Flying Dogs, Plans For Tina And A Rumble In The Jungle

This mission is about a balance between steps to help street dogs at scale as well as small little touches that make myself, fellow volunteers and people online smile on a daily basis.

Things are not always easy but I like to put a positive spin on everything I do because there has to be a little fun and joy along the way. Here are some of the lovely wins and little setbacks from the week that was…

Tina Continues To Blossom

I think she genuinely captivates everybody online on a daily basis just as much as she amazes me in real life. If it looks like she is loving, affectionate and thankful in the videos I share then you can actually multiply that X10 in real life.

She is up to 24Kg (52 Lbs) from just 12.5Kg (27 Lbs) when she first arrived 2 months ago. Add in her fur growing out and she is looking like the beautiful Golden Retriever she was meant to be.

I don’t have a plan for her yet as she is not 100% recovered but I am thinking about options. Safe to say that big lovely face of hers will never know an ounce of suffering in her life again.

First 2 Dogs Travel To Europe Tomorrow

You might remember little Lady Diana (now Peaches). Herself and Little Squeak have all their paperwork ready and will be the first dogs I’ve been able to send to Europe to forever homes. This is thanks to some wonderful help from great friends helping with the flights and logistics. They are heading to Germany after 5 months of getting ready for their new adventures.

A great result considering both dogs beat all the odds as puppies and nearly died before getting their lucky breaks. They will hopefully be the first of many.

One Eyed Lily

I was showing some visitors around recently when a little puppy walked innocently into our group in the jungle. Her eye was in big trouble and after talking to vets it has to come out. We are building her up for her operation as her blood results were bad.

She was named Lily after Paul O’Grady’s stage name Lily Savage. Losing an eye isn’t great but it doesn’t stop her having fun now and she will lead a full and healthy life. I already have a place lined up for her to stay once she recovers. One eye and a home is better than the certain death she would have faced in the jungle alone.

Mini Homes For Dogs

For the past couple of months I’ve been trying to bring a big idea together…Dog shelters made our of re-cycled oil barrels. I wrote about it and shared the video here.

So many people were involved in making them become a reality and it has been wonderful seeing the street dogs sleeping in them. One of the best feelings ever. If you want to feel good about life watch them being made and handed out here.

The First Self Check In

Little buttons was abandoned by her family in the jungle near where I keep the sick dogs. After over 2 weeks of sneaking closer and closer she has now become the first dog to ever check herself in. She lives with us, gets medicine, got vaccinated and is about to be sterilised.

Best of all she has had lots of people ask to adopt her given how cute she is so I’ll start to make that happen for her this week by opening her up for a forever home. She was terrified but her courage led her to being friends with Jumbo who must be a long lost relative!

A Rumble In The Jungle

Just this morning there was a big squabble between all the dogs. Unusually it was the gentle quiet dogs who all kicked off. McMuffin, Panda, Brad Pitt, Tina, Rodney and Buttons got into a brawl. I can normally take them out together without any fights or hassle but it all kicked off.

I’m not exactly sure who started it but I think Panda went for Brad Pitt and it escalated fast from there. The fight lasted for ages as the big soft giants like Tina started wandering back in for a nosy and kicking it all off again. The only injuries were a small cut on Pandas ear and a chunk out of my Leg as Brad Pitt tried to turn and defend himself and thought I was a dog! Everything was calmed down with a big hose pipe and me hobbling off with wounded pride and a vert sore leg. We all decided to forgive each other and no further punishment was necessary!

Container Living

I’m not fully moved in as the internet is too slow but I am now spending a lot of my time in the shipping containers I bought to live in. I’m writing this with Snoop and Jumbo at my feet. I now have gotten rid of pretty much all my worldly possessions and am spending every second and every penny on dogs and my overall mission.

I could not be happier with this new simplified lifestyle and complete focus on the huge task at hand. Snoop and Jumbo are my bodyguards and Marlon Brando watches over us at all times willing me on.

800 Dogs A Day Getting Fed

This goes without saying as it happens now on a daily basis. I can’t help but think of some of the dogs who have a little house made for them, their operations done, preventative medicines administered and then their home cooked food delivered to them fresh every single day. There are many of us humans who don’t have it that good!

Giuseppe’s Memorial Garden Has Opened

He was a very special dog and the garden is now open with him buried at the very centre of it. I promised him it would be built in his honour and it is a lovely place to spend time and reflect.

The funny thing is Snoop spends all his time on the grass here now by choice. I think it is because the feel of the grass reminds him of Ireland where he spent most of his young life. I think Giuseppe would be proud.

I promised 2 weeks ago I was going all in on the dogs and that is what this update equates to. I often get super frustrated with myself for not getting enough done and not moving fast enough. Thats why sitting in this shipping container writing this and looking at photos from the past week and sharing it helps me validate what I’m doing and helps justify the online support I get from you all in my mind.

I am always speechless by the kind words, gestures and good wishes people send me. I absolutely never take any of that for granted so thank you very much indeed from me and the dogs. If I am tired and down I’ll scroll and read the comments and it spurs me on to bigger and better things. I feel like I am not alone on that moped every single day thanks to you all.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend

Big love

Niall

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