Horse Sanctuary 2017-2018

 Little would we have known that AWL would start rescuing horses too. Don't get me wrong, we want to rescue all animals, however, horses are big and expensive animals with a lot of knowledge inside their minds.

You can follow us at www.animalswithoutlimits.com

Oregon is 26 years old former riding school horse. I always say things happen for a reason, and one day I walked around at the riding school/private horses in southern Italy. Someone was sad! I followed the feeling, around the stable to the backside. There I saw a box with a small window and sunlight was shimmering by the door.

 I looked inside the little opening, and there he stood, big and sad. 

Oregon!

He was tired!

I ran around the whole building after I had promised him I would get him out.

In a couple of minutes, I had adopted a horse. 

Everything went amazing with the flow of connections to get him up to Souther Germany.

This was October 2017 and two weeks ago his two old friends came up.

Determination and promise = Horse

                                                   It was a sweet meeting between them.

I Never Left I Only Changed Direction

I am sorry if you thought I was gone. I am still working with Animals Without Limits, I am still the CEO

However I changed to make my own site www.miamattssonmercer.com and write about my AWL missions--and others too, of course.

I will try to update on this page too, but to catch up....I will see what I can do to update you all.

That's Amore!

Our Golden Years Together with Magnificent Seniors

Seniors Rocks!

I have to admit, my heart is soft for Senior dogs. Having had my foundation now since 1999 and working with rescuing animals (most dogs) I have met hundreds of wonderful Seniors. Yes, it is not for a very long time you get to keep them(years), however, the time seems in a way longer when you are together with them (time). If that makes any sense.

I have had to say good bye to many Seniors, but I have always been by their side. Always!

In my home I have right now eight (8) Seniors that I adore. I don't like traveling as much as I did earlier, even if I love traveling ;-) I cut down 50% with my travels. 

Instead I love laying reading and hearing their deep snoring next to me or on the floor on their own bed(s). How they wake up and takes the day with grande relaxing tempo, like the southern Italian dogs they are (ok one American). And....their love is priceless, their deepness in their eyes when they look at you. They make you feel like a Hero!

This January we had to say good bye to one of our rescue dogs Jazz. For one year she had problems holding her bladder. I rolled away the carpets and mopping buckets on every floor. 

My husband growled a little. 

I looked at him with a wrinkle between my eyes and said, "When you get old(er) and start to wet yourself, am I going to get ride of you too?"

I have a hard time understanding people who suddenly abandon their old friend just because he is old and smelly. It shows me their (people) evaluation about becoming old.

My heart become warm when I read about more and more Senior Sanctuaries are opening, and .....that so many more people dare to adopt a Senior.

That's Amore!

FINALLY IS ARNOLD GOING TO HIS NEW FAMILY

 These pictures were taken by me when I visited a shelter run by the Government back in January 2016 me thinks. Anyway, I saw him right away and fell in love. Finally, I can tell you that I am flying over and bringing him with me back to Germany.

 He is a handsome Senior that should not sit in a place like this. No one should, and I am doing my best to find a solution. It takes time, it shouldn't but it does. Drives my heart into sadness since time is going so fast and the dogs are having shorter life than we got.

 These is the place. Its smelly and horrible. I have been told that they are making some small changes. Cannot wait to see that in June.

 They are euthanising some of the dogs, but only when they need a new cage, then the oldest or the sickest goes.

Help me make changes for the other dogs there. That's Amore!

THANK YOU ALL FOLLOWERS

"I would like to personally congratulate you as your blog Animals Without Limits has been selected by our panelist as one of the Top 100 Animal Blogs on the web."

http://blog.feedspot.com/animal_blogs/

Oh dear, now I have to update much better. This is amazing news. Thank you readers <3 span=""> www.animalswithoutlimits.blogspot.com

NEW HOMEPAGE

I have together with talented Linda, worked on a new homepage where I can put my own, and my organisation AWL together.

Time is one of the things we are hunting after desperately, so I thought adding them together would make it  all in one place. Easy to find!

www.miamattssonmercer.com 

Let me know what you think!

Mia Mattsson Mercer

LEAH THE WARRIOR QUEEN

Update on Leah after her surgery . The veterinarian team made the op and  got the fast growing tumour on her inner back legs away. (earlier post)

Amazing warrior Queen greeted me at the veterinarian door only a couple of hours after waking up. Think if we humans had the same capacity !

I want to show you how she looked like when I found her and after some time together with us. What an amazing difference. She has so much energy for being an senior, I hope I get the same kind of amount when I become a Senior ;-)

Leah, I am super proud over you.

