Survival of Animal Welfare Charity in Zimbabwe

Mutare is in the grips of a very cold Winter.

Our kennels are not indoors, though each unit is under a roof, and there is a small area tucked away at the back behind a half wall.  We desperately need more fleece blankets, so we can put bedding in the front and in the back area, as it can be very cold. We are fortunate that our outdoor space is large. All the dogs, if they are not dog aggressive, spend most of the day outside, where they can find comfort under the warm sun. 

Our cats also get voluntary access to the outdoors through male and female segregated large outdoor cages. I always smile that we worked to get these garden spaces for their quality of life, but they still prefer watching the staff from inside, as the men go about their daily chores. But they do have a choice…..

Speaking of third world countries and their woes, ours seems too reel from bad to worse. The major dog meal producing factory, based in the capital city, Harare, is itself having difficulties to survive. They have always been good to us, providing us with the vast majority of our dog meal as a donation. They cannot keep up this commitment. We are so grateful for their generosity in the past that we cannot complain.  Now it’s up to us to step up and buy our own dog meal. Your funding through GlobalGiving is about to become critically important to us. Thank you SO much.

Weirdly, in countries that have strife, there are always “plans made.” It may be hard for you to believe, but its cheaper for us to get a “runner” to bring us our requirements from South Africa.   Work THAT one out! Catfood…. Cheaper to get an enterprising lad to go about 700kms on shocking roads, get through horrendously long queues of people at 2 border posts (1 Zimbabwe, 1 South African), shop for cat food and meds, then repeat the whole atrocious journey in reverse. Heroes in my eyes……

Our (your) SPCA was involved in a vaccination and education program last month. This time, instead of going rural, we joined up with the government veterinary department and town municipality to provide city communities with cheap vaccinations against rabies, and our role was more about education with pet care and advice. Our two Inspectors, William and Noel, did a job we were proud of. They went to every single site of the outreach, and dealt with hundreds of cases.

For our much loved animals, we continue to do our best. We had a serious case of suspected abuse. A dog chased and caught a chicken, (because she was starving), and the caretaker on the property is suspected to have meted out terrible revenge. She was collected by an observant and caring member of the public and taken to the vet. She arrived with us having a partial paralysis all down her left side. If   we helped her to stand, she would fall hard. The recovery for this lovely dog was complete bedrest, some physio and lots of love and warmth. I did this at our home because it was time consuming. Named Penelope by her saviours, she took to love and attention like a bird to the sky, and we are happy to say that her rescuers have adopted her. Her disability is hardly noticeable at last!

Our beloved Rosie has been adopted. She was a street kid till we found her. She loves people, but HATES dogs (go figure). She seems to have no idea she is one. I shall miss her quirky way of waiting for me in a spot where I am able to prevent other dogs from being near the 2 of us, and she can relax as we share our loves. Fluffy Poppy was very popular with us all, so it was no surprise when she was chosen from all the other hopefuls. What a lovely dog she is. Confident and cheeky, she settled quickly into her new home. Photos depict a well spoiled and lucky little lady enjoying family life. Bruno won a home too, and it was thrilling for us because he was neither cute nor cuddly, and had been with us for more than a year. He will be a great little guard dog and family protector.

Two other dogs that were found roaming in town. In our care, we groomed the poodle, and bathed them both. They were never claimed. One is a Jack Russel and the other a Maltese Poodle.  The awesome twosome were inseparable and we have luckily found a home together for them.

The lively Rhodesian ridgeback cross Collie we named Mungo,( after the famed explorer,) that we rescued from a snare in the game park has also got a home. He is neutered and ready for his new owner to fetch him. Snares are taking a huge toll on our unfed and uncared for hounds. It may be a status symbol to own a dog, but looking after that dog obviously not. We rescued another dog on Tuesday, and failed in the rescue of two others this week. Too late to save them…… sadly. Snares are set by people hoping to get bush meat from the few remaining antelopes in the game park. If you saw an animal dead or dying in a snare, and the evidence of their fight to escape the wire noose, you would understand our antipathy.

We homed 2 cats and 5 kittens as well, and the Pig has moved on too as it was a legal issue. On the whole, we are happy that we have had some success with adoptions.

