little Duardo has let himself go completely.

Three among the many Bodegueros and Podenco's in our care.

Please think about this fellow and the hundreds of other Podenco's in El Refugio.

Duardo's case is really urgent. Look at those sad, despairing eyes.

'We try to cheer them up, but with no result' says Fabienne.

Please let this be the last Christmas they have to spend in the Refugio.

Please help us! May we both have loving forever homes soon. 

Tom in Denmark

Dear Tom has found his golden basket in Denmark with his new family. Helle sent these lovely pictures for Packy, who looked after him in Algeciras. She says he's a very sweet and easy dog who gets on well with the other dog and cats in the family. He loves the ocean and also enjoys his food, very much.

This is the life!

Tom loves the ocean.

Tom is good friends with his new brother.

What a lovely picture - warm, loved, deservedly spoilt.