LUPETTA GOT HER PEACE

This is Lupetta!

She became one of our favorites quickly, happy and gentle and with an auroa full of light. She had been in this out door kennel for three years, on a conrete floor together with three other dogs. No one adopted her!

She couldn't walk very well with her back legs old recovery from broken legs in the past.

She had a hard time getting quickly to her food and the little time they were allowed to get out she couldn't move fast. Lindy our volunteer found her in the dog house, carried her out. Lindy brushed off a bag full of hair we don't know when she had been brushed before.

Lupetta loved it, never had anyone touched and loved her that much. She loved every second Saturday when we came out to clean the shelter. We always hurried to her cage.

Lindy bathed her, took her out so she could start exercing her legs, and to our joy she started to use her back legs more and more. We tried to find a foster home but many said no, afraid of getting attached to her. One day Sweden told me after following Lupetta on the blog "We will adopt her" And Lindy said, "I can take her for the 5 months before the papers are done for her to go to Sweden."
One Saturday we noticed her energy was weak. Next time we came to finally pick her up she wasn't there. We hurried to Rossella and she told us Lupetta was being treated at the vet clinic. After 10 days I asked how she was doing, "she was doing better"

The family in Sweden couldn't wait until she could come to them. They were talking about getting her a wagon on wheels and a card to go with her to the aqua swiming therapy for dogs.

At Halloween I got a call, Lupetta was worse she needed blood transfusion and they needed my authority to do so. I called my translator who called the veterinarian and then me and then back again, it was emergency. I cried, she was so close to freedom, and we were so many loving her.

Last Saturday I went to see her (pics above) and she could walk, it was amazing. Still she needed care 24 h/day but maybe the following Saturday (14th) we could bring her to Lindy.

I was happy! Lupetta was weak, but her tail wagged and I got a small kiss, I left her whispering that I would soon come back and bring her out to the freedom she deserved. "You hang in there girl, promise me."

Yesterday I got the phone call that made my heart go all to pieces. Lupetta had become worse and wouldn't make it. She had to be euthanized, she was suffering. They needed my authority!

When you get that kind of call that means they have done everything....

I cried the whole day yesterday, even if my head understood that at least she didn't have to die in a cold, outdoor shelter --- but you tell that to my heart.

Yesterday I was ready to throw in the towel...you know, Lupetta meant the world for me. We could have saved her!

Today the "towel is back in" This is why I need your help with donations, contacts to be able to open up an AWL Hospice. So no one has to say "no" again, being afraid of getting attached to the dog in need. And so no beautiful souls have to die because we couldn't get them out in time.

Lupetta got her freedom but we got our heartache. I got a beautiful email from Doctor Mariagrazia, "Lupetta sadly left us at 14:10 yesterday, in our arms . She thanks everyone for our love." (Mio malgrado devo darle una brutta notizia. Alle ore 14.10 Lupetta ci ha lasciato tra le carezze della collega Paola Corcione, Angela, una volontaria, e le mie. Ringraziando lei e la Sig.re Mia per l'amore dimostrato a Lupetta)

Now, we really need a hospice. Please donate in Lupetta's memory. Don't let Lupetta's death mean nothing to us, let her memory and spirit live on in our hearts and through other strays that can be treated in her name.

WHAT A WOMAN FROM UPER NORTH

Mitra sent me an e mail telling me she wanted to visit me with a present.


And oh my dear it was a fantastic, heartwarming gift for AWL to drive out to Rossella Shelter with it. I was speechless.

This woman is full of life, guts and heart. AWL is so grateful for what she did together with her boyfriend. They drove down from Rome with 210 kg (500lbs) dog food, boxes of dog treats, many bottles of shampoo, cleaning detergent, sponges --- lots of things we always need on our cleaning missions. It was amazing!

The whole day had rained and all our dogs were so happy to see them, they could sense true animal friends with pockets full of treats. Mitra had even baked a Swedish (my favorite) kladd kaka--moist chocolate cake.

A very sensitive woman who stayed for one hour, they carried all the things down to our basement and then thanked me, for what we are doing! Holly Molly what a person--AWL thanks you so much for your fantastic self-generated contribution to help us make it happen. We love you!

HELP & HOPELESS = KEEP ON FIGHTING

Recently I have seen people with a dejected look, standing watching the dogs in the shelter. Some said the shelter dogs would have it better out on the street. Others said they would be better off being put down to sleep.

Many have not been to poor countries, or in war zones. This becomes as a shock for them, the poor-quality shelters, sick animals, the smell.

I remember when I went to Sarajevo by myself, to work with people I didn't know. I followed them watching destroyed buildings, strays running around, starving --- the snow made it difficult for them to find food-- here we have so often garbage laying around.

I listened to their war stories and my tears rolled down. The man in front of me starred at me and said in a harsh way, "Why are you crying, your tears won't help us!" At that moment I became angry at him: how cold hearted his statement was towards me who only tried to help. But later on in my life his words have helped me to keep fighting for the weaker and poor, and it has gone on for 10 years now.

Right now I can feel I want to say his words to many people, "Don't let your tears make you give up, they won't help anyone."