Street Dogs and People Heal their Inner Anger in Different Ways

Swedish Tidningen Nara

The insecurity inside of us can make it difficult to balance a direct communication with balanced feelings. Often it is our own egos that put a stop to the unconditional love for ourselves and others. When we understand that it is ourselves that we have to love without criticizing, the fears that pierce our hearts will disappear.

We are created by the Universe and are perfect.

Once again, I read from my notebook. How could a dog be that spiritual deeper than myself, a human?

Immediately I was ashamed over my own thought. Who was I to judge or condemn?

The wise street dog that sat beside me would not be owned by anyone.

His eyes were glittering humbly, and still I was ashamed even more by my previous notion of superiority.

I realized that although his freedom would be short on the streets, he was ok with it. For him the freedom was not to be on anyone's "leash" and moreover, freedom had no sense of time.

Once more, I felt shame over my own faith experiences. The more people (and street dogs) I encounter, I come to realize that it is about how I reacte to other people and animals. It shows who I really am.

There are no suicides among stray dogs.

When you have love for yourselves and for all, no one will be able to destroy you. We stray dogs give each other respect, and respect where we are in our own development.

We see you as lovable people. Your attitude to us animals shows where you are on life's path. When you stop receiving lessons you will be hard-hearted and dare no longer to love anymore. You become judgmental people. An aggressive dog has not been badly treated by life in itself, but by man within that life. An aggressive street dog also knows that it is difficult to survive with aggression, and walks away to be alone and heal itself. While an aggressive man is not only attacking himself, but the entire Universe, the Earth, man and Animals.

Love the Universe with all your heart, mind, and strength. Then you can love your neighbor as yourself. We all come from the same source.

That's Amore!

Mia Mattsson-Mercer

HAPPY 2017

NEW YEARS eve, is not one of my favourite evenings to celebrate.

Don't get me wrong, I would love to celebrate to say good bye to the year of 2016 lessons, and welcome the new year 2017 in, gladly with a glass of Champagne.

The fireworks are making it very hard to be happy and celebrate.

Today is our home back to normal, but it has been tough days, and evenings.

The house of 12 dogs, there have been chaos, with barking, howling and shaking.

It is not only by midnight, it is several days before and several days after.

I am thinking of the wild animals, and also Military with PTSD, well.....all people with PTSD. I cannot imagine what is going on in their minds.

One year, I celebrated New Year in Switzerland. At Midnight all the churches started to play with their churchbells, no fireworks. It was magic very soothing for the mind and soul.

Earlier today I saw in the Swedish newspaper, that many people became absurd with handling the firework, hurting other people, children and even making false 911 calls, only to throw fire work at the ambulance people when they arrived.

May we come to a Solution for next New Years Eve-2018, lets post solutions and not harsh words.

                       Happy New Year all Animal Lovers, lets become better this year 2017.

That's Amore!

SENIOR SANCTUARY IS ON THE HEALTH PATH

The days are flying so fast away, and its been busy here at the Senior Sanctuary ( ChaCha wouldn't like to be called a Senior yet!)

I am so thankful to our veterinarian, Frau Kast and her team at the Tier Artz. Our Italian clients are being taken cared of with a lot care and love.

Leah is healing wonderful after her tumor surgery last week. And I am so happy we took the chance to put her under surgery despite her age. Leah was examined before the surgery, and she got a very strong heart. If we wouldn't have done the surgery, she would probably have had a couple of months to live.

We look at the client, the value of the dogs life, but we never take away an animal because we are afraid.

The blood test from ChaCha came back. I decided for a BIG blood analyse to take away many things that were possible for her to have.

She gained weight without eating much, so veterinarian Frau Kast suspected it could be the thyroid that was not working properly. And she was right!

Now Cha Cha is on medication, and after one month we have to take a new bloodtest to see how she is responding to her new medicine.

I had had the feeling that something wasn't ok with ChaCha, on the outside she looked fine, but I got the "mother feeling" And I was right!

Wonderful team work and amazing results when we all listen to each other.

That's Amore!

A BUSY DAY AT THE SENIOR SANCTUARY

My beloved Leah got a nasty aggressive tumor on her inside of her leg. In a short time it grew and opened up.

Our veterinarian examined her and despite her older age we decided to have it removed. Its uncomfortable for her now and it will probably be painful for her in a while. While she is sedated they will check her with ultra sound.

Leah got a very strong heart and a fabulous personality! 

Our Senior three legged Angelo got a horrible infection in his nose. Antibiotic and painkiller for him.

