LUPETTA GOT HER FREEDOM

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.

I called Sweden crying....I blamed myself for not getting her out earlier.

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 anyways 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.

AN AMAZING WOMAN

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 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!

WHAT A STRONG WOMAN

Tyreema, you are such a wonderful, warmhearted person, and on top of it so strong. Yesterday you came walking from inside the base with a huge bag of dog food, bringing that to Rossella's shelter were you helped out with the cleaning mission.

Before leaving you gave me a warm and strong hug. It's me who is going to give you a big bear-hug for everything you do for AWL, together with the shelter dogs! Thanks so much!



You got a true Amore heart.

AMAZING MOTHER AND DAUGHTER

AWL thanks you for donating a day's income of your food orders.

I love your name: " My Mother Cooks Better Than Yours " click on the link and find out more about them. They are not lying when saying their company name.

Mother Katarina and Daughter Karina, also are great rescuers. They had to do the tough job to bring in a very wounded stray to the vet and the beautiful dog couldn't be saved. They were there for a dog they didn't know, holding her while she crossed over the Rainbow Bridge.

These amazing women were also helping out at the cleaning mission yesterday at Rossella's shelter.

Thank you so much for your generous donation. Wonderful initiative, thank you for helping AWL!

ANOTHER AMAZING WOMEN

Remember from earlier blog http://mytailwagsforyou.blogspot.com/2009/11/kitten-blackie.html

An update from Jackie who went on an AWL mission, took the kittens and Abby into Dr Damiani's veterinary clinic.

"The two baby nibblets have a new forever mom! They are both timid, especially the black baby, who's hiding behind her brother. They've been through a lot. Being orphaned from their mom, losing their siblings, their first ever car ride, and the vet visit where they were poked and pricked (thank you Dr. Longo for your time today!) But tonight they're curled up together in their safe and warm new home and not the bed of broken glass they are used to sleeping on. Thank you Elizabeth. Thank you Mia."

from AWL Jackie

I think you readers may recognise this face? Elizabeth was earlier during the day in the cleaning shelter. She is on the picture kissing and loving up on one of the shelter dogs. After the mission she adopted these two abandoned kittens keeping them from a terrible death. What a super AWL rescuer volunteer! Elizabeth you are fantastic. THANK YOU.

WHAT A GREAT DAY

Today was a sunny warm --19C-- day (yesterday it was storm and cold) and AWL team went out to Rosella's shelter to help her out a little. Elizabeth above walked this happy comfortable rescue (?) dog. First I thought something had happen, I saw this dog "just" lay on the ground and E sitting in the dirt. Elizabeth smiled and showed me that they "just" enjoyed the sun and freedom. That's Amore.

AWL Darren, it was so good to see him again and many dogs thought that too. I saw him with different dogs, out walking and grooming.

You guys make a big difference, thank you so much for giving this shelter "sunshine"

Niccol (Gucci and Grace mom), Vania, Adam, Vince, AFN guy--sorry I forgot you name, shame on me-- Elizabeth, Katarina with daughter, Tyreema. You guys are wonderful!

www.animalswithoutlimits.blogspot.com

Tomorrow I am going to write about some other amazing people that also help(ed) AWL

TOMOROW CLEANING AND WALKING SHELTER MISSION

Tomorrow we will join up for a walk in the sun day at Rossellas shelter. We got 11 plastic pallets that we will bring. Some cleaning, some walking and a lot of Amore.
Looking forward to see you team AWL.

GOOD LUCK AND GOOD SPEED

Eric, AWL's great volunteer, is getting ready to run the Marathon in France this weekend. We all wish you good luck and good speed. You look great in your own AWL self-designed shirt, and we thank you for your support to AWL. These handsome fellows are some of his biggest fans..."go daddy!"

AWL also thanks Ann Kristin Jonsson for her generous donation.

And in memory of a very special dog with a big heart, TOSSI Svegare Berglund, thank you for your generous donation . RIP.

BENJAMIN WHY DO PEOPLE PROMISE THINGS THEY DON'T KEEP?

Today was not a happy day, and big crocodile tears were falling down the (AWL) President's face. I am human, or like someone said, "Some animal lovers are dangerous --- they are emotional rescuers like you"

That comment didn't hurt, it more suprised me because I thought everyone working with animals were emotional rescuers. Maybe the mask is on so it is easier to put the animals to sleep?

We have had Benjamin at a foster mother's home. http://miamattsson.blogspot.com/2009/10/benjamin-chapter-2.html

She's single, working a lot but that didn't concern us much since we needed Benji to get healthy and to be safe. He slept in the garage in his crate and had free acces to the garden. Heaven we thought!

First time we spoke to the lady she would donate food, she even said she would like to donate so he could be castrated, and even said she would consider bringing him with her to USA. It sounded too wonderful, but adoption I didn't want to think of since I have heard lately people saying adoption and after some time they change their mind. For the time being, we just needed a reliable, dependable foster solution for Benjamin, so he could get healthy.

When we arrived to the place with him, she didn't have food. She told she was going out of town --- we arranged a dogsitter. Then it all really started: complaints about everything--not Benji--she told us she was worried about a lot here, her work, her landlord, yada yada.

Some concernes came up about Benji, we suggest and created solutions, then we got an e mail saying he had to be gone December 1. No problems, we would do our best to get him out before. Some people in Sweden showed interest but it would take approximently 5 months with all the shots and to get his passport.

Today, the last shoe dropped. This morning, an email was in my inbox when I came up with my coffee, saying she was in "crisis mode". The problems she was grappling with seemed pretty minor and easily resolved --- an inconvienience at worst. But she stated she had to have Benjamin out, today. Just like that, no warning or 3-day notice!

What is it with people today? Have they no honor or personal responsibility? Ok, I can understand when things go rougher than one expected, and when life throws curve-balls. But, honorable, responsible people find solutions, and do what they committed to do--with our help of course. They don't simply throw out a living soul with no notice, cancel an agreement unilaterally with no response time to react!

Tonight, Benjamin is safe, warm and dry. But it comes at a cost of risk to other dogs's health, and is not even a short-term solution --- more like a micro-term solution. We still desperatedly need a foster person/family to open their hearts and homes to this soul and give him the chance to recover his health.

Is there any big Amore left for Benjamin? Or have we seen the true colors?