A COLUMN IN A SWEDISH MAGAZINE ABOUT AWL RESCUE AND NEBBIAS FORGIVNESS

In this column (see below) am I writing about when AWL went in and rescued dogs in a horrible shelter. Also about Nebbia (below) that was alone in a cage for 2 years because she was "aggressive" according to the people at the shelter. She told me she was misunderstood, I took her and Ariel (with her foot broken on four different places) and adopted them. Nebbia is today living together with 17 other dogs and is the sweetest, most humble dog.

Why was she misunderstood...they got food every 4-6 days and on one day, one dog came into her open cage, to eat her food. She protected her bowl, and because of that was considered dangerous!. Who wouldn't protect their food when they are starving? I call her my mini-Buddhist.

Read the story by clicking on this link

LET YOUR VOICE SPEAK

This is a protest against dog slaughter that took place last week in Castellammare di Stabia on the Faito Mount.

Many dogs were killed with machetes or poisoned. Puppies have been slaughtered by machetes.

This situation has been gone for a while over there. Now the D.A. and the Carabinieri are investigating.

The black is the color of mourning.

We declared a week of mourning trying to support the activists in Castellammare.

BELLA THE BEAUTIFUL IS READY

Bella Doberman is up for adoption. The wonderful family found her on the street last summer, skin and bones and with a terrible skin condition. Even though they have an old lady Doberman at home who doesn't like other Dobermans they didn't hesitate to rescue her.

Bella is over one year old a fast learner, but still very young in her mind. Her body coat is healed beautiful and she gained weight, we picked her up today after being sterilized. She was out for a walk today with another Bella on the picture and she was very good.

She behaved very well at the clinic, and Dr Gigi calm and nice did a good job. Bella got a nice bikini scar! Maura the mom in the family is having a hard time letting Bella go and want to stay in touch with the new adopting person (and also help out if needed)

Bella is having a problem being around young children, she doesn't understand their energies. But there is so much love in this dog, great in car, knows to sit and wait.....she is waiting for you.

She has to be an inside and outdoor dog....a family dog with rules and love. In that order.

PHILLIPO AND SCOOBY ARE BECOMING IT

A lot of drama and working not with our own veterinarian --- we finally got the dogs to our AWL veterinarian and to our next surprise none of them were castrated! An appointment was made right away.

Thanks to our great helpers Pio and Martina, the dogs are now at LegaProAnimale

I am very frustrated, because of the veterinarian that was out at the shelter giving them the rabies injections and blood tests we had asked for. But when we tried to get the results, asking several times via email, we never got a good answer. Phillipo's injection was made last November as we thought, or Scooby's two months ago. Phillipo got his little book but we are still sending the veterinarian emails that we want his full documentation.

Even more frustrated is Phillipo's new owner in Sweden, who had hoped to have him home in June. Now she will have to wait longer. That is really sad... both for her, and for Phillipo.

We are trying our best to rescue dogs and we were using the veterinarian that the shelter used (since it is not our territory, we didn't feel we could demand to use our normal vets, but now you can bet that I am demanding) to help getting animals out. The shelter's perferred vet was supposed to be doing the medical things required to adopt the dogs out of country. Saddly, this hasn't happened, and we have wasted a bunch of time. Sometimes I do really wonder what is going on in their mind! For people that should be looking out for the animal's best interests, either because that is their job or their stated passion... but seem to be doing just the opposite. For the ones that it is their job... don't they understand they will loose business this way?

Lately many people have been very rude, dumped their dog(s) and made our work that much harder. I may not write everything on the blog, but believe me I do it in my up-coming book. (and/or column in the magazine). That's not a threat, its a promise....you don't do that towards animals and then claiming you are an animal friend. Not good Karma!

SATURDAY MISSION

Last Friday picked up another big food donation from NAVY BASE NEX. We are so grateful to you all involved.
Saturday we drove out to St Francesco Shelter with 500 dogs and some puppies to Olivia's and Max big joy. They were so happy for all the bags of dog food, thank you so much.

Max and Olivia were not happy when asked to put the puppies down. And boy, did they run around petting and playing with all the dogs. I had a hard time keeping up. They loved it.

After wards we went to Lega Pro Animale to pick up Rose and Cody who had been spayed.

And Todd walked Athena and Bella while I was roaming around after Max and Olivia again...they roaming after all the cats and buffalo's. What an amore day.

WEEKLY COLUMN IN SWEDISH MAGAZINE

Copyright (c) 2008. Todd A. Mercer. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright (c) 2009, Todd A. Mercer. All Rights Reserved

This week am I writing about grieving for a dog you had for 9 years and another for 6 weeks. How a heart doesn't have the capacity of time. Tidningen NARA

A BUSY DAY

Marua rescued a starving doberman with terrible skin mange last year in June. Ever since she has educated, running to the vet, medicated and done everything. Bella is today getting serialized. Bella is up for adoption, but Maura promised her when she found her to make her strong and beautiful before getting her a good family. I admire Maura for keeping her word. Maura also helped me with the wonderful puppies Rose and Cody. They were adopted 2 months ago by Erica and her family. And we promised her too that they would be serialized and castrated.

They were of course charming us all. You could notice that they came from a good family.

In the car, Cody sang but Rose was quiet. But we didn't mind. At the vet with Dr. Gigi they were so good.

Even better behaving than me when I am visiting my doc.

More happened this day but that will be a follow up tomorrow.