Dog Walk Saturday

Dear Volunteers and helpers,
I have sent out e mails but with my/our Internet function=terrible some may have got this information, and some not. Please don't be sad, e mail and I will give you further information.

Animals Without Limits again needs your help for a “Dog Walking” mission August 1st --this Saturday.

With approximately 500 dogs and an adoption rate at more or less zero, the dogs will live their whole lives in cages. Clean cages, but cages none the less. Many are fairly large dogs --- particularly hard to adopt away, and more in need of exercise and stimulation than their smaller brothers. The people that do come to consider adopting, want well behaved and socialized dogs right away.

AWL’s goal is to assemble some dog-walking volunteers to start socializing and interacting with these dogs. Not only will this help prepare and make the dogs more adoptable, but it will be a great mental “vacation” for the dogs that will help them to be calmer and happier.

Refreshments will be served for the volunteers.

Material things that we still need:
FOOD.
Dog snacks tasty, moist(not dried).
Leashes and collars
Mild dog shampoo.

Dress accordingly (you’ll likely get dusty) and comfortable--sunscreen and hat. If possible, please wear a dark blue Tshirt, so we can easily identify our volunteers.

Animals Without Limits looks forward to seeing you out there, and to accomplishing this noble cause.
Amore cause for both parts. See you Ci Vediamo.

Missreading A Situation

There is a beautiful Sheltie mix and the end of a long street in an area Parco. I got a call for help from an English lady since some Italians didn't want the dog there. I drove over and the male dog was kind of shy, but was looking for the gates to open so he could go into a new home. He has had a home, he can eat among the cats, and if a car door opens he wants to get in, but you can tell he has been on his own for some time, and some one has not been nice to him.

I talked to some of the people asking them to be patient for 2 weeks so we could work with him, Sammy as we call him now--Get him used to kindness and feeding further and further up so we could get him out of the Parco. Most important to put a collar on him since many people are nicer to a dog with a collar. One lady was angry, said the dog was mean to the children, when it actually was opposite. Then another one tried with the excuse that he was dirty and full off fleas --- but I informed her he didn't have fleas and he was de-wormed. Another man thought we should take a broom and just hit him out of the Parco (I'd rather hit the man out of the parco!). A middle aged woman told everyone to listen up and do the most humane thing, to give us 2 weeks.

Linn would be with him during the day and try to get the collar on him, and feed him. But our Sammy project didn't last many days.

Further up there was a family's German Shepard who jumped the fence, and on top of everything was in heat. Sammy got attracted and went up, and jumped her. But he got "stuck" inside her and both of them started to make noises. Italian neighbors came out running and thought they were fighting and started to hit Sammy with brooms and barbecue equipment. A lady heard the upset noises and ran out. She understood the situation and started to yell to the people to leave the dogs alone, they needed to be relaxed to get apart. The men started to pull the dogs apart, and Sammy's back paws were bleeding a lot from the scrapes this caused.

Today he was at the end of the road in the parco again, even more scared than in the beginning, and now he snaps at us when we are trying to get close.

Why can't people just leave well enough alone when they are told to?

A Bloody Day

People ask for help, and then many times they don't follow it up themselves. They hand the problem over to you or someone, and then the person thinks he/she doesn't have to deal with it any more.

One of the things I had to do today was to feed some strays, as I do always.


At the feeding point, with Olivia my 4 year old daughter and an Italian lady, I suddenly see a goat walking along the road. I jump high out of joy, I always wanted a goat, we have talked about it many times home. It is my dream, I love goats.


I tell the lady to hold one of the dogs in its collar and I try to go forward towards the goat. One stray comes running chasing the goat into a dead end street. I managed to get the stray to stop, and pushed him further down the road away from the goat. People came out, standing watching. I asked for help, for them to stand down on the street and if the goat passed me they had to jump and wave so the goat would run up again.

This small little goat not bigger than a medium size dog was scared, not mean, he didn't even try to hurt me with his horns. He had an instinct and that was to get away, to survive.

