Children Communicate With Animals

Milla´s dog Jimmie is a former rescue dog from Greece. He loves to sleep in.

Pasha is her other rescue dog from Sweden, a big wonderful Amore that is having a slight of a "communication problem." He loves children but can sometimes misread the child's body language. Nothing bad happens, but he barks and children become scared and runs away. Olivia approached Pasha with calmness and care. The second morning, Olivia and Milla are sitting next to Pasha, when Olivia suddenly says, "He got a boo boo!" Milla didn´t understand what she had just said so I "translated."

"Olivia is claiming that Pasha got pain/hurt!"

I asked Olivia to show on Pasha were he had told Olivia that he had some problem.

She touches his left front leg and says "There"

What she didn´t know was that Pasha had had leg surgery in his left front leg. He didn´t limp, but he went and got therapy to work up his muscles. You couldn´t see that he had any problems. This statement was incredible. It showed how well we all are born with the gift to be able to communicate with animals, and children carry the ability with them. An Amore gift.

Foredrag Stockholm Sverige

Radio Interview

One hour interview to listen click here on the link

Stockholm Sweden

My wonderful friend Milla-- in the middle-- who owns the first dog resturant cafe Himmelska Hundar together with Katie. Were the owners also can have a plate of food.
Monica (to the left) is a fantastic warm person that I met many years ago back to when AWL first started 1999.
Milla and Monica recently returned from China, after visitning rescued bears that they support..

A dogowner is ordering a meatloaf for her big hunting dog.

Dog bites, tasty and yummi, the dogs leave happy.

Ronja the 6 month labrador, love mom and dad...and the food.

And, Himmelska Hundar are great supporters for those who doesn´t have the ability to go into a dog resturant/cafe...they support many organizations that are out rescuing bears and dogs (Ours are to the right).

I love you guys

I totally forgot how beautiful and fantastic Stockholm is. So green, clean and full of green parks, dogs being walked, and always with their owners.

RUFFUS SCRATCH

Going home after we delivered the fridge, we had to stop for gas. From my side window I saw a grey short hair medium size dog coming running. I of course jumped out of the car since I could sense something was not right. I got the dog food out of the car and approached him, he was so happy to see me. He had a terrible skin problem that I have only seen once before and that was in Bosnia. It itched so badly that he wanted me to scratch him.

My heart turned from joy into sadness. I had to leave him there. I had no cage in the car, and I was leaving for Sweden. I pray and hope he will be there in a couple of days when I return, with a cage and able to bring him in to a vet clinic.

I do wish we had a rehab clinic.

MISSION FRIDGE COMPLETED

We drove out the fridge, and it was a horrible weather. It rained cats and dogs--bad joke--poor dogs.

Rossella was so touched for the gift from you all --see yesterdays blog--and I also want to thank you all who forwarded the e mails about "shelter in need". Thank you all, soon we will post videos from the happy refrigerator moment

WE MADE IT

TWO days!! We got the donations to buy a new refrigerator for Rossella's Shelter.

Wonderful! I am so touched by your immediate acction(s) Even Olivia (our four-year-old daughter) donated 2 euro from her savings. Eric Wooley (US), Keegan Kasten(US), Carina Lidbom (SE) China Platou (SE) Kristine Willis (US), Polly K Truzzolino (US), Pamela Roark (US) Herbert Boutwell (US) Erika & Bobby Andersson (SE) Tracey & Craig Klebber (US) Thank you so much for helping out so fast and with such a big heart. I Amore you!

In Memorial: Max the Cat

I have a very dear animal friend who does a great job as an AWL volunteer. Her friendship and volunteerins is not "only" for AWL, she is helping everyone, from a single person to several organizations. She got the right spirit thinking, 'It's about the animals, not us, why not help were it's needed?"


She brings sacks off washed towels to our cleaning dog missions. She picks them up and they are pretty clean but she spends two days before a mission washing and folding them. And she also thinks of us, with a wonderful cake for our breaks after been messing around in dirty water, muddy and happy shelter dogs. In the begining I always called her "biscotti lady" With bags of treats she walked around for hours giving each one in the cages a wonderful taste of candy. Many times she would lock herself into the cages sitting on the cold concrete, calmly talking to them the dogs there, after a minute or so some shy and abused one would snuggle up to her. She massaged them, talked to them, and just sat quietly together with them. Jackie, could feel who needed some extra love right away.

