Pets in Italy

BAILEY - Missing Dog in Pozzuoli, Naples - Please Help!

Hi everyone

Do you live in or near NAPLES? I've been contacted by Andrew who has lost his lovely spayed female dog BAILEY in via Montenuovo Licola Patria, Pozzuoli. She escaped from his friend's garden without her collar on and has been seen a couple of times, but is extremely shy and easily scared. PLEASE contact Andrew if you see her as she is not capable of surviving on her own. She is vaccinated and microchipped.

BAILEY -MISSING SINCE WED 18 APRIL

 

Breed..........Greyhound/Lab mix

Age.............2yrs and 4months old

Coloring......Primarily black with brown highlights, a white patch on her chest and white rear paws.

Demeanor...Very friendly, loving, non-aggressive, very shy, easily scared (she is a big baby)

If you see Bailey please call Andrew on 

342-011-5485 or email him andrew.kolb86@yahoo.com

 

Thank you!

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

 

Having a Hunting Dog as a Pet

It occurred to me the other day that we actually own three hunting dogs, although you would hardly know it, given their preference for lounging around on the sofa or snoozing on the duvet!

ZsaZsa, the most senior at almost nine years old, is a female yellow Labrador who spends a lot of her time in a horizontal position. She has never been keen on any type of exercise whatsoever from when she was a puppy. Many’s the time I have taken her for an embarrassing ‘drag’ on the lead and she has a tendency even now to sit down on her ample bottom if she doesn’t feel like moving. The only indication she is a cane di caccia is that she always has to have something in her mouth, usually a sock or a dolly.

 

Maia is a pretty beagle cross and while very fast and agile is also very scared of loud noises and a pretty big wimp really. She is highly intelligent, fascinated by birds and loves nothing more than to have you throw a ball for her to chase. She also scans my face anxiously for any sign that I may be upset or about to cry (not that I do that a lot, but when I do, she puts her paws on my knees and licks my tears away) and I could no more imagine having her accompany a cacciatore on a shoot than fly to the moon.

 

Gassie the rescue English setter is probably the most true to his hunting dog nature as he will chase anything that moves. He also ‘sets’ when he sees a bird in a tree and is obsessed with lizards and small insects. But like Maia, loud noises petrify him as do sudden movements and that is probably why his previous hunter owners abandoned him in southern Italy to fend for himself. Once inside he is the most indolent and soppy dog imaginable, loving company, sleeping in as small a shape as he can cram his long-limbed body into, and doing anything he can to get close, including balancing precariously on the back of the sofa to rest his head on your shoulder or jumping straight onto your knee and curling up like a cat. I am quite besotted as you can probably tell.

HARD TO REHOME

The canile I work in now has a population almost entirely made up of hunting dogs. This is a great worry as they are almost impossible to home with anyone except hunters, except that they are absolutely not given to anyone who might hunt with them and they would be any good anyway as they have all been kicked out for being ‘unfit for purpose’. 

Cani di caccia have a certain reputation in Italy. Not with everyone, that’s for sure, but certainly with a good number of people. They are thought of as hard to look after. They are kept outside when not being used for the hunt and treated differently to other dogs. It’s bad enough that they have  thisunwarranted reputation, but it’s even more heartbreaking when you know their true natures and realise what gentle, affectionate and eager to please dogs they are. This seems to apply to all types of hunting dog. Yes, they run after things. But they are desperate for human company, crying and licking and shivering if they get the slightest caress or kind word.

So I am appealing to you to think about a hunting dog if you want a really great pet. They are usually wonderful with kids and other dogs and some are also very good with other animals too. They are loyal, 
loving, soft to a ridiculous degree and they would die for you. Their little family, be it canine, human or both, is their world and although they aren’t any good as guard dogs, they more than make up for it in 
their total and unstinting devotion.So look beyond the reputation, the hound like cry and the long ears. 
Hunting dogs are hearts on legs and if you get one, you will never ever be the same again.

Here is a site in Italian that specialise in trying to find homes for 
hunting dogs. Adotta un cane di caccia 

Bad News, Good News

Well, I got back from the UK last week and the little cat we had been caring for - one of the feral brood, the mamma cat - hung on long enough for me to say goodbye. She had skin cancer which had really attacked her poor ears and face and she died in her sleep, poverina. So now she is in the garden with the others. We have lost so many cats here!

I did my stint at the canile Casentino kennels on Saturday and I am going again today as it is a holiday here. I was so sad that in the one month since I had last been there two lovely dogs had died, a very old and totally adorable German Shepherd called Lula and a funny looking little thing with golden eyes called Pluto. He was quite young and apart from a dramatic weight loss had seemed OK, so I was quite shocked.

