Pets in Italy

Good Home Needed for Lovely Young Dog

I've been contacted by Johanna who lives in Castel Castagno Abruzzo about a young stray dog she took in just before Christmas. She writes: "The dog was living in a busy roundabout, he was skinny and dirty. I don't know how long he had been there. We suspect someone had simply dumped him there as there aren't any houses nearby, and it was a strange place for a dog to stay at. There is a little parking lot there, which is probably where the previous owner left him.

We've named him Marco Marconi and he's such a sweetheart, a really GOOD dog. Even when he was living in the roundabout, hungry and cold, he never failed to be friendly and charming. He's an adult, but still very young - something over a year, perhaps. He reminds me of a Collie. Marco is a good dog, he's 100% house-trained (in fact, has never had an 'accident' indoors). He weighs about 18 kilos, barks about once a week (=not a loud dog), is very friendly towards people and other dogs (he'd love to play with every dog that comes across him). He also gets excited about cats, but I've never had a chance to test how he'd be with them. Chickens he doesn't care much about. 

He's never showed any aggression, even if you take his food away from him. He's pretty athletic and loves to be outside, but he's also a perfect indoor dog, laid-back and easygoing. He walks fine in a leash, pulls only if other dogs join us (wants to play with them). He'd be perfect for a couple, or a single person (man or woman), or even a family. He's just one of those dogs that adjusts and is a pleasure to be around!

I took him in only to help him. I saw what a wonderful dog he is, and he really needed help. And he deserves a good life, and good people to be with. I took him in to get him well, and to find him a loving home. Now he's well rested, checked by a vet (he's healthy, dewormed), he's gained some needed weight, and has finally started to get that spark back.

We think he is around a year old, a little over. He hasn't been neutered and no microchip. He has had a full veterinarian checkup, and he is healthy. About transportation - that is open for discussion, whether we can bring him all the way or half way, or if the people can come to get him. 

Contact info: E-mail: jojobee42@gmail.com

Phone: 0861 69 73 88

URGENT - Please Can Your Help Find Homes for Two Elderly Female Dogs?

Hello lovely pets in Italy followers. I am calling on your help again to find a new home for two old ladies who need to be rehomed urgently. They are both thirteen years old and are a Rottweiler - Cavalli and a Golden Retriever - Tempest.

Reet contacted me from New York to explain that their owner is an elderly gentleman - Reet's father - living near Milan. Sadly he is no longer able to take care of himself and so Reet is taking him to live with his sister in India, which leaves these two gorgeous dogs without a home.

Clearly at their age they will not be able to make a long journey to the USA or India and so need to find a caring loving home where they can live out the rest of their lives in peace, get lots of cuddles and help overcoming the bewilderment they will feel in having the only owner they have ever known disappear from their lives.

It's a big ask I know, but I think there will be some lovely kind hearted person out there who can make this happen.

Here is what Reet says about Cavalli and Tempest:  "Both are female
     a. a Golden Retriever named Tempest who is very submissive and just wants to be petted and given affection to.  She has a little eye issue, but the vet gave her drops to clear up the infection (or whatever it was)
     b. a Rottweiler named Cavalli who is a the dominant one of the two, very playful, but calm and affectionate as well.
- I'm not sure if they are neutered (but at this age, I'm not sure it matters)
- they are about 13-14yrs old.
- vaccinations are up to date
- they grew up on my dad's property with a few cats around, but I don't know how friendly they were to the cats when they were younger, but I know that that one of them wasn't friendly to the gophers who popped up every now and again.
- they are friendly around people and kids, but Cavalli is a little cautious at first.
- I haven't not seen them in about 4-5 years, but I really love them and loved spending time with them.
- they are currently in Biandronno (about 30min northwest of Milan)

I'll be in visiting my dad for a few days next week: arriving Jan 19th. and leaving on the 22nd.  I'll then be coming back at the end of February to take him and a few suitcases to India for good.  I'm sure I'll come back a few times to check on the dogs and his house.  Here is my other contact information:

Cell phone in the US: 917-572-3688 
Email: rockgin@gmail.com

 

 

Home Needed for Lovely Maremma Pup - Adozione del Cuore

HELP URGENTLY NEEDED FOR OTTO!