After a long time I got a rope and I tried to catch him, I was even only a half meter away from him, but this little guy was so smooth and got between me and the rope. A fat Italian lady comes towards me and I ask for help and tell her what to do. She answered back she would.

When the little goat runs towards her she lets it go, does absolutely nothing, no one does. I am screaming to them to "pumpkin" help what is so "pumpkin" difficult? Even my daughter can do better.

The goat got out and ran and after it ran the strays, and then me. It was a horrible sound when they got the goat, howling and growling and the goat suffering. I had to back out since their sounds attracted other strays and I knew and felt the energy of danger since they could attack me, too.

My daughter was crying and the people smiled. The fat Italian lady wanted to show and talk to me. My tears was running down my dirty cheeks, I didn't want to talk to her. I scooped up Olivia and went to my SUV and the lady said, "Americans I want you to rent my house!"


I tried to explain that it is horrible to see another animal getting killed slowly and the hunger from the animals, sound, blood, fighting over meat. But I feed them meat that someone else killed, and I didn't have to see that. It is always hard to see a dog you love, forgetting that hunting is part of his instinct. It was horrible since people wouldn't do what they said they would do, and the ignorance in front of my daughter who was so upset. Had known the outcome I would have left and not even tried to catch the goat, but I felt certain that the people would help, at least as much as they said they would. I feel like I handed the goat over on a plate to the strays that were waiting in the bushes. What a bloody awful day.

Hello Donations & Goodbye Adoptions

I ran into a lady who was moving to another country in a couple of days. This had come up very quick so they were in a hurry to get everything organized. She asked if we wanted a crate (training) and muzzle? Absolutely yes!

"You don't know anyone who want gold fish (3)?" she asked and then continued, "I cannot flush them down."

'AWL will take them, we will put up posters." I said with a big smile. I also told her never to tell an animal psychologist that you had the thought to flush fish down the toilet. At first this was more a joke but the more I thought about it the more I realised the truth in it.

We had a busy Saturday. At 10 we went to the base and met Linda who donated many bags of dog food and dog shampoo. Linda, so sweet with her animal stories and her home with 7 dogs and 4 cats and taking care of her daughter's horse. My hat off for her.

After a couple of hours family time we drove and picked up William, Flipper and Willy. She handed me a plastic bag (zip lock) with them inside. I got so surprised why they didn't come with an aquarium or fish bowl?

Please when you find someone to help you solve your problem by taking your animal(s), make sure you are giving all they will need, all that you've had for those animals. If you just can't do that, a donation so the next family, foster or forever, can get the essentials and make the animals at home. After all, they are helping you to solve a problem. Sure, AWL gets donations. But I feel that money is intended for medicine, treatment and operations for dogs and cats.... not aquarium for gold fish!

Luckily, our wonderful pet shop owner Alberto gave me a very good discount --please don't rely on that either, they have bills to pay--And we thank Sarah and her husband Pete for adopting William, Flipper and Willy.

Newspaper Panorama

Animals Without Limits is in the newspaper Panorama. page 6.

Thank you so much Vania for writing the article, and big Thank you Liza at Panorama for publishing the article helping those with no voice get it better, in the shelters and those out on the streets.

Grande Amore!

Stray or Pet

A big problem here is lose dogs. Strays roam around and so do some pets.

Sometimes you cannot tell the difference since they are not wearing collars, and it can have a terrible outcome for the owner --I would think?

I was out feeding Grace and Cucci when these two wonderful good looking "dogs" came puppy flopping by. Friendly and happy they finished what I served them in the bowls.

I fell so in love with them that I wanted to bring them with me home, but first I needed them spayed and neutered. My car was full with donations I had picked up so I needed to re-arrange so they could fit in. In between I cuddled with them, and my thought was "these dogs will be easy to find homes for."

Finally done with putting all the stuff in the front I laid out a blanket so they could lay comfortable during the car ride out to the veterinarian clinic. When I hear a voice behind me; "Are these your dogs." and she pointed at Grace and Cucci. "No, none off these four dogs are mine but I am feeding them." I said to her hoping she wouldn't complain.

