A GRANDE GRAZIE

A big smile and a thank you for all your help with donations.

You are making a difference!

Sara Hoover SE/USA

Erika Bobbi Athena Giove SE

Bella Appelblom SE
Karin Eriksson SE

Elisabeth Frey USA

Ulla Lindner SE

Thank you all who comes and volunteers at our Hospice Casa dell'Amore. Food donations is helping the animals in the shelter's from starving. YOU are making a difference. That's Amore

AMORE THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP

Lately I have been surrounded by many loving people who understand the difficulty of our undertaking, and that my time sometimes is not enough to help everyone. With two children and 31 dogs, running between hospice and home, trying to get donations to shelters, meeting the children's school obligations, taking care of the house, etc... I sometimes need many extra hours in the day to get it all done. On top of everything, I now know that my husband will leave in January to go far away for quiet some time.

From my heart--I never ask after many favors, but this time I truly need help--I need volunteers that can be self going 1-3 hours a week (after some time working at my side to learn the ins-and-outs of everything). You volunteers can pick the time and day but since I have two small children, there are some definite times that I have to have help covering at the hospice --- mostly in the early morning and late evenings when my husband is away. The morning would be 06.00 0r 07.00 or 08.00 or between. It takes from 30 minutes to one hour to let them out, feed them and clean up any accidents on the floor there may be. The late evening shift would be between 21.00 or 22.00, but this wouldn't take long, only let them out for their night-time potty action, check so everything is ok and then lock them in and turn off the light.

The last days I have had wonderful help from Patty (US) who has been giving me so many mornings off, its been heaven! I have been able to take care of my family and our own 18 dogs in a non-stressed environment. Patty is amazing, I remember one morning she called and asked if she could go over and do some yard work? I couldn't believe my ears, what a wonderful gesture.

Also every Tuesday evening my trooper volunteer Greta has been over there, feeding and cleaning. On top of everything she is soon going to have a baby. What a girl!!!

Pio takes the Monday evening, and I know Boss and Lady (Great Danes) loves when he comes, they adore him. And its lovely for me to have one evening off, too.

It has been a bigger challenge for AWL since the Navy Base's organization NFOA dissolved. We get all the "broken heart" calls now. Calls like, "Leaving the country cannot take the dog with them," or "someone dumped puppies on base". Some people "rescue" puppies, but after a week decide they don't want them after all, or the dog chews in the house, they want him put down. I can go on and on, but you get the picture.

We've counselled people before that want to discard their pets when it is time to leave. We tell them that taking a pet is a lifetime committment (for the pet), but by the time we talk to them, they are already decided and committed to casting off their "best friend." In many ways, "rescuing" a stray, shelter or dumped animal is also a life-time committment. The "rescuer" has just taken it upon themselves to care for that animal until a "forever" home can be found, sometimes not a short-term activity. The time it takes to find that forever home is not entirely within the control of the "rescuer". Would-be rescuers need to realize this simple fact before scooping that cute puppy out of the box, or opening the car door to the stray. It seems doubly sad, and extremely frustrating, when a "rescuer" becomes part of the problem, not the solution they thought they would be.

What we do is not about money. We are 100% volunteer operated, nobody gets a dime in salary, and much of what we buy for the animals comes out of our own pockets. Still, without money and donations, there is only so much we can do. We get more calls for help than donations and it makes our work more difficult. Let me try to explain why it is not easy for us to help everyone.

Due to who we are, we get a lot of calls from the Navy Base asking for help. We are an international organization, not only focused on Campania, and certainly not only focused on the US Navy Base in Naples. We'd love to be able to put up posters on base, telling people what we need and how to get it to us. Simple stuff like donations of food, cleaning supplies, old blankets and of course money. But we are prohibited from putting any such announcements on base, because of Navy regulations.

Now, if we became "command recognized" by the Base Commander, we would be able to do those things, but to do so would require us to forego soliciting for or accepting from businesses and other organizations any donations. We simply can't do that, remember we are international! What we might get through on-base advertising and fund-raisers would not offset what we are begining to get through outside solicitation. For instance, in 2011, we will be able to spay/neuter over 600 animals due to a grant we received from a US foundation.

