Uncomfortable to Look at

An upset lady called me after she had listened to a radio program about animals in captivity. The zoo in the program had been taking care of a raccoon and she had babies. She was a big attraction for visitors.

But now she started to lose her fur, and the man said that they would have to put her to sleep. The person that interviewed asked why?
"Well you cannot have ugly or sick animals, people won't like to see that."

A memory: I was in Bosnia and many people adopted handicapped dogs. Amazed, I told them that back home I didn't know anyone who had or kept a handicapped dog (animal). There, such pets would be put down to sleep, many would say that they didn't have a "quality of life."
One man looked at me and then said; "Would you also put your grandma to sleep when/if she became handicapped? Would you also say she wouldn't have a 'quality of life'?"

What is a "quality of life?"

Perhaps it is the ability to still love and be loved?

That would be, "amore".

Shut Up!

Our four dogs were outside in the garden, barking at something.
It can many times be very annoying and some times have I opened the door and yelled; "Shut up!" Not a good thing and one reason I got to hear yesterday.

Dogs barking outside.
My two year-old daughter opens the door and I hear her scream; "Shat ap"

I guess I will have to go and wash my mouth with soap.

We are on the News

My mother called and said she would send some newspaper pictures from the Swedish paper about "our" garbage problem. I told her she didn't have to, I can just open our window and have a "pleasant" view.

It is so sad in a beautiful country that something like this can happen and that the government is doing nothing. According to my friends here, it is the Camora (Mafia) that ownes the now closed garbage landfills --they are overfilled from northern Italy's garbage--good money. People here are getting mad over the plan for old dumps are going to be re-opened. The people strike in protest, and it is not quiet or violence free. The protesters shut the exits of the motorway off and block traffic. The people on the motorway can't get off and inch forward. I got an angry phone call from my husband, he was stuck for four hours on a trip that normally takes no more than 20 minutes!

Wannabe mafiaosos with masks on their faces--throw rocks from the bridges down on the cars, some of them had baseball bats smashing the car's windows while people where sitting inside.

Southern Italy is suffering a lot of cancellations of fruit and vegetable delivery to other countries. Customers are frightened over possible contamination from the garbage that is being spread every where.

Tourists are re-booking the trips to other regions and countries....the garbage is a huge problem.

When I pick up Olivia from her school her comment is; "Look mommy...garbage!" We nearly have to climb a mountain of trash to get back home!

This is not Amore!

Friendship and Morale

A couple of days ago, I ran into a woman that I have met in different places here in Italy. She is from Norway, and just had her first child. Being away from home and help can be difficult in many ways.

She looked thin and pale, so I asked how everything was going with her and their new daughter. She was nearly in tears when she told me how tired and alone she felt, her husband did as much as possible, but he worked full time, and many times you need help and advice from another female.

I asked her if she didn't have any friends here that could help her or visit and have a cup of coffee. Just to have an adult conversation can boost anybody's mood.

Her tears rolled down her check. "First they said I had to call them, they didn't want to bother me now when I had a newborn. A couple of days later I called and invited them over for coffee, to come over and chat a little, but no one has returned my call."

It is hard to be away from home, your country, family and friends, it is darned hard. I dislike people who say they will help and then never return a call or just check in. I think it would be much better for them to not say anything at all. At least it would not give anyone any hope of support and friendship.

Now this time when we had our second child, I was more prepared for people's "oh I will help you".

I smiled and remembered what my "Bosnian mother" once told me; "Let people show their friendship instead of believing their words."

"Mom", that's Amore! You have showed me loyal friendship and love for eight years now.

I remember one "friend" who had a big party in December this year, and her excuse for not inviting me and my family was; "well you are busy now taking care of a new baby so I didn't think you would have time to come."

"Assumption or fact?" I asked her.

So when people ask me why more people are not helping animals, or children, I can just look at this story and sadly say; "If we don't support each other, how can we support those on the outside?"

This is not Amore!

Can We Learn From Them?

A veterinarian was called to examine a 10 year-old Blue Heeler named Belker. The dog's owner--Ron, his wife, Lisa and their little boy, Shane--were all very attached to Belker and they were hoping for a miracle. The vet examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. He told the family there were no miracles left for Belker, and offered to preform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.
As they made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told him they thought it would be good for the 4-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt Shane could learn something from the experience.
The next day, the vet felt the familiar catch in his throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that he wondered if Shane understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. They sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.

Shane, who had been listening quietly, pipped up, " I know why."
Startled, they all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned them. The vet had never heard a more comforting explanation.
Shane said, "Everybody is born so that they can learn how to be good-like loving everybody and being nice, right?"
The 4-year-old continued, "Well animals already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."