After one mission, we dropped her off and she walked up to her home. When she opened the door she could sense something was wrong. Jackie walked in a hurry into the washing room and discovered in the drier was her beloved cat, Max. He had jumpted into the dryer, laid down on the towels and the door closed and the timer was set on. He was still alive when Jackie got him out but he died in her arms a few minutes later. A piece of Jackie's heart died that moment too. A horrible accident and for one of the greatest animal lovers I have ever met, it is doubly traumatic for her. She was always out on the field for the animals but mostly for the cats.

Jackie, I know you still are blaming yourself and my words will never take away your pain and guilt. And I know since this tragic accident happened you have not been able to go into a laundry room without panicing.

My friend, I have no words that can heal you, but I am next to you always.

Another Poor Soul

Olivia my 4 year-old daughter and I were out walking together with our dog Clyde, when we ran into this little stray girl. Young, a couple of months, maybe nine or so, skin and bones. You could see her hip bones standing up, and the ribs you could play xylophone on. Scared, but we talked to her and sat down and she became a little brave and came slowly up. It was a sad sight but at the same time I could tell Olivia how to behave, quiet and no sudden movements, give her time to come to you. This little one was very head shy, you could tell she had been abused.

Olivia, Clyde and me hurried home to get some cat food (a lot of protein) and some pellets in a bowl and returned without Clyde. The little one, a German Shepard mix was up roaming on our four lane main street, not street smart at all. The cars are driving 70-90km/hour and she was zig-zagging back and forth across the highway, scared. Olivia and I held our breath, following slowly so as not to stress her any more than she already was. After 10 minutes we got her off the road and managed to get her attention with our food.

I looked at Olivia holding my hand how she was absorbing in the picture from this dog. I wondered to myself what she could think? She looks up at me and holds up her thumb, "good job"

The picture is not so good, since it started to get dark and I didn't want to stress her more.

THANK YOU

"Newly" adopted, good luck with your new family!

AWL want to thank Vittoria for the dog food (cans) she donated. Yummi Amore.

In Need of a Small Refrigerator

AWL is in need of a small refrigerator!

One of the shelters we are helping, their only fridge broke down. It means that vaccination and medication will go bad.

We have started to collect donation money to buy one.

Eric, Keegan, me, Olivia, Todd have donated. Will you join us? Please use the "DONATE" button here on the blog, and then send me an email to tell me you want the money to go specifically for the refrigerator. It's that simple.



PS, We have contacted some manufactures...we will see if someone has a cold or warm Amore!

Cleaning Everything Mission

This morning we drove out to Rossella Shelter for cleaning rescue dogs. Ten of us had got out of bed this beautiful Saturday, and we had shampoo bottles (Thank you Keegan) and towels (Jackie) with us.

The shelter dogs were happy to see us, even if we only come every second Saturday. Rossella who has the shelter was very tired, we could clearly see. She had gotten more dogs than her little place can take. But people drive out and tie their dogs up at her gate. She has approximately 90 dogs in her 30 cages. It was smelly, and at least 2 million flies everywhere. I felt like I was in Africa! They crawled into the mouth, our drinks and snacks were covered, black. I kept looking around after dead bodies!

Worms in different sizes, and orange red poop! (When one dog brings in worms, before long, they all have them.) Today it was the worse day in a long time.

The AWL team, Eric, Don, Lindy, Rebeca, Kristin, Olivia, Kristine, Jackie, Keegan ... I am so proud of you guys. You did a fantastic job today, not complaining, not giving up.

AWL cleaned the cages; walked the dogs, cleaned and trimmed the dogs, and loved up on them. Thank you for giving them a hope, and a new smell. I love you all.

Rosella's fridge broke down, so now the fear is that the vaccinations and other medicine will go bad (and open food cans). We need de-worming, leashes, collars, shampoo...and a hospice for many of the dogs to recover at. Please help me, this day was so over whelming in helplessness, I cannot do this alone.

Is there some amore out there for this effort?

Animal Neglect

According to a source, the Military Police went to pick the husband up (read yesterdays blog) to bring him in for his statement. This source tells me that the husband refused, and became very angry, so the MP had to handcuff him.

Sad news. The puppy is at the veterinarian clinic and not doing well. We don't know if she will make it.

Send some loving amore thoughts!

New Comment to this post; I am quoting the husband in his email to me; "I would appreciate it however, it if you just left your own comment on the second blog saying that it turns out the MA's did nothing but ask my wife some questions, and left. No handcuffs, no mislead anger or anything in that nature."

