A loving home

It was a rough winter for our friends at Rifugio Fata. The weather was colder and wetter than usual, and the dogs suffered a debilitating outbreak of illness. But the team of volunteers soldiered on, as they have many times before, and I am happy to report that warmer weather has now arrived and everybody is on the mend. Thank you for your kind donations towards their medical bills.

It is a sad fact that in many shelters - in Southern Italy and all around the world - dogs are left in overcrowded cages without adequate food and veterinary care, often for years on end. They are never allowed to stretch their legs, and they do not know the meaning of a good cuddle. Government programs pay municipal pounds to house the dogs and they provide no incentives for the dogs to be cared for properly, or rehomed. All too often, particularly in poorer parts of the world, pound owners collect government money while the dogs perish.

Independent shelters, like Rifugio Fata, play a vital part in breaking that mold. Rifugio Fata is entirely self-funded. They rely on our donations to continue their amazing work for homeless dogs in an area where the stray problem is huge and resources are thin. The team work endlessly to raise the funds to make sure that all of their dogs receive the veterinary care they need, and they run outreach and adoption programs in order to educate the local community and give their dogs a chance of finding a new home. 

The team at Rifugio Fata know that any time spent in a shelter - no matter how good it is -  is a poor substitute for family life, so they do their very best, with the resources they have, to make life as enjoyable as possible for their residents. And that includes regular exercise, playtime and cuddles.

All of Rifugio Fata's dogs need a loving home. But, luckily for them, in the meantime, they have the next best thing a stray dog could possibly hope for - a loving shelter. 

If you would like to make a donation to Rifugio Fata, you can do so by clicking the 'donate' button on this blog, or via PayPal: rifugiofata@libero.it 

Or through Rifugio Fata's facebook page:

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

Thank you for your support. 

Help needed!

Our dear four-legged friends at Rifugio Fata are in desperate need of help.

Last month, they had an outbreak of kennel cough and distemper. Sadly, twelve dogs have died - 7 puppies and 5 elderly dogs. They have isolated the sick dogs and are getting on top of the problem, but, as you can imagine, their vet bills are very high and they still need to buy more medicine. 

And to make matters worse, they are going through an unusually cold winter in Southern Italy, so they have had to build a special room to keep their patients warm.

If you can spare any change at all to help towards their costs and help them through this difficult period, it would make a huge difference.

The team at Rifugio Fata have been rescuing and rehoming dogs for over a decade. They are dedicated to making a difference for homeless dogs in a very challenging part of the world. Please give what you can to help them continue their amazing work.

You can give through this You Caring campaign, which was set up by Katharina Pils-Leimer who helps Francesca with fundraising and translations:

http://www.youcaring.com/nonprofits/help-rifugio-fata-s-dogs-to-survive/312235

Or via PayPal:

 rifugiofata@libero.it 

Or through Rifugio Fata's facebook page:

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

Thank you so much for your support.

Relocation! Relocation! Relocation!

In Southern Italy, the stray dog problem is overwhelming and the adoption rate is, unfortunately, very low. The team at Rifugio Fata are working tirelessly to change this. As well as rescuing as many dogs as they can, they invite the general public and local schools into their facility to learn more about their work, and they organize outreach programs in the community in an effort to promote responsible dog ownership and reduce the number of dogs suffering on the streets. 

Another big part of Rifugio Fata's work involves collaborating with shelters in Northern Italy where adoption rates are much higher. Whenever they can find spaces for their beloved residents in shelters in the North and raise the funds to get them there, they send them on their way to a better life. 

Rifugio Fata's relocation program is a very important part of their operation. Each time a dog leaves Rifugio Fata, a new space opens up for another stray dog in need. 

Angel was in the last shipment of dogs sent from Rifugio Fata with a trusted driver to a pre-approved shelter in the North. And the fantastic news is that Angel just found her forever home! Here she is, before and after...

Angel, when she was rescued by Rifugio Fata on the streets of Calabria:

Angel after Rifugio Fata nursed her back to health, with her new adopted family in the North:

To make this magic happen, Rifugio Fata needs your help! Francesca has just secured places for another twenty Rifugio Fata dogs to be transferred to a shelter in the North. This means the possibility of TWENTY NEW FOREVER HOMES in the North for Rifugio Fata dogs... and TWENTY NEW PLACES at Rifugio Fata for stray dogs who are currently suffering on the streets.

The dogs are due to be sent this Saturday 24th January, and they still need to raise €500 to cover the transport costs. Please consider donating what you can to help Rifugio Fata's relocation program. Every little bit helps. 

Your donation will go a long way towards helping 20 dogs in their care find loving homes in the North, and open up spaces for 20 stray dogs currently on the streets to find shelter in Rifugio Fata. So, whatever you give will make the world of difference to FORTY doggies in need!

Banking details and Paypal:

Ass FATA: BNL Lamezia Terme. IBAN: IT03P0100542840000000000271-
SWIFT /BIC: BNL II TRR
postepay postepay 4023 6006 1576 8779
in the name of: 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 GRAZIE

Please join us and help buy their tickets. The Rifugio Fata doggies are packing their little suitcases, and they say GRAZIE MILLE from the bottom of their eternally grateful hearts!

Angel says HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Angel has a lot to be happy about in the New Year!

Last August, she was rescued by the team at Rifugio Fata in a terrible state. She was thin, dehydrated and suffering from various health issues.

Like so many strays in Southern Italy, Angel's future was looking bleak. People are often afraid of bigger dogs, and she was obviously sick and in need of medical treatment. She was living a lonely desperate life, and she was in serious need of help.

Enter the Rifugio Fata team of doggie superheroes! They scooped her up and put her in the back of a volunteer's car.

She was whisked off to the vet for an assessment.

And her Rifugio Fata transformation began...

Angel's health started to improve, and she was happy to go back to the vet for regular check-ups. 

She got stronger every day, and discovered a whole different perspective on life!

It is always amazing to see the transformational power of tender loving care, and Angel has certainly been no exception. 

Her mangey skin and bones have gradually disappeared and, over the last four months, 42 kilos of joy and beauty have emerged!

Happy New Year, friends of Rifugio Fata! Thank you for helping to make doggie dreams come true in Southern Italy. Your support means so much to us, and to our beautiful four-legged friends in need. 

May 2015 bring you peace, love and happiness.

ANUBI Update

A few weeks ago, Anubi was shot and hit by a car. He was left by the roadside to die. Thanks to the incredible efforts of the Rifugio Fata team, Anubi has made a miraculous recovery. 

First, Anubi's physical wounds had to heal. He had to learn to walk and run and jump again. 

And then, like so many neglected and abused dogs, he had to learn to trust. 

The following video, taken by Anubi's wonderful foster mum, Piera, shows him in the next and most rewarding phase for any dog rescuer. Anubi is finally learning how to play again! He has officially discovered his joie de vivre!

 

Post by Piera Gonzales.

Happy World Animal Day!

Rupert (rescued by Rifugio Fata and now adopted into a loving home) says Happy World Animal Day!

October 4th is World Animal Day. It all began in 1931 in Florence, Italy, at a convention of ecologists. They chose this day to highlight the importance of protecting animal life on our planet, in all its magical forms. The 4th of October was originally chosen because it is the feast day of the patron saint of animals, Francis of Assisi. Now, World Animal Day has evolved into an international movement and it is celebrated by animal-lovers of all beliefs, nationalities and backgrounds. 

"Not to hurt the creatures brethren is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission - to be of service to them wherever they require it." Saint Francis of Assisi