Astounding

I just can't imagine what some people think here.

Take our dog Trooper, a pure-bred Labrador Retriever. Some Italian imported him from Hungary at substantial cost, then just gave him away. We are the lucky recipients, but still... makes you wonder.

A similar curiosity; this seemingly full-blooded hunting dog is in a shelter we have been working with. Why would anyone cast off such a magnificent dog? (Ok, frankly I can't understand casting off any dog, regardless of breed or problems).



Read more about the dogs in this shelter, and what we are trying to do to help at: www.animalswithoutlimits.blogspot.com or www.miamattsson.blogspot.com.

Photo Copyright (c) 2009, Todd A. Mercer. All Rights Reserved.

See Naples and Die

One thing a visitor notices about the Naples, Italy area, is the stray dog situation.

Well, after the trash, that is.

Strays seem to be everywhere.

What most people don't see, however, is the dogs that get put into shelters. The conditions are horrible, and since shelter operation seems to be a lucrative business (Euro 125 per dog, per month from the government) there is no incentive to find "forever" adoptive homes for these guys.

These pictures were taken on a recent trip to a "small" private shelter that is being closed by the goverment. "Only" 70 dogs are languishing in this shelter.

Read more about them, and what is being done to try to help, at http://www.animalswithoutlimits.blogspot.com/

All photos Copyright (c) 2008, Todd A. Mercer. All Rights Reserved