In 3 days, SPCA-Blue Cross begins unless we suffer a lock down. This unique marathon of 500kms takes us from the lowest to the highest point in the country. It starts in one game park, and ends in another. There are no prizes or monetary advantage for speed, but only trophies for things like the   spirit award, or most funds raised for the SPCAs of Zimbabwe.  It’s VERY special and we absolutely love being involved in the running of the event. I am doing it with a team of friends in a relay, and cannot wait to get out on the remotest of rural roads for 9 days for a cause that is deeply precious to me. Any sponsorship for me can be sent via this wonderful forum, GlobalGiving, who gave us a route to survive as an animal sanctuary in a poverty stricken country. 100% of funds I raise go to the MUTARE SPCA.  

Thank you, and please adopt, don’t shop!

Summertime Sadness (thank you Lana Del Rey) and the Lockdown Blues, March 2021

Mutare SPCA is in the prettiest town in Zimbabwe. You enter from the North, through a gap in the hills called The Christmas Pass. The crest of the road has spectacular views over spiritual Murahwas’s Hill and the city in the valley beyond. Summer is fading, and we begin a period of cold nights, hot days, with less rain.

The warmth of Summer, however, was a twin edged sword for homeless or unloved animals. It’s a period when breeding escalates and the SPCA picks up the pieces: the pregnant, the puppies and kittens!  We cannot hope to home them all, but we try hard. We can’t count the number of cats in the cattery, but they are all, bar none, beautiful.  The puppies! What fun we have with them. Their first yap, their first sprint around the yard, their first nudge for attention. They give us so much pleasure, and we owe them to work constantly for homes. Meanwhile, having children to come and play with them is such a bonus, and it seems to me that pups understand that children are trustworthy, and they make behavioral breakthroughs that, sometimes, we cannot. Savanna, a young teenager runs energetically with the puppies and I love watching the happiness in their body language. I swear they are laughing! These are rewarding moments. Little Harry, like a pup himself, crawls into the dog bed, and names his new pals: Softy, Sweety, and Spot! These moments are priceless……

We are already well into 2021, and I just wish that there was less widespread starvation of animals. There is an unrelenting surge among the get-rich-quick folk who deal diamonds from the copious fields to the South, and drugs from who knows where. They speed in their unregistered Mercedes Benz, Audis, their countless Honda Fits, so that driving in town is an experience to avoid. One of the “benefits” of this exponential growth in wealth is the need for status symbols, and this is where we come in. Every second youth becomes a dog breeder, and there are no laws locally to prevent this.  Beautiful dogs are smuggled in from South Africa, in unimaginable conditions. From then, they are bred to death, (sometimes literally,) or abandoned when their fertility cycles slow.  There is no understanding of inherited disabilities like hip displagia.  A friend recently came upon a dog lying on the road. At first she assumed it had been hit by a car and was dead. When approached, the starved and broken dog seemed to understand they would help her, and, resigned to whatever fate, she climbed into the car with no argument. At the SPCA, she accepted the kennel, and the food and water offered, staring into the faces of the people helping her. She had pressure sores, a broken ear, (HOW does that happen), long leathery teats, and was very scarred. Was she a “bait” dog? Sadly dog fighting has become popular.  We named her Swayzie. She is gaining weight, and faith, and she is a favourite of mine.

We have in our care no less than 6 Boerbuls in shocking condition, so thin they have pressure wounds where their bones have lain on cement too long. They have not known love.  But if they do come in to us with puppies, they are adoring mothers. We have found good homes for 2 of them, and a third was not home-able. We always knew Amber would be chosen. Her beautiful eyes are the same reddish brown I have seen in elephants.  Being good natured, she soon became the matron of the pack, unfazed by the antics of the spirited, but quick to discipline the aggressive! We are lucky to know her, and are very grateful to the lady who has chosen her. Our biggest hound, Mr Mutley has been adopted too. We are delighted as he had been with us for over a year. Another gentle giant of a brindle Boerbul has been homed too, and I know he will be happy. Tonight we homed two little Jack Russells who had been surrendered due to financial constraints. Another 2 young dogs have gone to a great home, and I will be able to “keep in touch” as we all walk around the Golf Course in the early mornings.

Our little farmyard area has grown, and we now support 3 goats, (believe it or not a baby, a middle sized and a BIG bossy billy goat. We also have 1 little pig, 1 duck and several chickens.  The pig spends his days at the fence, confusing the puppies!   (“He is our size but speaks a foreign language, they think!”)

