The endless rescue work of Angie McCready, on the Costa Blanca

Toto finally arrived yesterday at the new foster carer's after a couple of hours drive.

In Jacky's words .."He had a good meal..and after that...just decided he did not want anything during the night. We kept feeding him puppy milk with the syringe, because of dehydration risk, and were thankful he got through the night. I rushed to the vets this morning, to give him a thorough check. Hot water bottle in the box, and off we went.

Our vet was not very positive, and she normally is a cheerful and positive person. Poo checked, heart and lungs checked etc. But nothing she could find. She suggested it might not be only undernourishment, but in some cases this could mean a heart problem, or even a liver problem. Toto is too young and fragile to test properly and we kind of decided that we would consider it a undernourishment only. 

So.. some meds, deworming and a vitamin booster injection... 
We have bought some puppy starter mouse and starter food and he seems to regain his appetite.

But still...we have to see this hour by hour, because he is super fragile and very skinny. At the moment he has the same weight as the galgo pups, that are just over 1 week old.. "

From Angie...

"Sorry for the lack of updates. Toto is now with his new foster mummy along with the galgo pups so I have more time to spend with Missy. We have had another step in the right direction.

Missy up until today has taken food from me, but her body has always been low to the ground, and stretched out, Never wanting to get too close, just close enough to be able to reach the food. Today was a breakthrough. She let me stroke her while she was eating. Still very scared, and unsure, and gets very easily spooked at the slightest noise, but I think this is a slight improvement to when she first arrived."

Missy's Journey Facebook link is here
Angie's Facebook link is here 

Angie's Amazon Wish List link is here

If you would like to help to fund vets bills for Missy & her pups please Paypal angie_mccready@hotmail.com

From Angie:

"Not the best photo but if I go any closer she runs into the puppy house. Here she is getting stuck into a big bone. We put the sunbed in there so she's out of reach of the puppies and can enjoy it in peace.

Toto, her runt, left today to go to his new foster mummy, Jacky Hazeleger, alongwith the 2 galgo puppies.

Life will be a bit easier now and I can concentrate more on Missy, and hopefully get some sleep! I'm going to miss little Toto down my dressing gown, it's the only place he seems to settle.  xx"

Paypal address for Angie is  angie_mccready@hotmail.com

Missy's Journey Facebook link is here

Angie's Facebook link is here.

Angie's Amazon Wish List link is here.

From Angie yesterday.....

"Today has been really difficult, it's sad news. 

Nelson is - as I thought - blind in his left eye and can't see much, if anything in his right eye. The vet has said it would be better, when he is a bit older, to remove his left eye. 

Rosie has an ulcer in her left eye which will now be treated with drops. 

Cain also has something wrong with his left eye and I've to use the same drops.

I can only imagine it's from the poor diet that Missy was eating during her pregnancy that's caused this. 

Toto has gone downhill quite quickly today. I've taken him away from the rest and he's been living inside my dressing gown with a hot water bottle. He's lethargic, cold and he isn't feeding. I did put him in with the galgo pups I have been rearing, I had to take him out of the litter and am now hand rearing him. He has eaten 2 meals this afternoon after I'd hydrated him with a syringe of puppy milk."

BUT...we do have some good news...
"One of my good doggy friends, Jacky Hazeleger, is taking the 2 galgo pups I'm hand rearing to take the workload off me, They leave here on Thursday AND she is also going to take Toto. This is excellent as Toto, although now 3 or 4 weeks old, is the same size as the galgo pups, and settles with them between feeds in the box. If I keep him here on his own he won't fare so well."

Below: Missy is more relaxed.

  From Angie around 9am:

"Toto had a good night, he had some food at about 1am, then more at 4am, then a really good meal at 7am, each time followed by 3 mls of puppy milk. He's had a poo and plenty of pee's, and is looking much better. 

I spent the night on the sofa along with Ringo, Lucy, (and Toto inside my dressing gown ). I fed the two Galgo pups at 1am and again at 4am.

Missy was soooo pleased to see me this morning. Tail wagging, lots of body wriggles, but she still runs into the kennel when iIopen the gate. She's definitely getting better.

The puppies are all but weaned. They have 4 meals a day, but obviously still suckling."

Please, if possible, donate a few euros to help fund the vets bill for Missy & her pups, for their everyday needs too. The shelter they came from who helps has many other commitments so it would help them too.

Paypal address for Angie is this angie_mccready@hotmail.com

Missy's Journey  Facebook link is here

Angie's Facebook link is here

Angie's Amazon Wish List link is here
 

Supporters on Facebook have donated 5€ each to be able to name a puppy. 

So we have ...

Paypal address for any donations is angie_mccready@hotmail.com

Missy's Journey on Facebook link is here

Angie's Facebook link is here 

Amazon Wish List link is here 

Missy came out of the pen to say hello to some of the gang today. She's very slowly becoming less nervous as long as she's not pushed to do anything she's unsure about. 

