HOMER update

Poor Homer was in a lot of pain with his back leg. I just got the update that the vet very kindly agreed to operate on him on a 'deferred payment' basis, to allow Homer to begin his healing. The good news is that Homer's surgery went well, and he is now recovering! But his bill still needs to be paid.

Please help Rifugio Fata pay Homer's bill! Enter the lottery (see below) to win a 'pet pawtrait'!

Pick a number from the list below to help pay Homer's vet bill, and you could win a portrait of your dog!

Win a Pet Pawtrait! And help Homer!

I am excited to announce that the English artist, Sylvia Cleverley, has very kindly offered to donate a doggie portrait in order to help raise funds for Rifugio Fata resident, Homer, who needs surgery for a torn ligament in his back leg. So, Francesca has organized a lottery! The team at Rifugio Fata have been dealing with a lot of expensive medical emergencies at the shelter this past month, and this is a great way to help them out.

Here is Homer, on his way to the vet:

It's easy to enter the lottery. Just choose a number and send 3 Euros! If your number is picked, Sylvia Cleverley will send you a beautiful portrait of your dog, based on a photograph, in ether black and white pencil or multimedia pastel color. Your choice! (Size 30x40cm) The tickets are 3 Euros each and the winning number will be drawn on 25th April, 2014. (Lottery Roma - first number) 

It's a win-win situation! By entering the lottery, you will be helping Homer and supporting our wonderful friends at Rifugio Fata. And if you win, you will receive a beautiful portrait of your beloved four-legged friend! What could be better than that?

This could be your doggie! Samples of Sylvia Cleverley's work:

So, hurry! The numbers are going fast! Send your chosen number (or numbers! Increase the odds!) together with your payment of 3 Euros per number to Rifugio Fata:

-Rifugio Fata PAY PAL rifugiofata@libero.it

-Postepay 4023 6006 1576 8779 intestata ad ARDITO ANTONIO RDTNTN63CO4C352M

-RIFUGIO FATA Banca iban: Ass FATA BNL Lamezia Terme IT03P0100542840000000000271-SWIFT BIC BNL II TRR 

-CONTO CORRENTE POSTALE INTESTATO A

LEGA NAZIONALE DIFESA DEL CANE sez. di LameziaC.C.3256513LOTTERIA

If you have any questions, or want to check on the latest numbers avaiable, contact Sarah D'Elia through Rifugio Fata's Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Francesca-Scerbo-Rifugio-Fata-la-pagina/223244014434430

LOTTERY FOR HOMER! See below for available numbers (1-90):

1 Piera Gonzales

-2

-3 Valentina Marino

-4 Sarah D'Elia

-5 Dottssa Esposito

-6

-7 Patrizia Severese

-8 Eva Herzog

-9 Sarah D'Elia

-10

-11 Piera Gonzales

-12

-13

-14 Bernhard Pils

-15 Martina Costanzo

-16 Eva Herzog 

-17 Sarah D'Elia

-18

-19

-20 Piera Gonzales

-21 Piera Gonzales

-22

-23 Maria Aster

-24

-25

-26

-27 Patrizia Severese

-28

-29 Raffaele Aiello

-30

-31

-32 scerbo Salvatore

-33

-34 Maria Aster 

-35

-36 Renda Franca

-37

-38 Maria Aster

-39

-40 Sandra Gigliotti

-41 Vescovo Scarlett

-42

-43 Maria Aster

-44

-45

-46 Vescovo Scarlett

-47

-48

-49 Bernhard Pils

-50

-51

-52 Vescovo Scarlett

-53

-54

-55 Maria Aster

-56

-57

-58

-59 Vescovo Scarlett

-60

-61 Maria Aster

-62

-63 Maria Aster

-64 Vescovo Scarlett

-65

-66 Sandra Gigliotti

-67

-68 Maria Aster

-69

-70 Roberto Iannotti

-71

-72 

-73 Maria Aster

-74

-75 Patrizia Severese

-76

-77 Bernhard Pils

-78 francesca 

-79 

-80

-81

-82 Vescovo Scarlett 

-83

-84 Maria Aster

-85

-86 Vescovo Scarlett

-87

-88 Eva Herzog 

-89

-90 Piera Gonzales

BUK Update

One of the things I love about Rifugio Fata is how they get things done!

Remember poor little Buk?

He was found by the roadside last month, hopping along with a serious leg injury. At the time of his rescue, the shelter was full to capacity with more than 160 dogs. But Francesca and her team refused to turn their backs on this little boy. Instead, they launched a campaign and managed to raise the funds for him to be transported to Northern Italy and operated on by a very kind vet who gave her services at a discounted rate. The great news is that the three hour surgery saved Buk's leg, and he is now recovering happily in a foster home, awaiting adoption. 