All of this isn't to say we won't help animals in need from the Navy Base. Regardless of where the animals come from, we try our best to help them. But we are not a base resource, and not constituted to be able to immediately address a problem. If you are calling to ask for help, please give us time to arrange help, follow through with what we ask of you (e.g. take pictures so we can post them, answer our questions in a timely manner, etc.), and above all be patient. Your stress only makes the animal's situation that much worse, and is not necessary.

To those who have or will ask for help with an animal, we thank you for your concern. By asking for help, rather than turning your back on the animal in need or worse, you are already better than many people. Please continue to be part of the solution; don't become part of the problem.

We don't put up posters or have fund-raisers on base, we have never caused any problems, quiet the opposite we have rescued many abandoned dogs, and in some cases abused/neglected animals from apartments on base. But we need help with getting the word out, what we are begging for is volunteers. Before, we worked together with NFOA Presidents Genni and Whitney, and then we could together solve more problems. But now NFOA is gone and we are alone, and we need more help. Please help us by spreading the word about our need for volunteers and donations of things we need. Help us to help the rest of the community, please. Pay the amore forward!

AGIP DOGS GETTING TREATMENT AND SPAYED

In an earlier blog you could read about Deb and Tammy rescuing dogs at a gas station along a busy highway. Thanks to your donations, these two dogs could be taken to Lega Pro Animale (driver Tammy) getting spayed and neutered. Also, Stuart above had bites over his body that could be seen and treated. This is what matters, team work and good stories.

Stuart is now in a foster home. He is sweet and learning quickly to trust the humans that once broke his heart. Deb is visiting him frequently.

Miss Husky her found a forever home thanks to Debs' hard work.

So you CAN make a difference. Donations, driving, fostering or giving them a warm forever home.

You can chose, they cannot!

Thank you all for believing in our hard work. That's Amore!

SO MANY BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE

This company is donating some fantastic products to our hospice clients, from their well recommended selections

Mr. Craig Kleber, from Los Angles, USA made a fantastic donation that made my mouth drop open for several days. Bless your Animal heart!

Vania, thank you so much for the great 20 food bowls. They sure are coming handy.

And the Navy NEX at the support site, thank you for all the cans of wet food and bags of dry food. We so appreciate it and more so do the dogs.

Greta and her husband donated a sofa and bookcase, 2 gates to the Hospice. The dogs and the volunteers loves it....I see more dogs on the couch!

Hello, any more donations?

Oh yes! Genni with her lovely family donated a recliner, kitchen table with chairs, a wall painting, lamps, food bowl stands (brilliant to all our oldies who cannot bend down to eat because of back pain), and gates.

That's so much Amore!

(more thank yous are coming)

A SMALL UPDATE

After the accident i kept going but in a slow speed, and acctualy so did my Internet. We had a strong storm and heavy rain that made a lot of things go slow, or not!
But AWL got food, schampo, goodies that was expiered from the US Base. We love you for that, thank you so much. And Anna for contacting me and helping. That's Amore

I met Dharma in Rossella shelter some time ago. I loved her so much, so sweet and sensetive, but there was no possibility for us to adopt her. So months later I got to hear that the couple that adopted Dharma wanted her spayed. Of course AWL helped even if they sponsored the bill themselves. But it was wonderful to meet her family that are wonderul, Flavia and her husband.

This is Dharma in her home. She is a happy rescue dog, and her family thinks she is the best. That's Amore.

Our rescue dog Bonita is staying with us for a couple of days. Her wonderful fosterfamily is out of town. She is brilliant old lady, so quiet. The first days she was sad, she thought her fosterfamily had dumpt her. But after some bowls of Swedish meat loaf and comforting words that they are coming back, she is now back to normal. She ignores my dogs and they are wondering who she is but stays on a distant. Bonita is not aggressive to other dogs, she is "only" a grumpy grandma.

That's Amore!

TO YOU ALL I WANT TO THANK

Sara H from NC USA thank you so much for you care package to AWL. It felt like Christmas unpacking it, smiling and clapping hands out of joy....more dogs to help! And I also saw that you had made a donation. Thank you for your big heart.



Tracey N from USA (sorry forgot what state you are in now :-) thank you to for your monthly donation. In your busy life, you still take time to think of us, that's Amore.



Tamara Hampikan stationed here in Napoli and also helping the strays, and helping us with a donation. I cannot wait to meet you in person. I also know you rescued 5 dogs! Bravo!!