Angie had just taken these photos after Missy had galloped towards her wriggling her body in excitement, then she remembered she's scared and skulked back into the pen.

Missy's Journey's Facebook link is here
Angie's Facebook link is here 

To donate, to help with the seven puppies & Missy's food bills & their vets bills etc please Paypal angie_mccready@hotmail.com

To send items direct to Angie from the Amazon Wish List click here 

From Angie

I have spoken to my vet, it's 50 euros each puppy for vaccinations and worming.

We have had 50 euros in donations this morning, so 1 down 6 to go.

I've got the vet coming tomorrow morning to check the puppies over and clip their nails .. might give Missy some relief as she's very red and sore where they have been scratching her. I dont think for a minute he will get anywhere near Missy yet. The runt has got sticky eyes so might need some drops. 

Thank you for your kind support ....Paypal angie_mccready@hotmail.com

I have set up a wish list on Amazon too for those who'd like to help in that way.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/registry/wishlist/SAKLK5UA8ALW

Angie heard of these two male Galgo pups before she offered to take in Missy & her seven puppies. A galguero, (hunter), was going to "dispose" of them .. he only wanted the females. Instantly Angie was arranging for them to be brought to her & they arrived hours before Missy so Angie's hands are full.

They are just days old & need bottle feeding every few hours then they need to be encouraged to urinate etc. Their mum would have done that. Angie does all this herself, along with looking after Missy & her puppies, also Ringo, Libby & Luke then her own 11 dogs. 

I've stayed with Angie, she never stops working. She is on Facebook all the time she's not attending to dogs needs, sharing posts about lost dogs, dogs who need rescuing from terrible situations etc. 24 hours in a day is not enough for Angie. She doesn't get enough sleep, she is on autopilot! 

Please support her by reading these posts I'm writing about her & possibly donating to help her look after Missy & those cute pups.

Please donate to Paypal angie_mccready@hotmail.com

This is Angie's public Facebook page.

This is Missy's public Facebook page.

These two puppies will hopefully be going to another fosterer this week so Angie can concentrate on caring for Missy & her puppies. 

From Ringo himself....

"Hey, and while you lot are considering that daft pair Libby n Luke, dont forget me!! I need a home too ya know! I'm much better behaved than them pair, and I get to sleep on me mammy's bed! I'm house trained, and an expert kisser (no tongues mind you) I'm about 4 months old now...time's ticking...who wants to love me? x

This is Ringo, he was rescued from a very badly managed & totally uncaring pound that Actin-Spain managed to rescue a lot of dogs from recently. He is 3 - 4 months old and Angie thinks he will be a big boy when fully grown. He's adorable, very soft and loving, such a good boy & house trained! He is looking for a home.

Angie can be contacted on angie_mccready@hotmail.com for more information.

Ringo is currently near Sax, Alicante.

Libby and Luke are fostered by Angie & need homes or, preferably, a home together as they are inseparable.

I wrote about these great characters previously.

Could you please click on this link to read their story & see many photos.  Thanks!

  See photo below.

Anyone wanting more information on Libby & Luke please contact Angie on  angie_mccready@hotmail.com

Angie is near Sax, Alicante.

Angies Facebook page is here

Please check out Missy & her seven puppies page here on Facebook.

Donations gratefully received for Missy & her puppies, who need a vets visit to check them all out & worm them. Missy is far too scared to be put into a car to be taken to the vets. It will undo all Angie's hard work these past three days.

Please Paypal Angie on  angie_mccready@hotmail.com

Thank you so much!

In Angie's own words ..

"HERE IT IS!!!! 

What you have all been waiting for.

Day 3 and we have made a huge step in the right direction. How clever is Missy?

Forgot to say... yesterday I took the runt out of the way of the others. He is only half the size of the rest, and he had become lethargic and felt cold. He's too small and weak to get to mum's teats, and hasn't fed off the porridge today. I've fed him some puppy milk from a syringe and wrapped up in a blanket with a hot water bottle.

He responded well but cried for Missy so he's back with his mum. I moved the other 6 pups away from Missy to eat their porridge & put the runt to the teat to feed without him being forced out by the others. I'm keeping my eye on him.

The pups are getting fatter. Look at that little runt bless him, AND................I just had a tail wag from Missy!!"

Missy's fb page is here 

Angie's fb page is here

Any donations, please Paypal angie_mccready@hotmail.com

Below: Did you see Missy's tail give a little wag?

Day 3: Angie kept going to the puppy pen, which is a quiet area at the rear of her home, & gently stroking Missy and her puppies, talking very softly, just letting her know she wasn't going to hurt her. By the end of the day, although still burying her nose in the bedding, Missy started to lift her head to look at Angie. Not much, but it was something.

Missy allowed Angie to pick up her pups but kept watch, with her eyes as big as saucers. Angie spent hours with them all in short spells, trying to calm Missy down and let her see that nothing bad was going to happen to her ever again.

