Our Piet Hein - who would have thought it. So beautiful!

A little note about Piet Hein: He was the 'forgotten' dog in the killing station. He managed to keep alive by hiding away in a corner each time the day came for the euthanasia. He managed to do this three times before he came to the Refugio.  But his timidity was such that even with us he didn't want attention. He didn't know what love was. We kept him in the clinic to try to get him to eat and heal. Such a sweet, fragile little thing. 

And then his luck changed. He was adopted. This is what his owner says: 

First, happy new year to you and all your loved ones. 

All my kids give me love, balance and of course, complete loyalty ... What would I do without them, ..... and probably ... what would they have become without me ... 😉

Piet has a big (very big) heart murmur, probably due to the suffering he's endued. He is under treatment. However, he is fine, he now weighs 10 kilos, and goes out for a little bit every day.
Only downside: he is anxious when I'm away, but when I return, what a reunion each time!

Kisses to the whole team!

Today it is Fabiennes birthday ....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FABIENNE

The Refugio has no electricity ... 😨

It's been going on for weeks. Sometimes there was electricity, sometimes nothing. For weeks we'd been asking the company for help. They came to take a look, but said they couldn't find anything. Then last week they discovered that the cables that run above our Refugio had been damaged, maybe due to a storm or from some other cause. The damage was heavy - some lines were torn and some melted together. 

We are struggling with the intermittent supply because our water pumps, clinic, thermal lamps for the cages and much more are permanently in use, so the electricity is constantly shorting out. Every once in a while, we are completely without any electricity.

The electricity company doesn't want to do anything to repair this because it's 'private land'.  We pay nearly every two months a decent amount.  We are always on time and pay correctly, but now we just have to get on with it on our own. It doesn't count with them at all that there 350 dogs and 100 cats needing care every day and that good hygiene is necessary, to say nothing of the need to keep them all warm and to carry on with operations on dogs and cats badly needing help. 'They' are indifferent -  they just got back in their van back and off they went ... and here we are.

Now Dirk is trying to rent a generator but prices are extremely high,... they ask up to 70 euros a day and then you still have to reckon on paying for your diesel,... we are at the end of our tether. It's costing us €140 a day with all the associated expenses.

The repair could cost between 7.000-10.000 euros and we can only get a  quote after 7 January because until January 6th, Spain is "on hold", no one works. We have approached a variety of different company asking for their estimates,  but in the meantime we are in real misery and our dogs always bear the brunt.

I can't believe that as a company they just don't want to help,... their post is only 200 m away from our refugio but we have to get everything done ourselves. It's too crazy for words,... but they are not bothered.

We'd be grateful to have any ideas. Any advice. Do you have contacts in the electricity industry? Are you an engineer in this field? Do you know anything about the way electricity supply companies operate in Spain? Any help of whatever nature will be so gratefully received. The appropriate emails and contact details are on the website. 

As soon as we have more information about what it will cost to sort this out, we will update the blogs and let you all know how you can help, if you'd like to. Thank you.

                                

Graciela: such a sweet character, despite the challenges she's faced

Sometimes dogs are doubly unlucky. Such is the case with gentle Gracielta, a beautiful Husky cross. First she was separated from her puppies, who were dumped on their own in a box in front of our gates. Suddenly, two weeks later, Graciela stood at our door with another puppy, Gotita. We suspected that she was also the mum of the pups we had taken in a couple of weeks before. When she saw them there was no doubt at all. She was beside herself with happiness to be reunited with them. It was lovely to see.

Graciela's puppies were adopted and she was adopted separately together with her daughter Gotita.  But due to circumstances beyond their control, circumstances having nothing to do with these two darlings, they had to look for a new home. At first we wanted to keep them together but later realised that they'd be fine if they were adopted separately. Gotita has been in her new home since May this year and is doing well. 

Now it's Graciela's turn. She's been with us for nearly five years and is 9 years old. It's time that she had a new home where she can be loved and spoiled. Graciela is a calm, soft creature who sometimes needs to have a little time on her own to have a  nap. She has very soft, long, thick fur. She's a whopper and also an affectionate cuddle bug. She loves to go for a walk and is fine with children. Who will take Graciela into their home and their heart? Don't let her wait any longer.

For full information about this gentle, beautiful dog, please click here. 

A happy pussy cat : Mila found her golden basket

Mila's kind adoptant writes: Mila (ACE Primula) has been with me for over a month now but she is doing great, her big brother Red is also very happy with her😃🥰

COME AND VISIT US ..... BECAUSE OF IT'S GREAT SUCCESS LAST TIME, WE ARE ORGANIZING ANOTHER TRIP TO OUR REFUGIO IN SPAIN

Hello? Are you coming to give me a cuddle?

Last time it was a great success. If you were not able to come then, here's another chance to visit us. You'll be very welcome 

When:  from 23rd to 25th March (2 nights).
Price: € 275 for flights from Brussels, overnight stays, breakfast and airport-hotel bus transfer.

Activities: A visit to the refugio and dinner with Fabienne and people from the team. And of course plenty of hugging and walking with the dogs. You'll be staying near the beach and in the center of the charming town of La Cala de Mijas. We will fly dogs home to their golden baskets on on the return trip.

Number of places: 26

Are you coming? Do you have any questions? Send an email to pr.belgie@ace-charity.org. for full details and more information.

Happy New Year .... success and happiness in 2020!