The lady ChaCha had to go to the veterinarian too, for a lot of different blood tests. I know something is not correct inside of her. Also, our veterinarian told us she need to lose weight. 56kg!!!

We don't know how we are going to do that!!! She is on 2 small cups of dry food every day, and she got her own personal trainer (walker) Hm! Maybe I need to follow them during their walks to see if they really are walking and not by a fast food restaurant!

HALL GRYTAN KOKANDE

Skänk 10 Kr eller mer - En God Jul Till Utsatta Hundar!

Sverige Swisha 10 kr eller mer till 0735-090830. 

Skriv God Jul som meddelade. Tack! 

Ett kallt hårt betonggolv. En känsla av panik eller kanske hopplöshet och förtvivlan. Hungrig, törstig och smärtor i kroppen. En själ som långsamt tynar bort och ger upp... 
Detta är vad många hemlösa hundar upplever varje dag, när de sitter instängda i hemska shelters. Många sitter år ut och år in…. En miljö som är allt annat human att leva i, oavsett om det är djur eller människa. Eller hemlösa hundar som lever på gatan, många med skador och sjukdomar.

Som tur är finns det människor som vill skapa en förändring för dessa hundar, föreningar som passionerat arbetar för att utsatta hundar ska få ett bra liv. Animlas without Limits är en sådan förening och dem vill vi stötta!

Så nu är det vår tur att hänga på den fantastiska trenden - skänk 10 kr! Vi har såklart valt att stötta utsatta hundar. Mer specifikt kommer pengarna gå till Animals Without Limits (AWL) - som en en ideell organisation som jobbar för att skapa en bättre tillvaro för utsatta hemlösa hundar mestadels i Italien. AWL är en förening som jobbar mycket i det tysta, som gör otroligt mycket gott, men som inte hörs och syns mest. Den drivs av Mia Mattsson Mercer, som är en eldsjäl för djuren och gör mycket av jobbet helt själv. Såklart vill vi stötta henne och AWLs arbete. Vill ni veta mer om AWL så titta in på deras facebooksida!

Evenemanget börjar idag den 12 december och pågår fram till den 22 december. De pengar som kommit in skickar vi sedan direkt till AWL, som en julklapp till de utsatta hundarna från alla oss! 

Var med och önska God Jul genom att skänka 10 kr du också! Eller mer om du vill. Varje tia är guld värd, så ingen summa är för liten.
Ingen kan göra allt men alla kan göra något, så var med du också och skapa en bättre värld för de utsatta hundarna. De förtjänar det!

SWISHA 10 KR, ELLER MER OM DU VILL, TILL 0735-090830 (MELINDA HARTNER) OCH SKRIV GOD JUL SOM MEDDELANDE.

DEN 22/12 KL 24.00 AVSLUTAS INSAMLINGEN, DÄREFTER RÄKNAS SUMMAN IHOP OCH SKICKAS DIREKT TILL AWL.

VI KOMMER HA EN ÖPPEN REDOVISNING DÄR ALLA SOM DELTAGIT KOMMER ATT STÅ MED. VILL DU VARA ANONYM SÅ SKRIV DET I MEDDELANDET.

KOM IGEN, VAR MED OSS OCH GÖR SKILLNAD :)

Harmoni & Balans ♥
/ Melinda och Joakim

NEVER GIVE UP ON ANYONE

In January this year did I fly and visit  Portugal. Mafalda and Rachel from their organisation welcomed me warmly, and showed me around in their beautiful colourful home of Lisbon.

Also, as I wanted, they took me to the backside of dog treatments, that no tourists ever sees.

I got to visit the death shelter. It is a very dark place which you never want to enter, afraid of not getting the images away that are glued behind your eyes.
I cried!

Yes I cried, and I let myself cry. That means I am still aware of the problem, and want to do something about it.

Inside there are no air! Boxes with high concrete walls. They never get outside, never get to see the light. This is a Town hall shelter, with people employed. I wondered for myself how their inner mind must look like after days, months and years working here. Do they tell them the up lifting stories that they are actually doing a change for the dogs? The euthanise of dogs are high--and don't tell me that is the solution or its "good" for the dog. Its a never ending story....dogs after dogs after dogs are being killed.

A couple of days later, I flew out with two dogs, to a wonderful home in Sweden. They were the lucky ones.

I want to do more! Take all dogs out and just eliminate the whole place.

I found Pat (picture below) that is one boy they wanted to euthanise. I saw his eyes.

Life was still there!

I wanted him.

