ABBY FAMILY AWL AWARD

For such a long time I have wanted to write to you about Abby's new life in Sweden, and every time I started, I've felt sorrow. Not that she is having it bad, quiet the opposite, she is in her Paradizzo. Read here about Abby, what a trooper, what a story:

Maria's family adopted her and they knew that Abby had a bad leg but not as bad as it turned out to be, because Abby's "fixed" leg was broken again. It killed my heart, since I felt bad that our Vet team hadn't checked it again with an x-ray to be sure everything was as it should be.

On top of everything, the Italian governmental veterinarian team didn't know that Sweden requires 120 days after a rabies vaccination for rabies control and not 30 as many other countries in Europe. Of course I trusted them and Abby got caught in the customs check and had to sit in quarantine for seven days. Her poor new family were waiting outside and totally devastated! They waited so long and she had gone through so much, yet they still couldn't have her!

Ulla, a friend and a great AWL sponsor was the handler and had contact with the family and all those involved. She never gave up, even from her work she was calling and fixing things. That's fantastic!

Finally, the family got Abby, and her leg was broken (earlier in Italy) and they spoke to the Swedish specialty team, the surgery that she needed would cost 4500 euro. (yes they got a second opinion)

No vacation, no new clothing's, no nothing....they gave this little girl a new leg, a dog they had known for just one week physically. But they knew her emotionally and spiritually via distance for 8 months. Abby can now run on four legs, as well as having her forever family!

Among the AWL board, there was no doubt that that such devotion demanded the AWL prize go to the family Maria Svegare Berglund, what a "That's Amore Family"

WE LOVE YOU AND YOUR BIG HEART. Congratulation!

ABBY'S JOURNEY IS NOT OVER--SIGH

Remember Abby? Every one's favorite and so many wanted to adopt her. Found on a wet, cold, gas station concrete pad, bleeding from her nose, a broken leg that had healed badly. We took her under our wings and we have been many that have been doing everything in our power to get her healthy. Money, time and love (and sometimes tears).

Dr Damiani and Dr Loungo made the fantastic discovery, a tooth in her nose and the flesh had healed over it. (read more about it here) (Read the whole Abby Story here)

A family in Sweden contacted me and wanted to adopt her. For months they have been planing and talking about when Abby will come home. A wonderful family.

Abby has during a long period of time lived in my house on a big dog bed in the kitchen with a gate so she could be resting by herself. She had rested for months after the nose surgery and leg surgery (the old broken leg that had healed by itself broke again). Specialists were brought into the clinic and Abby was a little concerned jumping around with the other dogs. She had her routines, out in the morning for an hour then she wanted in, she was never content to be outside too long. She was afraid that her past would come back, alone outside.

The tests started, leichaminiosis and other blood work, we wanted to know everything about Abby inside and out. Rabies shot was done and we were told that after 30 days a blood test would be done to see if the antibodies were developed. Dr Damiani read on the Swedish Authority's website, the agriculture site....30 days if positive then we had to wait 120 days for the passport.

I told I had heard about the 120 days but was he sure? We talked to the Campania agriculture veterinarians (2) were we had to go to get the passport. Yes, they read and underlined and showed me the paper.

A blood test was made 30 days after the shot, and we got the result a week or two later that Abby had developed the antibodies. We were so happy. Only one laboratory was used since the vets do not trust many others here--blood work has disappeared among other things. It's more expensive but we want the best and correct results.

ASL told me in May that Abby would be ready for her passport, 120 days later. I took Abby there, where two different veterinarians looked at all the papers, they are very suspicious that dogs are being brought out of the country since a "rumour" is going around that a big vet clinic is sending strays out to a testing laboratory in Germany.

No, I assured them, Abby is going to my friend, and I showed them pictures. I showed them the blog posts about Giove who became famous and went out in a Magazine with his story.

All tests came back, she was healthy and looking good. ASL completed the passport but I had to go to the veterinarian clinic and have a de-worming certificate done 24-48 hours before leaving the country. They got that law written very tightly....and so I did as was required. For one hour we sat while they were doing the paper work; they listened to Abby's breathing; they even cut her claws. Stamp, stamp ready to go....have a great trip!

Monday (yesterday), Ulla took Abby on the plane with her back to Sweden. Todd and I had been up making sure Abby's folder had all the papers that were needed, and any others they might ask for "just in case".

I cried at the airport when saying good-bye to Abby, for God's sake I wanted to keep her but I know Maria and her family could give her that extra that I could not provide her with.