However before it gets too gloomy, some great news too, that an extremely old and virtually toothless little soul called Ovidio has been adopted. It used to break my heart seeing him trot along in his stiff legged way, sometimes stumbling, and I dreaded the thought of him having another cold winter in there, so that is a tremendous relief.

And Ambra, a fantastic but average looking dog has also been adopted after THREE YEARS, which gives hope to all the others. There seem to have been more enquiries recently after a quiet summer so I hope lots more get adopted as it's so heartening for the volunteers.

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.

Home Urgently Needed for Little Cat

I got this email from Anna in Greece, She can bring Dusty to Italy in October.

"Dusty is only 5 months old and I found him walking by the Avenue on 11/7/2011. He was in a bad condition and we did not know if he was going to make it as he was sick and almost blind from both eyes.. Now, he is FINE, healthy, full of energy and love for humans. Unfortunately, he lives in a cell at the Vet for the past 2 months, and we are really hoping for a good adoption by nice people.. He is in Greece now but he can travel everywhere if he finds his forever family- he will be sterilized and with micro-chip). Please call me if you are interested 0030 6948 723 021, Anna.."

Can anyone out there help?

Pigeon Pals

So a couple of days ago I found myself in a new animal supplies shop, trying to ask for food for Picchio the handicapped pigeon. I say 'trying' because I had unsuccessfully attempted to buy him grain in a couple of other stores and ended up with bran for chickens, and bird seed. Not a language issue I hasten to add, more a 'we don't have pigeon food so we'll sell you something else' issue.

"Do you have chicken food or something similar I could give a pigeon?" I asked the lanky young guy sitting surrounded by bags of unknown animal supplies plus a few pairs of flip flops.

"Em, not really," he said. "We have pigeon food though."

"Pigeon food, yes, of course, that's what I want," I said like a twit.

"Have you got a pigeon?"

I resisted the witty riposte along the lines of "no, I've got a lion" which never seems to quite work in Italian, for me anyway. "Yes, I've got one pigeon. He's got a problem with his wing so he can't fly."

"Would you like another one?" he asked me. Now, this unexpected turn of events set me thinking. I  was concerned Picchio was lonely. Maybe another similarly afflicted feathery friend would cheer him up. However it turned out that Picchio's future chum was not sick at all, but just on sale.

"We've got 25 percent off all birds on Friday. Shall I put you down for a pair of pigeons?"

"How much are they?"

"Not too much, not 'an exaggeration'" he replied mysteriously.

"Can I buy just one? I mean, three could get a bit difficult." I stopped before I ended up in an awkward conversation about pigeon threesomes.

"One. OK. Is your pigeon male or female?"

I have no idea what sex Picchio is and suddenly began worrying about fights and territorial disputes. "How do you tell?" I asked.

He smiled at me. "Ah. Now that's difficult. You need an expert." (Later online I discovered it is indeed hard to sex pigeons, but one way is to provide a mirror! The males like posing in front of one apparently, and the females couldn't care less. A bit different from our world, eh?)

I ended up ordering a female, thinking that if Picchio was a girl, she would have a nice girlie pal and if he was a boy, then he would be getting a lovely girlfriend. Win win. I hope.

So I emerged from the shop with a10 kilo bag of pigeon food (!)and an order for one female pigeon.

We shall see what happens on Friday...

 

Reader's Story: Our Roman Rescue Dog

I get contacted quite a lot by people who want to know the ins and outs of adopting a dog, so when Lisa wrote to me and subsequently took home a rescue puppy I asked her if she would share the experience with you all. Here's her story!

"One day, through the guise of ‘work’, my husband and I found ourselves living in a villa in a mountain town near Rome.  A charming town, a beautiful house and an enormous garden.  A minimum of a year to enjoy the Italian lifestyle and be far away from the hustle and bustle of the UK, what more could we want, la bella vita as the Italians say.

After a shopping expedition one morning, we stumbled across a pet shop with glass tanks filled with every animal you can imagine.  Including puppies.  All sizes, all pedigrees and all looking rather sad at having their tanks tapped by little fingers all day.  A spark ignited in our minds.  As animal lovers we would never support the puppy farm trade so did a bit of research as to how to adopt a rescue dog.  Our lack of Italian language skills led us to a dead end.  We knew there were thousands of dogs in need of homes but we found it hard to cross the line of looking online and looking in person.  Until we found Fiona’s wonderful website and all its useful information.  Fiona gave us some names of local kennels that accepted visits from the public and so we turned up at one, just to ‘have a look’.

