Go BUK!

A couple of days ago, a local resident contacted Rifugio Fata to report an abandoned dog by the roadside with a serious leg injury. It is painful to see this poor little sweetheart.

But the good news is that - thanks to Francesca and her unstoppable team at Rifugio Fata  - this little boy is already on his way to a brand new life! He now has a name - Buk. And within just a couple of days, Francesca has managed to find Buk a foster home and she has raised the money to transport him there. 

Francesca is now trying to raise the funds to pay for Buk to have his leg treated, and she needs our help. She doesn't know if his leg can be saved or if it will have to be amputated.

Can you donate a little something towards Buk's vet's bill? 

Please consider helping Buk hop-along to his new life. You can donate via this blog by pressing the donate button at the top or bottom of this page, or you can donate directly to Rifugio Fata:

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

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Thank you for your support.

Happy Valentine's Day!

From Rifugio Fata resident, Ali.

Ali wears his heart on his fur. What a love!

Let's hear it for the boys!

We have given a nod to the amazing women who run Rifugio Fata. Here are some of the wonderful male volunteers who show up and offer their time and energy to support Rifugio Fata and care for our four-legged friends in need.

Let's hear it for the boys! And for those of us who watched the film 'Footloose'... Let's give the boys a hand!!

BRAD Update

I am happy to report that our little friend, Brad, made it to the eye doctor. Thanks to the support of Rifugio Fata's followers and a very kind vet who offered her services at a discounted rate, Brad was able to have a much-needed operation on his eyes and he is now feeling much better.
Brad says, "Thank you friends!"

No Doggie Left Behind!

Remember, Brad? From the 'Brad says, SPONSOR ME... ?' post back in September?

I am sad to report that this little boy's health has taken a turn for the worst, and Francesca is trying to raise the funds to get Brad the care he needs. 

One of the many things I admire about the team at Rifugio Fata is their willingness to take on doggies who have highly complicated needs, especially given their tight budget. These wonderful people take on cases that many would not... They give hope to the seemingly most hopeless of dogs. 

There is a motto here: No doggie left behind! 

We have looked at the incredible story of Pupo on this blog, whose transformation from a poor little scabby heap of a dog on the streets of Calabria to a gorgeous healthy boy with flowing locks in a loving home was astounding. More recently, we have followed the story of Time, who an Australian tourist spotted at Lamezia airport last summer in an appalling state, and reported her sighting to Francesca. Time was scooped up by the Rifugio Fata team and he is now safely in their care, and well on his way to recovery.

Three years ago, Brad was also one of Rifugio Fata's devastatingly serious cases. I hesitate to put these pictures up, but this is what he looked like when the team first rescued him, poor boy.

It is heartbreaking to see. But, luckily, the team at Rifugio Fata are made of strong stuff! They took him under their wing and here he is, after his Rifugio Fata transformation!

Sadly, Brad has not yet found a loving home. He has some lingering health issues and he is older, which makes it harder for him to be adopted. But, luckily for him, he has been enjoying a good quality of life in the loving environment of Rifugio Fata for the past three years, and he is a firm favourite with the volunteers and visitors. And Francesca is still trying to find somebody to adopt him! She does not give up easily!

Owing to a complication from one of his illnesses, Brad's eyesight has degenerated and he has now lost his sight. He also has a kidney issue. Francesca is trying to raise the funds to take him to the eye specialist, and to get his kidneys tested. Can you help?

Please consider donating a little something to Brad's care by pressing the donate button on this page or donating directly to Rifugio Fata through their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Francesca-Scerbo-Rifugio-Fata-la-pagina/223244014434430

Brad says Thank you! ...from the bottom of his sweet, eternally grateful, little heart.

Happy New Year!

Buon 2014! ...from Vito and all of his beautiful friends at Rifugio Fata. 

I wanted to kick off 2014 with a big nod to the incredible women who run Rifugio Fata - Francesca and Rossana. Their energy for the challenging and often heart-breaking work of rescuing dogs knows no bounds. We introduced them at the beginning of this blog, back in August, and they are the rock-star women behind everything that happens at Rifugio Fata. Operating in a very challenging region of Southern Italy, these women are bold, progressive and utterly committed to saving as many of our four-legged friends as they can. 

Francesca is the 'organizational queen' of the operation! She is in charge of all of the fundraising, communications and adoptions. Being pregnant has not slowed her down!

Francesca with Anna, one of her fabulous volunteers:

Francesca with Goldy, one of the lucky residents at Rifugio Fata:

The lovely Rossana is the dynamo 'boots on the ground' of the operation!

Rossana oversees the day-to-day running of the shelter, making sure that all of the residents are fed and receive any medical care they might need.

By donating to Rifugio Fata, you are supporting these amazing ladies and their team of dedicated volunteers who show up every single day to rescue, feed, care for and hug these beautiful doggies in need. They rely entirely on donations to keep Rifugio Fata going. Please consider pressing the donate button on this page, and supporting their efforts. Or donate to them directly through their facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Francesca-Scerbo-Rifugio-Fata-la-pagina/223244014434430

Every little bit helps! Thank you!

FEEL GOOD... with the 2014 Rifugio Fata Calendar!

As James Brown so famously put it, I FEEEEEL good! 

Abraham Lincoln said, "When I do good, I feel good." That's a great motto to live by.

Bartolo (below) says, "If you want to FEEEEL good, it's simple. Order the 2014 Rifugio Fata calendar TODAY!" 

The 2014 Rifugio Fata calendar is ready! Order yours today and support our beautiful four-legged friends in Southern Italy. It's a feel-good choice that will last all year. The adorable photos will make you smile, and seeing the calendar every day will give you the warm fuzzy feeling that comes from knowing you made a difference to this amazing organization, and to these lovely doggies in need.

Bartolo is one of the many happy stories to come out of Rifugio Fata this year. He was rescued by the team and, thanks to their hard work, he was recently adopted into a loving home. As you can see, Bartolo now knows what 'feeling good' really feels like! What a lucky boy. Congratulations Bartolo!

Ordering is easy. The cost of the calendar is 10 Euros, plus 2.50 Euros postage, within mainland Europe. (15 Euros, including postage, for the UK and the US.) Thanks to the support of a generous sponsor who is funding the printing costs, ALL proceeds from the calendars will go towards the care of Rifugio Fata's 160+ rescue dogs, the running costs of the shelter and their community programs. 

For just 12.50 Euros, you can FEEEEEL good, every day in 2014. And the Rifugio Fata doggies will love you forever! Or you can give the gift of feelin' good to a friend or family member by sending them a calendar. It takes just two simple steps:

1) Make your payment of 12.50 Euros (or 15 Euros for UK/US) via any of the following options:

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SWIFT BIC BNL II TRR

paypal rifugiofata@libero.it
postepay postepay 4023 6006 1576 8779

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2) Send a quick email to Francesca at rifugiofata@libero.it  or a text to +39 3405910203 (she's also on WhatsApp) with a photo of your payment, and your name and address for shipping.

And ENJOY! 

Artu (below) just found a loving family, too. Rescued by the Rifugio Fata team this summer, little Artu now knows the profound joy of having a place he can call home.

Belin (below) was also rescued by the team, and recently adopted into a loving home. She is now enjoying her own lovely soft bed!

Thank you for your support. Wishing you a feel-good festive season and all the best for 2014!