May 1st - a new day, a new month

Cleaning and cleaning ...

Last bits .. and then they can run about again

 Our dear RUKA, so sweet and full of love ...

What have we got to eat ... ?

 Hmmmm ...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY FABIENNE & DIRK

Today is a very special day for Fabienne and Dirk. Today marks their 25th Wedding Anniversary.

Twenty five years of sharing love and joy and sorrow, and especially sharing their love for 'their children', the Spanish dogs. Thousands of dogs rescued and now living happily, thanks to them. 

Many, many congratulations on your 25-year marriage from me and on behalf of all the dogs, the volunteers, students, workers at El Refugio, foster parents and and adopters. Everyone who's met you, been helped by you and been inspired by you.

Thank you for your incredibly hard work, your passion, your devotion, your determination, courage and tenacity. May you have a wonderful day and be together for a long, long time sharing happiness and great good health. 

                                                                                 Clodagh

Little lost lonely Zaida ...

... wandering all by herself in the streets of Castellar, a village near Cadiz.  The nights were cold, she was hungry and thirsty and traumatised. And then she was rescued. She's still shy but very gentle, a lovely character. She can't bear to be locked up at the moment - no doubt bad memories of past abuse. It will pass with love and care.

Zaida is affectionate with all the other dogs and with people. She's sharing a cage with Husain, they are best friends. Soon, we hope, they will both find their own golden baskets and their own loving families. They are waiting with hope.

I'd love a family ...

 of my very own.

Please, is it you?

Agnes has found her golden basket

Last May, on my first visit to El Refugio, I met Marjolijn Spoor. We volunteered together, working in the laundry, washing dogs, cuddling dogs, taking them for walks. Every day she picked me up in La Cala and drove me up the hill to the refuge and drove me home again too. I exchange I did her washing, as my apartment had a washing machine.

We kept in touch with emails. Since then I've been out again once, but Marjolijn has volunteered several times, fostered two dogs and does amazing work for A.C.E. in Holland and in Spain. Almeria, her first foster, found a golden basket within 48 hours. This time it was Agnes' turn - and again, within 48 hours she'd found her permanent family.  Ernst Spoor takes wonderful pictures and makes great videos. Here you can see Marjolijn with Agnes in Spain and on arrival in Holland. And back home with her two beagles, Sailor and Rabito.

A great big thank you, to Marjolijn and Ernst, to all the adoptive families and the foster families and to everyone who contributes to the happy scenes you see in the video, below. It's always a joy to see the arrival of the dogs at their home airport and to see their families meet them for the first time. 

Friends Reunited - Chica and Champ at the seaside

This is the video that Jorine sent me

It makes us all so happy to see 'our' dogs - dogs rescued by A.C.E. in Spain - enjoying their new lives with their wonderful adoptive families.  Here sweet Chica, who was formerly known as Laurel, and darling Champ can be seen having a great time together with their step brothers. Jorine, Chica's new owner and Barbalou who adopted Champ, meet regularly with all their dogs. It's so heartwarming to see the dogs running free together.  Champ is the black and brown Beaucheron and Chica the brown Shepherd Cross

This is Champ when he was still in the Refugio, with Chica in the background.  Thank you Jorine and Barbalou for this photo which I 'stole' from your Facebook pages. I'm sure you don't mind.

Everyone please sign this petition against bullfighting!

Please will you all sign to put a stop to this inhuman and abominable practice.  Fabienne.

      

Click here

When you have clicked and accessed the site, scroll down to the very bottom and in the left hand corner, in blue you will find the petition.  Here is a translation to help you fill it in.  (Apologies, incidentally for the very annoying window offering a free iPhone. It does eventually go away!!!)

 

Tu nombre: Your Christian name

Tu apellido: Your Surname

Tu correo-e : Your email address

Cód. Postal: Your postcode (I just put UK and it worked)

Acepto las Norm. de Uso y Pol. de Priv.: Accept Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy (tick)

 Click to submit 

What on earth is in that bottle ....?

With thanks to Fabienne for sending the clip to brighten up my day and to share it with you.