Hana has written to me from just outside Rome to see if we can help find a home for a gorgeous two month old Maremma pup (pastore maremmano) found abandoned on 8 December and taken in by the canile she helps at. Otto currently has paralysed back legs. They aren't sure of the reason and it could be something that will heal, or maybe not, which may require his getting a 'doggie wheelchair'.

Hana is caring for him at her home at the moment but can't keep him, so we urgently need a caring person with a garden to give this very special little dog a loving home.

This is the information Hana has given me about Otto: "He is paralysed in his back legs, but he can move around and at some point he needs some "doggie wheels".  At the moment he is having treatment "Cortisone", if this works then he will gain the use of his back legs again - fingers crossed.  He has not been vaccinated that I know of and has no microchip.  He lets me know when he needs to go out in the garden.  He was at our rescue centre for a few days after he was found, and then he came to stay with me.  He is a great little puppy, he's no trouble, he's placid and not needy.  He needs someone with a big heart, time to devote to him, maybe a family, a large outdoor space where in the future he can get out on his "doggie wheels".

PLEASE CAN YOU HELP? Then please contact Barbara, who is responsible for the canile.

 

Email:     bartolini.b@libero.it           

Cellulare:  34 96 71 72 82

 

Do Something Great on World Animal Day - Donate to Lo Scudo di Pan!

Today is World Animal Day, and also the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals. 

MISSION STATEMENT - WORLD ANIMAL DAY

• To celebrate animal life in all its forms
 
• To celebrate humankind’s relationship with the animal kingdom
 
• To acknowledge the diverse roles that animals play in our lives – from being our companions, supporting and helping us, to bringing a sense of wonder into our lives

• To acknowledge and be thankful for the way in which animals enrich our lives

Begun back in 1931 at an ecologists' convention in Florence, Tuscany, World Animal Day was initially conceived as a way of highlighting the plight of endangered species. Since then it has grown to include all animals and is a day for animal-lovers all over the world to celebrate our wonderful four legged, two legged and no legged friends!

Because of the Italy connection I would like to ask you to do something very special this World Animal Day. Near where we live in the Casentino, Tuscany, is a tiny non profit organisation called Lo Scudo di Pan. (Pan's Shield).

Surviving entirely on donations this group of dedicated volunteers work tirelessly and in very difficult circumstances to look after a range of abandoned and sick animals. I know the founder and have adopted two birds from there. They are amazing, amazing people and they do it all from a little house in the middle of a small town.

Unsurprisingly they are frightened that some people may object to them looking after all these creatures (many handicapped) in the middle of town and fear the animals may be poisoned.

They want to buy some land in the countryside and set up a proper sanctuary, which in this part of the world is relatively cheap to do. But despite their best efforts, they are not managing to raise much money towards this worthy goal. Animals come at the bottom of the list for many people here and so Lo Scudo di Pan continue to run their second hand stalls and get increasingly inventive in their fundraising, but they are barely managing to hold it together.

PLEASE HELP THEM!

 DONATE  USING PAYPAL IN DOLLARS       IN POUNDS STERLING      IN EUROS

If you live in Italy you can also donate through your bank or the post office: with DONAZIONE as the subject.

Conto Corrente Postale   72273154
Codice IBAN: IT47 P076 0114 1000 0007 2273 154

Conto Corrente Banca Etruria Agenzia di Capolona
Codice IBAN: IT80 C053 9071 3500 0000 0005 931

Thank you so much.

Please Help Four Poor Dogs on the Island of San Pietro off Sardinia

I have been contacted by Grace with the heartbreaking story of a mother and three young pups (not tiny, but not adult) living in dire conditions on the Island of San Pietro. Grace is Polish and  was shocked when visiting the island to come across these poor creatures. She is willing to transport the dogs herself to you at the end of September but obviously if you can meet her half way that would help.

This is what she writes:

"They are on San Pietro Island (off the south west coast of Sardinia) where I have spent three weeks, and it was three weeks of sadness.  This place is in the middle of nowhere and since the owners don't accept any visitors there is no stranger who could see these poor creatures there. 
Gin, Lola and Marley are mix breed (father- labrador + mother - Pepi, a terrier mix). They were born late November 2010 and need homes right away. The lack of good nutrition make them look like skeletons right now.
The dogs are fed with some pieces of old bread collected by a local bakery and pieces of fat from a deli store. I believe they don't get enough water as well. They don't have collars. Instead they have ropes around their necks to hold them tight. Lola and Gin don't have a  doggy house, and sleep on a concrete there.
The owners are nor capable to find homes for these dogs. They are not even capable to take care of themselves right now. If there are people willing to adopt these pups I will work with them to bring these doggies to their homes.
Fiona, please help me to save these wonderful dogs. They have not done anything wrong in their short lives and suffer so much."

