SUN COMES OUT AND SO DOES THE STRAYS

Passing a company were a lot of strays were hanging out. Next to this place is a shelter with approximately 3000 dogs (three thousand) in indoor boxes.

Wonderful Sherry that was rescued by Martina and Pio. Olivia love to be around animal friends

Pio and Martina with sister and boyfriend invited olivia and me to their house. It is wonderful to sit among loving animals friends.

Of course, Olivia and I had to play with the puppies at LegaProAnimale after walking Athena

This little cutie would love to have a forever home. There were so much Amore that day.

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.

AWL Volunteers Did It Again

My favorite picture! Thank you Todd for documenting our day.

Jackie, our trooper girl, putting out so much love and carrying to each of them. Your heart is so big we could all feel it too, not only the dogs. Thank you for all the bags of blankets that you brought--and treats for the dogs.

Linda, you are an brilliant volunteer lady with so much power/energy/love to the dogs

Jenny from Sweden and Krisitine USA did a fantastic job, cleaning and grooming these loving dogs. All were amazed how well behaved they (dogs) were. Well, not many humans have messed with their minds. (Picture to the left Elizabeth filming for AFN)

In 32c strong sun today you volunteers did it again. You put yourselves to the side on a Saturday to wash a lot of dogs. This was so much Amore. Thank you everyone.

Sarah donated a bag of dog food and a big bag of blankets. Linda brought a bag of dog food.

Eric with all shampoo and you were awesome with the big dogs, the strong ones. Vince, you got it...the dogs cannot get enough of you. AFN, Vince, Anthony, Elisabeth, thank you for bringing the shelter dogs voice outside the fence and into peoples living rooms.

This time, I cannot thank myself! I did nothing more than sitting in the shade admiring the hard work everyone else did. The night before I got the stomach bug, but that couldn't;keep me in bed, I wanted to be part of all your wonderful Amore to the shelter dogs. Thank you.

For more pictures pls visit http://www.animalswithoutlimits.blogspot.com/

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

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.

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 Help Organization Sweden

(photo in Stockholm. Copyright (c) 2002, Todd A. Mercer. All Rights Reserved)

Animals Without Limits is getting great help from the Swedish organization CHANS; CHarity for ANimals Society.

They have posted about us on their website, for you who can read Swedish, enjoy the text. AWL is so grateful to them for helping us to make our work with the strays better in place in the country where the "problem" exists.

Thank you Amore Chans.

Thank You Again!

Veterinarian Inga, who donates medicine to Animals Without Limits, so we can help the dogs to feel better with a healthier chance to survive, while they live on our streets. She is helping them with their colds, itching, ear infections, coughs, arthritis, and so much more.

To Bella Appelblom, who lost her dog recently in a tragic accident , Bella donated money to the foundation in Bambi's name. I know Bambi had a fantastic time together with you, you adopted and gave her so much of your time and love. We are all thinking and sending Amore to you.

Animals Without Limits also want to thank Leila, for donating money to our strays' health.

Thank you for all your Amore, it gives us strength and courage to continue our missions.