A few hours later we climbed back into our car with our ‘medium sized male’ 12 week old puppy.  We had every intention to adopt a dog but we weren’t expecting to see a corridor filled with so many pups.  Big ones, small ones, pedigrees, mixes, healthy, unhealthy, you name it they had it.  We went for the puppy we thought stood the least chance of being picked.  Black and although very cute and lovely, more likely to be overlooked than the others.  Although it was of course very tempting to take two, three or possibly even all of them!  We had to show some forms of ID and pay 3 euros for a microchip update and it was as simple as that.

Roman the puppy had been rescued two weeks previously from a gypsy camp, very undernourished and very bald.  So we took him home, registered with our local vet (who again assured us he would be medium sized) and nursed him back to health.  A few weeks later, as his courage grew, Roman knew his name, would come, sit, do a few tricks and of course chew anything he could find, shoes being a particular favourite.  Frustratingly, Roman kept having his puppy jabs delayed because of his weight and previous medical conditions so he wasn’t able to have his first walk until he was four months old.  At which point the vet changed his mind.  “Not medium sized dog, large dog after all”  We discovered we may have an Irish Wolfhound cross.  “Oh well,” we thought, “we’ve always needed a bigger car…”  Then came the shock of realising he was a she.  We always knew his ‘bits’ were in a strange place but as he got bigger his bits didn’t.  And we felt rather silly.  So now on walks we have started calling ‘Romana!’ as the Italians really don’t understand why she has a masculine name!  

Romana/Roman (we may see if she can handle another name change to something more feminine) is still quite shy of other dogs and unfortunately we have not been able to enrol on any puppy classes, partly due to the language barrier and also a lack of local groups, but she is slowly coming around to the dog pen in our local park.  And talking to the other dog owners is helping our Italian come along too.
So, take with a pinch of salt anything you are told about your rescue dog.  We think of it like a kinder egg surprise, who knows what she will grow up to look like or what other surprises lay in store! Understandably the rescue centres are desperate for you to give one of their dogs a second chance and who knows why the vet said she was a boy.  Despite asking for a medium sized male dog and ending up with a large sized female, we are very happy with our lovely puppy and now we feel complete in our Italian adventure.  

There are so many puppies and dogs out here in need of a caring home, anything is better than life in a loveless cage.  The centres are desperate to rehome their animals and desperate to not let their puppies grow old behind bars.  And soon the pet passport scheme will be so much easier for us Brits to use.  If you have any inkling about helping any of these desperate animals, do contact Fiona for some local information.  It really is worth visiting a kennels just to simply ‘have a look’… We are certainly very pleased that we did."

 Roman(a) a few weeks later experiencing the joys of digging!  

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!

Changes to UK Quarantine Law

On June 30 DEFRA announced long-awaited changes to the UK's outdated quarantine laws to bring them into line with the rest of the EU.

Instead of the six month wait between having a rabies vaccination and then the subsequent all clear blood test, the blood test is to be scrapped and the waiting time post rabies vaccination reduced to 21 days for pets from EU countries and listed non EU countries such as the USA.

The new legislation takes effect from 1 January 2012 and is a huge relief to those of us who travel to and from the UK with pets, as well as those who want to bring an adopted animal into the UK from Italy.

The changes have been made possible because of improvements in the effectiveness of vaccines and mean an end to the dreaded six month quarantine in most cases.

You can read more about it here.

 

 

Looking for Italian Dog Names?

I've posted a page on the site on Italian dog names as I know that sometimes it can be hard thinking up new names for your pet. There are a few hundred in alphabetical order with pronunciation tips, so I hope it gives you a bit of inspiration. Let me know if you want any added to the list. And of course they aren't just for dogs!

My own dogs are called ZsaZsa, Maia and Gaspare (Gas or Gassie for short). What about yours?

 

Happy Endings!

Don't you love it when things work out? I've just heard from Bethany that thanks to the site, she has found a new home for Barnaby the Bichon. Great news.

Also Aprile the pregnant cat I posted about has been relocated to a lovely animal shelter in Umbria. I can't take any credit for that one, but it's still great that the situation has been resolved and that the poor little thing can have her kittens in peace.

Let's hope we can keep up the momentum as there are so many animals out there looking for homes.

 

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

Something Nasty in the Woodshed

Well I spent Sunday doing a makeover of the downstairs kitchen. Alan was away in Modena meeting up with his old Motoclub friends and so I thought I'd take the chance to move things around a bit. 

In mid Changing Rooms trance, I suddenly realised I hadn't heard our English Setter Gassie for about an hour and a half since letting him into the garden. He's normally very vocal and comes and goes while the other two dogs sit patiently and watch his antics. This time there was a suspicious silence but when I called him he came inside wagging his tail. All was well, or so I thought.

This morning as I passed by the lean-to we have next to the garage I saw why he'd been so quiet. During one of his obsessive lizard hunts he had managed to rip apart about ten plastic bags of carefully stored woodpellets for our pellet stove as he tried to catch his prey!It was total mayhem in there.

