Refugees

Big friends - Cubitos is the little one one the left, Guapa the lovely brown and white one on the left

We are two refugees. Not from Syria, Afghanistan, Iran and other Eastern countries.

We come from Spain. There they do not like like us very much. We are used and especially abused. And then dumped. Tied up and sometimes hung from a tree because the hunting season is over and we are no longer needed. Brought to a killing station to be put to sleep. This is happening to more and more to our kind. Nothing is done to stop the many births; nothing is done to prevent them, although such operations would make sure there were less stray dogs, but the Spanish State does not see the benefit of this and doesn't offer the necessary finance. And so puppies going on being born and people continue to dump them.

But, fortunately, there are people in Spain who open their hearts to us. And nice people come here from as far as the distant Netherlands and other countries to help us as much as possible. They have built places for us to live where we can feel safe. And all done by the volunteers and with donated money and goods. These dear people come save us from a dog pound, often just in time. Or they save us when we are thrown over a wall or tied to a fence and abandoned.

And we have all been looked after; we are again restored to health. Because often we're were in very bad shape when they rescue us, having had months with no food and our children therefore had starved too. We had contracted various diseases. But our dear benefactors fought against the odds, giving us medication and getting help from expert doctors.

And then, when we are again are completely better, they take nice pictures of us, the write our story with our real names. And people in the Netherlands and in Belgium get to see us. And if they like us, then we take a plane (a bit scary but very exciting!) to a new home where we can continue to live and eat and play and where we will really find love!

There are many of us and often we have to wait a long time until we find a forever home. But we have everything to gain. Anything is better  be better than having to wander the streets or be killed. We are two of those refugees - we are GUAPA and CUBITUS. Over a year ago Guapa ended up with loving foster care Mom Annemie in Belgium, because at the first family that took her did not work out. And Annemie did so much, her enormous best to find a really good home for me. And she was successful, because a little while later she brought me, herself, from Belgium to the Netherlands to a beautiful farm. I was very scared at first, but they were so nice to me that I gradually gained confidence. And especially when Dommel came, also from Spain, by plane from Malaga to Eindhoven. This happened on World Animal Day, October 4, couldn't be better could it! Dommel is my best friend: he loves everyone, keeps playing and running until he goes to sleep in the hay, tired out.

We now have the two sweetest owners in the world. And we live on a large farm with lots of space to run and play. There are another six dogs living with us, dogs, large and small. And we get along so well with them! But we, Guapa and Dommel, still have a special bond with each other. If we see a plane fly over, we both look up and hope they are not coming to pick us up and bring us back. And we understand each other very well, we're good Spanish dogs, the others can not undertand us. But, we also follow faithfully and listen to the integration courses! We even looked together at the accession speech of the King of the Netherlands (who comes from Spain!). And then we both shook our heads: they also have a lot to learn here.

But we are so happy to be here. We will never go back.
Our bosses would like to save all the dogs in the world, but that simply is not possible. But they have rescued our dog world for us. And we are so grateful to them, we cuddle them all day but remain and never want to leave them.

If you would also love to have a sweet companion like us ... DO it!

Asten-Heusden, October 2016
Margriet Hoffmans, Luuk Jonkers

Watching the Royal broadcast!!!!