"There is no faith which has never yet been broken, except that of a truly faithful dog." ~Konrad Lorenz

... that being true, there are people walking around who have abused that faith. Who have enjoyed the companionship and experienced the unconditional love of that most faithful of creatures. And broken that trust. For some, circumstances were beyond their control. That can be understood and forgiven. For the suffering of someone obliged by illness or financial circumstances to give up their dog is nigh on unbearable and they don't need our censure.

Others however are heartless. The dogs were used for breeding, are no longer useful - so they are dumped. Or too much of a burden. Or of no further use as guard dogs. So they are cast adrift. The worst of it is that all these dogs, these gentle souls pictured below, are old. Eight, ten, eleven years old or more. Coming to the end of their lives. Bewildered. Grieving. Hurting. Please. Can you find it in your heart to give a home to these sweeties and let them know love in their final years.

Liancha and her puppies. She's 12 years old - and she's a Podenco. Poor Liancha gave birth to her puppies in an old crate leaning against an apartment building. Only two of them survived and they are hanging by a thread, she protects them with her life. All she's known until now is kicks and shouting. She puts her old head in your hand, grateful that the misery is over.

Carmina's sad and scared. She was tied up and left outside El Refugio, the chain wound three times round her neck to make quite sure she couldn't escape and follow her horrible boss home. She pulled and strained but only managed to hurt herself. Her eyes speak of her sadness, but she's safe with us now. At eight years old she deserves to know some happiness now.

Madi was dumped by her owner, a hunter. An English couple adopted her together with another stray dog. And then life got desperate and the couple went back to their country. That is understandable but ... they just left the dogs alone in the garden. Neighbours threw food over the wall. One of the dogs escaped. The bank repossessed the house. The neighbours came to us. Poor Madi, didn't deserve this. At 8 she's no longer young, but she has so much love to give.

Dagobert is six. Not the oldest of our oldies, but like them all deserving of so much love and respect. He's a little dog. He should be cuddled up on someone's lap instead of in a cage, in a shelter. Like so many others he was dumped by his owners, with his friend King Kong. They had to move to an apartment. The dogs couldn't come along. 

Stevie is a darling. He's ten, getting on in years. He's also blind. He was found wandering by an English gentleman who picked him up and brought him to us. Stevie loves cuddles, he's desperate for affection and for his own 'home' again. Dear fellow is in foster care in Belgium. Who will offer him a forever home and give him all the love he craves?

Tied up in a construction site for over ten years, in a dark barn with little light. The chain round his neck embedded in his skin, there since he was a puppy. For once the police stepped in to rescue him but the owner refused to give him up. He had a chip. Fabienne and Diane fought and fought, the neighbours bore witness. At last the owner gave in, Zorro is ours now. Ribs sticking out, ticks devouring every inch of his body, but safe now. Safe at last. 

Tilma. She was happy for twelve years. Happy and loved and cared for. And then, suddenly, she wasn't welcome any more. She's taken it hard, she doesn't understand. How could she. Every day her eyes are fixed on the gate, waiting for her family to come for her. They will never come. One morning we found her curled up at the back of her cage, she'd given up. We picked her up and she licked our faces. There is hope. But we need to find her a proper home. She needs it badly.

Small and very sweet, she came to us so badly neglected she couldn't walk. Her nails were so long, and so painful. She was brought to us by her owners, along with five other dogs. Unbelievable. At least she's with her friends, at least they are all being cared for. Again, Luna isn't the oldest but the abuse she's suffered has taken its toll of her seven years. We hope we can find her a forever home, with love and respect. 

Poor Joyma's story is a little different. He and her poor young owner are both victims of the terrible economic crisis in Spain. Thrown out by his wife, with just a rucksack and his faithful old dog, the young man came to us crying his eyes out. He'd tried all the local shelters, none would take a ten year old dog. Joyma's with us now, but the poor man left us in tears and is sleeping in the street.