To get in touch with Grace directly please email: gpolkowska@wp.pl
NO TIMEWASTERS PLEASE.

 

"

Nine Pups in Calabria Need a Home!

I've received an appeal from the granddaughter of a couple in Calabria who have out of the goodness of their very big hearts taken in a female dog (they already have two males) and she has now had NINE puppies. You can read about them here: http://www.petsinitaly.com/pets_in_italy/dogs-and-puppies-in-italy-looking-for-new-homes.html

Please help spread the word and see if we can find these little guys homes asap!

URGENT!! Can You Help a Pregnant Little Cat?

Central Italy  - Tuscany /Umbria area

Can you help give a home or foster home to a lovely little cat APRILE who is very pregnant, kittens due in three weeks. She is currently being taken care of by Cristina who found her straying. Cristina lives in a small apartment with her own cat Catpuchino, and is just about to move to another apartment. She is at her wits' end as no-one seems to be able to help her. Can you?

She writes: "If I had a larger apartment or a shed for protection, I would make her a comfortable home. If I can't home her, I will have to put her and the kittens in the bathroom, which I fear will be stressful for her and Catpuccino, but we will all cope. 

"Aprile is more of a people cat than my own Catpuccino. She loves to be petted and to sleep on the couch. She stays outdoors most of the time now, though, since it is warm. She eats dry and wet food. 

"In my heart, I want her to have a home with someone who will love her and let her live indoors and out. Someone did offer to put her in a shed to catch mice, but she is not feral or one to live totally outdoors. I don't know where she came from, but she has never gone back. She's a people cat... and so I want a home for her that is more than outdoors on her own. "Perhaps there could be a foster home for her, where someone could care for her with the kittens, and then find homes for them. She will need to be spayed, too. "

Please contact Cristina by email: christinecovelli@gmail.com 

 

URGENT!! Can You Foster Barnaby the Little Bichon?

This is an urgent plea from Bethany in the UK who saved a puppy from Syria. Barnaby is a three-year-old 9kg Bichon and, as she says, “ a lovely, friendly and loveable dog.” Bethany took Barnaby to Italy where he lived with her and then she left him with her cousin who lives between Piedmont and Lombardy. Now Bethany’s cousin has said she won’t keep him any longer. He can’t go to the UK as his vaccinations are not ready so we are looking for a FOSTER HOME until October or a PERMANENT HOME. Please can you help?

Here is the email from Bethany: 
“Barnaby is a perfect companion for anyone. He loves people and is very affectionate. He is also really good with other dogs, gets on well with them and plays immediately. He is an independent soul, but responds well to cheese and enforced boundaries. He is used to being washed and combed so this presents no difficulty - he loves warm water, actually. He is rewarded for good behaviour during grooming with small tidbits of cheese. 

“He has had all his vaccinations (rabies & he is having a booster for this this or next week and I forget the names of the others) and these are all recorded in his pet vaccinations book. He has been regularly wormed and has been given the medicine that my cousin tells me dogs in Italy have to have between May and September. He is not neutered. He is also micro-chipped and has a pet passport. He will be 3 years old in June. 

"He is a Bichon, but has blue eyes and a pink nose (but he is not albino as he has a very light characteristic apricot blush on his ear and near his back legs which Bichons often have. I think he is a pure breed dog, but I am 100% sure. He is longer than the typical Bichon, but his personality is apparently very consistent with the breed as are his other physical features. He knows commands such as sit and stay. He is house trained and when he was living with me, got a morning and an evening walk. I lived with him in a flat with a large balcony and a house with a roof garden and he was fine in both those situations. Now, he lives with my cousin's other dog (an Alsatian) in the garden of her family's house. 

"Barnaby needs to be re-homed or fostered immediately. I think it would be possible for Barnaby to travel - it would depend on the region. Certainly I could deliver him to a family in the north and as far as Tuscany, if it meant he was going to a good home). If he was with a foster family, I would of course be willing to cover food costs and medicine etc but these would have to be agreed in advance. Also, if anything serious happened to Barnaby while he was in foster care, we would have to assess at that juncture what would be best for him.”