This was January. Today it is December! It took me 11 months to get him out.

He is safe now! At a place were people love animals. Bruna is part of this Association that try to make it better for the animals in Portugal.

We sent 300 euro donation for Pat where he it staying in a  Dog kennel, with great food and free fields. We are getting updates about him very often. (money is for bathing-- you can believe how he smells after years in a concrete box-- veterinarian treatment and the rent to wonderful Bruna Rescue Kennel)

Thank you for helping making this possible. Movimento Movido a 4 Patas together with Bruna and AWL.

More updates will come.

Thats Amore!

Stella Nutella Loves Unconditionally

Why hurt someone whose only intention was only to love you.

Stella Nutella was a "happy" street dog.  She loved the people that fed her everyday, and gave her a pet or a belly rub now and then. Until that day when people started to build on the land she lived on. 

Many of her dog friends, disappeared, some got poisoned. Stella didn't want to leave, she loved people so much. The workers started to throw rocks at her. 

Thats when I saw her......

FRIENDS FOREVER

These two characters are "rescue" dogs from Italy living together in Germany.

Both are now Seniors and got the kindest hearts ever. Sammy and Leah also live together with ten other rescue dogs in the house that we bought to fit all our dogs.

Many ask us if they live inside! Yes of course, they are family members.

Each one of them knows their sleeping place, some in our beds, and some prefers their own dog beds.

They chose and show us, what they want. 

That's Amore!

Diagnosed with Cancer

This is Trooper Rescue Dog. We rescued him from a shelter, he rescued us with Love, we rescued him from Cancer.

Yes! Our beloved Trooper is Cancer Free!

A couple of months ago he was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer in his urine bladder.  The veterinarian said he only had a short time on this Earth. Devastated we went home, of course together with Trooper.

Miracles Love, 

Thankful!

MY COLUMN FOR THE MAGAZINE NARA

                 Animals do not Fear Death

 (You can read my column in Swedish here, Tidningen Nara 

Death may scare most of us humans, but it does not scare the animals. For the Other Side and Life are the same for them. 

Life will never end!

I have never experienced the Other Side for us humans. But I took part of the "Animals" Other side ones. The strong experience happened to me in the early 1990s and since then it has always comforted me when I work with sick animals.

In my first book, "Listen When Animals Speak" (Forum 2000) I wrote about my experience. At that time, I went to a masseuse who also worked with Body Harmony. That made me curious. "You can experience the past life," said the female masseur to me. I did as she said, but without much expectations. I breathed deeply and directly everything felt very pleasant. I just was!

Suddenly, a black and white muscular stallion cantered behind my closed eyelids in full figure. He was handsome and proud and had enormous charisma that gave me security and confidence. The stallion had control over all the other horses cantering around and finally they gathered behind him. They were all in a valley where the grass was green and juicy, and I saw everything so clearly, even dewdrops on each blade of the grass!

 I had never seen such a fantastic green grass before. The colors were magnificent and there was a great calm. The horses cantered past me and finally came Sigge, my horse that I had been euthanized a couple of months earlier. I could feel his presence so strong!

When I opened my eyes, I was totally confused and almost in a small state of shock. It had been like for every thought I thought, it became as if my eyes were zooming in like a camera lens. Everything was so peaceful and beautiful, that I wanted to go back there again. I longed!

I realized that life is not merely a loss, death and grief. There is a reason for everything, even death. A new door opens for those who leave the Earth, but also for those who remains.

A Labrador communicated to me just before she left her Earthly life: "We give you our whole heart and love, regardless of who you are. We give unconditionally love to our owners, as to all others we meet during our time on Earth. 

In the life time without any end! "

That's Amore

 picture Shutterstock

AT THE VETERINARIAN CLINIC

Sweet Senior at the vet clinic. Like with humans its important to do your regularly check ups.

I know I am charming with my different ears. Thats Amore!

A WONDERFUL DAY AT THE ITALIAN SHELTER

Our great volunteer Bianca Lopez went to our Animal Friends Shelter to help out. Think so much happiness and greatness you explore by visiting them. Never an unthankful soul.

Plenty of kisses and tail wagging .

Live the fullest, never lose Hope, maybe the new owner is around the corner.

Playing and cleaning are the right combination in life. They are my best Mindfulness Teacher.

Exercise even when you feel locked in. It keeps your brain going.

                                    No Pity Party at our Place Please. It never helps anyone.

That's Amore <3 p="">

Thank you Bianca and Friend (Chris we wish you a fast recovery--Chris is another volunteer.)