It took me about three hours to tape together the broken bags and to collect up the loose pellets. I Googled what to do with spoiled wood pellets as they turn into sawdust at the slightest touch of damp and weigh a ton. There was surprisingly little on the Internet apart from the fact they make great cat litter or horse bedding, but as I don't have a horse (yet) and the amount on the ground would have kept a colony of 100 cats happy for weeks, I decided to compost them. Back and forth I went for it seemed like hours and then tried to mix it in as best I could and hope the rather surprised worms liked sawdust.

Ironic really as I was just telling Alan how well we had done to have so many bags left over from this winter.  I did reflect on the sweet irony of phrase which had captured my heart when I read the appeal for poor abandoned Gassie on the internet. It went along the lines of 'All he wants to do is sit by the fireside and rest his head on your slippers.'  It didn't mention there would be no fire in the fireside stove as the dog would have flung the fuel to the four winds in his mad hunt for reptiles. Oh well. I still love him to pieces despite his funny habits and you never know, pellets might make great compost.

 

 

 

 

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.

Update on Dino - From Calabria to California!

Do you remember Dino, the lovely little dog from Calabria that 'adopted' Francis Cole and her husband? I posted his story and update here.

I've had an email from Francis with the latest news and it's all good! Here's what she writes:

Dear Friends of Dino:

Just over four months ago, Dino made his epic journey from a life of doom, sickness and misery in Southern Italy to a whole new love-filled life in California. We wanted to send out another HUGE thank you to everybody who supported our mission and made Dino's rescue possible. We were in a complicated situation at the time, and there is just no way we could have pulled it off without everybody's generous help. 

The months are whizzing by, and we wanted to send out an update to you all.  

The good news is that Dino is doing GREAT! His health issues have all cleared up and he is as bouncy and happy as ever. He lives with the risk of his illness (leishmaniasis) coming back, but he is on daily pills to help keep it at bay and so far... so good! His coat looks amazing and he is one of the most grateful little dogs we have ever met.

He has adjusted to his new life in Los Angeles very well. We take him for off-leash walks in our local park morning and evening, he goes on hiking trips to the mountains near LA, and he has enjoyed visits to the beach. And, in a couple of weeks time, we are due to take him on his first camping trip, into the Californian desert! He really is a very good boy.

It is hard to believe that when we found Dino, he was too frightened to be touched, didn't know how to walk on a leash and puked when we finally got him in the car!

We just wanted to let you all know that the support you gave Dino has gone a long, long way!

What a great ending to a potentially sad story. Well done Francis! Here are some pictures of the lucky chap!

 

 

Naming a Pigeon

Just got back from a week in the UK. Alan has been looking after the animals and has pointed out that I had probably misheard the pigeon's name, which I was convinced was Picchio. (Pronounced pick-ee-oh).

'Don't you think it's probably Piccio?' he said. (Pronounced Pitch - ee-oh).

'Piccio?' I replied, immediately realised that this was right, doh, how annoying! 

'As in the Italian equivalent of 'Pidgie'? Rather than ' Woodpecker' which is what you've been calling him?'

'I think it suits him,' I said, in defiant mode. 'Anyway, he knows it now.'

'What, Woodpecker the pigeon?'

'Yes.'

'How do you know he knows it?

'Well, he kind of makes a warbling sound when I say it.'

At this point Alan gave up the discussion and we moved on to what Picchio eats. 

On my return I asked about our new little pigeon friend. 'Did he make that funny sound when you fed him?' .

'No, he just sat on the branch looking at me.'

'Ah, well that's because you called him the wrong name!'

He looked at me and sighed. So Woodpecker the pigeon it is!

 

'

Picchio the Pigeon

Merlina hasn't come back although I have found a few crow feathers in the garden which makes me think that maybe she did make the great escape, although what happened to her after that I dread to think. I have called her name a few times and a couple of times got a 'caw caw caw' reply, but as there are lots of crows around I think maybe it was wishful thinking on my part to believe it could be her.

Anyway the aviary seems very empty and so i got in touch with local animal rescue charity Lo Scudo di Pan, who took her to LIPU (the bird rescue organisation) to have her wing amputated. They were sorry to hear about Merlina and wondered if I could take in a pigeon (piccione if you want the Italian word!) with a damaged wing who couldn't fly.

Of course I said yes and a week or so ago Picchio (which actually means woodpecker I've discovered!) arrived, brought by two volunteers from Arezzo who had been keeping him in a cage in their apartment.

