BUSY DAYS AT THE AWL HOSPICE

Freya from Holland is a new great volunteer at our Hospice. She washed all the Great Danes, later on with help from another fantastic volunteer Sarah (GB) Friday afternoon while we are cleaning we share a bottle of vine. Funny how easier it is to clean!

My Dicky, rescued from the streets put in a shelter on a wet cold concrete with a lot of disease. I drove quickly and pick him up. He is the sweetest thing, always happy. Even when he gets shots at the clinic, is his tail going like a drumstick.

Our two (out of three) mini German Shepards keeps us busy cleaning while they keep themselves busy playing and fighting.

Four Great Dane puppies now got loving homes. We are so happy for them. Today a beautiful family came and fell in love with a female they named Dolce.

One of our oldies Tiger 15y old are now feeling at home at the hospice and sleeps comfortable on the sofa.

Michelle adopted a female Mini German Shepard that are living in a house now together with a cat. We wish you all luck.

Leo 15y that never went inside houses. Well this morning he did. My heart is full of joy. My beloved Leo.

Maybe he didn't like me that much, but I gave him a bath since his fur is so full of parasites. Amazing, before no one could touch him and here, I gave him bath and he stood still.

We also once in a while get wonderful energetic children to volunteer. We learn a lot from them, and hopefully they can be our hope for the future about kindness to animals.

Angel 17y enjoying his chewing bone outside in the sun. That's what AWL Hospice is about. Relaxing pain free enjoyment.

Male and female Mini German Shepards adopted by a wonderful warm generous family from Holland. They named them "Bonnie and Clyde"

Our days are full off Amore, and we hope or clients enjoys their five star Hospice Thats' Amore.

A BIG THANK YOU TO VOLUNTEER ULLA

picture vet. Mariagracia taking a blood test on Phillipo

Ulla Linder. a volunteer from Stockholm, came down back in November with a lot of care packages. She had also designed my buisness cards and AWL buisness cards---wohoo I feel so important ---And she had also made AWL stickers, really nice ones.

She went with us to the shelter and fell in love with Phillipo. And in my house she fell in love with our Capri. Both dogs will have a great owner, fantastic athmosphere and life being spoiled.

We put Ulla to work while she was here, hard work like taking care of Benjamin, cleaning his pen, his surroundings and bath him every day in special treatment shampoo.

Ulla was tested very hard by me, since I cannot have "coffee ladies" around me who want to socialize but not work. Ulla passed the test with great verve. Also Ulla, thank you for your Christmas donation, what an amore gift.

Thank you for everything, all the presents, leashes, collars, brushes, you name it ... and MONEY!

OUR FIRST RAINY MISSION

Our handy-mandy's, Todd and Eric, making plans to help out with building "something".

This is our wonderful Jackie. She brought the barbecue grill with her, and a lot of hot dogs with bread. Suddenly I hear her asking. "Should they have them grilled or raw?" She meant the dogs!

We love Jackie and the dogs yesterday all 85 dogs got hot dogs. (We turned the grill on later and there were 8 hot dogs left for the volunteers :-) But a big strawberry cake and drinks later for our volunteers )

This is my Amore. I call him Square pants, and he is 10 years old with arthritis. I want him out so baldy that it kills my heart. He is in a cage with 4 other athletic dogs, and he has a plastic pallet to lay on. It's cold and wet... can you imagine how he feels in there?

Puppies found at a church. AWL volunteers were making sure the were dry and warm.

On the US NAVY Base this big handsome German Shepard was roaming around. Eric and Todd went and picked him up and we found he has an Italian microchip. With help from Sarah and her husband Armand dog boarding, they are helping us having the guy (they named him Soldier) until Monday when we can bring him to the veterinarian and hopefully find out who owns him. Then, hopefully bring him to the owner that misses and loves him and will be jumping up and down out of joy that Sarah and I are bringing him back. Keep your fingers crossed for this outcome!

Yesterday's volunteers, I am so proud that you came and helped even if the rain poured down.

