Olá Rana
The adoption of a foreign dog
Your name was Fini then.
We became aware of you when you were only 3 months old and lived in Portugal.
With the following words we have discovered you:
“Sweet girl Fini saw the light of day with 5 other siblings in a killing. However, there is no light there but only a cage, deafening noise, stench and dirt. And so Teresa took them all to her shelter.”
We contacted the organization TiNo e.V. because your story touched us. After two telephone consultations and a preliminary inspection by the animal welfare association it was clear: You were reserved for us until August.
Why August?
Because we wanted to pick you up personally.
In August 2017 our Portugal vacation was scheduled. More excited than usual the journey began for Rafael, Mojo and me. Right in the first week of our holiday we wanted to pick you up and not let another day pass by to share your life with us.
So get in the car and go.
After 4 hours we reached our destination:
P.A.T.A.S, a private shelter in Portugal, somewhere in the middle of nowhere.
Really.
We got lost three times and had to call Teresa – the shelter manager – to find the way. There’s no real road to the shelter. What’s the point? That’s what I thought when we arrived at the shelter. It’s located in the middle of Nirvana on a field with only a few olive trees as neighbours.
After a warm welcome from Teresa this big green gate to the shelter opened. And now guess what: It didn’t take long before I burst into tears.
No matter how much you are aware of the situation of street dogs or shelter dogs abroad and no matter how many cruel pictures you see on Facebook and Co, the reality is always worse. She punched me in the face. I knew that this shelter was home to many dogs, but I didn’t know that there were SO many dogs.
Of course I know that all these dogs in Teresa’s shelter are not bad, but you know why these dogs are there and why this shelter exists at all: Because the dog misery in countries like Portugal is hard to get under control and I know that this shelter is getting fuller and not emptier.
And then you came.
You little, dirty, smelly sunshine.
On this little forecourt where we were waiting for you, you came to me wagging your tail.
Your whole body was shaking with me. You were panting and your eyes were shining. I stroked you and you leaned against me with your whole body weight so that I almost passed out.
I had chosen three names for you in advance during the car journey and wanted to decide on the spot which of these names would suit you best.
The decision was not difficult for me.
When I looked at you, I knew immediately:
“You are a Rana” and at the same time Rafael said to me: “Vanessa, this is a Rana.”
After signing the contract and paying the nominal fee, we put you in the car with your vaccination card and drove you home.
By the way, Rana cost 20,- Euro.
This amount was used to cover the costs for the vaccinations.
Normally the nominal fee is around 400,- Euro.
This includes the vaccinations, the chip as well as the castration and the transport costs to the new home.
Because we picked up Rana, she was still uncastrated and not chipped, all these costs were dropped. Animal welfare organisations earn just as much from an adoption: 0,00 Euro. Even if many never want to admit it. People like Teresa, who dedicate their life to a good cause, do not deserve to be accused of such things. I have seen how much hard work and passion is put into this animal shelter and I find it simply a bottomless cheek. Sorry, that had to be mentioned once.
Of course, Rafael and I went to buy a huge bag of dog food the day before, which was so heavy that Rafael could hardly carry it. We left a donation of food and money with Theresa. But Rana would never get her back. That was certain.
That’s how you came into our lives.
Welcome home, my little sunshine.
