Today's Mission Possible

A starving cat has a huge scar over her neck. We gave her food and de-wormed her.

Stopped and checked if this Mister needed our help. He assured us he did not!

Saw some old friends, Mr. Ear and Mr. Rope, haven't seen them in a while. Still with an ear infection and a rope hanging tight(!?) around neck. This time they were locked in. We found a phone number and Dr. Inga called. The man promised to call back tomorrow so Dr. Inga could get in and treat Mr. Ear and cut the rope off Mr. Rope.


Remember the chained dogs where their dog houses nearly got drowned by the heavy rain?

We visited the place again, one dog has gotten puppies and the mother was, thank God, released from the chain. (AWL is against chaining dogs)

We told the lady that we would take care of the dogs; spay and neuter and try to find homes for the them (we are not an adoption foundation but what do you do when you see a friend chained up?). If she wanted our help she had to let them free to us.

This is Labrador Amore. We tried to get a great picture but this loving female was so happy for affection that it was like holding jelly. This is the best picture we came up with! She is wonderful this girl.

Found roaming around in the dark five months ago. She is up for adoption. Super friendly and good looking.

Some phone calls when we returned home for some dogs to soon become "it".

This was our morning Amore mission possible!

Sunday Mission Possible

Today, threatening clouds were hanging above us as we drove out to the shelter for another day of Mission Possible. Five volunteers and two children were able to help us today. Since day one of Mission Possible was so productive, we were able to accomplish a lot of work today, despite our smaller number of volunteers.

On today’s agenda, we had some dirty cages to clean, yard work and feeding and watering the dogs. A few more volunteers had offered to help out, but we were disappointed to find that they were not able to join us.
With Max on my back in his carrier, I helped out by holding and walking dogs while their cages were power-washed. Todd and I took turns every hour to carry him in our great “baby back pack”. Max enjoyed the ride as he and his dad bumped along on the lawn mower caring for the grounds around the shelter.

Many of the dogs have been in their cages for many years and loved the newly cut grass! They loved it so much, in fact, that they didn’t want to leave the area. They laid down flat, and even when we pulled and enticed them with goodies, the dogs didn’t want to walk away. It broke my heart to see their begging eyes while we carried them into their boring, locked cages.

The worming medicine we administered yesterday worked very well, we can tell you! We found three different types of worms from one animal that we analyzed with amazement. Now, without so many worms draining their systems, we just hope the skinny dogs can put on some weight.

We also found out more about the dog with the badly broken leg. I asked when it happened and was informed that the limping was noticed “four days ago”. I don’t understand how people can sleep after they seen an animal sick or hurt like that.
It kills my heart to see him suffering with that leg, so we decided that tomorrow we are going to pick him up and drive him to a clinic for treatment.

Ylva and Kath worked hard with cleaning the dirty, smelly cages. The urine filled the holes in the concrete floors. The smell was horrible as we pressure-washed each cage clean. As the pressure-washer worked its magic, there was no lack of dirty, splashing water and foul-smelling mist. The volunteers scrubbed and sprayed and were soaked in the grime. Kath made sure the cages we cleaned yesterday were still spotless when we left today. Everyone was ready to go take very long, very hot baths after this job!

As the day wore on, Max and Olivia showed just how used to these missions they are becoming. Max took a good nap in my SUV and his big sister Olivia listened to music and colored while I walked some dogs around my car.

This weekend’s Amore Mission Possible was a very good experience and a way to improve the living conditions of these dogs. We still have a long, bumpy ahead…more about that tomorrow. I have a new plan for everyone to help us with: Distance Adoptions! More about that later.

Sunday Mission Possible Part 2

Our day started with two new animal activists, Olivia on my friend Kaths shoulders, and Max on my back

Then it was dads turn to have Max on his back while mowing the lawn.

Team strategy talking with Andreas.

Power washing the cage

Ylva was never afraid of getting hands dirty--gloves always protects.

more later!

Helping Animals Without Limits, Helping Animals In Need

After several days of rain here in Naples, finally today the sun came through. We loaded the car with cleaning detergent, rakes, brushes, buckets, power washer and bags of dog food. At 09.30 we joined up together and by 10:00 we arrived at the shelter.