Lastly, a few words on why this is a lovely country to live in. Our ancient but gigantic pot had finally cracked along its base rim. We had it mended, (yes we still have tinkers here) and it does work after a fashion, that is to say, when hot, the repair job expands and seals the join. So we made an appeal for a second hand pot. A week later, we were given a one! Then 2 smaller pots were donated from Harare. We are now kitted out with pots for the next few decades!

Thank you for taking time to read our report. It has been a tough few months for sure, and maybe lockdown wears one thin. But would I be anywhere else than volunteering for Mutare SPCA? No. There is too much joy in being a part of this great little team, and too much delight in the days when an animal remembers how to trust a human again.

Written with gartitude as aalways from

Jane and Lynne

Christmas is expected to be the happiest time of the year. People just seem kinder, more willing to make eye contact, and to smile and wish you well.  However, on the contrary, December can be a difficult month for people working at animal shelters. People go on vacation without making safe arrangements for their pets. Others get a playful new pup or kitten, and the old pet looks perhaps a little uninteresting now. This can potentially result in a wave of new animals at our safe haven. To add to this, in Zimbabwe, the majority of the population has been wiped out financially, thanks to Covid19 fall-out, and the status quo here.  There is no furlough or assistance given to people here. It’s a very hard time all round, as 3rd world Africa abides by 1st world advice, but is unable to provide 1st World support. Covid regulations have squashed our resolutions for community programs, but we are looking forward to launching them as soon as we are able. I know this is important to some of you, as it is to us, and we will get going as soon as we are allowed.

Here in Mutare, too many of the animals we rescue have had their very souls crushed.

To recover, they have much to learn: To gain courage. To trust. To believe. To accept love, and finally, to love. We begin by letting them watch us at play with our longer-term residents from their kennel. Initially, they may hide, or try to sleep their fear away. After a few days, they spend time at the gate, watching the antics of the pack. If they are aggressive, they have to come out alone, when the pack is indoors. But if their behaviour shows confidence, they tend to be satellites to the group for a while. Eventually, they lean in for a sniff or nudge, till finally, they are ready for us to touch or stroke or lean on them. Then we know we have made it, and the restoring of their souls begins.  It may seem like we have a hard or unenviable role, but in truth, we are blessed to be able to experience this alongside our animals. It’s often a slow process to get them to the point when they are ready for homing, and we cannot expect them to make the necessary growth in a predictable time frame.  I firmly believe their time period to heal should not be set in stone.  Having a resource like GlobalGiving, to give us the direction and financial safety net we need through their forum, gives us the confidence that we can survive. And we do. Homes are few, but regular, and shortly we will try more Instagram usage, to add to our facebook posts. FB: @SPCA-MUTARE

Rescues abound, but not just on mammals. We rescued a little fledgling bird, a White-eye, and it was raised by local fundis, Rob and Barry Truscott. Followed by a good member of the public bringing us a Tortoise. The staff had set the “big tortoise” to range free in our quarantine section, and from then on he was difficult to locate, so I did not get to see him. Just before we left for our family Xmas, he was found and put in a grass cushioned box to await his forced migration from easy street back to nature.  It is important to us to relocate wild animals for the best end result, so we decided that a sanctuary with space and other tortoises of both sexes was the way to go. The trip went well, with this unidentifiable animal (presumably a rare species?) buried deep in the soft grasses. When we arrived in Harare, we removed him to let him stretch his legs in a safe courtyard. Legs pumping for a quick escape, we found he looked most uncommon. Black skin, with a fairly smooth shell had us wondering if he was perhaps a Terrapin. I put him at the pond edge, where he dived into the water, and swiftly swam to the far side. Not a Tortoise at all!  The re-home was now complicated. Luckily our nephew was there, on a break from the remote and magical Malilangwe Reserve, and he took the terrapin off to a place that was suited to his species. Being pragmatic, life will be tougher for him, but he will get a chance at a normal existence. To range free, reproduce and have loads to do with his time will be what he deserves.

