INTRODUCING WALLY --- A VIDEO

A little video about a special little guy... Wally. Enjoy.

Junie's Christmas Wish

WALKING ON THE HIGHWAY ALONE

No microchip, no collar. no name found walking on the highway.

She is very sweet and good girl. And the founder named her Sophie. Right now she is getting sterilized. Please give her a warm Christmas!

SCOOBIE- READY FOR ADOPTION

Introducing Scoobie. Another resident at Rossella's Shelter. He is ready and eager to have a place in your heart. (Mia's favorite).

A NEW HOME - A NEW CHAPTER

For many months I have had a worry inside of me about Grace and Cuccis' future. You remember them from an earlier blog.

Grace's wrists couldn't take the winter that's arriving since she now has arthritis, and to have to sleep outside in the cold and try to get food would be very hard on her. Even the veterinarian Dr. Gigi said so.

I got a call from two ladies, a mother and a daughter that they wanted to adopt a dog, short hair but medium to big size. I told them about the shelter with 500 dogs (where AWL organized several "dog walking missions") and I arranged with the lady that runs the shelter for us to come when they had closed at 17.00 (due to the problem of these ladies in getting off from work)

When we arrived at the shelter, another worker opens the door claiming she didn't know we would come at this hour. I explained that I'd called and made arrangements.

This lady was very rude and when we pointed at different dogs she said, "No, too hectic." Well, we understand, she's been inside a cage for a long time!

The mother and daughter said they would like to take two. How about this old guy?

"No, too old" the lady told us. (Don't they want to adopt these dogs away?)

She told us to come back another day, maybe on the weekend ... we had to go now.

I can understand that she wanted to go home, but there was another person living there. They know AWL, we have been organizing volunteering and donated food so they know we are serious.

The mother and daughter and I drove away pretty disapointed, and upset over the lady's shortness and unwillingness to help us us to take two big dogs out from the cages. The weekend before, when I heard different speakers at the Spay conference, one had said that some shelter personal get so attached to the dogs that they don't want to adopt them away! Could this be a factor in this otherwise unexplainable rudeness?


While driving away, going another way to the ladies' home I suddenly see Grace and Cucci sitting by the side of the road, at a place we've never seen them, like waiting for something. I stop and throw myself out of the car, petting them and shouting at the same time, "What are you guys doing here?'

The ladies comes out and I tell them the whole story about these two dogs. I hear the mother say, "Can we adopt them?"

I was stunned, all the various emotions went through me, it was a miracle!

Grace and Cucci are now living together with these two wonderful heart-warming ladies, and are already getting lovely spoiled.

I could never, ever have dreamed about this. Some might say 'It was meant to be' ....yes I believe so too, but my heart aches when I think how happy this one energetic female at the shelter was, probably believing she had found freedom. I will never forget her eyes when she was put back into the cage again. This was a bitter sweet moment, because someone who claims she loves the dogs perhaps would never want them to find new happiness together with someone else.

Mission Dog Walk 2

These two dogs are up for adoption. Why not open your heart and door for more Amore.

We had a great day. TV team did a great job, also walking and brushing the dogs

Terrible Shelter Update

A lot has been happening about the "Terrible Shelter", and we've now been informed that it will close completely on February 13th. On this date, any remaining dogs will be seized by the authorities, and taken to one of the "official" shelters... the ones that are canine warehouses.

So, there is only about 2 weeks to adopt away as many of these wonderful, worthy, helpless souls. You can see the current listing of dogs, with pictures and descriptions at this link.

These amore souls did nothing to deserve being in this shelter, and their continued love of and for humans demand that we find them homes.

One Who Deserves a Home---Una che merita una casa...

Photo from the randagi organization. http://www.randagi.org/

http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=QpuHCm9NVxo

She is such a loving soul that is left in the "terrible shelter' where we are going to help this weekend.

The first time I met her I fell in love with her. Maybe it was her love and eagerness to love up on me, that made me see her among all 60 dogs in terrible need.

Maybe it was her right-front foot that is oddly twisted, (probably from a badly healed break) that made me love her, she is so beautiful and I call her "my duck foot." She is 5-6 years old and it is such a shame that this loving dog has to be moved to another "awful shelter" if we can't find her a home.

She is so sweet, kind, loving and it breaks my heart even harder this time that I cannot bring her home with me. We have seven now, and soon eight....oh my God I hope our landlord doesn't read my blog!

If someone would like to adopt her I will do everything in my power to help. She is a fantastic dog, and if Mia Mattsson-Mercer, the well known animal psychologist says so, it is so.

This is an Amore dog with a beautiful paw.

lei e un anima cosi dolce, ma purtroppo lei si trova abbandonata in questa struttura , questo canile terribile- dove noi andiamo questo weekend per cercare di migliorare un po la situazione.
La prima volta che le ho vista , mi sono innamorata subito. Forse era perche lei era cosi affetuosa con me, e grazie a questo le ho visto tra sessanta altri cani in bisogno di aiuto.
Forse era anche perche ha un problema con una delle zampe, (sembra che si e rotta prima e poi mai non curato)e cosi dolce, e grazie alla zampa rotta la chiamo con amore la mia papperina. lei ha tra 5-6 anni ed e veramente un peccato vederla la in questo posto brutto . se non troviamo una bella casa per lei, allora va trasportata in un altro canile ancora piu brutto di questo .
lei e cosi dolce, cosi brava e mi si spezza davvero il cuore perche non posso portarmela con me a casa. Ora abbiamo sette cani, tra poco otto ! mio dio spero che il propriatrio della casa non legge il mio blog..,
se qualcuno volesse adottarla sarei disposta a fare qualsiasi cosa per aiutare. Lei e un cane fantastico, e se Mia Mattsson - Mercer, famosa psykologa degli animali lo dice - allora e cosi.
Questo e un cane stupendo che merita davvero qualcuno!