Ulla promised to text and Maria was involved in the texting, and suddenly I receive a phone call from Ulla at the Swedish Airport customs office. Abby's papers were not correct! The floor started to spin...what the "pumpkin"??!

According to the Swedish law, and it says so right on the Internet, that after a rabies shot is given you have to wait 120 days until a blood test can be made to see if the antibodies have developed. Only then can you get the passport. What the Italians (2 offices in different cities) did was after 30 days take the blood work and then wait 120 days for the passport!

You see if we do the math here, Abby got her antibodies developed so she is no threat, but just because we took the blood test earlier but waited the exact amount of time....Abby is now in Swedish quarantine!!

I am so angry! And sad! Why do we have EU if not to standardize such things? And providing information but having Town Hall veterinarians (2) telling me and underlining what the law is...what can I do more than trust them? They are supposed to be the "experts" in this! And they are so stringent in their "law" and rules that it would be impossible for me to get a passport if they were not right.

So one veterinarian will go to the Swedish quarantine and take a new blood test. But when Abby can come home to her family after this long journey, we don't know.

This is not Amore! Learning from the hard way is one thing but learning from the hell way is frustrating, especially when you know you have done everything in your power to abide by the rules and listen to the advice of "experts" yourself. And this knowledge is being learned at the expense of fear and anxiety on Abby's part.

We hope Abby's stay at the quarantine facility is short, and she can be in the embrace of Amore very soon.

ANOTHER BUSY DAY IN OUR 'PARADISE'

A small 20lb. (8kg) jack russel/terrier mix that was living inside for 3 years, never outside. She lived with an older lady who can not care for her. Tan and white, short wire hair. apprx. 3 years old. Likes kids ALOT! Likes other dogs, cats I do not know. She is NOT housebroken, she was trained to potty on paper in the house, so the house is where she goes. She would make a good outside dog however. she is very sweet and loving and would make a great family pet. Barks when strangers are at the gate so effective as a small alarm. (Fostermom)
Today AWL had her brought out to be sterilized Her foster mother Wendy linked up with us at the clinic.

Our little flower girl Abby...hit and left to die on a gas station next to the highway, bleeding and with a broken leg (see earlier blog). Her passport will be done in May and her transportation will be in June to Sweden A happy family is waiting for her.

A content stray outside his best friend Mr Butcher.. you could see his tail go in a high speed and a moment later he had a juicy bone in his mouth. I see him there every day!

And Benjamin, our Benjamine the mysterious rescue dog. He now got an infected wound on his back leg and he has a lot of pain in his leg. Benji had to stay at the clinic over night, x ray and other tests will be done. We all are shaking our heads...this Benji!! But we love him so dearly.

Benji was happy to see Dr Damiani, jumping out of joy since Dr Damiani was the only one that would touch him when he had the horrible skin diseases (see earlier blog).

After all this....me and my children had a wonderful day. I stop doing missions after 15.00 then I am with my children and lovely 19 dogs.

FIAT RESCUE TRANSPORT

My SUV is still at the repair man and since we had to order special parts from the States I don't know when I can get it back. I have to tell you, I miss my SUV so much. Rescuing strays in the smallest FIAT is kind of funny though.

Today Olivia and I picked up three dogs in my rent car FIAT and we really looked funny with dogs everywhere, Capri, Phillipo and Scooby.

All three got safe to Dr Damiani's clinic, and Dr Loungo took care of them and all the paper work that needs for their up coming Swedish passports. Blood test and leishaminiosis were made.

Back home, 19 lovely dogs were waiting for their treatments, and Olivia took care of sweet ABBY. What a sweaty day full of dog hair and Amore.

ABBY IS DOING GREAT

Abby is soon going to Sweden

THANK YOU FOR YOUR AMORE HEARTS

These pictures were posted wrong. I posted them as the last Saturday mission-- since the trooper AWL Jackie and her husband Richard were there again. These pictures were taken while I was in Sweden working, and Richard and Jackie went out there, cleaned out the puppy chambers, and gave them treats.

I also want to thank them for going in there this Sunday, cleaning in the puppy section. A video will soon be done.

Jackie and Richard US, also donated money, and brought blankets to Benjamin. Big hearts!

Maria Svegard with husband Richard and daughter Engla and beloved dog Tuss (and Abbi) thank you for your donations every month. Abby is doing great, she is still the sweet heart!

Jerry, for making big plans to Rosella's shelter with donating concrete. And it was Jackie and Richard who brought him out to the shelter, its their friend. Thank you for sharing good quality people :-)

Sabine and Malte von Vultejus, for 2 bags of dog food, and a very nice donation, all the way from Germany

Tracey Klebber your support means the word to me/us...and to both Craig and you, thank you for your generous donations. Breathtaking....