Her little son sticks his head out and yells, "Mom that is Max." and he points at the white dog.

"You know these two dogs."

"Oh yes they live over there, I think they escaped out" he said smiling like that was the most natural thing in the world. The mother looks at me, "they have all the up-to-date shots"

Without a collar, nothing up to date will help the dogs from being safe from us international rescuers.

I tried not to look surprised or that he could see that I thanked higher sources for not bringing them in to the clinic.

"Can you please tell the owner to at least put collar on them?"

In my SUV I started to think over how many dogs with no collars have been brought in to be spayed, or adopted away. Some one's pet.

It is dangerous...that is why it is important to make research, go to the dog-catchers with the dog (not likely but there may be a microchip) talk to the people around you, and put up fliers. Maybe there are some other Amore owners out there who miss their pet that was taken as a stray?

Dog Missing in Lago Patria Area

Another friend of ours has lost a dog in the Lago Patria area near Napoli.

"Oreo" is about the size of a Labrador Retriever. She has a black head and the rest of the body is white with small black spots, although there is one large black patch on his left side. She has about 2" long hair.

Help make this a "happy ending" story. He's offering a reward for return of Oreo.

Contact me if you've seen or know where Oreo is.

Shelter Mission 1: the Amore

We AWL had a nice day together, and enjoyed spending our time together with the dogs. It was very re-warding

Bruce and Rosa gave the dogs a lot of Amore, and played with them.

It was wonderful with all the dogs. So much love.

I wanted of course to bring them home....so difficult.

At the very end of the shelter, they had a pet cemetery. It was a heartbreaking/warming day.

Mission 2 will be held August 1. More food and a lot of dog-walkers, another Amore day. I know the dogs will be giving us a lot of joy, like always.

Photos copyrights (c) 2009 Todd A Mercer. All rights reserved

Living in Garbage

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

On our way home from the shelter we stopped by the dog that lives among glass and garbage near the lake. There used to be three from the beginning, but two got killed.
Someone has recently been cruel to this beautiful girl. Normally, she would happily come to anyone for some petting and treats. This day, she would only come up to me, scared towards the others. She is so gentle and loving --- last night my worries were (are) big for her, she deserves a better life. Please help me!
She is sterilized and we will pay for the de-worming and health tests, we need a foster or forever home for her quickly!

Shelter Mission 1: the Beginning

Today the shelter mission started and we delivered food to the Shelter with 500 dogs (read earlier on the blog) Olivia is making sure the bags wont blow away.

Rosa and Keegan with two happy dogs.

Dennis a hard working Dutch carrying the bags that was donated by wonderful people.

Bruce, his love to the dogs was amazing to watch
today, and it was fun. The dogs are in all sizes, shapes and personalities.

From the left, me Keegan Olivia, Bruce, Rosa and Dennis. Todd is behind the camera

My fantastic team did a great job. We will miss Rosa and Dennis who are leaving Napoli. Thank you for everything you did for AWL and the dogs. Your love and commitment, wonderful, you have been giving us all hope.

Heart Warming People

Today I picked up AWL t-shirts and they look great. But I am so thrilled over how many wonderful persons are involved in our projects. Tomorrow Mission 1 starts, the research and at the same time we do the donation food drive. The shelter has 500 dogs, and like I have earlier said, "the adoptions are more or less zero"

I want to thank China (SE), Ulla (IR) Mitra (IT) Himmelska Hundar, and to the Organization Chans (SE) for their generous donations.

Eric came by yesterday with two big bags of dog food and also a generous monetary donation.

Vania is working hard to promote AWL in general and specifically for Mission 2 in August. She even managed to get three huge couch pillows that will work wonders for the older dogs with arthritis.

Tomorrow we will post pictures from the research mission, and see how many bags of dog food we can deliver in our new t-shirts. Thank you all, you give me inspiration to continue with the Missions!