What an amazing turnaround for an abandoned dog who was otherwise doomed.

Because Buk had lost the use of his front leg, it had been dragging along the ground, causing a painful lesion.

"I'm not quite sure what she's doing with this magic wand, 

but I'm hoping it will make my leg feel better!"

Thank you Rifugio Fata, from the bottom of Buk's little heart!

The team at Rifugio Fata are operating in a part of the world where the stray dog problem is overwhelming, and proactive organizations are few and far between. The team work every day to save as many abandoned dogs as they can and give them a second chance. It is hard to hear about the suffering of animals, but it is always inspiring to hear about people who are out there making a difference. 

Every day, dogs and puppies are brought in to Rifugio Fata or left at their gates, or they receive calls about urgent cases spotted on the streets. Often, like Buk, these new arrivals need expensive medical procedures. The walls of the shelter are bursting, and their food and vet's bills are endless. In order to keep doing what they are doing, they need our help. Please consider giving a donation, however small, to help support this wonderful organization. 

Our contributions and their efforts, together, make stray doggies' dreams come true every single day!

You can donate via this blog by pressing the donate button at the top or bottom of this page, and use paypal or a credit card. Or you can donate directly to Rifugio Fata:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Francesca-Scerbo-Rifugio-Fata-la-pagina/223244014434430

Banc iban: Ass FATA BNL Lamezia Terme IT03P0100542840000000000271-
SWIFT BIC BNL II TRR postepay postepay 4023 6006 1576 8779
intestata ad ARDITO ANTONIO RDTNTN63CO4C352M

PAY PAL rifugiofata@libero.it
CONTO CORRENTE POSTALE INTESTATO A
LEGA NAZIONALE DIFESA DEL CANE sez. di Lamezia Terme C.C.3256513

Thank you!

Sweet dreams

"What do you mean it's not a bed? It fits me perfectly and it is full of food... Trust me, this is the best bed EVER!"

"Er... hey... is there room for two in there?"

Come rain or shine...

Ever wondered how to sit down in the rain without getting your tail wet? 

This Rifugio Fata resident has the answer:

The team at Rifugio Fata are not what you would call fair-weather people. Day in and day out, they show up to tackle the often overwhelming challenge of rescuing and caring for stray dogs in Southern Italy. It takes more than a bout of heavy rain to put these superheroes off!

Having said that, everybody at the shelter is very happy to see the recent arrival of the spring sunshine...

...Especially Brad, who loves nothing more than to feel the sunshine on his fur!

...And have a lovely roll in the grass.

Come rain or shine, the Rifugio Fata team work hard every day to make a difference. But the fair weather certainly makes life a little easier and more enjoyable - for the dogs and volunteers alike!

Happy Springtime! And take a leaf out of Brad's book - enjoy a nice roll in the grass!

Congratulations Francesca!

This week, Francesca gave birth to a beautiful daughter, Martina. Francesca has continued to work tirelessly for our four-legged friends at Rifugio Fata throughout her pregnancy, and she is already back in the saddle.

Congratulations Francesca! And welcome Martina!

Lucky indeed...

Meet Lucky. Someone reported this poor little boy to Francesca a couple of weeks ago.

He was living in piles of rubbish and seeking shelter in an abandoned house. He was in very bad shape, and all alone. 

Remember the mantra, No Doggie Left Behind...?

Enter Antonio, one of Rifugio Fata's superhero volunteers! This was the day that Lucky's luck changed.

Antonio and the team at Rifugio Fata came to the rescue, and Lucky was airlifted out of starvation and misery, and whisked off to a brand new love-filled life. 

Like so many of the new arrivals at Rifugio Fata who have been neglected and abused, Lucky was very nervous at first.

But, with a little encouragement from his new friends, he slowly figured out that he was in the best possible hands.

Like Pupo, Time and Brad, and so many other fortunate souls that have come before him, Lucky is now on the path to his 'Rifugio Fata transformation.' He has had a bath, he has been assessed by a vet, and he is now finally receiving the care he needs. Hurrah!

As Lucky recovers his health (and his hair!) it will be exciting to see what he really looks like.

...And to see him fill his harness! 

Watch this space! Happy healing, Lucky!

As Francesca said, so poetically, on the Rifugio Fata facebook page:

"And you, little Lucky. There's a beautiful swan just waiting to unfold ... Your light shines over your troubled skin... And we are here, ready to see you blossom!"