Please look at us ...

It's not just the long stayers we want to highlight. They are indeed special cases, having been with us far too long for no good reason, as they are all good dogs. As are all our dogs. Because we highlight some it doesn't mean all the hundreds of others are not equally deserving.

However, today I also want to throw the spotlight on some dogs who, for various reasons, we consider urgent cases. You can see them on the home page under the banner of ... you guessed it, 'urgent please look at me!'

Most of these dogs are still very young, easily assimilated into a family and eager to learn. Many have been with us since they were tiny puppies, some barely before their eyes were opened. Their brothers and sisters have been adopted, but they remain - who knows why.  There is also a sweet oldie among them and some gentle, sensitive Podencos.

Here they are, the darlings.

Leah

Leah is nearly two years old. With her seven brothers and sisters she was brought to the Refugio by a man who said he had 'found' them. She's a dear, affectionate dog with a lovely personality and is currently living with a foster family in Belgium. Who will give her the loving, forever home she needs and deserves.

 

Yako now and as a puppy.

Yako is one of a litter of 9 black and white puppies found in the Campo. They were barely born and it's thanks to the devotion of our great foster mother, Amalia, that they survived and thrived. They are now all nearly two and healthy young dogs. Some, like Yako, still need loving homes. 

 

Loloh now and as a puppy.

Loloh is Yako's brother. Taken in by Amalia and, with his brothers and sisters, bottle fed because their mum was so weak and hadn't the strength to feed all nine pups. Loloh, like his brother, is still in Spain and growing fast. At nearly two years old he needs his own family, we really don't want these pups to become long-stayers.

Kwasi

Kwasi is a wonderful, French Bulldog cross. A wonderful, fun loving dog he is now nearly three and is looking for a family who will love him forever. Problem free, 'friendliness on four legs', that's our Kwasi. He quickly finds his place in any group and will be the star of your family. 

Roxanna

Beautiful Roxana is nearly three years old. She was found on the streets, no place for a sensitive dog. We rescued her; at first she was unsettled and somewhat overwhelmed. She is still a bit hesitant but once she gets to know you she is the sweetest friend. Who will give this lovely Podenco girl a life as beautiful as she is?

Arnold

Arnold is eighteen months old. He hasn't been with us very long but he is a shy boy who needs the help of a patient owner to gently coax him out of his shell, show him that life and people can be good and that the horrible experience of the killing station is behind him. Who will give lovely Arnold the second chance he so badly needs and deserves.

Nino

Our dear Nino. He's in foster care in Belgium but he's already nine years old and we badly need to find him a loving home.  He's fine with older children but it's best he isn't placed with young kids or small dogs and cats. Nevertheless he has a lovely character - a sweet, calm dog who loves to play.

The adoption of Huub - No. 9797!

This is the story of the adoption of Huub, and how it came about. I feel I should stay quiet, but three months after his arrival I want to share my happiness.

 In May, I spent 5 days in the Refugio, where I got a text message from a friend:
'Take a look sometime at my virtual (sponsor) dog because no one has ever shown any interest in him ..." that was the opener.

I went, I looked, I took him to the beach. There was already a rapport and sure enough, three days later, we flew together to Belgium, Me & Huub number 9797.

The first night it was not so clear who was to sleep on the ground and who was to sleep on the sofa but after some explanation in Spanish, we came to an agreement.

And Huub, who two days later walked confidently around in our offices and in the restaurant, behaved as if he had never done anything else including sitting in the car (he has a distinct style). In short, we wouldn't be without him .

I always say, we have adopted a dog with socks and shoes. I can highly recommend it!


Yours sincerely,

Els Van Bouwel
Volunteer home visits and counseling flight SHIN

A distinctive style in the car!

Keeping a lookout.

Perfectly at home!

Having fun.

Yara and Gipsie - a sad tale but we hope with a happy ending.

      

Yara and Gipsie - their loving boss died.

Sunday, August 2nd, 2015

Yara, a red Cocker and Gipsie, a curly cross breed, belonged to a Spanish lady who lived for her dogs. She became ill so she did everything she could to find a new boss for them, right until the last moment. She didn't succeed and one day the neighbours found her dead in her house, with her three dogs. They urgently needed to find new homes but the family didn't want them, not the children nor the aunts and uncles. Her possessions were welcome, the dogs were not!

All three were taken to the killing station. Despite the fact that their papers were in perfect order, the vaccines up to date and the chip was the name of their deceased owner, it took ages before we could free the dogs. The bureaucracy is ridiculoous! Two of the three have been rescued, the third dog died of grief and hardship. Gipsie and Yara are very sad too, they are having great difficulty coming to terms with this aprupt, painful change in their lives.

Gipsie is so scared that you can't touch him. Yara was made pregnant in the killing station and was aborted of six massive puppie- this small dog could never have survived giving birth to such big puppies.

