A Tribute to Diva ....

With Fabienne - Diva, the first dog saved

She was the pioneer, the pathfinder.  This little puppy, cowering in misery at the back of a filthy cage was destined to spearhead a movement that grew to become ACE, one of the leading rescue organisations in Spain with a vast organisation in Holland and Belgium. But when Fabienne first set eyes on Diva, El Refugio was still a killing station where every Friday, at 6 o'clock, all the dogs whose ten days were up were killed.

Fabienne was powerless to stop it for this was 1999, right at the beginning of her work. It was years before she was in a position to take over the premises and turn it into the haven and refuge that it is today. All she could do then was take photographs and send them to people and go round the town, trying to persuade someone, anyone, to save some of them.

That began to change with Diva, the breakthrough dog. Without asking (she knew what the answer would be) Fabienne simply took her in the middle of the night and drove away. She drove through the night. To Antwerp. Without stopping. Just before they arrived she tied a big bow round Diva's neck. Then she rang the bell. Her sister Caroline opened the door - and fell in love.

Adored by her family

The whole family fell in love with Diva. For thirteen years she brought them joy, companionship, friendship, laughter. They loved their Diva. And she loved them.  She died on 26th December. They are heartbroken. Devastated. And very proud. For Diva led the way. The first of many thousands of dogs that have followed her. The pathfinder.

In her diary Fabienne says " Diva, may many dogs follow. May we have the strength and possibilities to go on like this for a very long time, with you in our hearts. Sweet family, I wish you strength in this great loss. We know how it feels. How much you will miss her."

Beloved Diva

In tribute to Diva, here are some of the dogs that followed her to loving homes, to golden baskets. There must be well over 13,000 'Happy Endings' - there is only room here for a few representatives. Among the sadness, the anger and impotence we often feel, it's good to remember the success stories - the lives saved, the wounds healed and the happiness of our beloved dogs and the joy they bring to their new, loving  families.

In her diary Fabienne tells the story in her own eloquent words. And you can read her family's owwn moving tribute to Diva here.
                
Beloved Bombadonneke - home at last                                    Reina Sofia - had nearly given up

                  
Jorine with Huggy Hardy and Chica                    Brave Golfito

Nemo

             
             Happy Cookie

Ineke's lucky darlings

                                  
           Handsome Solex                                                        Cloudy - rescued from the street

  

                                    

                                    Bernado - without words
                                                 
The happy dogs below were adopted in Holland during December 2012. Even more dogs were adopted into Belgium and other countries in Northern Europe. Last year the beagles rescued from the laboratory went all the way to the USA. Like the dogs above these are just a very small but representative sample of over 13,000 dogs rescued, saved and loved since 1999. You can see more on the Dutch and English blogs.

Heartfelt thanks to Fabienne for her courage, determination and persistence, to Dirk for his constant support and to every single person who has contributed over the years, in whatever way. And thank you to Diva, the pioneer. We'll never forget you.

Many thanks to Ineke for the beautiful collage.

For everyone ....

                                               

A happy ending ...

... yet another lovely story to start 2013 on a joyful note

A Miraculous Breakthrough to Start the New Year

                           

It's something we have been working for, longing for - praying we would get there one day. And then last week it happened. Fabienne wanted to wait until she received the documents before sharing the news with everyone. And now we have them, the signed official documents.

ACE SHIN has signed a contract with the municipality of Malaga, acting on behalf of the Malaga killing station. It allows us to save the maximum dogs possible from the killing station, something we are already doing but with restrictions. Up until now most dogs had only 10 days before they were killed. Now dogs who have a chance of adoption will be given more than 10 days to find a new boss. And ACE SHIN will be able to take the dogs without having to pay any fee, something we have had to do until now. We will all try together to minimise the number of dogs who are killed every year.




Furthermore, and of great importance, Malaga is willing to introduce sterilisation projects and education projects in schools and colleges.  We are hoping that working together will lead to greater cooperation with the goal of giving a chance to animals without hope. To change people's ideas so that they will be willing to sterilise or castrate their dogs. To let children understand how to treat animals. To understand that a dog is for life, not just for a little while. 


It's not easy to change a mentality. Here in Spain, for generations, people haven't seen animals the way we do. They don't mean the same to them as they do to us. All beginnings are difficult but we are happy that we have taken this first step towards each other. The other killing stations didn't want to join in, but to its great credit Malaga has taken the first step. And great credit goes also to Fabienne and all involved in this momentous breakthrough. It's taken years, effort, determination, tears and courage. They never gave up. Thank you a million times.

                            

                                

A Message of Peace for the New Year

Happy families and a message of peace! Gregory Pike, from Colorado, toured America and then for some years was a familiar sight on the streets of Santa Barbara and San Francisco. Residents and visitors alike came to love to see him with his 'family' - Booger, the Rottweiler, Kitty, the American Tabby and Mousey who is in fact a rat. 

It all started when some kids were talking about cartoons where animals of different species are portrayed as friends. The children said it wasn't possible. Gregory Pike took it as a challenge. He had worked with animal rescues and rehabilitation centres for mountain animals and has some experience of animal training. 

Greg rescued Booger from an animal shelter. A little later he discovered a litter of kittens whose mother had died. He found homes for them all except Kitty as Booger had singled her out and believed the little kitten was her puppy.  Booger and Kitty were brought up among a variety of small animals, so when Mousey appeared one day neither the cat or dog turned a hair.  There have, in fact, been several Mouseys.

Greg's ambition was always to start a free animal shelter. His overall motivation, and the reason he continued to bring his animals out to meet the public, was to provide hope and happiness in a messed up world. "Everywhere I brought them, they made people smile, and it just made me feel really good inside," Pike said.It's been a struggle but, he says, "a happy struggle."Booger may well have become one of the most famous animals in the world, with appearances on Animal Planet and the YouTube video, with almost ten million hits. 

In September 2012, Gregory Pike went back to his home town of Telluride, Colorado, to give his animals time to rest. Booger was 12 and Kitty is 11. He still intended to take them out for their morning and evening walks. “My dog earned her last few years to be in her favorite spot,” he says. “She always loved the high altitudes and the cold, so I’m going to go back and stay. I’m happy for what I did, and I’m glad I touched people. I have no regrets.”

Sadly, Booger died at the end of October from kidney and liver failure. She was 13."I think my eyes are drained. It really hurts," said Gregory. "She didn't die in pain at all. She passed away in comfort in Telluride, where she loved to be." Gregory will continue to focus on animals and bringing joy to people but there won't be another dog-cat-rat act. That was a once in a lifetime adventure. Booger will be cremated and her ashes will be scattered on Gold Hill, in Telluride "her favourite place on earth".

Sources: Loud for animals,  YouTube,  Dogster  , Daily Camera 

The coats are so welcome ...

"... The coats are very welcome with the cold at the moment. During the day it's nice and fresh but at night it's really cold. Luckily we have the coats. Thank you so much."
                                                                                                                  Fabienne

The arrival of the coats ...

Fabienne sent these pictures a couple of weeks ago. Sorry it's taken a while to get them up on the site. And heartfelt thanks to all who spent so much time and effort creating them and donating money. Fabienne wrote ....

.... "We would like to thank everyone who helped with collecting just before Christmas. We will be spoiled with your help for our dogs ... from all of us, a great big thank you!"

Lovely coats to keep our dogs warm ....

.... even more.

And still more wonderful gifts. 

 Lovely new baskets for our dogs

Which  coat is my coat?

It must be Christmas!

It really is Christmas for us.