Lindy, Kristin, Brandy, Mark, Todd, Jackie, Eric and Mia

GREAT VOLUNTEERS

Olivia and Jackie did a fantastic job at the shelter today. Cleaned the cage, and later de-wormed the puppies.

Jackie is a great calm teacher to Olivia. These two warm hearted persons were my only volunteers today. I am so lucky to have them.

It's been a horrible day, many tears and arguments.

My upcoming book will be a tear-dripping one. I never knew I would get so many terrible stories. That was not my intention...I want to inspire my readers!

GOOD LUCK AND GOOD SPEED

Eric, AWL's great volunteer, is getting ready to run the Marathon in France this weekend. We all wish you good luck and good speed. You look great in your own AWL self-designed shirt, and we thank you for your support to AWL. These handsome fellows are some of his biggest fans..."go daddy!"

AWL also thanks Ann Kristin Jonsson for her generous donation.

And in memory of a very special dog with a big heart, TOSSI Svegare Berglund, thank you for your generous donation . RIP.

ANIMALS WITHOUT LIMITS

Rebecca and Blanca (Thank you so much Blanca for your donation) are washing Pasqualino. He is a funny smart guy, great for agility.

Poop Scooping

Our Lindy is giving the dogs so much joy.

Pasqualino, our guy. For an active family, this guy will give you plenty of smiles. Fast learner!

Our new volunteer Charity brought several shampoo bottles, leashes, collars and brushes. Fantastic Amore.

TODAYS MISSION CLEANING

The AWL Team did it again, worked hard cleaning and loving up on the dogs. As always you are great! Rebeca, I was so happy to see you joining us today--you really earned your AWL T shirt.

We got great donation products that we worked on the dogs with skin problem. Thank you Tina for helping us. Malaro Farskfoder

Our hard working loyal volunteer Eric, made it possible for Rossella Shelter to get cover/shade. They guys Ethan and Ben worked many hours to assist. Thank you guys!

And so many to love up on, and not everyone gets our attention, time goes so fast and to many dogs. If you want to adopt this little calm puppy you can contact us. Thank you our new volunteer Charity (What a great name) and thank you Charity for bringing 5 bottles of shampoo, leaches, collars and brushes.

More about today later, and pls visit www.animalswithoutlimits.blogspot.com

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?

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

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 Big Thank You Again

It was a very nice dog walk Mission II last Saturday. We had promised the Shelter not to be more than 20 people since they don't have many volunteers that can assist us with making sure we walk the right dogs (not the "problem" ones, and getting the dogs back in the right pens. The last time, some dogs got back in the wrong 'homes", this is a dangerous error since they can fight if they get into the wrong "territory", with potentially deadly outcome for one or more dogs. We certainly don't want to be the cause of that! Last time, (Mission I) the shelter had to work many hours to figure out where all dogs were, and get them back in the right places. How they keep them all straight, I don't know... but they do!

Sometimes well intentioned efforts can cause unintended problems, but AWL listened and learned and this time it went much smoother and better.

Outside the shelter someone had placed a starving, aggressive and afraid dog with a long chain. You could tell he had been beaten badly and shackled with heavy chains around his neck. We guess someone broke him lose who had enough of watching this poor creature suffer. But the shelter is overcrowded. The shelter and AWL put out water and food for him, and I will soon hear what happened next.

AFN (Armed Forces Network) TV came out with a camera crew, to film what we have been doing at St. Francesco and elsewhere. They will come out to the shelter cleaning next week, to "fill out" their story, and also conduct an interview with me. We are hopeful it will be a great story that will generate more interest for what we are doing in the Campania region, and elsewhere.

Vincent from AFN came. Like last time, he gave a lot of Amore to many different dogs.

It was a sweaty wonderful dog walk with a lot of inspiring people and loving dogs.

Thank you to all who came out and supported the dogs! Ian and Carol thank you for the dog food, Vania for the ice, cups and drinks, AFN for bringing the place out for everyone to see. Todd for documenting so we can show the pictures on the blog and FB. You all bring Amore.

Don't forget to look at www.animalswithoutlimits.blogspot.com