Update Stevie Wonder/Stef - our darling, precious golden oldie

Fabienne writes ...

I can't help myself. I have to show you ... just look at our Stef ... soooo happy and soo forgotten in Spain a long time ago. Just look ...

Happily sniffing.

With my new friends.

For those of you who don't know his story a brieft summary. He was tiny, fragile and very disturbed. He was like a vegetable in the shelter. An unhappy, tortured little vegetable, snapping at everyone out of sheer insecurity and fear. We thought he might have nerve damage. What we did know was that he was deaf, blind and very, very old.

Please read his story. When you know his history you will appreciate even more the miracle that is Stevie Wonder, now called Stef. And you can read about his homecoming too.

These happy endings don't just happen. It takes love, devotion, care and determination. And Fabienne's policy that every dog is worth saving. No matter what their state of health, their problems. Miracles take quite a lot of help!

Here are some before and after pictures

First days in the Refugio. Tiny, terrified and in a bad way.

Bliss. Not just for Stef - for us such joy to see him like this.

Modest - he suits his name so well

Modest - gentle and endearing.

This is what it says on 'his page' ...

We came across this very beautiful dog, still young, with his attractive colouring - a handsome honey with a particularly lovely nature... at the killing station. Tick, tick, precious time was running out... if no one claims you in ten days... Seeing him there was heartbreaking to Juani, one of our team, and she saved him from this doomed hell. Naming him was easy... 'Modest'... because he is such a calm, lovely, humble soul, who's on top of the world with even the quickest hug... a wonderfully endearing dog!  I met Modest on my last trip out to El Refugio. Such a darling. A calm, humble soul who really suits his name. So happy to get a pat or a kind word. Yes, a wonderfully endearing dog. .  While I was pleased to see his video gracing the front page of the website in the last couple of months, I was very surprised to see that he had still not been adopted. Such a gorgeous character would make a family very happy.  That was one of the reasons I wanted to feature Modest on the blog today. But when I looked at his page again, I saw he's been reserved. Yay! How wonderful. I do hope it goes really well and that soon sweet Modest will also be boarding that big sky bird and flying off to his golden basket and his forever home.

Our Prince ...

Sweet Prince (who used to be called Printeps)

On December 24, 2014 we got our "Christmas dog". For this, we had to make a trip to Belgium to pick him up. It was exciting but also the worry - would we click?  My worrying was totally unnecessary. From the first moment it was love at first sight from both sides. We gave him the name "Prince" (formerly Printeps) and he responded to his name immediately. 

He quickly took his place and after 2 nights he went to sleep peacefully. He is very attached to his mistress and crawls sweetly into your lap as often as possible. It is like getting a hug ... .a joy to be able to enjoy such a loyal animal. At the beginning, I was  recovering from shoulder surgery and I found it wonderful to have him with me and later to be able to walk in the forest with him. 

No one could have suspected that on April 7 I would break that same shoulder and again have to stay at home. There was someone who didn't mind though ... .Prince enjoyed seeing more of his mistres and his extra trips to the forest. 

Prince can run free in the woods and makes sure he can see me and knows where I am. He will occasionally run off to do some 'research' but his nose always brings him back to his mistress. Every day Prince walks for a kilometer or even 5 through the forest. He thoroughly enjoys sniffing about but also playing with his dog friends.

We are very pleased that we have took the step to adopt a dog from ACE and have been able to give him a good home. The organization takes good care of the animals and we find the aftercare particularly good. We hope we will be able to have and to share these experiences for a long time.

Greetings from the family Geers and a 'paw' from Prince

 

Friends for Life

A letter from Gerrie ...

This morning I was watching the replay of Irene Moors and Carlo Boshard. There were many guests and there were many questions. It was a promotion for their new single, which is all about how important friends are.  

I was partly watching to encourage myself. And yes, who should be sitting there in from of me, two of my best friends for life. Two Bodeguero contemporaries from ACE. Male (Pocoloco) and Friend (foxyfoxtrot). I want to emphasize, once again, what fine dogs they are. 

My two Bodeguero contemporaries would have been destined to hunt, they probably do still but this time it's for the balls I throw for them and which they have no problem fetching and bringing back to me. During walks on the beach, people are silent, watching, filming because for the dogs the ball is sacred. Yes, and so is the boss of course. 

Look, just in front of my nose. True friends for life.

Greetings from my two little friends, and of course from me.

Gerrie Baker.

Open Day at A.C.E. Algeciras Shelter ...

It was Open Day in our Algeciras shelter. Our visitors were mostly Spanish who had come to take a look and meet the dogs and find out about us and our work. It's so important to get our message across and to educate the kids about dogs. Everyone enjoyed themselves - especially the dogs -  as you will see. They loved the attention. As you watch the video, you will be moved to see how much these dogs still love people and crave attention, despite the cruel and horrible treatment they have received from  humans in the past.

Click on the link to enjoy this beautiful day in Algeciras - http://ace-charity.org/en/diaries/puertas-abiertas-algeciras/

Our Bullie ... he can stay!

My step! My garden!

On March 17, it was exactly a month since Boelie came to us. So his probation period is over. Watch him smile in the photo ... I think he's glad he can stay!

He has really exceeded expectations. He lets us put in his eye drops, without growling. And also he does not itch or hurt any more more. Whether he actually sees better, I do not know. But he's pain and itch-free, which is the  main thing. His ears are still fine.

The only thing that needs to change now is that he is as comfortable with John and Bear as he is with me! If Bear comes over to me Boelie will growl. But I'm going to get that sorted - 100%. And next year hopefully he will feel the same way towards John as he does to me. That's our goal.

Flappy was also anxious around John, for a long time. He is still, sometimees, to be frank.  But he also he sometimes go up to John all by himself and put his head on John's lap. It took a year for this to happen, but we have to recognise that he had also been through a lot. And his gratitude shines out.

Boelie still growls when he's in his bench and John approaches. But when I say it's OK, he stops.
If I ride the quad bike in the evenings, I put Boelie on the saddle and he 'drives' it. He thinks it's quite fun! I will see if John can take a picture of it.

So relaxed! But I think you're meant to lie ON the bed, sweet boy!

That's better. You're getting the idea!

Flappy on the left, Bear on the right. And look who's on the step!

Such a heartwarming sight. When you think of all he's been through, it's wonderful.

Bliss!

Pictures of the week ... 11th April 2015

 Fabienne with our Dianeke - 76 years old and with such eneryg and so many dreams !!!

Frightened Bella, a wounded soul ...

Another box of puppies at the gate ... Algeciras Shelter.

Poor little mites - but they are safe now.

Ana Granada brings our Lucero to the airport. After 3.5 years refugio he can go home !!!! We are more than happy for dogs that finally find happiness. Thanks to everyone, together we are strong hey !!!!

Today was sterilisation day. If only we could get the message across to everyone.

Unique moment, Michael and Samantha persuade a taxi driver to let them take two dogs to the beaches for a walk, Melleke and Michel ... unbelievable but true, because taxis NEVER accept dogs on board !!!