Meet Tilly, the Bouncing Boston Terrier

Antidepressant ...

Fabienne sent these great photos a while ago, an antidote to the worry and sad stories. There is always hope, there are always uplifting stories.

Update: Pippy and Cloie

I am so happy. I have just heard that the two little sisters I took from the killing station in Malaga in May have both survived, thanks to the loving care of Isabelleke and they have both now got their very own golden baskets in Belgium. Pippy was adopted in July and Cloie was adopted yesterday.

Cloie on the left and Pippy on the right, the day we took them from the killing station.

Gorgeous Galgos

Noble. Kind. Gentle. Loving. Loyal. Beautiful. The Galgo is all this and more. It's devastating to see how they are treated by the cruel and the ignorant. Wonderful and heartwarming to know how dearly they are loved and cared for by so many of our amazing adoptive families. They are so patient, so understanding and their love transforms the life of so many dogs like Jonna, Noor and so many more.

This was Jonna when she first came to us.

She was called Becca then, so scared and timid.

Look at her now. Transformed by the love of her new family ...

... and Igor and Souki, her new brother and sister.

This is Noor, so beloved and welcome ...

... these are the presents that were waiting for her in her new home. So touching.

Algeciras - a new concrete floor.

                               

                                                                 Preparation

                               

Getting there

We love our new floor. So much easier on the paws (and to keep clean.)

Enduring love, enduring legacy

A wonderful man died several weeks ago. He was as generous in death as in life. He has left a wonderful legacy, a thoughtful and inspiring gift. Maries van den Plas, who looks after A.C.E. sponsorship and Vera Dutho, who looks after PR in Belgium both went to his funeral service at St Niklass church on behalf of A.C.E.  I apologise if I have made mistakes in translation.

Maries writes

In September 2010 Show, known as Toon, and his partner Barbara Moreau adopted boxer Goliath from A.C.E. and called him Bluts. He was their beloved dog. On July this year, Barbara rang Maries with the awful news that Toon had died of stomach cancer. He was only 40 years old. His last wish was that there be no flowers at his funeral, instead he asked people please instead to spend the money, if they wished, sponsor a dog from A.C.E.

Maries says that no one could have imagined the impact this would have and how wonderfully people have responded. Within six days so many dogs have been sponsored in response to Toon's last wish and there was also a substantial donation. The dogs sponsored as a result of his request are -

Tanita - Goro - Pinteno - Tilcarca - Domingo - Chula - Suki - Verde - Nieves Acosta Diaz - Herve - Gemelo - Modena - Alana - Smith - Olvido - Guada - Dados - Zango - Kemlo - Asia - Tim - Ashley - Rocky - Mousse - Sasha - Olek - Little Tiger - Kron - Karel - Efhre - Kiko - Bembe - Emilio - Nina.

There are still more to come.

Some dogs were sponsored for one month, others for 3 months or 6 months or even 10 months. People have told Maries that they find our website and our work fantastic and have signed up for our newsletter. Maries says she has found it a very emotional week, being with these wonderful people and sharing their grief and love.   

She has the utmost admiration for Toon, who has demonstrated with such thoughtfulness how even after death he is still able, through the generosity of his friends and family, to reach out and help our dogs. 

Rewards

It doesn't get any easier. More dogs are being dumped. El Refugio is full to bursting. There's never enough time or money. Some of the cruelty seen every day beggars belief. How can they call themselves human, these people?

But then and then and then ... I think of Fabienne and Dirk and Ton and everyone who works so hard, day in and day out, at the Refugio, in Holland, Belgium, Spain and many other countries. As a helper or manager, as a student helper, a volunteer, a fundraiser, a foster parent, and adopter.

I think of the kindness, the courage and the tireless devotion. And above all the love. It's not done for reward, it's done out of love but there are rewards. The reward of seeing the results - the happy dogs and their loving new owners. So, here are just some of these stories. Just a few.  There have been over 13,000 other happy endings over the last decade or more. What an amazing achievement.

 Beloved Bombardonneke - now Lola - on holiday with her adoring family. She had a terrible start in life but she won everyone's heart and she'll always be so very special to many of us.

Juani. Tied to a tree until she gave birth then thrown onto the streets. She was terrified if you even looked at her. So neglected  you could smell her a mile off. Love and patience turned her from this... 

... to this bright-eyed happy dog. She has been reserved and soon will be on her way to Holland.

Beautiful three-legged Golfito, who had been confined to a tiny cage, is now the happiest dog in the world. He goes on holiday with his a lovely family and he is even allowed to sleep on the bed.

This is Skippy, formerly Fritske. Poor little thing found it hard to adjust and it wasn't easy for his new bosses; he was their first shelter dog. But they had patience and fell in love with him. They say he's the world's best cuddler! Just look!

Aiko, formerly Philemon has been in his golden basket for six month now. He's such a happy special dog who loves everyone and is generous with sharing his toys and his food. He has become a real water rat and loves to swim. His family adore him.

Bonzo on arrival at El Refugio. He was so frightened and in shock. He was one of the 20 dogs that belonged to an old woman. She beat them to keep them in order but still cared enough to hand them over when she became ill.

Now look! Bonzo has become Wammes and has been with his loving adoptive family for three months. He's changed from a timid dog to a darling with a huge heart. He loves driving with his family. He's still a bit frightened of big dogs but his best friend is Alissa, an 8-month old kitten.