... under "Services" heading, check out our home-made
virtual cards! Take a look too at the
snpashots of the APAA puppies, or learn more about our
activities, facilities and adoption statistics under the "Presentation"
heading.
 Like to do more? the "How
to help us" section is for you. There you can sponsor
your favourite dog, or support us without spending a centime
by visiting our sponsors.
 Have
you lost or found a dog? Do you need a Dog-sitter? Does your dog
need training? Is your dog sick or handicaapped? Consult our
useful addresses under the "Service"
heading, or visit our Forum
to talk about it!
Sign up for the APAA letter to be informed by mail
of new arrivals at the refuge!
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2007 was a good year for adoptions – 370
dogs found new families – but just about every day we had to turn
down a request to dump a dog at the refuge!!!!!!!!! The number
of abandoned dogs is climbing exponentially … it’s completely
crazy. It’s all very well for the associations for animal protection
to fight every inch of the way and battle on with the energy of
despair, but they just can’t cope with this flood of discarded
animals any longer. Divorce, moving house, losing a job or getting
a new one, changes in working conditions, a baby arriving, or
simply no longer finding the time to play at owning a dog …. any
excuse is good for falling back on the good will of voluntary
associations that are suffocating under the weight of numbers,
costs, lack of funds and the selfishness of people who dump their
dogs and slip quietly away, leaving their problem behind them.
It’s difficult to have much hope for 2008: we’ll do what everyone
does, we’ll act as though we think that there’ll be fewer dogs
born, more people with a sense of responsibility, fewer litters
produced to supplement the monthly wages, more sterilizations,
less animal misery … and more people of good will to continue
the struggle and keep on fighting windmills.
In memory of Eileen Thompson, a great lady who gave magnificent
support to the refuge, we’ll find the strength to keep going and
to maintain this website, which has enabled the refuge to extend
its audience and provide a showcase for all these animals in misfortune.
Eileen, we miss you .. You were the unseen helper who guided my
texts, the distant force who made me shake off my weariness to
reply yet again to an irksome question, or to post new photos
of a dog who’d already been at the refuge for an eternity. I used
to think of you who’d read them and I found the words that would
touch your feelings and make you understand each new arrival,
so that in turn you could write a description of the dogs in your
language. Eileen, you asked for nothing in return, no recognition
or admiration, you did what you did for them, and only them ….
you used to remind us to think of the dogs who got stuck at the
refuge and nobody seemed to see … and I needed you, your completely
disinterested empathy, your encouragement, just to know that you
existed …
Eileen, I miss you so much…
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corner for the wallflowers
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 A new home
for Patch in 2008?? We're keeping our fingers crossed!!!
A little helping hand for Patch, another super friendly doggy
without luck, as no one notices him. A very good dog, extremely
sociable, even with dogs he's seeing for the first time. Very
affectionate, he gets on wonderfully with children and he loves
human company. Playful and a great lover of walks, Patch is a
sporty and sturdy dog who would appreciate having access to a
fenced garden to relax in. Patch is also well behaved and quiet
at home, and he would be happy to be adopted by a family looking
for a fine doggy who's affectionate, very good, sociable and playful.
His only weak point: he can't be left alone in an unfenced garden,
as he'll go looking for company if there isn't any on offer at
home. But that's true of 80% of doggies who haven't learned the
borders of their territory.
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