A visit to the Refugio

Saturday, February 22, 2014

A visit to the Refugio 7 and February 8, 2014

It's always great to hear from people who do so much to help us, and it's especially lovely when they write about their first visit to the Refugio. To hear about the impression it makes, the pleasure they take in the dogs and the work.

This is an account of a visit by Erna Oosterbaan, who visited on 7th and 8th of February with my friend Odette, whom I also met at the Refugio, last summer and who looked after me so generously, with Ineke, when I went to Holland for Dog Day later on that year. I apologise for any mistakes in translation, all down to me.

Erna writes

"Odette Ligtenstein and I started about the same time volunteering for ACE . I adopted Jessy ( Samantha ACE ) in August 2011 and Odette adopted Zina ( ACE Rubina ) in October 2011 .
It began with home visits and flight reception and after a while we also joined and strengthened the Aftercare Team.  I have a shelter dog in the house on a regular basis, in addition to the pack that we already have. Odette can not take in a shelter dog, but instead she flies to Malaga several times a gear to pick up dogs and fly back with them, so they can get to their new homes faster.

And then we planned to fly to Spain one day and visit the Refugio together; it was something I had wanted to do for a long time. We should then fly back separately so that we could each take five dogs back.  If you book in advance , you can buy a very cheap Transavia ticket. And the Hotel Carmen in Mijas has reasonable neat and clean rooms.  Although our aim was to visit the Refugio and bring the dogs back, we also secretly enjoyed the beautiful weather on the Friday and lunch on a terrace on the beach.made ​​a very neat and clean room.

 

From La Cala de Mijas it's about a half hour walk to the Refugio. Easy to do but there are also plenty of taxis in the square, about 6 euros for a ride.

And then, suddenly, we were there. It looked exactly the was we so often had seen it in photographs and videos, yet still a little different than expected. We were able to have the experience we have so often had via the video, that is see a whole half section (about 30 dogs) running to the playing field. Because the Refugio is a long, narrow strip all the various side gates and entrances must be closed before the dogs can be let loose to run down through the Refugio and up onto the field. It's wonderful to see the whole group come running.

We spent over an hour on the field, together with some regular volunteers and interns. There was lots of running and throwing of tennis balls and of course we petted and cuddled lots of dogs. It's so nice too to recognise things and dogs you've seen regularly on the website. Some volunteers don't know the names of all the dogs and that is only to be expected as new dogs arrive almost daily and others are quickly adopted. And some people don't look on the site every day, the way we do.

When all the dogs were back in their places, I went and had a good look round. In the first section the dogs run loose. Among them Peterke ( who is flying on on Sunday with Odette ), Dime, Farid and Thomas (all three already reserved ), Hoy, Uli with her ​​funny little below. And there were Crepe and Suzette who crawled away into a crate. They are still afraid, though they did peek round the corner at me.  Later I recognized Cristal, soooo sweet and a little too fat, but that's good as she's well again. Touching. Beautiful Fred (Wilma has already adopted). So lovely people what a beautiful dog he is, you do not know what you're missing. Waterdog Wannes also thinks it would be nice to get a a snack. My bags were full but were soon completely emptied. It was so sweet to see how the dogs were with each other. It was remarkable. I had thought they might fight about the goodies, so I was very careful how I gave them out, but there was no need to worry. It was all good and I distributed the snacks as fairly as possible.

Fred, such a pretty boy

Odette with Thomas

The puppies, Amado is on the right. They are all so sweet, but I don't remember their names

We would so like a boss of our own

Tucan is joining us on the plane

Uli 

Cristal, so sweet!

Further up the path there's the laundry room with washers and dryers and there are dogs even there. And more too running around underneath the washing lines.  There's another space with the cutest puppies, including beautiful Amado. Further up there were more kennels, facing each other. Each one filled with 2,3 or 4 dogs. I recognised several -  Hellen and Cyntha ( luckily Hellen has been adopted by the trainees), and Heck, that was called Tony. A brother of our frightened Jessy, who has spent 2.5 years with us. They all need loving homes, who will welcome them into their hearts?