Naturally. I had been doing extensive research about pigeons on the internet and was now about as well-versed as I could be. He seemd shiny and fat and his rust coloured eyes gleamed at me as they let him out into the most space he had seen for three months. And would you believe it he flew across and perched on a Christmas tree in a pot I had put in there during my extensive and very pleasurable crow-to-pigeon-habitat makeover job. The volunteers Lucia and Luciano looked at each other. 'He can fly!' We decided that I should keep him in the aviary for a couple of months until it gets warmer and then if he is up to it, release him.

So now we have a very different energy in the aviary. Merlina's restless intelligence and manic cawing has been replaced by a laid-back bird who is calm and accepting. In fact he hardly seems to move from one spot, although I know he does as his food has gone and a trail of droppings proves he does explore all corners of his domain. Gassie the Setter was initially very interested in the new occupant (different smell I suppose) but a few well-placed pieces of green garden shade material managed to bore him sufficienly not to make any more attempts to get inside.

I still call for Merlina on the walk, I heard another  caw caw caw yesterday. The dogs looked at me with interest and then looked around as if to see her hopping into view.

And Picchio sits on his perch and dreams of the day he will be free again.

 

Crying for a Crow

This morning I did the usual circuit of the garden before going out across the fields with the dogs and as I passed Merlina's aviary I did a double take. No 'caw caw caw'. I stopped and looked in disbelief at the little sanctuary I had created for her. Empty. With a growing sense of horror I went in and found a hole right in the corner - a fox had got in, I'm sure. But there was no sign of a struggle and we heard nothing in the night and she is usually VERY vociferous if anything unknown approaches her house.

I blubbed like a baby. I saved her life three years ago when the dogs found her in the field dragging a broken wing. She went off to LIPU (equivalent of NSPB) to have an operation to amputate the wing and then she was mine again as she couldn't be set free. I built her a shelter and took great delight in spending time with this beautiful and intelligent creaure. She began cawing as I passed or whenever we went out. She did cute thngs with her food, hiding it in odd places. She lined up twigs or beads or cones in patterns and watched with keen interest whenever the dogs and I were in the garden.

I often felt she was lonely but I never found another crow to put in with her. I felt so sorry she couldn't fly and wondered what she must be thinking as her fellow hooded crows soared above her in the sky cawing down at her. But she hopped around and although she quite often plummeted to the ground from one of the intricate arrangement of branches I set up from her she would always pick herself up again and clamber back up.

And now she's gone. I miss her caws punctuating the day and I miss her. I am clinging on to the hope that maybe the dogs made the little hole in the aviary and then she hopped out of it and is somewhere in the garden.But I know that is a vain hope.

All I wish is that maybe, somewhere, Merlina is flying again.

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 

Cookbooks for Your Dog - Literally!

I have been considering cooking for my three dogs as they are currently on Orijen which is very good for them, but expensive (cost: one arm and one leg per week.) I also thought it might give them a bit of variety.

I ordered the wonderfully named Canine Cuisine by dog expert Elaine Everest after reading great reviews on Amazon and yesterday the book arrived, to my great delight as I LOVE getting books!

It is excellent, with a tremendous variety of recipes for kibble, biscuits, treats, doggie birthday fare and more. One criticism I have is that there is no indication of how many dogs (or indeed what size of dog) can be fed from one recipe, which is a bit of a bummer as that is 'need to know' info in my opinion.

I read the book yesterday afternoon in front of the woodstove (it is FREEZING here at the moment) and then, stupidly, left it on the coffee table while I went back to the sub-Arctic office for a bit more typing with numb fingers.

On my return, I discovered one of the dogs (I suspect naughty Setter Gassie) had clearly taken the title of the book literally. In one of life's little ironies, Canine Cuisine had become canine cuisine as you can see by the chewed cover above.

You couldn't make it up!

Italy Introduces Digital Health Card for Pets

Italy's Ministry of Health has introduced a new health card for pets (tessera sanitaria digitale per gli animali domestici). It means that all your pets medical history and important information can be stored on one card which you can carry with you. That makes it useful if you move, change vets or travel with your pet.

The initiative is called Amicopets and costs €28 per year per pet. You can register on the site www.amicopets.it

Once you have registered on the site and got your card you go off to your vet who will upload your pet's medical details.

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.

 

Pets and Fashion in Italy - the Reality

Considering Italy is the style capital of the world and a book is very much judged by its cover, it's a shame that the realities of living in the countryside with animals does not make for a fashionable look.

Take today. I am wearing green wellingtons, black mud-spattered trousers, a Barbour jacket with one pocket eaten by a dog eager to get at treats and my new piece de resistance - a camouflage hunting hat. You know, the kind that little old men usually wear.It has nice ear flaps which unbutton to keep out the wind and a lovely peak, like a rapper's hat, except that mine is the right way round.

I bought it in the hunting clothes section of the local Marino fa Mercato store and tried it on to the great amusement of passing shoppers. I knew I needed a hat as trying to stumble across wet fields with three dogs on leads and an umbrella was proving impossible. But now I have my hat and I am ready for anything!