Animals Law

I got an e mail from a girl, Kristin, that had found a puppy roaming around on the streets nearly getting killed. She wrote to me asking for help. I promised I would do my best to find a foster home or a permanent home, but told her I couldn't bring the dog into my house with 13 dogs. I could also bring the pup the veterinarian that would give a little time to find a solution. Kristin could not have the pup since she already had a dog and cat, her landlord would be angry if she had more.

Another woman writes to me telling me that her friend will bring the pup in for fostering for a couple of days. AWL sent e mails searching for volunteers, and we posted pictures. A couple of hours later I get an e mail which says, "If no one comes and takes the pup, they will throw the pup outside." I wrote back asking what the problem could be since the pup was doing fine with cats and dogs?

It was not the pup. The husband had said "yes" to fostering the pup for a couple of days, but when the wife brought the dog home he decided the pup was too big! She's just double size of a cat.

According to the e mail I got they were having "marriage problems" and he had told his wife to throw the pup out on the street. I wrote back saying if they did I would have to report them.

Tonight I spoke to the security guy about another dog being dumped into the vet station and the people/person who did this disapeared in a car. I told him about the pup story and if he would see the pup to give me a call. The security guy calls me one hour later. They had found the pup scared and abandoned by the ATM machine on base.

I couldn't believe that this couple would do it! I thought my promise to report them would "only" be an empty threat. The pup had only been with them for a couple of hours!

If the pup was being so enoying they could have locked her into a room or bathroom (fed her and out walking in between), waited as promised a couple of days. We were all working full priority on finding something for this little thing.

Tomorrow, I am meeting the security personnel to write out a complaint on this couple. I never thought I would have to do this, but a promise is a promise and I did warn them. After all, AWL is working for the animals rights, as much as it goes. Wish me luck!

A NEW HOME

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.

Magazine Nara

Tidningen Nara The Swedish magazine is out now, click on the link and you can read the article. You know you can have it translated on Internet google.

At the end of the article you can leave a comment.

pic AP RIP Patrick Swayze

NEW UPDATES

New updates on http://www.mytailwagsforyou.blogspot.com/ Please visit.

Lega Pro Animale 20 Years

LegaProAnimale is having their 20th (years) anniversary, with a lot of hard work and joy too. Today I went to their Prevenzione Conference, sponsored by LPA. I had a wonderful day, inhaling a lot of information from many speakers from Italy, Germany, England and USA.

Esther Mechler from SPAY USA and Joy Lee from WSPA UK
Tracey Kleber from LA (USA) had contacted Humane Society International (US) and had told them about AWL.

Kelly O' Meara from hsi.org, and I had a nice interesting talk. It was interesting to hear others tell their experiences.

Remember back in February when AWL together with other volunteers, including Rossella's Shelter, went in to the "horrible shelter" to rescue dogs. The ASL veterinarian from that mission, Salvatore De Micco, came up and said hello.

I listened to many speakers, telling their statistics; relating their lesson's learned on how to reduce the number of strays on the streets. Thank you LegaProAnimale for arranging this interesting day.

Rehab Foster Home Needed

AWL is searching for a rehab foster home for this sweet female. Her two back legs are probably broken. We have arranged to pick her up from the shelter were she has been for three (3) years.

We'll transfer her to a vet. clinic for examination, x ray and if necessary...surgery. What we need is a calm, loving foster home for her to recover in. Recovery time is hard to tell, it can be everything between 2 weeks to 6 months that she needs proper care, rest and love. She will give you so much back, she is the sweetest, kindest, loving dog I have ever met.

Lindy brushed her, bathed her, and even cut her claws. She only loved sitting there in the grass being seen, touched and talked to.

Please put your own needs to the side, open your door for someone that needs healing.

A Heartwarming Story

This is a heartwarming story from Tom Brouns and his family. I want to share this with you since dealing with many sad animal cases, it sometimes make us forget about those dogs that has a great family. And, families that has a great dog!
Tom Writes:
"This is our dog, Keiler. He looks like a golden retriever,but he's a (German) Hovawart - bred to guard. However, we're fairly certain he'd greet any would-be burglar with a wagging tail and a slobbery tongue. Because the kids were young, and we'd rather lose a stereo than have a child bitten, we've tried to teach him that people are universally good (if only that were true.) Hopefully his bark, which can be quite fierce, would be enough to keep any troublemakers away.