This is Amore!

I found this story but it didn't say whom wrote it. I get a lot of e mails about when is the time to say good bye to our four legged friends.
More to follow!

A True Hero

It makes me so happy when I read stories like this one; Laney Many times I get so tired of reading negative articles about dogs. So enjoy this one.

Interesting! While writing about this Laney an email comes in from one reader telling me to read about Laney. "Heartwarming, and shows the full love and devotion of our animal family members."

That's Amore!

Animal Rights? Children Rights?

Olivia and I went on a "mission" out to visit Dr. Dorothea Fritz at her clinic. It was a Sunday, when the clinic was closed so we could have Dorothea all to ourselves, walking around. Olivia loved every moment off it, and cried when it was time to leave.

Being a parent is really hard. Suddenly, you realize that when it was only you, you could have your own opinion(s). But raising a child(ren) you don't want to "color" them too much by your own thoughts and beliefs in life.

One example; I am an vegetarian since many years ago, but I want my daughter to make her own decision if she wants to be a vegetarian or meat eater. Well, this is kind off an "easy" thought process in life, but then I tumbled over another situation from Olivia's day care center.

The class was going to a circus with lions, elephants, etc. and I who am not that fond off circuses-- since I have not much experience with them-- and, it is different from circus to circus. I tried to explain to a friend of mine that it is the people who either are taking very good care of their animals or those who are abusing their animals (lack of food and medications, horrible living conditions).

On the other hand, it is a hard question to discuss, since many animals in freedom today are living under poor conditions since we, the humans, are cutting down the trees on their land, food and the hunting can also be cruel not to mention to be hit by a car (here there are so many dogs run over and just left). It is so hard to say it is wrong or right to visit the circus(es), after all the animals are housed and fed, and have a "job".

But, would I send my daughter together with her friends to the circus, or would I "color" her with my own opinions?

How would Olivia feel when all her friends would go, and she had to stay home?

And all you want to teach them is; Amore!

Lets Back up a Little #2

Christmas came as always... very quickly. I still remember how long Christmas Holiday was when I was a little girl, I waited and waited for Santa to come.

Since I have been so busy with Max-- and he came too early-- my Christmas preparation totally stopped. Thanks to my husband he made sure we got a fresh new Christmas tree and a lot of presents under the tree, and in our stockings.

The Swedish Christmas, 24th, we celebrated in our home, and it was peaceful and nice. To see Olivia's joy when unwrapping all her presents was the best present itself.

No Santa came and knocked on our door, since Olivia is scared of this big-chubby-hairy-man-in-red. Then something interesting came up; who got the real Santa!?

The one that comes on the 24th and scares children and makes the dogs go bananas? Or, the one that comes through the chimney in the night and leaves presents in everybody stockings?

My Santa or my husbands Santa? Suddenly, the discussion was going lively here in Italy.

How would Olivia and Max explain when classmates told them that you cannot have two Santa's my husband wondered?

Time will tell!

The 25th my very good friend Paola invited us over for a wonderful Italian Christmas dinner together with her family and some friends. It was such a joy! Fantastic food and great presents, Olivia had a wonderful time with two girls in her age *one is her best friend Chiara*, Maximillian got admired by everyone, and we got to eat several dishes of fantastic food.

That's Amore!

Animal Lover, Thats Amore!

It shall start in time!

The Family Mercer drove out to Dr Dorothea Fritz clinic to give her the bags of dog food that Todd got for his birthday--instead of presents, so it is not his dinner--Olivia loves to visit Dorothea and all the animals. Her passion is also to take my wallet and take out money to put in the donation box. Once she even took out my credit card so I had to ask the veterinarian to open up the box.

We went outside to look at the dogs that are ready for adoption--dangerous of course we wanted them all-- It was close to adopting one dog for Maximillian--we called her Skruffy--

So many dogs we wanted to adopt, it was painful to walk and even if we were happy that these dogs would get food and medical care helped a little. That is Amore and not Amore!

www.legaproanimale.de

Happy New Year 2008

I wish you all a great 2008, and I hope that children and animals will get a higher status in this world. I will continuing working hard for them and hope to be able to "plant some more seeds" to educate people and myself.

This picture was taken from our third floor. The Italians really know how to handle fireworks, it was so beautiful. Amazing, the Italians "just" fired fireworks New Years Eve. In Sweden I became crazy by people starting shooting fire crackers December 15th till January 15th. I hated it!

So this new year 2008 I hope for a lot of Amore!