Smiley but serious :)

Thanks to Denise for sending this.

A Message from Fabienne and Ton

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2015
A word of thanks to everyone !!!

    

Dear All,

We're still in the middle of a dilemma, right in middle of the works, but we have been given some respite and so we carry on, with hands on deck !!

Fabienne.

Our treasurer Ton's message:

The response and sympathy have been overwhelming, so we want to thank everyone for the money they have donated, large or small. 

We are not there yet, but it is coming along, we still need a large sum but  I am confident that we will get there.

Again to everyone, thank you very much for your gifts, your physical help ... we will go in... until the bitter end !!!

Ton van de Broek, volunteer-treasurer, ACE/Shin

Our Ton with his shadow, Blondie. ...

Treats, please?

Just look at those beautiful eyes!

Luxury. 

Peep-po!

Shadow!

Trust.

Finn - another year in his forever home

A mesage from Finn's adopter ...

Thursday, June 4th, 2015

Here is my favorite photo or Finn. It is very typical of him-one ear up and waiting for direction. Such a sweet boy!

Our Stef has become a Celebrity!

Stef formerly Stevie Wonder

An update from Steph's adoring mistress ...

On June 24, 2014 I saw your little Stef on the website. It was thought that you were deaf and blind, Stef, not so easy for you to live in a refugio with many other dogs. And I thought, you've been in the refugio for nine months, unapproachable by anyone, snapping and even daring to bite, you poor little fellow, you must come to us. And that's how it happened.

On 3rd July, at the airport it was proposed that the bench shouldn't be opened ... and yet we did open it. We were welcomed by an excited and alert 'youngster'. All the way home you sat up in front on my lap. We got home at half past two in the morning. We took you to see if you wanted a pee, and maybe a sip of water. But you weren't interested in any of that.  We put your basket beside the bed. But no, that wasn't what you wanted, you were restless. We took you onto the bed, and then you were very agitated - we figured you didn't like it, and then - a warm pee on me. OK. Once again outside. And then you slept quietly, undisturbed by our presence.

The first week seemed exemplary - but then your true nature came out. Nipping and biting, on my eye several times on my nose, definitely my fingers, which were attacked daily. And then slowly the breakthrough. Stef was sweet, calm, and patient. Stef felt good. We took Stef with us on vacation and Stef got it from the get go. Bathroom in a new spot, steps down to the meadow, trot through the hall to find me in the bedroom. He loved it, his tail was wagging all the time.

Stef is definitely learning new things. Stef is not deaf, definitely not. We went with him to the vets at Wageningen. Unfortunately, nothing can be done about his blindness. His eye development stopped  at the foetal stage. He's never known anything else. But deaf, no. He's not deaf. At the most it's that he can't concentrate when there are a lot of people or dogs around him. So now when Stef walks with us we have a  bell around our ankle, and he loves this. He sleeps with his little head on the arm of his mistress, snores like a big dog and his mistress sleeps as best she can!!!

Stef is super sweet and doesn't bite now. He did so earlier as a warning because he was insecure and frightened but now he will growl instead to warn you that he doesn't know what you mean or what your intentions are. My husband gets mega high scores over here in the neighborhood, all the neighbors love him because he walks Loan Pieter early every morning and in the evening with Stef and he wears the bell so Stef will know he is close by. Stef has become a celebrity. Previously he found everything a little scary, now he struts around as if he owns the world. Stef is very social, sometimes he finds other dogs secretly scary, but he is not about to show it ... Well ... he is a male huh!

In the forest he avoids all the trees, walks nicely on the paths and follows the sound of the bell and the voice of his mistress, who talks to him constantly. We never imagined that Stef would come as far as he has already. He really wants to do it - and he is bursting with life .... He has his flaws because, well, walking with a collar around my neck and a lead ... I don't think so!!! As to having my fur combed, no not that either. But let's just let that go - no one is perfect! Stef certainly isn't but he's come so far ...

To fully appreciate how far Steph has indeed come, read more of his story.

Miracle dog in the arms of his forever mistress, who's love is transforming him.

Not a Word was Spoken ...

 

"There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it.  

 

You surround yourself with people who make you laugh.  

Forget the bad, and focus on the good. 

 

Love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't.  

  

Life is too short to be anything but happy.

Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living." 

Many thanks to Fabienne for the photos and for this very relevant message - something that is very appropriate in view of all the difficulties we have been facing at the Refugio.

Beautiful Sweet Jip

Dear faithful Jip

Jip

She's been living with us for almost half a year now - large, beautiful, sweet Jip (formerly Tammy).

From the first moment we met her she was in our hearts.

What an affectionate and loyal dog!

She listens well and loves to play with other dogs.

I walk with her for an hour, three times a day, and I can see that she needs it. If I don't do that, she wanders around me all the time and then has too much energy.

When I'm walking with her people often come up to me to say what a beautiful dog, They love her and ask what breed it is. My answer; "She's nothing special, but to me she's everything."

The following story is typical - it's Jip in a nutshell:

Out walking with Jip, I came across an old gentleman with a whippet. He told me that he has adopted dogs from shelters for 50 yearsand the only thing he wants is to give them a good old age.

While I was talking with him his dog was hiding behind him. The gentleman told me that this dog was extremely anxious (he had been used for greyhound racing and was now discarded because he ran too slowly - he had been 2 seconds off the time!).

Jip waited quietly until I had finished talking, but out of the corner of my eye I saw she was very gently making contact with the other dog. She sniffed carefully at his head and put her head against his. And to the surprise of the gentleman his dog reacted and made contact with Jip.

The gentleman had tears in his eyes and told me the dog had been with him for 3 years and this was the first time it allowed another dog to approach and make contact.

I was also very touched; our great dear faithful Jip; I am so proud of you !!

Faithful friend

So gentle

A special relationship

Temptation