PLEASE CONTACT bethanyrandell@googlemail.com

Not Only Puppies Need Help

Did my stint at the kennels (dog pound for US readers) on Sunday. May 1 but no day off on Monday for Italians as if a bank holiday falls on a weekend - tough luck!

There are two tiny puppies that have just arrived, absolutley adorable. One has already found a home (the male) and so they are looking fora home for the brown and white female. I don't think it will be long as puppies usually go quite quickly.

How cute is that? I am very tenpted myself, but really think that if we ever take on another dog it would have to be an older one - you know the mid age, mid size type that no-one looks at.

One of the canile dogs is very ill. Marlene, a beautiful alsation type is not eating and has lost a ton of weight. The vet has sent off her samples for 'analisi' but as she has a lot of lumps and bumps things don't look that bright for her.

I've seen about six dogs now die in the canile, from old age or from consitions they had when they came in. I am sure that the love shown by the volunteers makes up in a small way for the hell some of them have been through but if I could get my hands on some of the people who treat a dog as though it is a piece of rubbish...well, I'm sure you know the rest.

I picked up a copy of a free magazine the other day for the Arezzo area and it had a whole page devoted to a new association I hadn't heard of before. I checked out their page and they seem to be doing good work under very hard circumstances in Sardinia, where a lot of dogs have a very tough time indeed. They are called associazioneliberitutti so do give the site a visit. It's all in Italian, but the dogs speak an international language.

I would urge anyone thinking about getting a puppy to consider an older abandoned dog as some of the stories and the life they have had is just horrendous. As I always try and remind myself, the problem is huge but if you help just one dog then 'it makes a difference to that one'.

 

 

Homeless Dogs in Bulgaria

I have had an email from Lina in Bulgaria, telling me about the homeless dog situation there. It sounds like they are having an uphill struggle. I've looked at their website and it's extremely well done with some lovely dogs on there, so please take a look.

This is what she writes:

"My name is Lina, and i live in Bulgaria, Eastern Europe. Here in my country we have an enormous issue with homeless dogs. A few organizations are dealing with the problem and trying to make a change. I am just a dog lover, who is also trying to help with everything I can. One of these organization is Animal Rescue Sofia, here is their website, it is on English also.http://arsofia.org/

The reason, for which I`m writing to you is that I had noticed from your blog, that you are interested in dog adoption, And if you are interested in helping us find homes for our miserable friends. The Animal Rescue Organization is working with another dog shelter in Holland, Austria and Germany. The dogs ready for adoption are healty and with all needed passports and vaccinations."

Please get in touch if you can help and I will pass the message to Lina. Thank you.

Please Help Bruno

Hello everyone. My name is Bruno and I’ve been in the dog’s home here in Prato near Florence in Tuscany for as long as I can remember. You can see in the photo how good I am even when they have to give me treatment.

Since last year’s flood I’ve been waiting for a home like my other friends who haven’t come back to the kennels. In fact, I got this injury to my leg while trying to escape. I sprained it when I completely panicked. But I promised myself that I won’t die until I find a family and an owner who will love me.

Why not come and visit me here at the kennels? I’m medium size I look  a little bit like a lion but actually I’m a little bit timid, but a very good dog. For more information: call  339/4706867  or 333/7858918

URGENT HELP THE DOGS OF RIETI CANILE

I have just received this urgent appeal from Sarah in Rome who is one of a number of people trying to help the poor dogs in the terrible Rieti pound. The place is closing at the end of January and the volunteers are desperately trying to rehome as many dogs as they can.They have 60 offers of foster care or homes so far but the dogs left are the bigger ones or the ones which have more difficult temperaments. Hardly surprising considering the dire conditions they have been kept in.

The reason for closure is that the company 'running' the kennels for the past seven years have noticed there aren't as many strays being rounded up and so can't guarantee the standard of care of the dogs anymore. Or as the website ulmino per i cani puts it:

POCHI CANI = MENO SOLDI = ZERO BUSINESS

(Not enough dogs = less money = zero business)

You see the company and others like them are paid per dog by the Comune and so it stands to reason that if dogs are being rehomed than they will not find it a profitable business anymore! Unbelievable isn't it? To look at a dog's home for strays as a money making venture and giving them the bare minimum living conditions. And always it's the dogs who suffer and it's NOT THEIR FAULT!

