AMORE BENJAMIN'S TRANSFORMATION

End of September: at the gas station

End of October: at a foster mothers house

November: when Ulla from Sweden was here-- she took this picture--and donated the pig ears too


December: at Dr Damiani's clinic with me. We still have some work to do with him. He has a big wound on his back leg that's been looked at by Dr Damiani, but he doesn't know what is causing it. Benjamin is on antibiotics right now so the bacteria in his wound can be killed before doing a biopsy. This is the sweet guy that got turned down by many--- because of his looks --- but we are the few that's been fighting for him.

Amore you for your support!

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?

PART THREE (3)

(see earlier blog about Benjamine)

Jackie and I linked up at the gas station to give Benjamin "part 3" in his life. From being hurt and scared by people who thought he was horrible looking. Then treatments. Then back to the gas station but this time in a kennel.
And now, a foster home. Gayle thanks for opening your warm garage with his own entrance out to the garden, --for Benjamin. You could tell he was so thrilled for his new chapter in life.

I was so amazed to see that more fur had growned out on top of his back already. That was an Amore joy. Good luck Tutte due, and I will keep you all posted.

BENJAMIN CHAPTER 2

We couldn't and wouldn't dump him at the gas station, it felt cruel and heartless, even if he had only been away from it for a day. I cried like never before, and Eric tried finding a foster home on his phone like a madman. Back at the gas station, the owner told us there was an abandoned cage / kennel, we could use it. It wasn't bad, and Eric said something really true today that I felt when I was sitting with Ben:
"WE are suffering more than Ben."

That is so true. Is it therefore we put animals to sleep too quickly?

The pictures cannot describe his skin condition. AND the pictures cannot describe his happiness. All three: me, Jacky and Eric just love this little guy so much. He has a big spirit in his 9 month old body...and, he has taught us a lot about human's as well.

He doesn't get aggressive when you feed him, he waits. This little guy is worth a big Amore life.

BENJAMIN THE BEAUTIFUL

I never thought a dog could have such a big soul as Ben. To be so beautiful towards people even when they have kicked him, and done faces at him. Ben looks horrible with his two different skin problems, Sarcoptes Mange and Demodex. He is not even one year-old, and on the pictures you can not really see how bad it is, he looks like he has leprosy.

Tuesday, I had to go and get him from the vet clinic, Dr Damiani was fantastic writing a letter in Italian to the gas station people, what it is and what we are trying to do. I could see other in the clinic that didn't want to help me out with the cage and Ben. Just looking afraid and stepping back.

I was crying, I totally lost it, because never before had I seen people with disgusted faces towards an animal.

AWL volunteer Eric linked up with me at the gas station, and the owner was not happy to see us coming back. I explained and told them we were going to do everything in our power to help Ben to find a foster home. I could understand the owner!

Many people dumped their pets at the station during the night.

He looked at us, and showed us an empty dog kennel, not fancy, but for now it would help us medicate him.

Charity I thank you for helping me escorting him to the vet. Eric you are so committed it is fantastic to see your spirit working among animals. Jackie--wow--you got the heart.

Eric and Jackie take turns feeding him and giving him his medicine. YOU GUYS ARE BEAUTIFUL.

This is the email I got from Jackie today, "The pictures of Benjamin can't quite prepare you for when you actually see him. That poor, poor dog. He is so sweet. He wanted to climb me. He was so good natured. I just touched him gently and patted him. He really liked that and just pressed himself into me. We will never know the last time someone touched him with love. I stayed with him for one hour. I wanted to make sure he ate all the food with his medicine."