Ulla L in Sweden, our loyal donater and helper and soon to be mom to two rescue dogs from here: Phillipo and Capri.



Pio and Martina who are wonderful helpers. They drive and pick up AWL dogs, bringing them to the veterinarian clinic. They are great friends, too.



The pharmacia Veter Shop in Lago Patria (NA), thank you for your donations and also fantastic discount when we buy all the animal medicine we need.



Dr Damiani and Dr Loungo at the vet clinic, thank you for good service to Bonita. You are really doing a great job.



Dr Lorenzo and Dr Gigi at the other clinic for having patience with me when I am cursing people's cruelty to animals and my tears are falling down my cheeks.



Tracey and Milla for keeping my dream going with the Universe's vibration, please make sure I don't give up!



Amore to my husband who doesn't tell me to stop, and Olivia my big helper and light...Max we are waiting for you.



Today I heard something what I thought was cute from a 4 year old mouth. An Italian friend was here today helping with some painting and he spoke with Olivia in Italian. She was petting one of our 18 dogs and Pio says in Italian "Oh, you have many dogs!"

Olivia answers back in English~Italian "Yeah, my mom got them from a shelter and brings them home to my home! I love them!"


You all are Amore! Thank you.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HELPING THE STRAYS TO A BETTER LIFE

• Ulla Linders for your generous donation "again"
• Brian Hill, Bank Manager at the Community Bank (US)
• Fransesco the miracle cats rescue lady donated 2 more dog bags
• Gerry A donated money to buy dog food for the strays.
• Elizabeth Frey and her mother donated 2 bags of dog food.
• Thank you so much for your heart and belly warming Amore.
  

THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATIONS

Today I yelled out loud, "I had it I am throwing in the towel!"

My husband looked at me, walked away without commenting back to me. He knows me!

After a couple of hours something will have changed my mind.

Since we have more dogs in the house now--I think my husband said something about 68 paws--it takes more time for me to get out of the house. It makes me late and frustrated; time to make a new Mercer House Schedule. Right now it is a lot 68 paws...I don't want to think about that. (Eight paws are going to Sweden to people I know very well)

But what made me smile later was looking at the donation paper I received;

I want to thank the Swedish Organization Chans for donating to us again. You can click on their name and read more about their other great work.

Also AWL thanks Maria, Richard, Engla and Becci for their donation in their late beloved dog Tossi's memory.

Before Christmas it is so hard on us since many people spend a lot of money on presents - but not on donating for the animals. January is even harder, since many people's wallets are empty after spending a lot of money over Christmas. Yet the needs of the animals remain constant.

But, you are the ones that make me pull the towel back out today....your Amore to the animals without an owner make us know we do the right thing. AMORE PER CANI

AMORE THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP

Without your help we cannot keep up with our work.

Because of recent generosity from YOU, we have recently been able to buy more medicine for sick shelter dogs. We can spay and neuter more dogs (and some cats) and give them something wonderful to chew on while locked in cages in the Shelters. We can also clean them so they feel (and smell) better, and don't itch so much which can lead to wounds and infection.

Thank you so much from our hearts, we can be able to do what we do best....help the stray's to be happier and healthier.

Ann-Krisitn Jonsson in Sweden

In memorian of their beloved dog Tossi ("mom" Maria Svegard) in Sweden

Raymond Milen in PA, USA

Monica Ohlsson and Kenny in Stockholm, Sweden

Bella Appelblom in Sweden

Ulla Seidel in Irland

Ulla Lindner in Sweden

Birgitta och Bertil in Hladisch, Sweden

Pigears from the store Smulan & Josefin in Stockholm, Sweden

Shampoo from the company Unique Cosmetics, Sweden AB

Himmelska Hundar, the fantastic dog cafe~resturant in Stockhom, Sweden. Thank you for the medicine for the dogs, walking halters, and all the treats.

YOU ALL ARE SO FANTASTIC, THANK YOU FOR HELPING THE STRAY'S

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!

SPONSOR STRAY

Thank you Ulla Linders and Anki Jonsson for your generous donations so we can continue our work to help strays from suffering.

Anki, your wish for a sponsor dog will be sent to you as soon as possible.

Thank you both for your Amore hearts!