If you can help by giving money for distance adoption, by taking in a dog, offering afosetr home or even just telling people then please do what you can.

The name of the organization is:

RIFUGIO DEL PRICK E DELL'ULMO -
ASSOCIAZIONE ONLUS c.c.p. N° 45508389

Bank account number: IBAN IT14J 0760113200000045508389

Or contact me or Sarah: sarah_may_g@yahoo.com

or call BETTY 339-1847914 (dopo le 19)

email: info@ulmino.it

SIMONETTA 333-2229587 (prima delle 13)

 

 

 

Don't Forget the Ordinary Dogs

Buon Anno! I hope you had a good festive season and are  raring to go in 2011.

I get lots of appeals for the site, as you know, and I have been having a bit of a rethink about what to post. The thing is that so many of the 'heartbreakers' are what they call 'adozioni del cuore' here - meaning you need a big heart to adopt them. I'm talking about the blind dogs, the handicapped ones, the ones who are in dire straits and make you weep when you read their stories. These cases actually get adopted quite quickly, on the whole. It seems that kind hearted people are prepared to open their hearts to desperate dogs and that is wonderful.

But I got an appeal the other day which made me stop and think. This is what it said:

"Doesn't Argo deserve a chance? Let me explain. There are many unfortunate dogs, but some are not 'unfortunate enough'. If Argo were sick, if he had only three legs, if he had been thrown out of a car... if... if... then he would be an adozione del cuore. But he isn't sick, he isn't cripple, he's simply a dog -  one of many dogs that is looking for a home. Just one among many and therefore when people come to the dog's home they glance at him, maybe even pat him, but then they just walk right on by. Nobody wants him. And they take home another dog, maybe a puppy, maybe a sick one, maybe a dog that isn't 'ordinary' like him. They don't take home Argo and he just goes on waiting. Doesn't he deserve a chance too? Isn't he 'good' enough for a loving home instead of spending years in the kennels?"

Don't you find that sad? I know I did. I kept going back to that email more than the other more desperate cases, because it's so easy to overlook these 'ordinary' dogs. Because really there is no such thing. Every dog is special and deserves a chance. So let's hear it for Argo and all the other 'ordinary' dogs like him. And let's hope 2011 will be the year they find a home.

If you are interested in adopting Argo then here are the contact details.

Antonella  3474464225  antonellapop@tiscali.it

 Aurora: 333 6774542 (dopo 19.30)

 aurora.romeo76@gmail.com 

Luisa 3332506421 ambral@live.it

 Silvia: 347 8038106 (dopo 19.30) silviafumagalli@iol.it 

From Calabria to California - Dino the Luckiest Dog in the World!

I never thought I'd be posting this when I wrote about poor Dino all those months ago, but I'm delighted to repot that our furry chum has arrived at his new home in California!Quite a journey from a pound in a little southern Italian village.

If you remember, Dino was a stray who found his way into the lives of Francis Cole and her husband, who were living in Calabria. We went through the ups and downs with them as they struggled to cope with Dino being put in the pound, diagnosed with leishmaniosis, suffering from skin problems and being kept in a farmer's field on a chain.

Francis knew they had to leave Italy and she tried desperately hard to find Dino a home, but to no avail. I put her in touch with a Dutch lady called Marjan who is nothing short of an angel in human form, and then finally, the plan was hatched! Dino would go to the Netherlands and from there fly to the USA to live permanently with the Coles.

All this costs money of course and Francis and her husband had already spent lots of their own money on Dino. So they launched an appeal and have raised a substantial amount to cover the costs of Dino flying  to California.

The appeal is still open, so if you would like to donate and also read more about this happiest of happy stories then go to Dino's blogspot here.

So Dino, from everyone who heard about you and who loves you, we wish you a very bright future. You are a shining beacon for the ones who aren't so lucky.

 

URGENT HELP NEEDED FOR DIEGO!

Diego is a young dog of about 12 months. He is medium size (18 kg) and castrated. He was found in a cardboard box at only 50 days old and was almost dead when he was rescued. Christmas had just passed and the little pup seemed an ideal present to give for a little boy's Epiphany gift.

