UPDATE

'SACK' PUPPIES NOW HOMED!

PAWS supporter Maisie Shanley playing with three of "the sack puppies"

Four of the five puppies whose story appears at the bottom of the page are now in permanent homes. Zonia, (now re-named Gita) was adopted by a PAWS volunteer and her husband, Zoey, Zara and Zinzi went on the latest transport to Holland (25th January) where the staff at the Reddingsboe Reception Centre were thrilled with them. Zeni, the profoundly deaf one, is staying in permanent foster care with a professional to cater to her special needs.

UPDATE ON TWO OF THE PUPIES: Zinzi (above left) and Zoey

Zinzi - now renamed Tara is Lady of all she surveys in her new home in Holland. In the top picture, taken at PAWS shelter in December, Zinzi is the one on right. She has already made friends with the three children in her new family and they are delighted with their new playmate! She has enrolled at the local dog training school and not only loves it but is making very good progress.

Zoey (on the left, as a puppy, in the top picture) was homed with another PAWS dog Micky. She is proving both independent and mischievous! Her new Dutch owner reports: "Zoey has lots of energy and is always finding things to do - sometimes not quite the things we want her to do! Mostly when we correct her she learns. But sometimes - with favourite activities like gnawing the table - she just looks at you innocently ... and then goes straight back to doing the same thing. And then looks at you like nothing is wrong! But our two Spanish refugees have settled in excellently and we are very happy with them"

Zoey, Zeni, Zinzi, Zara and Zonia are the names given to the five “sack puppies” that were found abandoned in a sack and dumped in the fields near the shelter.. Fortunately, PAWS dog walkers nearby heard the noise of whimpering and sqeaking and realised there were live animals in the sack. When the sack was opened in the shelter the puppies were found to be filthy, flea ridden, dehydrated and skeletal. The manager on duty almost made the decision that it was too late to help them. But eventually they began to accept food .and they were put on a regime of intensive baby care.

Only around four weeks old and barely able to eat by themselves, the puppies struggled but survived, due to round the clock vigilance of Martika, Cindy, and Angelle, our Dutch caravan volunteers turned nursemaids. The puppies had to spend some time in hospital due to an intestinal parasitic condition, but are now thriving in foster care and doing extremely well. It has been found that one of the puppies is profoundly deaf and she will remain in foster care.