We also have homed the dearest dogs, Harry and Sally, to a plot in Chimanimani, where we homed Petal Pig. The drive there was very beautiful, from tawny bushveld near Mutare to the blue mountains of the rural village of Chims.   We were very aware that this was not a conventional home, but they had a wooden cabin with a good sized fenced area for the cool mountain nights. We took the two dogs for some happy walks and we were very proud of their courage and ability to get back to base. At the plot, we wandered through the knee-high gold grass fields to a crystal clear and feisty stream below the livestock corral, where the dogs and Lynne waded in the chilly water. It was hard to say goodbye to these two affectionate rescues, but such good ambassadors they were that 2 more dogs have been adopted in Chimanimani, Ricky and Curly. We just have the best animals!! On their first night in their new home, they foiled a burglary, when they barked relentlessly till the lodge manager came out to check on them. Much of the haul was recovered, except the small refrigerator. The following morning, a young herd boy espied a “coffin” draped in a cloth. He ran home in terror. His mother immediately sent him back to unveil the scary box. THE FRIDGE! So that was recovered too. We homed a friendly and loving dog called Lily too. At some stage in her life, she had been caught in a wire snare. Her struggle to free herself must have been fierce, as she not only sliced a deep wound around her whole neck, but double twisted a flap of skin which now flaps loose on her neck. How she survived I do not know, and yet she is as affectionate a dog as we have ever had. Lily arrived with 2 well taught pups who are as delightful as their mum, and one has a home, but not the other sadly.  We have 4 puppies from different litters too who are going to make fine pets, and I have added a pic of Shadow, a character is ever there was one. 

We have had extreme rains this December, which is wonderful for our farmers, but not for our sanctuary. The blankets get damp and are hard to dry, the animals feel cold, we feel cold, and it’s miserable.  Well, not really…. The dogs are always delighted to see us, and eager for cuddles. The kittens rush the gate like a wall to wall shaggy pile carpet. Then it’s a love fest. A warm and contagious and rewarding love fest!

So, THANK YOU GlobalGiving for giving us wings, and your generous community who has supported us. You have been an integral part of providing us with these special moments.

From Jane and Lynne

SPCA Mutare/Survival of Animal Welfare Charity in Zimbabwe

HE AINT HEAVY, HE’S MY BROTHER, so on we go….

Wherever you are in the world, the moon is full tonight.  This we have in common.

But nature’s soundtrack makes each place unique. Here in Zimbabwe, the Fiery-necked Nightjar bird will call all night, declaring a territory to share with its mate. We liken his song to the words “good lord deliver us.”  Maybe it’s what we all need. Deliverance: From Covid19? Sad governance? Poverty? Hopelessness? Cruelty? Tonight the bright moon casts ghostly shadows, until we awake to the first Heuglins Robin’s strident song. But what would life be like without the universal conversations of dogs, that animal that has chosen people to befriend?  Happy yapping, excited squealing, sad howling.....

For 24 hours, a dog had howled for help from the bush outside Mutare, and when we at the SPCA were made aware this morning, we took just 20 minutes to get on en route, equipped to save him from a brutal snare, if we could actually locate him. We did, and he was irrevocably anchored by lethal wires to a long heavy branch.  Twisted strong wire choked him as he flayed around in a struggle to be free. 24 hours of fight had left him exhausted and thirsty, but fortunately not suffocated.  Luckily David had leather gloves, Charles had wire cutters and Inspector William experience and calm. Together, they saved that dog, and he in turn, knowing they were his rescuers, wagged his tail in typical dog forgiveness. Carried back to the car, he is now at our sanctuary, until his owner can be found.

How lucky are we to work with domesticated animals?  People think it’s a sad work. For certain, we have very sad times, but we have enough happy moments to help us thrive. Yesterday, we collected from the city Main Street a handsome German Shepherd dog in danger of being run over. His worried owner fetched him almost immediately. Success!

In the cattery, there are THREE delightful young cats ready for their new home. Two are spayed, one will be in a few months.  The resident cats bossily preside over the cattery, and are free to roam throughout the SPCA premises.  The male and females are separated if necessary, but for some odd reason, we have only girls at the moment. A green eyed, black cat we rescued has been unable to trust yet, but, blow me down, a quiet squeak from an elevated basket betrayed the presence of her two newly born kittens.  It’s a cold day, so I left her curled around them, and I hope the care we provide helps her to know love herself.