But the novelty of having a new puppy only lasted a few months and soon Diego was confined to the garage where he was almost completely forgotten even by his young owner.  Since then Diego has spent every day in the garage and spends just one hour outside where he is tied up (see the photo)  in order to let the lady of the house clean up in the garage. 

A few weeks ago the volunteer who has written this mail (in Italian I've translated it) was told the family wanted to get rid of Diego either by taking him to the pound or just taking him somewhere and leaving him there. Despite the horrendous and solitary life he has led Diego is still an affectionate and well behaved dog so could go to a family with children and other dogs.

Is there someone out there for him?

Diego is in Napoli but can be adopted anywhere in Italy after the usual pre adoption checks.

Per info: 331-8265101 Rosaria or email me

Getting Dino to the USA

Many of you have been following the story of Dino, the dog rescued from Calabria and so I am very pleased to tell you that heis on his way on phase one of his journey, which is the trip north. Francis  and her husband who have rescued and taken care of this lovely dog have a page where you can make a donation, so please help if you can. So great this story looks like it will have a happy ending.

Their Dino rescue page is here.

Please Help Puglia Pooches

Val and Mino from www.pugliapooches.eu need your help! This wonderful English/Italian couple has spent the last few years rescuing stray dogs and cats in Puglia and taking them home. Their work is known all over the world and many marvel at their love and generosity as they have opened their little home to over 20 dogs and half a dozen cats. But now Val is ill (get well soon Val!) and they need to find as many homes as possible for their much-loved rescue pooches.

I have been in touch with Val and am posting details of the dogs on the site on the Dogs Up for Adoption page.

Please spread the word!

Thai Dog Rescue Success Story

Regular readers will know that I am in touch with a fantastic lady called Gemma Ashford who has devoted her life to rescuing the stray dogs of Thailand. Her story is here to remind you.

Gemma has just sent me a very heartwarming video of Thai dog Lucky's first day in his new home in England, so I thought I would post it here.

 

Home Wanted for LULU - in Kennels at Prato nr. Florence

This lovely little dog, weighing around 7 kilos, arrived at the Prato dog pound near Florence with a rusty old collar round her neck. They don't know her story, but are sure it is not a happy one.

Although no longer a puppy Lulu, as they have named her, would be the perfect companion for someone. She is extremely affectionate and all in all a happy little soul considering what she has been through.

If you can offer Lulu a home please phone:328/2710201 or 339/4706867

URGENT! Home Needed for Gorgeous Puppy - Chieti - Abruzzo - Can Be Adopted Anywhere

Well, if there is a cuter puppy in the world than this I would like to see it! She was was dumped on the doorstep of a remote house In the Chieti region of Abruzzo, there is zero chance she just found it herself according to Linda who is looking after her, as she has no neighbours.

Linda says: "she is about 10 weeks old, very friendly, eats well and sleeps outside with no  problem. She is a lovely natured puppy, will happily be petted and fussed and is very affectionate.We call her Foxy due to her pointy ears. But I am desperate to find her a safe home/place as I am returning to the uk in 10days!!! Hoping you can help her."

Linda goes on to say : "We will happily drop her to her new home / meet half way." They are driving back to the UK and so she could be adopted almost anywhere in the country.

CAN ANYONE HELP? She won't be very big as you can see. Please either contact me or Linda.

Email: lynamcewan@hotmail.com or tel: 0872 980813

Updates on Dino and Luis

I have been asked by a number of people about how Dino from Calabria and Luis the blind Setter are getting on.The latest news on Dino is that his leishmaniosis is being evaluated and he is going to start a course of treatment immediately which means he should show improvement in a month or so. His skin is pretty bad and his 'guardian angel'  Francis is hoping that with good food, the right tablets and regular attention he should be fit enough for them to get him out of Calabria very soon. They have been contacted through this site by a wonderful lady in Holland, Marjan, who may be able to sort something out for him, so fingers crossed.

Luis has been in temporary accommodation while his foster carer in Milan has been on holiday. She writes:  "Our little one is well and I really hope he finds a house like mine to live in as it seems ideal for him. He appears very happy and stimulated by his surroundings.During the day he stays inside as it's too hot to go outside. He prefers to stay near the settee where I have put his little mat (which naturally he doesn't use!) As soon as I wake up in the morning I take him outside and while I'm preparing his breakfast he sniffs around the grass or simply just sits.

