Canine Lifeguards Hit Italy\'s Beaches

Canine Lifeguards Hit Italy\'s Beaches

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

My Shelter Dog Cleaning Boo Day

"Another Saturday, another Shelter Cleaning Boo (1)" by AnimalsWithoutLimits on audioboo.fm

Shared via AddThis

Swedish Dog Magazine Harliga Hund

Thank you to the great dog Magazine Harlga Hund, (you can buy it now) journalist Anna Demert, you are a warm hearted person. Photos taken by Per Hanstorp what a talent. You all got Amore talent.

Erika's Dad Watching Over Us

Olivia is sad to say goodbye to her new beloved friends Erika and Bobby. Has nothing to do with the text.

Giove's "parents" stayed in our house only for 2 nights. My daughter Olivia, who is only four-years-old adored them and wanted to be around them a lot. But the last evening she was up on third floor watching TV and Erika and I were sitting downstairs talking. Suddenly, Olivia comes down and is very exited in a positive way, saying to Erika; "Why you not on third floor, with dad?" and she points at Erika that it's her dad.

We both stare at her like we didn't understand what she said. Frustrated, Olivia says it again and again. I ask Olivia "Is he sad?"

"nooo he is happy" she said in a very comfortable tone.

Erika is looking at Olivia and says; "How does he feel?"

"Ohhh he is much better!", my little angel says.

Erika's dad died a couple of months ago at a young age. The cancer took him. Olivia had no knowledge about Erika's dad. He had been involved in the adoption of Giove in the beginning, very supportive of it.

Erika had been sad that her father would not meet Giove in person (even if she knew he would spiritually) Now she has confirmation that he has, thanks to Olivia)

Giove Survived So Many Obstacles...

Giove (see the picture from earlier blogs) was trapped for many years in a horrible shelter were he had to drink his own urine many times, and often went without food for days at a time. The lack of food and water happened many times during his time there. He is some kind of terrier mix so many were afraid of him ---still many don't understand that it is often the human that creates the dog's "aggressive" mentality through their interaction with the dog--- and needed surgery for a hernia (surgery provided by AWL). Erika and Bobby sat reading my blog and saw this picture of him trying to reach out from the cage. There was something with this little boy that reached across the kilometers, indeed across Europe, and touched their heart.

They contacted me and told me they wanted to adopt him! So the journey began (please read earlier blog stories about him) ---he stayed at another shelter, a little better since they got food every day. Once the adoption was for sure, I moved him to a sort of kennne, where all the shots and tests were done, as well as the operation for his hernia. He stayed there for several months, getting well. For four (4) months he had to stay there until I could bring him to our home for evaluation and socialization. One veterinarian told me to be careful because he would nip! They said "Absolutely no children and he wouldn't get along well with our other dogs."

A little nervously, I have to admit, with 13 dogs and 2 children in my house, I definitely didn't want to jeopardize anyone's safety. But then I have learned from my work (12 years) that people are different, environments are different and dogs minds are certainly different. That's why we test them several times and in different situations. The result after three weeks here; Giove was best friends with everyone in my house, he listened and learned so quickly, it amazed me, and with my children he was polite and gentle (they were never alone with him and we didn't have him on the bedroom floor, it's closed to the dogs to come up). In a car, he was wonderful. Out at cafes; gentle, waiting patiently next to the chair. At a veterinarian waiting room with other dogs, no problems!

Eating, he is protective of his bowl, so we fed him in a separate room. When he's done the bowl was removed. (Why protective? In the first shelter they got fed every 6 days... you'd be protective of your food too!). Once we learned these habits, we easily adjusted him and our envitornment to counter the undesired behavior.

Veterinarians; reacted to the stereotype of a Pitbull mix. They immediately wanted to muzzle him and treat him like an "aggressive" dog. In some slight ways, this was a self-fullfilling prophesy. His reaction to being restrained and presented with a needle was learned from his past. (Why? Dog catchers caught him with 2 ropes and pulled in two directions while one pulled him up by his tail to demobilize and lift him up. We have pictures of this... imagine it would leave a permanent memory with him, not a pleasant one! He had been really baddly treated by some veterinarians.)

We went to another veterinarian to give him a shot. Sadly this veterinarian was so scared of this small 10 kg Terrier and started to wrestled with Giove while yelling excitedly. I tried to explain why and how we wanted him to be handled, but this male veterinarian wrestled and yelled, "Do you know this is a dangerous dog?!"

Giove is now at his home in Sweden, getting aquainted with his new mates, a Mastif and Rhodesian Ridgeback. Why the couple drove 22 hours each way to pick him up rather than flying him? They wanted to have some time together with him, to get to know him before he would meet the other two kids.
This is a wonderful couple who have great experience with terriers and dog psychology/training. I would never allow a dangerous or unstable dog into somebodies home, not even my own home. We have had to put down very few dangerous dogs, sadly not their fault their behavior was created by humans. I work for what is best for the dog. Giove, he won a place in Paradise. Good Luck my friend, you did it my "mini-Mandela."

Giove in Liberta

Ylva Drouge one of AWL volunteers took this picture in the horrible shelter in February. A couple in Sweden saw it on my blog and contacted me; they wanted to adopt him.

They drove down 22 hours to pick him up, stayed 2 days and drove 22 hours back with a wonderful Giove sleeping most of the way. I got a text message now saying "We are now in Sweden, we made it!. Millions thank you for all your help with Giove and for the wonderful person you are (I am blushing now) big hug Erika and Bobby"

Giove, you finally got your liberta, you go boy!

Giove Pitbull Mix

His new family started the drive yesterday from southern Italy. Giove slept most the way through Germany. He is now on the boat over Denmark...soon home buddy.

You can read about Giove on earlier blog, many years in terrible shelter, drinking his own urine, getting mistreated. The couple saw his picture on this blog and asked to adopt him. After a long waiting they drove 22 hours to pick their little buddy up. That's Amore