Today was a busy one at the SPA.
Firstly we were given a makeover! A group of BTS students have been working on a project for several months, coordinating this with Veronique and the other members of the SPA “Outreach Group”. The idea was to put up some new signs in the refuge to guide people round. They appeared at 14H00 with suitable equipment and got to work. Their creativity was evident; famous dogs were the theme, but we were all touched to see a photo of our very own King, former SPA mascot, now sadly deceased. Not only were his ashes distributed at the SPA when he died, he also has a plaque in his name as of today.
At the same time another group of students was busy at Leclerc in Carcassonne, with the most wonderful exhibition of photographs. As mentioned yesterday, this was designed to show off some of our animals and also encourage adoptions. Adoptions for life, that is!
Two dogs that thought they had a home for life were abandoned at the SPA today. First was two-year old Zelda, who was adopted from us (as Zizouille) about a year ago. She is on the “no longer wanted” pile, as is poor Kiss, who is not even one year old, and being male and mostly black, will have a hard time finding a new home.
Two other arrivals have a much better fate ahead of them. A poor young cocker spaniel was brought in with horrible scars on her face from a too-tight muzzle. Luckily for her the woman who brought her in has found her a new home. Assuming her owners don’t come to collect her, she will be off in ten days. And looking at her scars, are we happy to return her to her former owners? Hmmm….
The second to arrive was Jack, a 12 year old westie. His details were not up to date at Icad, but Carole managed to track his owners down, and he was very happy to leave.
There was one adoption, and although the dog had only recently arrived, it is a great example of how word of mouth works.
Everyone remembers Joy, the lovely Labrador/ Newfoundland cross who was recently fostered by Isa? Well a couple who had been interested in Joy stayed in touch with Isa. She and her family have just returned from a skiing holiday in the Ariège, and while they were there, they went to visit this family with a view to a potential adoption. Today the family came to the SPA to adopt a dog who had caught their fancy, and they left with him. Young Charlot has a home!
So a busy day but mostly a good one, despite the two new arrivals. Many thanks again to the students for their interest in the SPA. With any luck plenty of people will come along to see us tomorrow on our first Sunday of the month open day. And La Depeche is on our side, as ever!
http://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2015/02/28/2057432-chat-alors-une-expo-qui-a-du-chien.html
The students hard at work
As were their colleagues at Leclerc
Zelda is abandoned
As is Kiss
Jack – RECLAIMED
Charlot – ADOPTED