I remember at a party a few years ago meeting a new ex-pat who said 'I realise there are normal clothes and then there are Umbria clothes!' What she was referring to was the need to deck yourself out in things that didn't matter too much, if you were to deal with dusty white roads, house restoration and animals.

Of course when I go out into the public domain I try to dress smartly. I am completely used to the Italian all-encompassing foot to head glance which takes but a micro-second but is the equivalent of being scanned by an airport security camera - you know, the ones that look at your underwear?

The trouble is that my 'at home' clothes have to be pet proof. I now sort of understand (but don't condone) the idea of keeping pets out of the house. It's to keep everything clean! It's so your dog doesn't tramp his muddy paws all over your lovely pristine floors and get hairs on your Versace!

Sadly I will never be like that. My Versace (yeah, right) is packed away in favour of outfits that will withstand paws, hairs, mud and rain.

I will not let my standards slip in one area though. My make up. I ALWAYS wear it and do my nails. Which is why if you spy a strange looking woman sloshing her way across a field wearing odd hunting gear, she will at least have great lipstick!

 

 

Rescue Many Horses - Inspirational Video Clip

I came across this Dutch horse rescue this morning and had to share it with you. Have a hankie ready - it is amazing, inspirational and uplifting. It doesn't matter if you love horses or not!

 

Boarding Kennel and Cattery Recommendations Wanted!

I am getting more and more emails asking for suggestions for great boarding kennels and catteries (known as pensioni per cani e gatti), particularly in the Tuscany area. The problem is - I don't have personal experience of any of these. Since moving to Italy  Alan and I haven't had a holiday together for 17 years because we won't board our animals! It is almost making me think I should start a luxury kennels business as I'm sure there would be plenty of takers!

Many of us just don't want to leave our beloved pets - used to living in the house, lying on the sofa and being part of the family - in places where dogs and cats are not treated in the same way. I know my lot would be beside themselves if they had to be boarded separately in outdoor kennels and there is no way Alan and I could enjoy time away from them knowing they were unhappy.

I want to help people by starting a boarding kennels recommendation page like I've done vets, but I need your help. Please can you send me your recommendations for great, trustworthy, top quality boarding kennels in Italy and I'll start to put a list together. If I don't get any recommendations - hell, I may even start my own!

 

Cat in a Box

A friend sent me this and I thought it was priceless! Cat lovers will totally understand. Enjoy!

 

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.

Going Riding After 18 Years!

Well, I'm in Bournemouth visiting my Mum and yesterday I suddenly got the urge to go riding. That's not strictly true. I've wanted to go riding again for years but never had the courage so I'm not quite sure why yesterday was the day, but there you go!

I booked a half hour private lesson and two hours later I was in a field on a 15- hand laid-back grey called Reg doing the rising trot! Wow Wow! I loved it. It all came flooding back! I had a great teacher (not like those bossy horsey people who used to scare the hell out of me!) and apparently I had a good position, good posture, good hands and did very well. I feel so great even though my legs were like jelly when I got off. More, more!

Fattoria della Pace, Pisa

Every so often I hear about amazing people doing amazing work. This circular is from an organization called Fattoria della Pace (Peace Farm) situated at Marina di Pisa and I thought I would share it with you all.

The place is run by volunteers and is home to a variety of unwanted domestic animals, including horses, donkeys, cows, pigs, rabbits and chickens. They have taken these animals from other voluntary organizations and animalisti who couldn't place them and in doing so saved them from certain death.

The farm cover three hectares, (about six acres)and is open to visitors, children being especially welcome. The animals help educate the children about how to look after then and they are also used for 'pet therapy' for children with problems. The animals, many of whom have had lives of immense suffering, are free to roam around and enjoy the companionship of people and other animals in peace, safety and dignity. The volunteers try to train, rehabilitate them and rehome them if possible.

The reason I am posting this is because they are in urgent need of funds to complete some fencing. This is needed to keep the animals safe and to section off a new area for visitors to get to know the animals.

If you can help them their bank ref is:

Banca Popolare Etica

IBAN  IT56B0501802800000000131885.

Payable to: Fattoria della Pace IPPOASI

 

 

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!

Two Beautiful Dogs in Pavia Urgently Need Home

I have been contacted by a desperate couple who are heartbroken at having to leave their beloved dogs, rescued as puppies, behind because they must return to the UK. I have posted the appeal on the Dogs and Puppies Looking for Homes page. I'm waiting for a photo and will then put that up too.

PLEASE HELP AS THERE ARE ONLY A FEW DAYS LEFT!

Driving Me Nuts!

