A Message from Amareto

At the airport with Tubolev waiting for Mum

Hello Fabienne

This is me, Amareto, writing from Denmark  to tell you that I have a family now, mum, dad and my own girl called Lulu, she is a big girl and my best friend. I was a bit worried in the box at the airport, but then mum came and smiled at me and called me her little dog and when they let me out of the box, I jumped straight on to her lap and l knew that she was my mum. 

When we came home I found out that I have a house to live in and Lulu was glad to see me and said that I could share her dog basket, so I was very pleased and thought I had better pee on a lot of things in the house, so everybody knew that Lulu and the house was mine now. But mum didn`t like it at all, so I stopped that and only pee outside now and mum says that I am intelligent and wonderful and she loves me.

So you see Fabienne I am very happy here, because they all like me - and mum's friend Nina want to adopt a dog from ACE too, because she is so impressed with me and the other 3 dogs that came home in December. So next month Deno comes home too and then I have a friend from ACE near by to play with.

                                                                                                                Love from your Amareto

Me in my golden basket

Lulu lets me share her basket

Me and my new sister, Lulu

Fifteen years - so many dogs saved - thank you now and always

Fifteen Years - Seventeen Thousand Lives

A message from Fabienne on this extraordinary and happy day ...

Fabienne with her beloved Max

It's hard to believe and to comprehend, but today we are 15 years old. Together with Ton, with Dirk and with so many other people we started something. We had no idea where it would lead us. We wanted to change things, to do something about the misery that we saw then and which still surrounds us every day.

And we have made a difference. We had to give up a lot, personally, but it was worth it. And it has made a difference to 17,000 lives and even more. We did it. It was our goal and we did it.

Meanwhile our ACE/SHIN  has become an organization where many people work together, and fight to save the animals. Out of our organization many other organizations have been born, all made up of people with their hearts in the right place.

But we are all human and working together and continuing to do so is hard and not always possible to sustain. And so you see people come and go. But there has not been a day when we have abandoned the dogs. Not for one minute. However difficult, however heavy emotionally, we always kept our initial goal in sight. Rescuing animals in need.

Thank you to all who have taken part in this task. Thank you for everyone who has contributed in any way, whether you are still working with us or have long since gone your own way. We are grateful to every single person who accompanied us on our path. No matter how long or short a time you were with us, thank you to everyone who has helped us get where we are today. Our sincere thanks.

So, now we will continue with our big dream. We will not give up. We will go forward lustily, all together, for the next 15 years. Life is a stage, and we are the extras, living through a concert where you are given no programme, where you take what is thrown at you every day.

Saved from death, neglect or from other unold miseries our dogs are a constant source of joy. Each time you cuddle them, see them play and run around, join in the fun at home or elsewhere, you realise that they are the loveliest creatures you will ever meet. They make that difference. A difference you will only know if you allow them into your life.

I love what I do. It's not easy. It's not always appreciated. But for people like us, it's more than worth it ... and we go through it together!!

And tomorrow people, healthy again, with your sweetheart in your arms. Life goes on. This is how you fill yourself up with success and courage !!

We do not give up !!

Fabienne

Fabienne with Diva, so special - the very first dog she rescued 

With Max, Christmas 2013

Fifteen extraordinary years

On 14th December ACE/SHIN celebrates 15 extraordinary years.

So much hard work. So much dedication. So many tears. So much joy.

We thank you Fabienne, Dirk and everyone who has been a part of it.

Here are some photos from the start, in 1999 to the present.

Christmas Fair at La Cala - for our dogs!

Efe, Fabienne and Diana - but Alfredo steals the show!

Diana with a supporter!

Our lovely Diana - showing off the wares!!!!

The event was very popular and we raised money for the dogs.

Darling Flappy - his very first Christmas in his forever home.

Happy Flappy

Yes. After six years, six long years, Flappy is home and enjoying his first Christmas. He was one of our beloved 'special needs' children. Poor Flappy is incontinent. It didn't seem possibe that we'd ever find him a golden basket. But miracles happen. They keep happening. Flappy has been adopted by some marvelous people. It's wonderful. So wonderful. We are so happy. Thank you so much to these amazing people.

Here is what his new, adoring mum has to say.

"My own little Flappy has been home exactly eight months today! How time flies and what a time it's been. Bear is still his great friend and role model.  For instance Flap was interested when we were setting up the Christmas tree. At first he looked on from a distance. But when Bear went to look at the tree later, of course Flap followed him. 

Flap feels at home. It's as if he's always been here. And now his first Christmas at home ..... so cosy! For Flap Christmas is probably a day like any other day here, but for us it is very special indeed! Who would have thought that this would be possible at all, a year ago? That here we are, a year later, with Flappy, who lived in the Refugio for six whole years, now in his golden basket ready for Christmas. It's so wonderful. 

Flappy now sleeps as much as Bear does, because of course Bear sleeps a lot! Like for the whole day!  If I sit down with Flappy now, he's no longer scared. He rolls around and give me kisses. He is so grateful. For Flappy been a very exciting year. The year of the golden basket! So well deserved and so willingly given by everyone!

For my own little Flappy things have really worked out well.

Happy holidays everyone! May all your wishes come true in December!

Lots of love from me, John, Bear and Flappy.

Flappy and Bear hanging out under the Christmas Tree, making like reindeer!

Cuddles for Christmas - so wonderful!

Quecera - what will be, will be ... and it's good!

Little Quecera at the Refugio

Another sweetheart who I fell in love with in September. A modest, gentle creature called Quecera. She was one of the dogs who ran around loose in the area near the office. She hung back, didn't push forward when treats were being offered - you had to make sure you singled her out to ensure she got her proper share.

I always love the quiet, timid ones. I really feel for them; you can see how crushed they are, how their spirits have been beaten down. And all you want to do is cuddle them, give them hope, show them they are loved. It will take a while because Quecera was no longer wanted. She spent four long years dumped in a dog centre from when she was a small puppy. She got little exercise and put on weight. She didn't get much attention and not much love. She was lost. Luckily that began to change when she came to us. Little by little she began to grow in confidence.

When I met her she was still uncertain but when I spoke to her gently, showed her affection, cuddled and stroked her she would respond so gratefully. I couldn't but fall in love with her and want to make her happy. Fabienne tells her story in her diary. Of how she found Quecera sitting at the back of her cage, her spirit broken. And how she was absolutely determined to show Quecera how very precious she is. And to find this gentle, deserving dog a happy, loving, forever home. And now that's happened.

This is what her adoptive family have to say :-

She is doing very well. She is still easily scared but it's going a bit better. She loves to go for walks and is very kind to other small dogs. She is scared of large dogs. The small dogs are not always friendly to her, but she accepts that. Our Jorg loves her a lot, since the first day, he has also made the photos. 

Kind regards

Liesbeth Dressen - Tania Reynders and the boys.

Happy with her bone

 

Home at last.