Fabienne Paques, founder of the A.C.E Foundation said that "The sincere and direct involvement of Britt in our work and and her huge heart for animals makes her our ideal ambassador. Britt is open to 'our' work. While many people look away when it comes to animal suffering, Britt has the courage to confront it. We are very pleased that she has accepted this role".
Since its inception in December 1999 the A.C.E. Foundation has become the largest and most professional volunteer organisation devoted to the adoption of dogs in southern Spain. A.C.E. stands for Animal Care España and its mission is to rescue dogs in that region who are abused, tortured. threatened with death, dumped and neglected.
Besides rescuing them and offering care and organising adoptions, we seek publicity to press for legislation and government policies that will eradicate the root causes of much of this suffering and instead substitute programmes that will help end so much unnecessary distress. We call for an end to malpractice within the dog killing stations. For the creation of castration and sterilisation programmes. We seek to draw attention to the serious neglect of 'so-called' pedigree dogs in 'puppy mills'. We call for a halt to the unbelievably cruel treatment of hunting and racing dogs and an end to the dumping of dogs in the street, something that has increased sharply because of the financial crisis.
With the selfless help of hundreds of volunteers in the Netherlands, in Belgium and other European countries we are trying to save as many dogs as we can, to save them from abuse and certain death. Initially we take them into our shelter in La Cala de Mijas and then draw up careful plans to give them any treatment they need, to nurse them back to health and heal their wounds, both physical and mental, with a view to finding a new home for each of them. Since its inception in 1999, A.C.E. has saved more than 13,000 dogs and given each one a new and happy life. Apart from Belgium and Holland, A.C.E. mediates adoptions to Germany, Austria, Denmark, Finland and in Spain.
A.C.E. has a professional team of dedicated workers, foster carers and volunteers. All these people form a link in a correct adoption procedure whereby adopters are supervised before, during and after the adoption. The team in Spain is also assisted by international interns and trainee's in veteninary medicine; A.C.E. is listed on the Aequor register as a recognized foreign training company. The A.C.E. shelter houses 550 dogs a month on average and they each get all the care they need, such as food, medical attention and love.
Adoption
A.C.E. dogs are offered for adoption through our website with its database of photographs and videos. Adoption is very strictly controlled. Before any dog is adopted one of our experienced volunteers will make a home visit. Once an adoption is approved, a contract is signed which stipulates that A.C.E. dogs remain property of A.C.E. and cannot be resold. The team at A.C.E. aims to ensure that dogs leaving our care in Spain are in optimum health.
After adoption there are regular visits over a stipulated period to make sure that everyone is happy. These procedures are the result of years of knowledge and experience and are witnessed by the
thousands of adopters and the stories and photographs of the many families and their happy dogs who have found their 'Golden Basket' through A.C.E.
Do look at the A.C.E. documentary, below. It is in Dutch but there is some Spanish and much of it is, sadly, self explanatory. And of course, please visit the website to see our lovely dogs and their stories and to read more about how A.C.E. is caring for them.