Besides being our guard dog, he's a member of the family. He's 7 years old, but we think he believes he's one of the kids. He's a former Therapy Dog, having worked at Womack Army Hospital, Fort Bragg, NC. He's a foot-warmer on cold nights. He's a great swimmer and loves the water. And for years, he's been my running partner. But we've known since he was about a year old that his running career would end at some point, because he's got hip dysplasia.

About six months ago, he started having trouble keeping up. But he would never tolerate being left behind on a run. From the moment I picked up a pair of running shoes, he'd never leave my side. We took him to the vet and they said it was his heart- it simply couldn't keep up with his exercise regimen. He was put on blood thinners, and his endurance improved, but he'd still start dropping back after a mile or so - when he usually leads for five. So we took him for a second opinion.

We were told that he was in extreme pain, his left hip was nearly gone, and his right leg muscles were about twice as big as his left muscles, from compensating. But the good news was that there is such a thing as a doggie hip replacement. Though the procedure would be quite expensive, they could give him a hip that would last him well past his life expectancy of 10 or 11 years. We didn't balk at the offer, and are fortunate to be able to afford it - because putting him down would have been heartbreaking.

They kept Keiler for 3 or 4 days, because apparently "the part" was late coming in. We were a bit shocked to see that he'd been "pantsed" - they shaved his lower extremities, leaving the fur on his tail and little "booties" - which made him look ridiculous. After a regimen of antibiotics and pain pills, he's going to have to be kept down for the next 2 months - no running, jumping, stairs, etc. Apparently this is necessary for his hip to "set" properly. But we're told if everything goes right, he should be able to live out his normal life, with his artificial hip pretty much as good as the real thing. So far he's doing well - the most difficult part is keeping him sedentary. And I have to put on my running shoes in secret - he wouldn't understand."

Thank you Tom and family for sharing this Amore story.

Tiger! He Made It!

You remember the cat Tiger from earlier blogs? His family was moving, and didn't want him since he was an "aggressive" cat. One animal organization they contacted advised the family to release the cat out into the community, even though he has been an indoor cat his whole life. Normally we don't take care of adoptions... but when confronted with the alternative, we had no option but to try to help.

Tiger got a great foster home, where Vania evaluated him for several weeks. He wasn't "aggressive" at all, quite the opposite. He had been continually bothered in his prior home by several kids who probably played with him too roughly for his liking, and so he reacted the only way he could. Thank you, Vania, for taking him in, and giving him love and patience so he could show us all his "true colors".

Thanks to that "breather" in the foster home, and Vania's evaluation, she were able to place him in an appropriate, loving, forever home.

His new owner simply adores Tiger, and it seems Tiger loves her as well. He greets her at the door when she comes home, and they give each other their sole attention.

Way to go Tiger! Purrrrrrfect Amore ending to this story thanks to Vania Lamanna

Canine Lifeguards Hit Italy\'s Beaches

Canine Lifeguards Hit Italy\'s Beaches

Open Your Heart

picture; Jackie loving up on one of the shelter dogs

While we were washing the dogs at the shelter last Saturday we also "loved up" on them. Both dog and humans get so much from "just" sitting together. The dogs didn't want the treats we had for them --that always suprises the new volunteers--they hunger for affection more than tidbits.


A big dog looked like he could be of some kind of Rhodeasian Ridgeback-cross came up and laid done next to me. I started to pet him. Sadness came over me and my eyes became misty. One of the volunteers was standing watching us and I asked. "Can you feel his sadness?"

The volunteer replied back, "He looks happy to me!"

I asked the lady who runs the shelter how long he had been there, and what was his story?

"He has only been here 6 months ... his owner died and he had to come here!"


Sometimes you have to close your eyes and see with your heart. The true emotions are being sent and recieved by the heart.

Another Amazing Wet Mission

AWL had another dog cleaning day at Rossellas Shelter, with wet paws and wet kisses.

Not so brilliant eating and giving out tasks at the same time.
Lets goo!

Where is the Schampoooo?

You are not going to wash dogs?

Eric had one of the toughest projects. He sat and groomed this dog for over two hours on the ground. He got assistance from two volunteers.

It was a tough job, never seen such a tangled messed up fur. But he was happy afterward, he felt lighter.

David took her for a walk to get off some energy before washing her. Remember some off these dogs have never been walked before or even washed. But she was brilliant. I don't meet many humans that are so trusting.

Gorgeous and loving dog, with a great mind.



We loved it, dogs and humans. Thank you again you all wonderful loving volunteers.

David, Lindy, Jackie, Ty, Blanca, Todd, Eric, Sarah with husband, Darren, Jenny