We don't let him out at lunchtime because it's just too hot for him. So he stays with us while we have lunch and we always manage to give him a little bit! In the afternoon he is on his own more or less until my mother arrives at around 4.30/5 when he gets more cuddles! Towards 6 we let him outside in the shade.

I come home at about 6.30 and I can't tell you how pleased he is to see me! He is so sweet. In the evenings I brush him, which he really loves. Then I leave him in the garden until 8 o'clock when we have dinner and he comes in the house with us, again managing to sneak a little bit of food! After dinner he stays with us near the settee while we watch tv and he gets lots more cuddles. Then he has his evening meal, we take him outside and then he goes to sleep.

That is his typical day. Depending on work we spend more time with him but for most of the day he is with someone and getting lots of affection. I really hope you can find an adoption for him in a place like mine with a family that is at home all day. He needs someone there as much as possible  if he's on his own the only thing he can do is sleep. If he is  stimulated he really comes to life and gets interested in everything around him."

If you can help either of these dogs please contact me.

DINO UPDATE

I have just come back from a week in the UK to see my Mum. During that time Francis from Calabria contacted me to say they have removed Dino from the canile as he was so distressed there. This is what she writes:

"To cut a long story short, Dino was doing badly at the pound. His bloated stomach went down, but he had developed a bad skin problem and we just could not leave him in there. After a lot of asking around - begging - we found somebody who let us tie him to a tree 'in campagna' near their hunting dogs (who are all kept in cages, a different story). This spot is near the village, so we decided it was better than the pound - oh how relative it all is down here. So we took poor Dino out of the pound. We bought him a nice new collar and we have been feeding him loads and taking him for long walks twice a day. Even though he is tied up for most of the day, he has been enjoying our visits immensely. In the five days that he has been out of the pound, he has picked up the 'come' command, and 'sit', and learnt how to walk on a leash and ride in the car! He truly is a great dog.

The canile vet lied to us about having given him shots - he hadn't. They told us all the dogs are microchipped and vaccinated when they go in, but this is not true (no doubt that's what they report and then collect the money from the government.) It is such a racket and meanwhile, the dogs are festering and suffering.

The canile vet dismissed Dino's skin problem as nothing serious, but we wanted a second opinion. So, this afternoon, we took Dino to a female vet who met through a friend, for a check-up and to ask her some questions about his skin and his general health. She took one look at him and said that because of his weight loss and skin problems, as well as swollen lymph nodes, she suspected leishmaniosis. She tested him for it there and then, and I am absolutely heart-broken to report that he tested positive for leishmaniosis. It's rampant down here, but I was hoping and praying he wouldn't have it. She said the stress of the canile probably brought out his symptoms, and he more than likely contracted it some months ago, probably before we even found him."

Francis has written to me again saying she and her husband are only there for around another six weeks and have decided to do as much as they can for Dino while they can, but that they may have to make the heart rending decision to have him put to sleep rather than suffer once they have gone. They are also trying to find out how serious the leishmaniosis is and if it is treatable long term. They are also looking into raising money to pay for him to go to UK or USA.

IS THERE REALLY NO-ONE WHO CAN HELP?

Dino is Still Waiting - Come On Ex-Pats, Please Help!

You may remember I recently posted about Dino, a stray found by some kind ex-pats in Calabria, but then sadly seized and taken to the dog pound?

I have just had an email from Francis, who was looking after Dino. Here is what she says:"He has now been in the canile for four weeks and I am exasperated with the lack of a response down here in Calabria. I have trawled the internet looking for Brits/Americans living down here, and although I have had some nice emails, I have found nobody to take him. I have asked around endlessly and there is absolutely no local interest. My husband and I have visited him at the canile several times and he is not doing well. They pack them in, 4 or 5 to a cage, and he is very thin and has a piece bitten off the top of his ear. He is clearly getting bullied and not getting much of the rations. When we go, the guys let us take him out of the cage for a cuddle and to feed him and he almost heaves from eating too fast. Yesterday, when they brought him out, he did not eat the food we gave him. One of the guys said he had eaten already, but when I cuddled him, I noticed his stomach was swollen and hard which was worrying."

Surely there must be SOMEONE in Calabria who can help this poor soul? Please contact Francis: FiCole@aol.com

Here are two YouTube videos of him, the first one before he was taken to the canile.