Both dogs are very, very skinny and so sad and depressed, just inconsolable. We do our best: Yara has a very sweet and submissive character, very humble and quiet. She still has a lot to digest. They both need time and eventally a good boss to help them get over this sadness.

Gipsie - so scared.

Time will help him trust again.

The love of a good boss will help her recover.

This sweet dog and her friend, Gipsie, deserve loving homes.

Sweet Rona.

Rona when still in Spain.

Rona has been staying with us for more than two months.

She is such a sweet girl!

We are so happy with her!

She enjoys life, goes on vacation with us, also comes on long walks and goes swimming in the sea. Exactly as if she had always been doing it. 

You can see her really flourishing! Every day we overcome another anxiety or insecurity, together. Working together!

But it will surely all work out well in the end!

Her health is good. Her muscles are already considerably stronger as well.

We certainly see each other on the SHIN-day!

 A paw and cuddle from Rona!

Enjoying a walk and the green grass.

Washed and brushed and out with her family.

Adopt. Adopt. Adopt. The rewards are immeasurable!

At last - Casimiro and Adyn found their golden baskets but ...

.... others are still waiting. Casimiro  and Adyn were both with us a long time. No one understands why some dogs don't get noticed while others fly out of the Refugio almost immediately because they are all so gentle, so sweet and so deserving.

                             Dear Casimiro

                  Sweet Adyn

Adyn and Casimiro were among our long stayers - but happily they have both been welcomed into forever homes, where they are much loved.  But there are many more like them - dear, good dogs who are longing for their golden baskets.

This is Ozzie. He's been with us since 2009. which is extraordinary since he's such a lovely chap. He's already six years old and is in foster in Belgium. He so deserves a loving forever home. Could you take him into your family. You'd never regret it.

Our dear Contessa. She's been waiting so long - and is currently in foster in the Netherlands. She's been with us since 2012, since she was very small. She is already 3 years old. Who will give this darling a new, happy start. 

Sweet Sereno has also been waiting a long, long time. This five-year old has been with us since she was a puppy. Now in foster care in the Netherlands, he fits in well with the other dogs and is an affectionate, fun loving and dear dog. We really want to see him happy in loving forever home.

Oca, left and Pato, right. Oca is the mum, we think, and Pato her son, aged 8 and 6 respecively. They are both adorable so it's strange that they have been with for nearly five years. When they first arrived they were in a terrible state, severely neglected and terrified but now they are completely recovered and longing for forever homes.

Bright, intelligent Gody was dumped in a garbage container with his brothers and sisters in 2008, all tiny puppies. They were all adopted. Gody remains, goodness knows why he's been overlooked all these years. He's seven now, a good, kind dog. Please will someone give him the warm loving home he badly needs and deserves.

Funny, social with other dogs and with people, Cavalier has been with us since 2010 and is in foster care in the Netherlands. He's seven years old already and badly needs to have his very own family where he can relax and be happy forever.

We rescue dogs - and we rescue cats too.

Mama Celeste - such beautiful blue eyes!

At ACE we have always cared for all creatures. Although we don't have the facility to house the cats at El Refugio we do have this facility at our sister refuge in Algeciras. At El Refugio itself, we have a little house by the gate where the feral cats can shelter and we feed them daily and there is always fresh water. People also bring us cats or we find them in the killing stations or even on the street. Where possible we take them in and put them in foster care.

We also work closely with the dog hotel, on the hill above the Refugio. Here there are many small houses and shelters dotted about. One room has soft blankets, baskets and cat beds and the window is left open so the cats can come inside, should they wish, but still feel safe.

The hills around are full of many feral cats. Some born in the wild, some dumped by people who should know better. Every evening these cats are fed. It's routine and the cat's know that every day at a certain time there will be food. It's quite a sight to see them all gathering gliding in from all over the campo for their food.

Where it's possible, without upsetting a cat too much, it is taken in and sterilised and then released again. On occasion it is possible to take in a cat who has not yet turned feral, so that it can be rehomed. This is only done if it is in the best interests of the cat. The feral cats are allowed to live their lives in peace, but with shelter, food and water as well as medication, if it's possible to administer this.

Below you can see some of the cats and kittens who are longing for a forever home and read their stories. You'll find more kittens, cats and stories on the website - all so beautiful and so deserving of love and a second chance.

    

Three of Mama Celeste's kittens, Cassandra, Coco and Captain

                

  

Lucky Cuddles, another of Mama Celeste's litte family, has already found her forever home. 

Ambar & Grey found under a box in stifling heat. Read their sad story here.

Sirope.

Ambar and Sirope. Great friends comforting each other.

Pudding, so affectionate, she was saved from the killing station.

Shiela - a lady found her at the killing station and brought her to us.