Erica, Bobby o Giove Andersson-- SE --still you are thanking us for Giove and sending us money too, wonderful hearts.

Kenny with Monica-- SE for updating our AWL homepage with a smile on your lips. That's Amore. You also are going to create the Swedish AWL homepage.

Milla o Katie from Himmelska Hundar, and AWL SE, Your support and help means the world to us here in Italy. You are so fantastic to fix things. If a dog is freezing...we get a jacket for him. etc

That is amore team. Thank you all --you are giving me/us energy to keep up our work here.

Amore Voi

CHILDRENS WONDERFUL MIND

Abby's family, who are waiting for her arrival, has a 2 year old daughter. She loves looking at the pictures of Abby, and she also makes small paintings for Abby.

They were in the car when Engla, the daughter said Abbiiii? Her mother turned around and tried to explain when it would be warm, Abby would come and live with them (we are waiting for Abby's passport and that will be done by summertime.) After a couple of minutes the car was warm and Engla shouts "Abbiiii now?"

This family is very thoughtful, too. The toy and blanket Abby is pictured with above, was sent by them. Not only that, they kept the blanket near them before sending it, so it would have their smell on it. So that Abby wouldn't be going to a totally new place when she goes there, she would already have their scent!

Olivia is four years-old and loves Jimmie the dog on the picture (from Greece) When we visited Jimmie and his owner Milla, we asked Olivia how Jimmie felt, was he happy? Olivia looked at Jimmie and said "Yes, Jimmie is happy when it rains!" Milla and I held our breath because we both know that Jimmie dislikes the rain.

Shortly after, she contiuned; "When the clouds go away, the moon goes down, and the sun goes up, thats when Jimmie is happy"

Sometimes children take a pause in their explanation and we adults can cut in quickly and disconnect the natural connection they have with the animals.

ABBY AT THE CLINIC AGAIN

I went with Abby to Dr Damiani's office to have her stiches removed last week, before going to Sweden. Abby was (of course) great, very calm but my thought is that she feels the good energies from Dr Damiani.

We looked at her paws and discovered one claw is "upside down" Never seen something like that before. Our wonderful Abby, she is full of surprises!

Her tests went through, her rabies serology report came back and she is ready to get her passport. --Also her Leishmania test was ok--

In May she can go home to her waiting new, warm family in Sweden.

ABBY WITH A BROKEN LEG BUT A HEALED HEART

Our little Abby. Found on the gas station bleeding. At the clinic they found her tooth right up her nose and now she got a broken leg! At Dr Damiani clinic they called in a specialist that made the surgery on Abby.

Our little Lady was such a fantastic client and is our true Amore favorite.

Here you can see the fracture, and it seemed like it was an old fracture. We don't know what happened, but suddenly was she jumping on three legs.


Abby's family in Sweden are waiting and waiting. Their little daughter Engla is drawing pictures to Abby. I know Abby will have a wonderful time in Sweden, normally I don'l like dressed up dogs. But Abby is a freezing little spirit and I think she would love a sweater with a big heart on.

• Thank you Jackie (US) and Jennifer (Belgium) for your donations.

WORKING WITH GOOD HEARTED SKILLED PEOPLE

Running an organization or foundation, you are seeking good-hearted, skilled and trustworthy people to have around you; ones that have passion and belief in life. Dr Damiani's clinic has showed AWL a lot of those things through many difficult stray cases. Above on the picture you can see me and Dr. Longo who spent more than 2 hours to get out the "object" that was stuck in Abby's nose. He also worked to remove the chain around Ranger's neck. He has the skills, and the passion we are looking for.

Dr. Damiani made the biggest impression on me when we brought in Benjamin, our stray with mange and scabies all over his body. Nobody wanted to even look at him, but Dr. Damiani showed true professionalism, skill and compassion in his treatment for Benjamin, and his guidance to us to help bring about Benji's recovery. Above picture, Dr. Damiani is working with another of our clients, Chloe, as she is getting prepared for sterilization.

Dr. Damiani (right) and Dr. Longo, with "the miracle kitten", Francesco, during the checkup after numerous sessions where he was anethetised and had stitches removed and bandages changed. This was another client where Dr. Damiani's clinic and personnel showed their "true colors". And because of their skill and caring, the kitten can now walk, and is on the road to full recovery.

Dr. Damiani's clinic, and doctors have what it takes for the animals here in Campania. They are some who help with what we are trying to do here. Thank you.

