It was on a warm day at the end of
April this year. AWL, together with
wonderful people collected 1000kg dog food for the shelter Caserta that we like
to help. They work hard to find homes
for many dogs, including working together with a German Organization for adoptions.
For that reason, we help them where and
when we can. Caserta Shelter has 350
dogs and 20 something cats. The organization
has it very tough, with no help they had to “get by” with everything—food,
money, and volunteers. And new dogs were
brought to their shelter daily.
We had many new volunteers from AWL
with us that day. Ilena, one of our main
persons walked together with Martina, our volunteer. Martina loves English Setters! It is a very
common breed in Southern Italy and used for hunting or bragging about towards other
people. When they cannot use them
anymore, they drive with them out into the countryside, and throw them out on a
field. Many are starving to death, others
killed in traffic. Ilena whispered in Martina’s
ear and pointed at a cage with 5-6 other dogs. There, curled up in a corner, easily missed because
she was lying deathly still, lay a black and white Setter.
Franka, a 12-14 years old Senior,
had been in this shelter for many years and before that she was in another
shelter. No one knew much about her. She had leichmania, so no one wanted to adopt
her. She was ugly they thought, blind in one eye, useless and old. Martina
shouted my name. I turned around and I
read in Martina’s eyes that something was very important. She pointed at Franka. I looked over at the black and white Senior
Setter, and my heart ached. Martina’s
eyes looked like a little girls eyes, sparkling with curiosity and love. I nodded towards her with a smile. That was
that.
We brought Franka to our Hospice
and the volunteers loved her right away, especially children loved her. An amazing journey for her, from 10 years in a
cage were hope had left her soul, to the next day in the Hospice with green
grass, people who loved her and medicine. Her tail went on like crazy. Her pride came back like a glowing aura.
Blood tests showed not just
Leichmania, but they also showed kidney failure and high blood pressure. She had to be put on a special diet, and boy
was it was expensive!
One of our volunteers – Sandra --
introduced her friend from Texas, Michelle who had fallen in love with Franka. Michelle and her husband Gunter became Franka’s
Guardian Angels, sponsored her and sent money and love to her account
frequently. Thanks to Michelle’s gracious heart Franka could get the best
possible treatment and care. Michelle
was very engaged with Franka’s life at the Hospice. It felt great.
The last few days Franka started to
show significant changes in her energy. In
the mornings she was herself, happy, eating and wagging her tail. By the evenings her energy fell lower. Yesterday morning I got an emergency note on
my phone: Franka was absolutely not
doing well; she had to go into our veterinarian Dr. Vittorio immediately.
Her kidneys collapsed. There was only one thing to do and quick. Martina held her paw and kissed her nose
several times from all of us, then escorted Franka to the Rainbow Bridge. Franka’s companion from the shelter to the
Hospice completed the journey with her across the Bridge.
My heart and thankfulness goes out to
everyone who was involved in Franka’s life since we found her in Caserta
Shelter. To those who are helping to
keep the hospice in operation. To those
that support us as we strive to change the lives of the dogs that sit in cages,
sick, and tired. Together, we
demonstrate that there is hope for we humans, because there are people who want
to make a difference.
That’s Amore