I am typing this to the background sound of crunching. It's walnut season and as we have two huge walnut trees in the garden, this means hours of fun for the dogs and loads of mess for me.

They ferret around looking for the black oval fruits hidden in the grass or gravel, then carry them into the house (not while I'm watching you understand!) and then bite off the black husk and bite through the shells to the walnuts inside. You would not believe how much debris one walnut makes! They also stain things black, especially if they are wet, like today.

The walnuts don't seem to do them any harm as very often the shells are empty or the meagre pickings so crushed by their teeth that they are hardly worth eating, but it is a constant battle to keep one step ahead of the relentless and clearly very exciting hunt and its resultant trail of little pieces.

It rained heavily last night and the wind has blown down another load of walnuts, most of which seem to be on the floor. If only I could train them to use a dustpan and brush!

5 Ways to Calm Your Pet Without Touching It

There are times when you can't or don't want to touch an animal, for example if it's very stressed or ill. You can also try this if you want to have a bit of fun to see if it works! I can't rememember where I learned these techniques, but they do have an effect as long as the pet doesn't mind you putting your hand near it.  This works particularly well for cats, who almost always start purring and relax!

1. What you do is to stroke the AIR around the animal, exactly as you would do if you were touching it. It works best a couple of inches away (5cm) or less although you don't need to get your tape measure out! The effects can be quite remarkable.

2. The next thing to try, as long as you pet doesn't mind you having eye contact, is to look at it and then gradually close your eyes as if you were dropping off to sleep. If you have a strong bond with your pet you will find its eyes start to close too!

3. The important thing to remember when close to any stressed animal is to breathe deeply and regularly. So often when our pets are anxious, we are too and they pick up on that so ...BREATHE.

4. I also find singing helps too as it helps calm you both down. I always sing to the dogs I am taking for walks at the canile as there are some extremely nervy dogs there. As long as the song is a relatively gentle and relaxing one you should find this is a good way to destress the situation.

5. If you know about EFT, also know as the 'tapping ' technique, then you can tap on yourself to calm your pet down. If you don't know the technique (which does sound bizarre, but I assure you works) this is what you do. First of all tap the 'karate point' of one hand with two fingers (ie where you would do a karate chop!), saying "I am Mitzi, I am Mitzi, I am Mitzi" (obviously use your own animal's' name!)Then tap constantly while saying something like : "Even though I am very  stressed I choose to relax and be calm." Repeat this phrase as you tap the following points on YOUR OWN body. Use one side only (eg I always do it on the left). inside of eyebrow where it meets the nose, outside corner of eye, under eye, between nose and mouth, middle of chin, just under your collar bone, under your arm, karate point. Repeat for several 'rounds'. When you have finished, tap the karate point again to be 'yourself' again.

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.

 

These Pesky Porcupine!

The plants in my little orto are under attack! The recent new additions - some brussel sprouts and fennel- have had their leaves ripped off and all that's left are some stalks. I immediately suspected porcupine, who are know to be partial to a bit of veg. (And my bulbs!)

I thought I had plugged up all the holes under the fence, but I have now noticed a hole under the garden gate. It honestly, seriously does not look big enough for a porcupine to get through, as they are quite big beasties, but yesterday the evidence was unequivocal - a QUILL. They must flatten themselves out somehow then do a kind of porcupine limbo all the way over to my veggie patch!

Well, watch out Mr Porcupine as I am now wise to you and am going to block up the hole tonight. The free lunch is over buddy. This is war!

 

Bye Bye Billy

Well yesterday was a day I'd rather forget. We feed a group of black and white feral cats and have given them names. One of them, Billy, disappeared a few months back and we thought he'd probably died. But yesterday afternoon I heard a commotion by the woodshed and rushed there to find Gassie barking at a barely recognisable Billy. I got all the dogs inside and went back to help the poor thing. I have never ever seen an animal is this condition. One of his ears was completely covered with a huge tennis ball sized tumour, he was dirty, smelly and like a skeleton. I fed him, then took him straight to the vet. It's a sign of how weak he was that he let me pick him up as I had never been able to get near him before.

Massimiliano our vet took one look at him and hung his head in shock. 'Povera bestia' (poor creature) he said and I'm sure I saw a tear in his eye. We discussed what to do. He sedated Billy and examined the appalling ears crawling with maggots, and said amputation was the only possibility but he doubted there was enough ear left to close the wound. But first of all he needed to check if he had any diseases as that would affect his treatment and recovery. I agreed he should do the blood test and we'd take it from there. The test would take half a hour. I then went to get some sugar into my body in the form of a Fanta and a chocolate as I felt weak with shock, to be honest.

