Pongo - happy in Holland

Pongo, our Spanish hero, is happy in the Netherlands.

He is a super-happy ACE dog - a real clown.

Ineke has posted lots of photos.

Magda's generous donation

ACE doesn't get any funding from governments or from any other official body. All our work is possible through the love and generousity of our volunteers, sponsors and donors. Without them we couldn't keep going.

One of our wonderful supporters, Magda, has just sent a phenomenal donation of €2,000!! We are so grateful and thank her wholeheartedly.

She writes ..

Dear Fabienne and Ton,

Today I paid a sum of 2,000 euros into your account.
I know you work hard for the dogs to provide a good life and that money is always welcome. Please use it as you need it - for vetinary treatment, improving the Refugio or for food for the animals. Wherever it's needed.

I have enormous respect for your work.
And for the fantastic way that you have set up the organization and the way you run it.

Best regards,

Magda

PS: I myself have adopted Puchie and Jeanneke from ACE

Puchie and Jeanneke on the beach.

Puchie and Jeanneke at home.

The flight was delayed ... but finally they arrived

Eager, owners had a long wait at Schipol on Friday, 9th April. The flight was delayed for two and a half hours. Having waited for my neice's delayed flight into Heathrow a few weeks ago, I know how anxious that wait can be.

But at last the plane landed. It was so beautiful to see these happy owners meeting their dogs, dogs who are finally home. At last. All have been adopted except Mira who is going to be in foster in the Netherlands. Let's hope that sweet Mira finds her forever family really quickly.

And we want to say a big thank you to Therese, who escorted all these dogs and so enabled them to start their new lives with their loving families.

Can we get out now? Marga and Vida.

Amy, surrounded by love.

Mira, the new foster child. 

Hello1 It's nice to be out of the cage.

Lou Loupie, what a sweetie. Looks as if she's going to be spoilt and adored.

Vida meets her family. It's a lot to take in for a small dog.

Still a bit unsure, but Fernando will soon settle in.

Happy dogs with their happy owners. It was well worth the wait.

Get Away saved herself, and earned her name ...

Nearly there ...

Fabienne tells Get Away's story in her diary. As they arrived at the killing station to save as many dogs as they could, the 'collection' van rolled up, stuffed with dogs. These are the dogs who have been rounded up and are due to be killed. It's heartbreaking but we are not allowed to take these ones as they have to wait the legal ten days.

One Galgo, a Spanish greyhound, saw her chance and escaped. The woman handling her was furious, even more so when the dog couldn't be found. A little while later, Fabienne and the students and volunteers, noticed this dog creep into their own van, where she hid at the back. She knew she was safe there. She let herself be stroked but wasn't coming out.

After some negotiations we were allowed to take her with us, though only on the understanding that we could only buy her and make her ours once the ten days had passed. She's with us now. A sweet dog - no matter what people say these poor dogs are well aware of what awaits them in the killing station. Get Away made her own luck by finding the only safe place to be.

If I can't see you, you can't see me. Right?

Safe now - painfully thin, but we'll soon put some weight on this lovely Galgo girl.

Rien deserves his own family

Happy!

Rien is already a bit more than two and a half - 2 years and 7 months to be exact. He's been with us all that time, ever since he was found in a garbage bin as a tiny puppy, with his two brothers, Rik and Ricardo. Rein has been with us too long - he's never known what it is to live in a family, and we hope so much that he will find one soon. He's a wonderful dog - this is what one of our students has to say about him after she got to know him.

Rien is a real teddy bear, who would love to be with you all day. He really makes you laugh, even if what he has been up to is naughty and not something we find funny. But secretly we love him anyway.

He loves to play all day, and preferably together with Cala, 2 pals together. He enjoys a nice run on the field with all the other dogs, all playing together. He is very social and eager to learn.

Rien is, in a word, a great dog. A dog who you can enjoy exercising, for instance out in the woods where he can play  with other dogs. But he does needs to learn some rules.

He's just a top dog, that Rien!

Greetings Nikki Ruitenburg (intern)

Good friends.

A great family dog.

A real teddy bear.

Minley deserves her second chance ...

Such a good dog.

Sharpeis are being massively dumped at the moment, even the pure bred ones. Minley is a cross Sharpei, who lived in a family with children and was very good and well behaved. Suddenley yet another baby was born, and the family felt they could not keep Minley and the new baby as well, so she ended up being dumped. She is a kind and good dog and is fine with other dogs also. She is not a friend of cats though. She is still young and has a good life waiting for her if only someone will give her the chance and take her out of the dog shelter and into their home. She's four years old and has been with us for two years already. We don't want this lovely dog to be overlooked. They all deserve a chance - and Minley has waited long enough. Are you the one who will turn her life around and give her her longed-for second chance. Here she is on video. Choose me? Please! My turn? Minley deserves a second chance.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to everyone who reads the blog & to everyone who helps A.C.E.