Olivia's Thought

I am conducting some research on the Internet about animals in need, and on this site that I was looking at, there was a rolling film about animals in slaughter houses, bullfighting. Not very pleasant of course but I am trying not to close my eyes because I feel uncomfortable.

For some reason that I now have forgotten, I stepped out from the room for a minute, and when I come back Olivia, my four-year-old daughter was watching.

It was a pig in a slaughterhouse, and the pictures were very graphic. I held my breath, angry that I hadn’t clicked it away.

She looked very serious and said, “Mommy look ... the pig is hurt.”
“I know baby, it is because we eat meat.”
Her eyes were glued to the screen, and I could see how her mind was working.

“That is not good, mommy!" she said, pointing at me emphatically, "You go and get the pig.”

A New Swedish Magazine/ Did U Hear My Name?

Shelter With 500 Dogs

I went and visited the area shelter with 500 dogs today. There were about 100 old dogs that I wanted to bring home. Everyone, I wanted to bring home to a sanctuary. They want to live, they want green grass to lay on, to sniff and know you are there for them regardless.

Please help with food donations, bring a bag to my house, donate on paypal or write a check. Please put your own needs outside for a moment and invite in a friend's needs.

I had seen it all before, but not felt it all. Today I couldn't stop my tears, and actually I let them roll down my checks. I don't want to stop feeling just because it is uncomfortable.

Black Heros

>> Story from Fayetteville Observer, Fayetteville, NC<<


Photo by Eve Meinhardt

Dogs offer comfort to soldiers in Iraq
By John RamseyStaff writer

Soldiers coming home from Iraq often have stories about the dogs they saw there.
Wild dogs, usually traveling in packs.

But a couple of black Labrador retrievers spent the past 15 months in the war zone, letting soldiers rub their bellies, playing fetch and traveling around Iraq in helicopters.

Named Sgt. 1st Class Budge and Sgt. 1st Class Boe, the dogs deployed to Iraq with the 528th Combat Stress Control, 44th Medical Command.

Equipped with specially made uniforms - complete with unit patches and protective goggles called "doggles" - their mission was to lighten the mood during soldiers' downtime and to help reduce the stigma of using combat stress therapy. Soldiers could pet the dogs during therapy sessions or play with them when handlers brought them around the base.

"A lot of the soldiers would say,'Finally, we have a dog we can pet,' " said Staff Sgt. Syreeta Reid, Budge's handler in Iraq. "It's hard to explain the facial expression you see on asoldier's face when you see these dogs coming."

Six months of training prepared Budge and Boe to keep their cool in a war zone. America's VetDogs, a company that readies guide dogs for aging or injured veterans, prepared the labs for their mission. The training cost was more than $50,000 per dog. "We exposed them numerous times to the sound of gunfire, helicopters," said William Krol, a spokesman for the company. "They took the dogs into New York City construction sites. Basically anything that would expose the dogs to noises they
would potentially hear."

Reid said having Budge by her side helped her forge relationships with soldiers who may have never spoken to therapists otherwise.

Dog opens door

One battalion commander was known to be a tough guy, refusing appointments with anybody, Reid said. But he was a dog lover, and
that got her foot in the door for a meeting. It led to her setting up times to walk out with Budge to the motor pool so more troops could play with him.

At least once a month, Reid said, she would strap on Budge's earmuffs and take a ride with him from their base in Mosul to other parts of Iraq to visit more soldiers. Budge eventually grew to love flying in helicopters, she said.

Reid had to say goodbye to Budge when they returned to Fort Bragg last month. She said the experience was like ripping off a Band-Aid.

Boe and Budge will continue their military service on assignment at Fort Gordon,Ga., where they'll have new handlers. Their replacements already have been trained, Krol said, and will deploy overseas soon.


Staff writer John Ramsey can be reached at ramseyj@fayobserver.com or
486-3574

Tigers Progressing

Photos Vania Lamanna (c) 2009

Remember Tiger, that was labeled aggressive and the family got the advise to let Tiger out by an animal organization? According to his foster mother he is progressing very well.

