April 2004

"Adios Benito!"
During three years you have been our ray of sunshine, scampering about with joy at the arrival of some new person, with your two little pointed ears tuned to any new noise. Oh yes, you had quite some stories to tell to your fellow creatures. You lived a long life and you were very respected by your fellow dogs. You left us one stormy morning and left a big big void in my heart. Sleep in peace! I will never forget you!

During March, I had the visit of Agniezka and Linda (owner of Pitufa and my adorable Volodia) and they have brought you many lovely spanish dogs from Julie. At the present time, 10 dogs are waiting to fly towards you.

I am so very happy that, once again, I will meet up with you again this summer for the big meeting of "Julie´s Dogs". Swecas will participate in this meeting represented by Ann-Sofie Carle and I hope that many dogs and owners will join us. It will be the great Fiesta of the dogs of "Animales de Andalucia" in Almuñecar. The dates of the meetings are: 15th of August in Stockholm , 21st in Göteborg and, somewhere between these two dates, I shall be able to visit the North. I would so much like to get in contact with some of my ex-guests that I have not heard from for a long time. I hope many of you will come!

Many thanks to Dina and the haulage contractors who have collaborated, free of charge, transporting from Stockholm to Almuñecar, more than 500 kgs of dog food. This was very much appreciated by my four-footed guests. Also, many thanks to Liliane who was the co-ordinator of these two shipments. Thank you for your help.

Yesterday, driving through Almuñecar, I saw, sitting on its little bottom, and apparently waiting for me, a little "black panther". Voilà, "Baguera", who had just been abandoned. She has increased the number of friends at "La Higuera"... She is similar looking as Kelly, Orpheo, Uncle Tom. The sponsor dog Valentine adores to play with her little doll ("Valent" sent by Maria). She protects her from the rough treatment she gets from "Lolita", daughter of the Norwegian Nelly.

You know, every departure of one of the dogs gives me a feeling of utter confusion and vice versa but also of joy, knowing that he will be going to a family that will love and protect him. I should be used to this after more than 2.000 separations, but the eyes full of love of my protégés make me feel the same about each and every one. At the airport, when the cages disappear into this black tunnel, I may well think of the joy and love at the other end but cannot keep from shedding a tear or two and sometimes more...

Love to All...Julie