The pups are underweight, and have very long sharp nails as does Missy. Angie made up some puppy porridge and they gobbled it up like there was no tomorrow! She had to change the bedding as it was wet and dirty, she removed the pups and let them lap up their breakfast. She gently tried to get Missy to move out of the box, she panicked, leaped out of the box and didn't know where she was supposed to be.

Angie spoke softly and quietly whilst she removed the wet quilt, and replaced it with a clean one. Missy was back in her box before the pups had finished eating, nose stuffed back in the tightest corner, but it had to be done. 

It's only been 2 days, so very early days yet, but Angie would like you all to follow Missy on her journey and wish better things for her. She has obviously been very badly abused, and it's going to be a long road, but Missy will get there, she just needs lots of TLC & understanding in order for her to gain Angie's trust.

The pups are about 3 weeks old, there are 4 boys & 3 girls. Thank you for supporting us on this very difficult (but not impossible) challenge. 

Please follow Missy's journey on her Facebook page here. There are videos of Missy with her puppies on there, so lovely to watch them. There's a wonderful video of the pups sucking on a bone that Angie had given Missy. 

If you would care to donate to help cover vets bills, vaccinations, food etc for this fur family please Paypal Angie on angie_mccready@hotmail.com

Below: photos taken 21st February.

Below: Just look at at these puppies sucking on the rib bone Angie gave to Missy.

Angie's Facebook page is here, please see what else she's doing, she's ALWAYS busy!

  Evening of 21st ... Angie went up to give the puppies some more puppy porridge, and Missy some meat scraps and chickens feet. MISSY ATE OUT OF ANGIE'S HAND! She is so happy and proud of Missy.

Missy is a terrified stray pointer who was caught off the streets and put in a shelter where she had her 7 puppies about 3 weeks ago. She is now with Angie .. since Wednesday 19th February .. who is on a mission to help her to trust and learn that her very bad past is behind her.

Angie was shocked, she has never seen such a terrified dog in her life. Missy is rigid with fear. What on earth has this poor dog been through? She flinches at every movement Angie makes, sets herself rigid if Angie approaches her, and buries her face in her bedding if Angie tries to touch her, hoping she would go away. She is traumatized and doesn't know what love is. 

Angie had managed to get Missy from the transport into the puppy house along with her pups, but she was frantic, so after settling them down Angie left Missy to get accustomed to her new house but kept popping in to ensure she was ok & to offer food which Missy refused (initially).

Missy is a good mum to her puppies but Angie feels she's hiding behind them with her fear and insecurities. Angie is now weaning the puppies so she can get closer to Missy and help her understand that nothing bad is ever going to happen to her again. It's going to be a long road she thinks, but Angie is certain that, given time and lots of patience and TLC, she & Missy will get there.

Time, love, and patience cost nothing, and Angie is happy to dedicate that to her, but there will be vets bills & soon the 7 puppies will need vaccinations, as will Missy. The shelter she came from have offered to fund the costs, but if anybody would like to make a donation towards these costs for Missy and her pups it certainly would be very much appreciated. The shelter has many other dogs to fund & this will indeed help them.
Please Paypal  angie_mccready@hotmail.com

Thank you. 

Photos taken Wednesday 19th February.

If you want to follow what Angie does you can read her Facebook page here 

Missy's journey is on Facebook here  where there are videos of her & her puppies.

Angie is a truly remarkable woman with a massive heart.

She and her husband moved to the Southern Costa Blanca, inland from Alicante, 9 years ago from the UK.

Angie hadn't realized the plight of dogs here until she arrived. She was shocked, outraged, and felt she needed to do something.

She was soon bottle feeding puppies that had been found dumped in bins, picking up strays from the street, and finding them new homes.

Many didn't even go any further than Angie's home. She's a confirmed failed fosterer on more than one occasion. At the last count she has 11 ranging from quite small dogs to a Spanish Mastiff who is the gentlest dog ever. They all came from terrible situations. 

About 2 years ago, Angie befriended Viv Wharton, President of Actin-Spain, & got involved with the work of Actin. She has taken lots of dogs and pups into her home for fostering.

She has had 2 hugely momentous experiences in her years of rescue, one being the rescue of 40 beagles from a laboratory in Spain, and the other was Katie and her pups. 

I have known Angie around three years & have written many posts about the work she has done, these are just a few I hope you will enjoy reading about if you haven't already. 

This one shows the many fostered dogs who have been adopted by Angie, along with little Mona.

This post starts the story about Katie & her puppies that Angie talked about above. Katie was pregnant in a Hellin perrera, a killing station. After Angie took her Katie had TEN pups!

More here about Katie & her family & here too. 

Katie's pups are six weeks old here.

Katie's pups are growing fast here & loving life at Angie's. 

Katie & her pups went to the UK to new homes.

You can follow what Angie does on her Facebook page here

Below: Many of Angie's rescued dogs she has adopted.