Maria and her translator friend, Sussy, were already there on time.
We unloaded the car and divided up into different teams to work as efficiently as possible. Bruce and Rosa assisted the veterinarian, Inga. Heeding Dr. Inga’s advice, the dogs were all caught in a calm and gentle way, administered their various medications and treatments.They both did a fantastic job learning very quickly how to do everything from applying Frontline flea and tick treatment, to making meatballs with de-worming tablets inside and handing Dr. Inga the injections vaccinations.
In one cage did our Vet. Inga found that one dog had a broken leg that was very swollen. Poor thing! But how had that happened? The dog had been in his cage, and last week he was doing fine. Suddenly, we noticed a lot of limping dogs. We all wondered what had gone on since our last visit.

The second team, Ylva, Sofia, Kegan and Dennis, cleaned the cages, doghouses, floors and took care of grooming the dogs. They worked in pairs to improve the living conditions of these beloved animals. It made all the difference in the world for the dogs to have a clean home and a clean bowl from which to have a meal.

Team 3, our volunteers Todd, Andréa, Mark, Kim and David, worked to improve the conditions of the yard. They also power-washed several dog cages. Their help made quick work of what otherwise would have been a long, difficult clean-up job.

I was amazed by the positive, hard-working teams. I’ve been a part of some teams where the mood has been more negative, which can bring the whole team’s spirit down. We all realize that this kind of work can be disheartening, which makes it even more important to have positive, caring people willing to get the job done. I am so proud of how well the team worked together.
They did a remarkable job in such a short period of time.

We closed out the day by watering and feeding the dogs, playing and talking with them and even offering some dog biscuits as a special treat. Ylva also provided our hard-working group with a well-deserved lunch. Everyone agreed it was delicious!

Our “Mission Possible” group was a wonderful crew that I would love to continuing working with in the future. It was amazing to share this experience with such an excited and caring international team.

Some have asked why AWL would use so much time and so many resources for dogs in a shelter that will be closing soon. As with many causes, it is not about the “bottom line”.
AWL exists to make the lives of animals better. AWL and its volunteers wish to show every creature we find that there is love and caring in the world.
Some of the animals we help would otherwise see the world as a cold, lonely place. Every animal deserves to be shown love.
The caring and affection of an AWL volunteer can be like sunshine after many days of cold rain.

AWL doesn’t help animals because it makes the organization money, or for any accolades.
AWL cares for animals because so many people have had animals care for them.
It’s time to return the favor!

Again one asked; "What is the purpose of this if they are closing it down soon?"

We do not have any time table right now for how long time the shelter will exist. But what I do know is for the dogs having a nice clean cage and people who held them petted them for a moment, loved up to them can be like a sunshine day for us after several days of rain.

Mission Possible

We are going in now at 10.00. This is why we go in.

Please hold us in your thoughts and hearts, let this day be a mission possible.

The Day Before Mission Possible

What a day! Nervous, exited at the same time.
Picking up all that needs for the tomorrow mission possible of "terrible shelter" cleaning.

Please keep us in your prayers tonight for a great Amore mission possible.

I cannot wait until I can show you pictures, on the wonderful mission people. So don't forget to check in tomorrow evening again. With your support, we can do magic!

Mission Possible Team

From left; Erika Sundman, Mia Mattsson-Mercer, Dog Zara, Veterinarian Inga Vetrell, and my Princess Olivia.
We are some of the " Amore Team Mission Possible" Animals Without Limits!

Mission Possible

One month ago, the AWL veterinarian Inga and I went out on a "mission possible".

Brownie, (pictured above) is one of our clients. An old stray with terrible skin problems and gum bleeding, was in pretty bad shape.

Back then Dr. Inga treated him, and yesterday, we returned to pay him a "follow-up" visit.

We knew that a very kind Sengora was looking after him and his pack.

As we pulled up we were greeted by several strays, some happy fat ones, some less fat but laying in the sun, resting happily. The Sengora, who owns her kiosk at this place, came out and showed us that Brownie was sleeping behind her counter. My heart got so warm from her kindness.

Brownie came out, and he looked better. Dr. Inga treated him again and gave Sengora medicine to follow up until our next visit.

AWL Amore to the kindness of Campanian people.

More about mission possible tomorrow!