BACK AND FORTH TO THE VET CLINIC

This morning I dropped off our dear Abby for blood work and for Dr Damiani to examen her right front leg. Lately she has not used it, jumping around on three legs. I left her there for x rays and are soon going to pick her up. Keep fingers crossed.
So I went on base to do some shopping. When I walked out in the rain I saw something more or less crawling in the rain. A young Setter maybe pregnant.

She was in a horrible shape, skin and bones and "dead' tired. I called her, and it took long time for her to move, she was in a lot of discomfort. I took out some food and she took only three bites. She was to tired to eat.

My animal friend Jackie came and helped me lift her into my SUV and the poor Setter collapsed. In high speed I drove 30 minutes to the vet. clinic were wonderful Dr Damiani came out and carried her in. She will stay there under observation. Keep your Amore fingers crossed for this young beautiful soul that I named Daisy.

Dr Damiani thank you for your fantastic help! That's Amore.

IN THE WAITING ROOM AT THE DOC'S CLINIC

At the clinic I always enjoy watching the patients that are walking in with their owners. Most of the time it is a dog (or cat) that has an caring owner. That makes me feel hope while I am sitting waiting together with a found, wounded stray that no one owns (or wants, seemingly).



This is Abby and she is 14 years-old. Her family loves her and cares about her a lot. Dr. Longo thinks poor Abs has had a small stroke, because she suddenly had a hard time getting up, and started peeing on herself. We all wish Abby the best and strong health!

MARIO GETTING SPAYED?

Mario is a wonderful stray that takes care off the gas station and coffee bar lady. He walks her home after her hours and then returns to "where ever" he sleeps.

He also looked after Benjamin, Lucy and Abby. The same gas station. AWL decided that we would spay him (and then return him) and today Jackie and I picked him up. We felt bad since we think he has never been in a car, never a leach and being lifted and put into a car...to a clinic....not knowing what's happening!

It was hectic today at LegaPro but it is very interesting watching animals and their owner(s)

Dr Lorenzo checked Mario and Mario was such a good boy. I am amazed how they trust us. But to our surprise there was a microchip! The owner has to be found they cannot spay him before that. The coffee lady told us he's been keeping her company for 5 years....

Well, Mario is still at the clinic and we are waiting by the phone...what will that number tell us?

ABBY TOOTH AND VIDEO

will be posted as soon as the power doesn't go off every 10 minutes in my house.

At the same quick time we thank all 36 people that sent in their guesses. This time we didn't have a winner. More contests will come up so the t shirt and another price is for you next time. Amore!

AWL CONTEST AND HERE IS THE ANSWER

HERE CANINE TOOTH HAD GONE RIGHT UP HER NOSE AFTER PROBABLY BEING HIT BY A CAR. THE GUMS HAD HEALED. SO HER CANINE TOOTH WITH ROT WAS STUCK LIKE A KNIFE THROUGH HER INSIDE NOSE.
TOMORROW I WILL POST A PICTURE OF THE WHOLE TOOTH AND A X RAYS. TWO FANTASTIC VETERINARIANS DID THE 2 HOURS WORK TO GET THE LONG TOOTH OUT FROM HER LITTLE NOSE. (PICTURE AND NAMES IN NEXT POSTING)

Win an AWL t-shirt!

The Mystery why Abby was sneezing a lot and with little blood coming out is now being solved.

What object caused her sneezing?

Send a very specific detailed answer, and the beautiful AWL t-shirt can be yours.

This Friday we will post the winner, and the whole story about Abby's nose. A big Amore thank you to the Dr Damiani Clinic!

(more later about the terrific vet.team that helped Abby)

SOLDIER MAX

Last Saturday at our link up Eric told us that on the base a huge German Shepard had been running around, and was caught by the Security personnel. Could we do something?

Todd and Eric picked him up in Eric's car. The dog was dirty and skinny.

After the mission at the shelter I told Eric he could go out to Lega Pro Animale, they always help us and if he has a microchip they help us by calling ASL (dogcatcher with veterinarians and database of microchip numbers) and speak to them since my Italian is not that good. And of course on Saturdays ASL is closed. But Lega had always kept a dog until we could solve the mystery, and like always we paid for the extra days it would take to find the owner.

It is really the only option, since all of us who works with strays have our "living room" full with rescue dogs-- and we don't want to mix our dogs with new comers. Dr Friz has taught us about the worms and we don't want that coming into our yards.

But Eric returned after one hour telling me that Lega's Internet was down. And he had been told by them that I knew how to look in the computer myself (to find the owner using the microchip number). Well, no help this time!

