What a journey! What great teamwork!
A friend of mine, Minna, was flying down to Milano, Italy to pick up a car and then drive it back up to Sweden with her husband, Mats. I saw the opportunity to maybe get some animals driven back up from Southern Italy to Northern Sweden, with a small stop in my town outside Stuttgart, Germany. Down in Napoli, we had the three legged cat Willy Wonka, that had been rescued by the veterinarian team at Dr. Carlo Damiani’s clinic. Willy Wonka was fostered by Dr. Carlo and his wonderful family. We also had Fochetta, our senior from the hospice, which was to be adopted by my lovely friend Mia in Sweden. I asked Minna if she could possibly bring some animals with her back?
Minna is also in the rescue business and didn’t hesitate one second to help us out. If only all the animal papers were ready, and if someone could drive Fochetta and WW up to Milano, then there would not be any problems.
Two wonderful American ladies volunteered to drive up to Milano with the precious cargo. They packed the car and only drove one hour, until their tire exploded! They called a tow truck and were being towed back to Napoli. These ladies didn’t go back to their homes, sobbing over a cup of coffee. No, these remarkable women rented a car, un-packed the broken vehicle, re-packed and drove up North. Delayed because of the tire mishap, they floored their gas pedal and arrived right on time. We are forever thankful and grateful for what Lori Alston Garcia and Valerie Funk did.
You started a new chapter for Forchetta and WW in their “book of life”.
You started a new chapter for Forchetta and WW in their “book of life”.
Minna and her husband continued the drive up to Mia’s (President) place outside Stuttgart, Germany. WW was being introduced to his new family, Mia’s (President) wonderful neighbors. Already, he is very much loved and happy there.
Everybody got a late lunch/dinner, and Fochetta got to stretch her little sweet legs in Mia’s garden. After the small break, Minna and husband started the long remaining drive back to Sweden, a 23 hours drive. With them they also had another dog named MIA, (there are a lot of “Mia’s” in this story) that had been returned from her first owner after nine months, but was going to a nice home with a lady and her daughter in Sweden that Mia (President) had found. (That story will come in another blog update.)
Hours later, in the middle of Sweden, MIA the dog was dropped off to her new family, and after some remaining hours of driving, the journey for Minna, Mats and Fochetta would finally end. Fochetta had to sleep over at Minna’s place. It was midnight by the time they got there, and everyone was bone tired. The next day my friend Mia and her father drove down to pick up Fochetta from Minna. My sweet friend Mia was totally in love with Fochetta, just as she had imagined it during her meditations. Fochetta already loves Mia and gave her so many kisses and snores loudly during the nights.
This couldn’t have been done without you all. And especially a big thank you to Lori and Valerie, that was amazing what you did. Minna and Mats, for sponsoring the whole drive from Milano to Sweden. And being the contacts to MIA dog’s home and Mia with Fochetta.
The Mercer family sponsored from Naples to Milano.
And to all hospice volunteers, thank you so much for taking such great care of Fochetta. Loving and nurturing her back to life, I know you all loved her dearly. To AWL’s board who got her picture and story about Fochetta several months ago, and decided to take her away from the horrible place: A Governmental shelter with nearly a thousand of dogs locked in cages and nowhere to go, ever.
A big THANK YOU to the brave Italian volunteer who got her out from that hell-hole.And lastly, to Mia, my friend who dared to adopt a senior dog.
Now, That’s Amore.
Animals Without Limits 