Shelter Mission Teamwork-- Missione Canile lavoro di gruppo

The team assembles for the cataloging effort. Copyright (c) 2009, Mia Mattsson-Mercer. All Rights Reserved.


Today we started with our 1st program with the rescue shelter. We are documenting all the dogs that are inside this shelter, many of whom are in pain of some kind. It was a horrible view, it becomes worse every time you visit, and I was not the only one who thought that.


One veterinarian was with us and it was very interesting that he and I we had the same opinion. Even if I am not a veterinarian, I have worked next to vets for a long time, and have come to share their feelings in these situations.


This day was "bittersweet." We got job done, one step on the dirt path, but so bloody darn so helpless. Our hearts were aching the whole time.


Today, thank you Helene (Wales) for babysitting Olivia and Max so I could be on the mission. When I offered money, she said; "no no, I am just happy to help." You are so big hearted and Olivia cried when you left.

The Italian team, gosh we worked great together, here was a lot of "old" experiences no explanations needed, we just worked.

Todd, my husband....your pictures today to document the dogs, fantastic...we were all impressed by how you had built up the documentation/catalog of dogs.


Today was a bittersweet Amore day, still we have to work on program 2.

Oggi abbiamo iniziato con il nostro primo progetto del "salvare canile " Stiamo documentando tutti i cani che si trovano nella struttura, e quasi tutti di questi cani hanno qualche tipo di dolore. E una cosa orribile , ogni volta che andiamo si peggiora la situazione. e non sono l unica a pensare questo. Un veterinario e venuto con noi ed era molto interessante che io e lui avevamo lo stesso opinione. Anche se non sono un veterinario, ho un po di esperienza visto che ho sempre lavorato vicino a veterinari. E molte volte riesco a vedere la stessa cosa che vedono loro.
questa giornata e stata bello ma allo stesso tempo brutto. abbiamo lavorato sodo, un passo avanti, ma ci sentiamo senza speranza. I nostri cuori si spezzano .Oggi, grazie a te Helen ( wales) che ci hai aiutato come babysitter a Olivia e a Max. Quando ti ho detto che ti volevo compensare mi hai detto: no no, mi fa piacere aiutarvi." Sei cosi brava e olivia piangeva quando te ne sei andato.
Il team Italiano- mamma mia quanto sono bravi, abbiamo lavorato cosi bene insieme. Cera tanta di quella "vecchia" esperienza tra di noi e non cera bisogno di spiegare niente , abbiamo solo lavorato .

Todd il mio marito. Le tue fotografie di oggi per documentare i cani- fantastici! Siamo tutti impressionati da come hai creato il catalogo/documentazione degli cani.
Oggi era una giornata come ho scritto prima bella e brutta, ancora dobbiamo organizzarci per il progetto no 2.

Gianni a True Amore Dog

Gianni (the dog in the picture) is around 1 year old. He was roaming around on the busy street here in Italy. Antionetta, who owns the nearby dog store gave him food and water, and of course plenty of Amore. He was taken to the veterinarian by Animals Without Limits (AWL); got castrated, de-wormed and frontline. Brought back by AWL to the dog store where he could sleep over during the night(s). During the day he laid outside the store and when I walked by to escort Olivia to her school, he would follow us. Together with me we walked back to the dog store, where he laid waiting for the next person to escort. Such a sweetheart!

Vittoria (pictured) and her boyfriend went to the dog store to give him a foster home, and during that time Gianni could play with their other dog, Camille.

Gianni is ready for a permanent home! He is young, energetic, loving, child friendly, good with other dogs and full of curiosity to explore the world together with YOU.

For more Amore information about Gianni, contact me director@animalswithoutlimits.com .

Pet Adoption Drama Queens

Reasons have been many why I haven't gotten a chance recently to write on my blog every day as I normally do.

Finally some things have been solved, and some have to be followed up. It's been busy on my phone from some drama queens about their adopted dog(s) --even if we do not have adoption as our priority number one mission. We are working with animals' health, that is our number one priority.

Some disappointed "drama" phone calls with high-drama in their voice --- they cannot handle the dog they brought into their home a couple of weeks or months ago!

I cannot help smiling a little in the middle of frustration, they are calling me --- who has 6 dogs and 2 small children and a giant house --- oh I forgot to mention my husband, too. The expectation they have is for me to drop everything and go and get the dog that is taking up their time and house.

I understand that it takes time, sure I do, mopping the floor twice a day....but what I don't get is how their thought process is working when they bring in the dog for the first time to their home? Where did the joy go walking the dog, having a friend, someone that is always happy when you return home?

I have never in my life heard so many people complain and seem to be expecting the stray(s) to be thankful to them for bringing them in a home!

Instead of helping to solve their problem with them, they expect Animals Without Limits to solve their problem (not the dog who is having a problem adjusting to these people that first claimed to love them and now see them only as a burden). Its amazing those that have adopted with the support or assistance of AWL, think that AWL owes them something special when it isn't "happily ever after". And everyone wants to discard the dog, not modify the environment to adapt to the new reality. Does anyone ever blame the priest or reverend, or seek some sort of special treatment from the church when their marriage ends in divorce???

In other news, we haven't found the owner to the Dalmatian "Oscar" yet, but he is doing fantastic at his foster home.

Stop whining and help out solving the problem and we can have more Amore time for so many other things. No one likes drama queens!