Meet little puppy Clodagh - my namesake.

It was my first day back at El Refugio after 18 months away. We had done an airport run and then went to Amalia's to pick up several dogs. Among them this little darling: Fabienne gave her my name. It is such a privilege to have a dog named after you.  

Clodagh the puppy is just two months old. She weights five kilos. Imagine the fear and terror of a little dog like this, thrown into a holding cage with many dogs, most much bigger than she is. She wouldn't have survived, had Fabienne not taken her out of the killing station. As it was her tiny body was covered with wounds from all the bites she had suffered. But she's safe now with us and healing well - and you can read more of her story on Fabienne's Diary.

Arriving at El Refugio - Clodagh is in the middle

Maribel and Marielle doing the paperwork.

Safe with us, with a little companion.

Greeting her namesake at El Refugio.

Safe with Maribel.

Just look at that dear little fat tummy.

Saying hello to Modest.

Getting weighed and measured.

Such a pretty little girl.

Day of the Dog at Las Lagunas

Our stall at the Dog Day.

Every year, the municipality of Fuengirola holds a 'Day of the Dog', a fair and dog show where all the rescue centres and organisations concerned with dogs come together. This year, the municipality of Mijas Costa decided to hold one too.

Although the weather didn't look promising at first, it turned out to be a glorious and very hot day. As the hours wore on more and more people arrived so it was very well attended. K9 Malaga gave a display as did the Guardia Civil with their drug sniffing dogs and there were of course competions for clever dogs, beautiful dogs and the rest.

The A.C.E. stall was colourful with all kinds of wares. Three of our students - Jamie, Naomi and Kelly - came along to help, as did Diane, Marielle, Miguel, Stephen, Denise and Quani from Algeciras Shelter. And of course Fabienne and Dirk. Fabienne, Quani, a member of the Guardia Civil and a gentleman from Animal Protection spoke on a platform, urging people to sterilise their dogs and explaining some of the problems that are encountered daily.

Marielle admires our display.

Wonderful photographs of our 'happy endings' dogs.

Fabienne and Dirk

Fabienne's mother arrived from the airport, with Fabienne's niece, Freya.

Fabienne and Quani on the platform.

The panel.

Kelly, Naomi and Jaimie on the stall, with Miguel in the foreground.

Paella!

Fabienne and me!

Our students doing a great job.

Paquito - so happy

I have just come back from a week at El Refugio. There was so much to do, I didn't write anything for the blog so now it's time to catch up. There are happy stories and stories that are more than sad. Luckily more of the former than the latter. I'll start with a happy story. It comes from the wonderful Kirsten in Denmark. Many thanks to her and to the loving Jane and Daniel, Paquito's new mum and dad.

Hello Fabienne

Here are some photoes of Paquito.

With his mum and dad, with his new shoes to protect his feet, when he uses his cart and a photo from the doggiwood using his cart.

Paquito is a very happy dog with his family and 2 rescue sisters from Greece. His mum and dad do everything to make his life a happy life in spite of his disability and Paquito is determined to live life to the full. Adopting Paquito has been very positive and rewarding for Jane and Daniel and they wouldn´t be without him.

 

Love Kirsten

 Paquito and his dad.

Paquito and daddy on a walk.

                                                                                Paquito's little shoes to protect his little feet.

Paquito cuddling with his mum.

Safe and happy with his mum and dad.

Fabienne writes about the Dog Days ...

Thank you for the wonderful days

It's been a week ago already ... time goes so fast, life hurtles past us but the happy moments we never forget, the beautiful moments will remain in our hearts FOREVER !! 

The ACE days in both the Netherlands and Belgium were a huge success. We and our teams greeted hundreds of dogs. We hugged them, we chatted with many adopters, volunteers, friends and acquaintances ... the days couldn't last long enough, they are days we never want to forget. A sincere  thanks to everyone, thanks for rescuing so many dogs that otherwise would no longer be here. 

The many words of praise and the visible proof of these happy dogs are a blessing for our mission, our purpose, no words are needed. The volunteers that day and night work away tirelessly in the background - they are our backbone. Every year they come together at the ACE days - only once a year but every year more lovely and more intense. 

It was beautiful ... together we have achieved this .... each in his own way, his own efforts, each different, but the result is that not only have we rescued great dogs but we have great people around us and them. Together this makes a great whole!

Tomorrow healthy again !!! 

Fabienne 

Fabienne's photos, put together by Ineke.

Forty four happy dogs find their golden baskets

Here are the sweet dogs who were adopted this August.

Forty four is a pretty good number considering the small number of flights that we had !!

Many thanks to Ineke for the lovely collage.

Now for some good news - the dogs from La Cala Market are safe!

A few weeks ago, Fabienne's Diary told the story of fifteen or more dogs who had been dumped on La Cala Market. The Fuengirola killing station were on the scene quickly, drugging the dogs and catching them. When Fabienne got there they were still there. Fabienne begged them to give them to her but no - they were determined to take them to the killing station. Then Fabienne could take them - if she paid for them. It was an enormous amount of money.

She could only take one little dog. But there's great news - we have bought them and they are safe at El Refugio. Sadly three of them had already died, but we were able to rescue the other twelve. There are still some dogs who were dumped at the market that are wandering around the streets of La Cala. We are working to save them.

Here they all are, poor souls. They were terribly hungry and of course they are still very scared. Where they came from, who dumped them, who knows. They do, of course. Their eyes speak a thousand words, but of course they can't tell us. They are such a mixture of ages and breeds, it's hard to imagine who could have owned them.

Thanks to everyone who helped us with this, thank you for your compassion .. they are safe now. Tomorrow is another day - back to work.

Dreadful news from England - but there's hope in the sadness

On Thursday evening there was a fire at Britain's oldest dog rescue centre - Manchester Dog's Home. It was arson. The suspect is 15 years old though nothing has yet been proved. Sixty dogs died - it doesn't bear thinking about.

Thanks to the bravery of the staff and local people over 150 other dogs were saved. And while the thought that someone could do this on purpose to innocent, vulnerable dogs and cause such distress to the people who care about them, the response restores faith in humanity.

Apart from risking their lives to save the dogs, people came from all over the district and some from much further away bringing food and medicine and bedding. The shelter's sister facility took the dogs who'd been saved and offers of fostering poured in. The Royal Society for the Protection of Animals (RSPCA), Dogs Trust, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and many more rescue charities are all standing by to help when needed.

Equally heartwarming is the fact that through the media, including social media, the word spread and fund raising started. £500,000 was raised in the first 12 hours. Today the amount raised is said to have passed £1.3 million. It won't bring those poor darling dogs back but it will show the staff how much people care. The money will be used to rebuild the home, which has been a beloved part of the area since 1893.