"I think we have progressed as much as we are going to progress with him though-my guess is he will calm down within a year or 2, he is still a young cat and full of energy, the best home would be someone who has a garden for him to take out some of that energy-he goes nuts cooped up in the small apartment. "

"Again, not suited for a family with young children-not unless they have been taught how to respect animals and give them their space and distance. "

"I wish someone Italian would take him in and keep him, then he would get used to the one family and be able to bond fully with them. He's sweet, even though destructive-we bought some glass from venice(I love hand blown glass)and left it in the box, until he leaves we won't bring it out. Can you imagine him with a Christmas tree????!!!!!!he'd be the angel on the top, haha!!" Vania

Can You Believe!

First, go and look at these pictures....then, can you believe it is the same dog?

She is on medication and is doing so great, recovering. I will have an update on what happened this weekend.

Please enjoy the pictures. This is true Amore.

Interview with Mia Mattsson-Mercer

On the wind-blown crest of Monte Faito, on the Sorrento peninsula, at a small Italian coffee bar, Mia was interviewed on her current effort to collect food for animal shelters in the Naples area:

Collecting Food

Currently, we are collecting food for one shelter with 500 dogs. Beautiful dogs, but the adoption rate is close to zero. You can make your own work, school or church collection event and later bring it to AWL's office.
Some organizations and shelters do adoptions here in Napoli, but then never follows up to make sure the adopted animal is still with the family that took them. Sometimes, far too often, what seemed like the perfect dog to a person or family, is found out on the streets without "street smarts" to help protect them, and the family no where to be found.

There are some people that should not have dogs.

I am so disappointed when someone loses their dog and they do not go out and look for it, I mean really looking. Maybe they drive through the area they say, but no walking "its a huge area"!
Fliers? They can't seem to put one together, even after I send pictures. The dog was his buddy, they really bonded. But instead of searching, they were out celebrating all weekend. They don't seem to be in a hurry to get their dog back.
Here are so many strays so what is one gone when thousands are begging for a home?
More later

WordPress

A fantastic AWL volunteer David, is helping us a lot with the promotion on Internet. I am trying to learn "the spider web technology" It is interesting but Amore confusing.

He built this for us, www.animalswithoutlimits.wordpress.com

Brandy (Sully) Recovering

Earlier on the blog

More update later today. All our Amore to you Brandy.

Interview about Animals Without Limits

Recently, David Bailey, MBE, conducted an interview with Animals Without Limits' Public Relations Director during some Social Media training. Here is the interview, posted on David's blog.

Keep Your Thoughts For Sully/Brandy

You remember the boxer Sully, rescued from starvation on the street, and brought in to save.

Later, she was adopted by a wonderful couple, who does everything for her and worries about her in a sweet, nurturing way.

I have received several phone calls from them, telling me how she is gaining weight; how her coat is shining after all the baths and good food; how she and his wife have bonded so well.

They named her Brandy. What a beautiful name! And very fitting.

Last Monday it was time for her to be sterilized out on LegaProAnimale, and the same day they could pick her up.

I got a phone call from them that they had found a lump near where her stitches were, and now it had started to bleed. To make a long story short, I told them to go to Dr. Damiani, since LegaProaAnimale was closed on Fridays.

The wonderful couple goes there, and finds out she is having an internal bleeding from the surgery! They have to make an emergency surgery. She is very ill.

Brandy is a fighter, though. She had such spirit even though severely malnourished. We have every hope she will pull through this as well. But your thoughts and prayers, of course, will help her all the more. Amore thoughts for an Amore dog, please.

[iPhone] Lui the dog is missing | 12seconds.tv (beta)

[iPhone] Lui the dog is missing | 12seconds.tv (beta)

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Audio Me

This morning I received this link. Great info thing....
Can you imagine, my first two books was written on old wonderful type writer--you know, you put white paper in it and klink klink, pling!!!
That was 1999, now ten years, later the "voice" of my work reaches out to so many more, all over the world. This was recorded in Prisitna yesterday.