 A few weeks ago, we were called about a stray dog. A common enough callout. Could the SPCA come the 200kms to collect her? With lockdown, fuel and finance shortages and the harassment at the Police road blocks, we needed time. The good news was that the young dog was becoming friendly at her awful food source, the rubbish cage outside a store. Then a photo of this little crippled dog arrived, and we were off like a shot. The journey South was as Africa-beautiful as ever. Endless kopjes, dry orange and yellow leaves on the Mopane trees. Lines of blue hills as far as the eye can see. Past quaint, yet chaotic villages as Hot Springs, Birchenough Bridge, and the remarkable baobab trees of Tanganda Halt, with its feisty river. In Chipinge, Tash, our contact had been able to pick up the dog, and she had her in the car. So there she sat, that little dog. Smaller than I expected, with a terribly deformed left front leg, dirty from her lifestyle, but as engaging and cuddly a dog I have yet to meet. The little girl slept soundly the whole way back. It was bitter-cold in Mutare, so I brought her home to foster her for ONE NIGHT. Crippled as she is, that night she could not support herself on our slippery floors, and fell legs akimbo, relentlessly. She paid no heed to our other dogs, just wagging her tail so hard they could not be mean. Henny Penny accepted her warm bath, transforming her into a very pretty girl. I have NEVER known such a clever dog. She took to home-living as those Kardachians took to celebrity. She quickly learned how to scale the stairs, jump on the bed, and housetrain.Shes one in a million and she scored a great home at Ann Bruce Backpackers. Long walks, love and loyalty are hers at last. Her deformity is inoperable, short of amputation.

 Our town is blessed to have troops of rather naughty and very conniving Vervet Monkeys. However, crossing roads in numbers makes for real danger. Since my last report we have responded to 3 calls for Monkeys in trouble. Remembering they are wild, and often maltreated, I spent some hours trying to save one that was hardly moving. When I finally picked her up, she surrendered gently, knowing we were helping   her. At the Vet’s office, she was treated and provided with warmth and quiet. Giving her time to heal was not enough, sadly and she was released to suffer no more. We had one more success, with release to freedom and one more failure, when the baby Monkey had died when we got to it.

This week Inspector William headed North to respond to a report of starving cattle. This heart-breaking scenario happens all too often. Choosing to work with the owner, he advised that their situation had to urgently be rectified, and we have heard that at least they are getting access water, and wild grass has been provided. We will revisit in three weeks, to see if the other criteria have been met. They have been warned to release them daily under supervision of a herder from the desert of a paddock to feed and drink. He also went to search for a horse that has been spotted wandering on the access road to Nyanga Village, with no success sadly.

 If you look at our last report, dear creamy Mungo has got a home now along with a gorgeous GSD youngster to a good and understanding home in the Vumba mountains, at the same plot where our goats and some cockerals were re-homed, so an SPCA satellite of sorts. These are our best of times. I am including a pic of a very loving pup who had excruciating mange. The sight of her made it unlikely she would attract love, but she DID! She lives in the misty mountains at Ntanga Downs. Finally Thomasina, pictured in the last report, was chosen for a great home in the Chimanimani mountains of Cyclone Idai’s tragedy. She has the life we would have handpicked for her now. It may sound like it is easy to home dogs and cats, but nothing could be further from the truth. Its rare, and difficult and gut wrenching.  And we have so many homes to still find.  The saddest case on our books is that of Joanie. This walking skin and bones was spotted in her daily search for food, but she could disappear as by magic. Finally she was followed to a drainpipe and when the SPCA climbed down there, she was guarding 8 little puppies. There followed a somewhat traumatic save, as she fought us. That winter night they were all brought to the SPCA. Not all the puppies stayed the course, sadly, but on my word, the survivors are the very embodiment of cute. Joanie is taking a long time to become friendly, but we have the time. We are committed to her future. Please all send the hope of homes for them all. They are worthy.

Mutare SPCA works relentlessly to provide sanctuary and faith. I hope you can see that in us all.

 So stay safe all! I have had Covid now, and was lucky in that I wasn’t aware I had had it till I had a positive test. I wish the same for all if you contract it. While a cure is sought, I did well with Vitamin C, Zinc and a long sunny walk daily. I did not spend a day in bed. My husband had painful arms and malaise. Don’t be too afraid, but don’t take risks either. 

Thank you for being in our corner. Thank you for keeping the faith in us. Focus on the real…. Focus on doing good, and never overlook a dog or cat that needs your help. Thank you.

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother

The Hollies….Thank you guys!

The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows where
But I'm strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

So on we go
His welfare is of my concern
No burden is he to bear
We'll get there

For I know
He would not encumber me
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

There are no words that will be able to portray the sense of quiet aloneness we feel in the small towns of Zimbabwe at this time of the Novel Coronavirus, Covid-19. If the first world cannot get their preparations smoothly and swiftly effected, how on Earth shall we? This small country has no need to be poverty ridden, but it is. So, how will we get through? With a wish, and a prayer, and courage.