And this is when thewy went to visit him at the pound. They were made to wear plastic bags on their feet.

Ginger - an Inspirational Story

It's all to easy to get depressed when faced with some of the sad stories of abandoned dogs I get sent to me for the site. But here's one that while not exactly a happy ending (yet) is moving in the right direction.

I've been following the progress of a little dog called Ginger. She was found tied to a bin, near Naples, left by some heartless person. She was blind, starving, with her ribs sticking out, with swollen lymph nodes and a swollen stomach. There was a chain collar practically strangling her.   Here is a picture of how she was found.

I phoned up to find out more about her and found out that she had been poisoned, which had caused her to lose her sight. She was being cared for in Campania by an association called  Movimento Animalista di Aversa and they had taken her straight to the vet. She seemed to be doing OK but they were worrried about the lymph nodes. They also said that she was not as old as she appeared and was probably only about two.

They sent me a close up photo and you can see how terrible she looks and how red her poor eyes are. These volunteers are so marvellous, they arranged for her to see a veterinary eye specialist and he said that the blindness may be reversible.  They  did some more tests and found out that she had an aggressive form of lymphatic cancer and her prognosis was very poor. They were going to try chemotherapy, although in her weakened state, it was a risk, but the only hope she had. I have to say, that although I had printed out her photo and was trying to do a bit of healing on her, things looked pretty bleak.

Well, that was a month ago and baby, look at her now! Apparently the chemo went very well and she is now in remission. She looks a completely different dog, doesn't she? She is not out of the woods yet, the cancer could return, but if you compare the earlier photos to this one you can see just how well she is doing. Once they are convinced she is stable then she will be up for adoption. I'm not sure if she is still blind, I will find out and let you know. But it just shows you should never give up.

Brava Ginger! An inspiration to us all!

* Update - she is still blind, but as they say: "that is the least of her problems."

Old Dogs Need Homes Too

 I have posted more dogs looking for homes on the homing and rescue page of the site. As you will see there are three new ones, Gelsomina, Lana and Pasqualino, with a fourth to follow, Papera, whose picture is here. Let me quote from the email that was sent to me by Nemony who is helping to rehome the dogs. It breaks your heart.

"Gelsomina's story is the most common.  As the car drives away, dogs often sit for days and weeks in a desolate spot, hopelessly waiting for their owners to return.  Others are left on highways, so that death will come swiflty, with complete disregard not only for the animal who has loved them dearly, but also for the safety of passengers in oncoming cars.  This practice is illegal, and punishable by law with steep fines and reclusion, but unfortunately still rife. 
 
The dogs most ignored in Italy are the elderly, well, above 6 years of age really, and they often end their days in barren cages on the cold damp cement, despite the fact that they are sweet, quiet, already used to household noises and in most cases fit into any home like a glove. " 

Please help at least some of these poor dogs find a home. There is a good network of animal sanctuary workers who can help transport them anywhere in Italy. If you can't rehome them yourself please let as many people as you can know about this site. If we could save even one dog it would be wonderful.

Two Puppies Urgently Needing Homes - Central North Italy

Two five-month old puppies, located in Tivoli and looking for a good home. The lady who originally posted the appeal is expecting a baby in the next couple of weeks and is desperate to find the pups a loving owner. As far as I understand they are not her dogs but she is trying to rehome them. They have been shut in a cage all day and night for two months with no-one to pay them any attention, give them cuddles or take them for a walk. She hasn't had one call enquiring about them and is now quite desperate.

This is Gio (pronounced Joe more or less)the male puppy. Isn't he absolutely adorable?     How could you leave him locked up all day? He has been vaccinated, microchipped and will be registered to the new owner free of charge. He is not too good on the lead but that's because he's never been out. He loves playing and is and with other dogs. He likes people - both adults and children. He's just five months old, still a baby. He'll be medium size when he grows up.

This is his sister Louise - they look quite different don't they but she is lovely too and obviously the same applies to her - vaccinated, microchipped and registered to the new owner free of charge. All they ask is that she is neutered when she is 7 months old. She loves walks too, although like her brother isn't used to a lead yet. She is affectionate and loves people and kids.

If you can offer them a home them please phone Emanuela 339/7800992 or email emi78.ei@libero.it