The results of the test were bad. He had feline AIDS. We decided that the kindest thing to do was to put him to sleep as he was clearly suffering so much. I had known all along really. I held Billy gently as Max administered the two injections and then his little heart stopped. Although I was crying by then, the feeling was of peace  - he looked relaxed and out of pain, but I was so sad.

I buried him this morning in our little pet cemetery and at least, although he had a short and not very happy life, I hope he died knowing that someone cared and will never forget him.

Bye bye Billy.

Second Appeal for Blind Setter LUIS

I have been keeping updated on Luis' progress and so here is the most recent appeal which I have translated. Please remember HE CAN BE ADOPTED ANYWHERE in CENTRAL /NORTH ITALY.

Luis is a Gordon Setter cross and is about seven years old. He has had a pretty horrible life up until now, if truth be told.  He was dumped in the dog pound in a province of Rome five years ago and was immediately pounced on and terrorised by all dogs large and small because he is completely blind and can’t defend himself. He also suffers from severe and very painful otitis which has affected his hearing.

Luis was taken out of the Rome pound by marvellous volunteers who transported him to Milan and then Parma where he has had the first of two operations on his ears. This has partially restored his hearing. Next week (w/b 13 September) he will have the second operation after which we hope the otitis will just be an unhappy memory.

In the vet’s clinic Luis has spent his days quite happily relaxing and every so often chewing on a bone. He gets lots of cuddles from the volunteers and wags his tail . He loves being brushed. He’s learned really fast how to get around in the house and garden and doesn’t have to be carried. He likes being as independent as possible.

He is a dog it’s impossible not to love. He will steal your heart.

His muscles are not particularly well developed and his blindness means he could manage in a house with quite a small garden. He loves just being there quietly and not being disturbed.

After the second operation all you need to do is keep his ears clean – like any dog. Other than that he will be an affectionate, quiet and joyous companion who gets on with everyone – dogs, cats and people.

Even a blind dog can be a wonderful life companion, his adoption will give the same satisfaction as a normal adoption – in fact we’re convinced itwill bring even more happiness to the new owner as Luis will learn to understand your every move.

For more information and adoption: Please email: 

Aurora.romeo76@gmail.com

Tel: 333 677 4542

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

Is the Alpha Dog a Myth?

We hear a lot, particularly on TV programmes about how to train your dog, that there is a 'pack leader' (which should be you!) and that dogs in a group have a natural hierarchy.

However after accepting this as gospel (who would argue with the charismatic Cesar Milan?) close observation of my own dogs appears to contradict this.

They take turns in being alpha dog. The set up is two spayed bitches and one un-neutered male. If you take the classic example of going through a doorway, sometimes one will go first, sometimes another. Having confidently told Alan that as Gassie was not the alpha dog and would therefore never step over ZsaZsa the labrador (older and alpha female) he promptly walked over her prone body to get to his bed!

I have seen Maia, the smallest and youngest, get very alpha over a chair and also go first through a gate and yet a few hours later lie on her back in submissive position when Gassie wants her toy. Confusing? You bet!

If you are interested in finding out more there's quite a lot of stuff on the web. I found this article by dog trainer Lee Charles Kelley where he describes how he deliberately 'rolled over and played submissive' with his own un-neutered male dog and it worked amazingly well for their rapport.

What do you think?

My New Venture

I'm just taking a second away from the doggies and pussy cats to tell you about my new service. I hope you don't mind!

I think you all know I am a writer and a trainer, but I have just launched a life coaching site with a rather unusual twist. The first session uses a - wait for it - tarot reading to identify the issues that may be blocking you.

Before you rush away in horror that I may be dressing up in a pointy hat and talking to your late Auntie Doris, worry not. It is a very modern, ethical and non-threatening approach to the cards and you would be amazed what can come out of a reading.

As we all have to have a niche, I have chosen a micro-one ! I am focussing on the over-40s, particularly those involved with animals, who are at some kind of crossroads. The reading is followed by a series of coaching sessions using a lot of image work to help you move forward with confidence!

OK, advert over, but please do take a look at the site and let me know what you think. It's www.tarotcanhelp.com

Urgent help Needed for Little Dog in Wheelchair

Luce is a lovely little dog (her name means 'Light') and very well mannered and affectionate. She desperately wants to run and play but unfortunately, even though she is very young, she can't move her back legs and that is probably why she was abandoned.

She ended up in the dog pound at Prato near Florence but obviously she needs a much more supportive environment that that if she is to recover.

This morning (22 Aug) she had a neurological exam from an excellent vet who has said that there is some hope she might walk again and so she is due to have an MRI scan tomorrow and then some months of physio and after that, hopefully with good results, she'll need a good home and God, does she need it after all she's been through!

For info on adopting Luce please contact  328/2710201 328/4878011 or contact me through the site.

GREAT NEWS - LUCE HAS BEEN ADOPTED!!!