Our conversations are peppered with completely new or re-invented words and phrases. Pandemic, the nightmare version of epidemic. Pan. All. A part word that cannot more brutally state the amount of change in our lives. All of our lives, all changed.  

Lockdown. Social distance. Self-isolation.  Herd Immunity. Flattening the curve. The first time we tried to explain this unseen, unexperienced illness to our staff,  it was received with blank faces. A week later, thanks to the media, particularly through SMS and WhatsApp, we saw the first fear and incomprehension. Automatically the chairs were spaced far apart, under the thorn tree. One man had tied cotton hat over his mouth. Many questions were thrown out and, in true Zimbabwean manner, discussed from every angle, at length. The town, no, the whole country was, like the rest of the world, unprepared. We could not find hand sanitizer or masks to purchase, and for sure there were very few ventilators in the country. But if you know this people, you will know a plan would be made. A friend made us washable face masks, the guys remembered a box with a strange product left over from the devastation of Cyclone Idai. Could it be sanitizer? Yes! We allowed, for the first time ever, the old SPCA rescue truck to be used for commuting, so our staff did not have to travel in jam-packed commuter transport. This 20-something year old car is our charity’s most precious asset, so to allow it to leave the premises overnight was a big decision for us.  Answer was very inventive by setting up a basic hand wash station at the entrance to the SPCA. But no-one came to see us.

A rumour was tragically spread that Coronavirus came from dogs, and other animals. That was the end of visitors coming to look at our dogs and cats. Fuel has been harder than ever to find, and fund. Prices have soared yet again, and I will admit I have a cold feeling in my chest when I think of our survival as an animal sanctuary. Survival was the word Lynne and I chose when we named our GlobalGiving project, and it could not describe better how we operate. In survival mode.

The GG forum really gave us hope that we could.  Survive, that is.  We have always endeavoured to not sit back and simply hope people will: 1, notice our charity amidst the multitude of others, and 2, send us a gift. Seriously, now more than ever, we have to rely on GlobalGiving. The local community has always been poor, but exceptionally kind. But between lockdown, and obviously frozen incomes, we can expect no help.

Adopting a pet is far from one’s mind when budgeting in lockdown and hyperinflation. We have found some homes in the past months, loving good homes. Not many I know, but we are living through unusual times. The cost of licences, dip, vet support and pet food, as I have said in the last GG report, has sky-rocketed, which dissuaded most potential adopters, and now the big freeze of lockdown.

On the bright side, two beautiful cats were chosen, both very similar in nature, but unrelated. One had been found tied in a sack and thrown away. A passer-by noticed the movement, and we were called to help. Being as adorable as she is, she was homed.  Then second cat, who had birthed 4 pretty kittens, was also found discarded. Things did not go smoothly, as her first kitten adopted died suddenly. The family kindly took another. Now mum and her last kitten have been chosen, and we are just waiting for lockdown to end before we can send them off to their new home with three delightful children who we know will make the best owners for these very friendly cats.

This week we had a week that must have been heavens sent, (sic).  We had a litter of three playful and cuddly pups, but we had reached a point of despair in finding homes. Well! Did we home a pup? No, not one, not two BUT THREE! Are we feeling proud of our cute litter? YES! One perfect-fit Forever Friend took the brothers Benjamin and Jackson, (they have already had their first jog) and a very kind couple chose Jesse, their sensitive sister.

Our precious Charlie, one of SPCA Mutare’s longest standing residents, has also gone to a wonderful home. We could not have asked for a better one. We rescued him on one of our rural outreaches in a pitiable state. He was with another dog that did not look well. We routinely quarantine dogs with no instant diagnosis, and it’s lucky we did. The other dog died – of DUMB RABIES, a rarer form of rabies which shows no typical symptoms, but they do not react normally. Our experienced Inspector Noel was suspicious. Charlie had already been separated from the dead dog, luckily. He recovered quickly from his own ailments, but he had to undergo a seriously long quarantine for most of his puppyhood. That forgiving little guy was finally integrated into the main pack, and he has been a joy to know. It began to feel as if no one would notice what a fine lad he is. THEN FINALLY…..it happened for little Charlie. He has such a good and loving home. We needed that badly, almost as much as Charlie-Boy himself.

We press on, as you do, with the FEAR of Covid as an added extra challenge to the inexplicable others. You have to live here to understand. Animals on our patch of this Earth need us, and we are FEARLESS, resilient, and positive. To be anything else would not cut it.  If you feel you are in a position to give us a helping hand, we would be very thankful.