One great woman was so upset over how little people were helping out, and how they could comment about strays in a cold-hearted way. She looked at the shelter dogs and said, "They would have it better off outside on the street."

I understand her feelings, I feel them daily. But like I told her, I won't join those people by giving up, that would show they were right the whole time (and they're not!).


I am not going to stand behind a person who's comments are negative and contribution to the solution is zero.


Strays be happier off on the street? Yes and no.

It's like life, nothing is black or white. It depends on what area you are in as a stray, happy kind people maybe, that make sure the strays get food and medicine and safe zone from traffic. A roof over his head!

Out on the country many farmers are shooting strays protecting their animals since many strays are hungry. They cannot go into a food market and buy a can of food!

The farmer is protecting his animals so we humans can have something to eat.


Some strays are getting beat up on the street with baseball bats, set on fire (see the dog that's on my logo on http://www.animalswithoutlimits.com/ was put on fire by some kids). I have seen people run out, beating the parco dogs with brooms and barbecue sticks. I have seen dogs locked in tiny enclosures, starved, pooing only grass. Strays being thrown over the fence into a shelter.

Medicine and veterinarian treatment are so expensive, so many people cannot afford it and let their "pet" out on the highway in hopes of a quick death by a car hitting them. Or maybe, with no thought at all about how the end will come?


Some volunteers ask me why we don' t get help from other organizations? Some organizations are already helping many other small organizations. Some are only helping their own countrymen, others are against shelters, for euthanizing or against the laws of the Italian Government.


Some internationals are abandoning their pets when leaving and they won't survive 5 minutes on the street or end up in over-crowded shelters. People are complaining about the problem and there are more than 70 shelters with thousands of dogs inside, never coming out because of what the eye's doesn't like to see... nobody knows about.


AWL is against shelters too, but you go into these shelters, and look into the dogs' eyes, and tell them you won't help them because of your opinion.


Its amazing studying people's faces when seeing something that looks ugly, or people with no experience but with an opinion and no solutions.


To you wonderful women, don't let this get you down, behind the corner will always be someone helpful and something bigger. Our Amore belief is always being tested!

A SUNNY DAY AT THE SHELTER

AWL had a nice, but short day at Rossella's shelter today. Walking, cleaning plastic pallets, brushing and loving these dogs. They give us much love and thankfulness back, so everyone gets emotional since we feel we cannot do enough--we want to bring them home with us.

This handsome fellow was so happy to see his "groomer" Darren again.

Vince, our calm and gentle guy loving-up on the dogs, plenty of treats were also given.

Vince and the AWL team got plastic pallets to the shelter and here it was time to clean them. Thank you all for making it happen. We love you guys!

http://www.miamattsson.blogspot.com/

Tomorrow; amazing people's donations to AWL--hope you will get inspiration(s)

ABBY'S FRIEND

I met Abby today with her Foster mother, Tiffany. Abby is having a wonderful time at Tiffany and her husband Stephen's home, with a cat and her now very good friend that she is laying next to (picture above). It breaks my heart that she only has 3 weeks remainig at their place, then we don't know what will happened.

She is a very laid-back female, loves to lay under a coffee table, not big on walks --- children and other dogs she loves. I never met such a calm fantastic dog! DO you know anyone with a great coffee table in need of a dog to lay underneath it?

LUCY AND PENNY'S NEW LIFE

I went and picked up Lucy from LPA where she had been sterilized after we had found the "owner" through her microchip. The "owner" said she had given her to a person in Frignano but if we wanted Lili (owner's given name for the dog) "we could keep her". Incredible! Lilli is 11 months old, and was transported to a foster family. The magic is AWL Eric found her a home, a warm family that loves her and thinks she is a wonderful lapdog.

Penny was found by AWL Eric with a big heavy chain around her neck. He drove her to LPA were she got sterilized, de wormed and frontlined. I picked her up the same day I picked Lucy up and transferred her to Eric were he transferred her to her new owner.

The new owner is madly in love with sweet Penny.

AWL thanks Eric for working hard finding good homes for those who got kicked out in the cold. We also want to thank YOU for your donations, thanks to you we can have them sterilized and health checked. This is Amore working together.

OUR BELOVED ABBY

Abby was found abandoned at the gas station. Shivering and timid, she was sneezing blood. AWL was working full speed to rescue her. Since we don't have many foster homes or a hospice we don't know were to bring the dogs after a visit at the vet clinic. And here are thousands of wounded--in one way or another--and we cannot keep up. It's heartbreaking many times. We think Abby got hit by a car because she couldn't walk.

We brought her to the vet. and he examined her. A foster home with Tiffany and husband, cat and a small dog and she is recovering. Still sneezing --she's on medication--but not blood. I had the feeling she would start walking, after some peace of mind, food and warmth, her shock would diminish. We humans are the same.

I called Tiffany to check on Abby after a one-week stay, and to all our happiness Abby can walk--but not down stairs. The family had put out treats and exercised her in that way. Abby loves to lay under the coffee table, she is a very quiet, calm, loving dog, who just wants "a coffee table" and a stay forever. An easier dog you would have to look hard to find....

(Abby earlier blogs)