Thanks to NFOA Sarah, Eric could drive this big beautiful goof out to her and her husband Armand. We would of course pay for his stay but Sarah said no.


Here started some great work together. Sarah went to Dr Damiani's office with "Soldier" and got the information. Last Wednesday I escorted Sarah, Armand and Soldier to ASL and I had Abby with me.

This handsome guy is Max, the owner Paolo told me Max is 2 years old. I told him what great work Sarah had done with him already, brushing and cleaning him, gentlely washing his eyes. She gave him security and rules, since his anxiety went in waves.

It was a bittersweet moment today when Sarah handed over Max, she had become very attached to him and so had he to her. But then there was another one who loved him dearly, in a different way but clearly cared about him.

Even if the gate was left open, one week ago, and that can happen to any of us.

With this story I want you to know how many that got involved and opened their hearts to help this stranger "Soldier Max." It shows that we can work together for the sake of the strays, whatever we may think of each other, or what has gone on before, we have to put our feeling to the side. Then we can create Amore, that's what emotional rescue team workers do.

ABBY OUR SWEET ABBY

(Read earlier blog about our gas station girl)

Abby is the sweetest and easiest dog I ever met. She is a fantastic girl!

Today we went to the "dog catcher" since she have an Italian microchip and we couldn't find her in the data base. As soon as I walked in to the office clinic carrying Abby, people came up and started to pet her. I am telling you, she is a magnet!

Dog catcher together with veterinarians looked in their data base but no number their either. I showed them her belly tattoo and by that they could find out that she had been spayed in another region. They called their office and to my happiness she could be adopted by me.

She had been a stray that the dog catchers had picked up spayed, tattooed and released.

Our wonderful Abby can now start working on her passport to her new family that are waiting in Sweden. --I know this family so Abby will have a dream future--

What an Amore dog and what an Amore day. Thank you ASL 2

MICKE AND SOPHIA LOREN

,

Micke contacted AWL after one of our volunteers Vania had told him we maybe could help him. Micke had been adopted by the German Shepard who fell in love with him the first time she saw him. Sophia was a stray, or an abandoned dog with no microchip or collar.

She is wonderful, calm and nice, a little bit of an older lady between 8-9 years old. Micke could not turn her down. We met up at the vet clinic and she was terrified to walk in. Dr Damiani was wonderful and took his time, comforting her and taking it very easy. Jackie was there with AWL Abby, and I had Stray Sammy with me who needed to remove the stitches after his surgery.

She's not sterilized so we made an appointment so she can have that done and they discovered that she had mammary tumors. Blood tests was done and we are happy, Leishmania test came back negative. This week she is going in for an x ray and surgery, please keep Sophia in your heart and mind.

She just found her Amore partner in crime!

ABBY UPDATE

Read earlier blogs about Abby, she was probably hit by a car, left on a gas station, couldn't walk, sneezing blood.

Abby's foster family had to go back to the States on an Emergency leave yesterday, so Abby is staying in our home until they come back. (What number is she now...13 or 14? I don't dare to count)

We love Abby! She is so easy going, and sweet. No accidents inside the house, she goes great with all the dogs (13 or 14 or 16?) Olivia my daughter, is madly in love with Abby. When she wakes up, she runs down to her. Coming home from school=runs inside the house calling for Abby.

We are in love with Abby!

We wish her foster parents a safe trip and hope everything goes well. You guys have done a great job with Abby! Our Amore Abby

UPDATE ABBY

Picture; two gorgeous ladies at the vet.clinic 2009

Abby is doing much better. No nose blood, and her psychological trauma is letting go more and more... she's getting closer to "normal". Before she wouldn't walk, and then she started a little but no stairs. Now she walks down the stairs.

Time will heal in many cases, but we are always in a hurry to get results. And today many clinics don't have room for the dog long term, or the ability to conduct rehabilitation. If they did, it would be a lot of money for a person to pay.

That's why we need a hospice so we can rehabilitate and give these wonderful strays that got dumped a chance to get well physically and mentally, to show the world that every life has to be fought for.

Abby's Swedish family Maria, Richard, daughter Engla and doggie Becci are so excited to adopt Abby! Our wonderful foster family has agreed to keep Abby another month. Abby's tests and blood work will take 4-5 months before she can go to Sweden.

Jackie in the picture is Abby's driver to the veterinary clinic, we call Jackie "Abby's Guardian Angel".

So many wonderful people are involved and it gives us hope and smiles. Amore thank you.