Near the main entrance are the areas where the dogs are kept, just before they are due to fly out. And yes, there were Hercules and Kristof, just arrived from Algeciras. After a good night's sleep they were to fly with me to the Netherlands, after years of waiting for their golden baskets. At the shelter Tucan was there too, and also Madeno and I recognise the little chihuahua Baraco who will go in the cabin, though for the moment he is still in daycare.

Hercules is nearly ready to fly

Madino, also waiting to meet his boss, just one more night!

Tucan will also come with us on the plane.

The next day Odette and I went back to the Refugio. Unfortunately, under conditions that were completely different from the day before. In the morning it was still quite dry but then the rain arrived. And now we see the Refugio in different conditions. All the dogs that are running loosely between the sections are wet and some also rather shivery.

Wet Arek who has just arrived at the Refugio

We saw Arek, who had just arrived. His thick fur completely drenched. I tried to dry him with a towel but it was just too wet. The four puppies I wrote about on this blog before: Pablo (reserved ) , Marco Polo , Lista and Marah, who had just been transferred from their foster family to the Refugio to make room . What they were displaced in the wet spot.

Podenco puppies - Marco Polo, Pablo, Lista and Marah, also just arrived in a wet Refugio

And there was Fabienne with Caretillo in her arms, he'd also been fostered elsewhere. This dog who'd been hurt by a car was left deaf. He hadn't been vaccinated so had had to go to another shelter for a while. Fortunately he has already been reserved.  Once again I went up to have another good look at the other sections and spent a lot of time petting and hugging. I again stuffed my pockets with goodies, which were soon gone. Meanwhile, Sheldon and Salsa were all ready to fly tomorrow with Odette. Peterke was washed by the trainees , but was certainly not fun for we then had to keep him the office to keep him clean, but he took every opportunity to escape again.

My shelter dog Madre Lucila in Odette's lap

And then here was Madre Lucille, who'd been brought from the Algeciras shelter. She was going to fly with Odette tomorrow and then go into foster care with me. I would be at the airport the next day to meet the flight and then take her into my care. While with us her new name will be Loesje; for more information about her look at her ACE name on the site and in the blog with the dogs who are already in care in the Netherlands . I can already say that she really is a sweetheart. Of course I cuddled with Loesje for a long time and found it quite hard when I had to stop because it was time to go and to leave her in the carrying page. Ideally I would have brought her on the plane with me!

Madre Lucila - Loesje -  in the carrier, nearly in Netherlands

Later arrived more new residents arrived at El Refugio: Jack (a Chow-Chow) and two older Cocker ladies, Rose and Evelin. All three just rescued from the killing station. First we had to get them out of the rain and put them in cages. This is something they'll have to get used to. After this we took a taxi to Malaga Airport, where Diane and Miguel were already waiting at check-in with Hercules, Kristof, Tucan and Madino, in their flying carriers. And there was also black Baraco, who was allowed to travel with me in a special bag. He was so good, that little one, I didn't hear a sound out of him and the people on the plane sitting next to me did not even know there was a dog in that bag. When they discovered it they thought it was very nice. One of the two, a student who often flies Malaga, so I told him about ACE and asked if he'd like to sign up as a flight escort. That would certainly be a good thing. Luckily I had some leaflets in my bag, so he will have all the information he needs to sign up. 

Finally, at 23:30 we landed at Schiphol. When I'm doing the flight care there's usually about 45 to 60 minutes waiting with the adopters before the cages come through the gate. And guess what happened this time ? They were all ready with the special luggage! Just a friendly gentleman who asked if he could help me and that meant I could get quickly to the arrivals gate, where my fellow volunteer,  Erne Beckx, was already waiting with the adopters. Beautiful moments, when all the dogs were allowed out of the cages and were united with their new owners.

I look back on this short visit to the Refugio with great pleasure and satisfaction.  What beautiful work takes place there, with lots of love and devotion. I have so much admiration for Fabienne and Dirk and their team, Paky and her team in Algeciras, Ana and Jesus who are committed to the dogs in Granada, Isabelleke and other women working in shelters in southern Spain. And fortunately there are many volunteers outside Spain as well, mainly in Belgium and the Netherlands. Together, while unfortunately we can not save all the dogs in the world, but still we can save quite a significant number! "

Erna Oosterbaan -Gram