I've spoken to Dr. Eric Laarakker during his consultation by phone, about the horses and I also presented the Boomer "case".
What can I say? All is well!
Haha, no, we just had a pleasant conversation about the progress of the horses, the new problems that have come up and how to treat it (with fresh garlic). Also the fact that my vet is interested in learning more about homeopathy, Boomer's disease and how to treat it (eg. parasitecompositum with good results) and then the sad fact that so many of the Dutch did a U-turn on their intention to adopt a horse. Like before, he took the time to talk to me and gave me good advice, for which I thank him!
I completely used up the parasitecompositum, only some boostcompositum and drainagedrops remains. Normally this should be sufficient. But he continues to advise me and I can always buy more if needed, but for now we are OK.
So, at last... the big day .... there are indeed problems with the implementation of the new law on the identification of horses and now we should not wait any longer for the award of the REGA number to chip the horses and get their passports. The five big boys are already have a chip, so I only had to get the four little ones one.
The nose bar was taken out and although I do not like such devices...the foals had no problems with it, were not difficult, no nothing ... just as if it was all normal .... and I m so happy they had no negative experience. Now I must say that my vet makes an effort of being really calm and so that everything would goe smoothly
Marjolijn was kind enough to visit Dino in Kranenburg and to take him out for a walk. Unfortunately she could not take him home and so this guy still looking for a (temporary) home.
Who can give this sweet little guy a chance?He really is unbelievable, yes really.
Both Dina, Dino as Boomer, have to thank Mr. TENBIEG and the refuge Albert Schweitzer that they can be transported to Germany and will have a future. Mr. Tenbieg also made sure they will be sterilized in Germany ....
And even if you are not looking for a dog, you can make them very happy by going for a walk with one of them...
As you know, Dina is in Castalla since last Tuesday. I was already in contact with Marilène.
This thanks to the emails sent by Irene, eg to Dierenhulp zonder Grenzen.
Here's some info from Marilène about the Protectora in Castalla:
The Sociedad Protectora de Animales y Plantas CASTALLA exists already for over 18 years and runs a dog shelter, 5 km from the town. This shelter is there now for over 15 years, and all these years every morning the volunteers come to clean the dog pound, to feed the dogs and to give them attention they desperately need. Some people take a few dogs for a walk; others come to the pound to groom or to give a hand wherever it is needed.
The council of Castalla decided that the area around the shelter was perfectly suitable for a new urbanization of around 1000 houses. In 2002 the first habitants of this urbanization, Castalla Internacional, arrived, most of them unaware of the fact that there was a dog shelter nearby. The Castalla council promised to move the shelter to a suitable place where there should be a brand new pound with all the necessary facilities. But like most promises from politicians also this one was never fulfilled.
In 2006 the shelter was decreed to close, all dogs should be euthanized and the shelter itself should be demolished. Why??? Because the shelter was too close to urbanization and it did not comply with the requirements of the law. With a lot of help from the habitants of the urbanization and from organizations abroad we managed to get enough money to vaccinate all the dogs and because of all the publicity the Castalla council agreed to attend to a new dog shelter somewhere else. It is almost May 2010 now, the new shelter is completed in February 2010 .but we are still in the old shelter. We don´t know why we cannot move to the new building, the council does not tell anything.
We are going on with our work for the dogs in the shelter; we make sure they have food and clean kennels; we take dogs out for walks so they can socialize with other dogs and get used to walking on a lead.
We take dogs to the vet if necessary; we make sure the dogs are sterilized so they cannot bring new doggies into this world. We raise money by organizing events and by having money-boxes in several shops in the town; we have our own website now that helps us finding good homes for our dogs www.protectoradecastalla.com. We have good contacts with organizations abroad (like Dierenhulp zonder Grenzen in Holland, www.dierenhulpzondergrenzen.com) that help us locally so hopefully in the future we will have our own independent, self supporting animal shelter that besides taking care of the abandoned animals also can do more in advising, counseling and educating people. And through some of these organizations abroad we find adoption families for a few of our dogs.
At this moment there are 65 dogs of various sizes, varieties and ages. Some have been there for years, others just since a few weeks, having been abandoned or lost, all with tails to tell! There are a few that will need that extra special touch because they have been institutionalized so long that they have lost trust, but how rewarding they will be if given the chance.
Their daily needs, like food and water, are catered for but this is no substitute for a loving home and a bed of their own. www.protectoradecastalla.com
Sociedad Protectora de Animales, Castalla www.protectoradecastalla.com C/Rio Duero s/n Apdo. de Correos 13, 03420 Castalla, Alicante
Oh ..... my neighbours will be very tired again today. Boomie has barked and cried and barked en cried ... with the regularity of a clock.
I advised my neighbour not to respond to his cries but rather to go to Boomer when he was quiet, so Boomie would learn more quickly what was expected of him (well the explanation is a little longer, but there is no room for it here). And sleeping also appears to be a problem ... which is understandable when you've lived on the streets for so long on the street, looking out for danger.
Tony wanted to have a recording of my voice so he can play that whenever it s necessary... hahaha .... because he said that when Boomie hears my voice, even over the phone, he's immediately quiet and peaceful. Oh gosh
This time last year I sat behind the computer and was actually a bit bored.
This year it would be a different story with all the rescued animals here.
What was meant to be a beautiful day, which we would've really enjoyed turned out to be a dark one. One I will never forget. ...
The day started early .... I had hardly slept during the night, being scared about what was going on with Dina and Boomer. They were so quiet .... were they still there? I did not want to go down and have a look so that I would not to awake them, in case they were still there. Very quietly, I went to the other side to see if all the doors were still closed. Fortunately they were closed, and so my dogs, which I had taken into the house during the night, could just walk around quietly. After I'd finished feeding the animals I went to see Dina and Boomer... and I was greated by 2 very happy dogs ... I then fed the dogs, but when Boomer came too close to Dina, she snarled at him. Suddenly I saw drops of blood falling to the ground. Reason enough for me to lock Dina up in the annex and to bring Boomer away to my neighbour.
Instead of leaving for the physiotherapy where I was supposed to be at 9 am, I put Dina in the car and after having written to Marilène by email and SMS, I left for Castalla. Just yesterday I said that I would never, ever, leave a dog in a shelter on my birthday .... but now it was inevitable. The neighbours could not keep the 2 dogs together and I could not manage another sleepless night like last one ... I was already exhausted from the regular work.
I drove Dina to Castalla and met Isabelle and Marilène. They would help and take care of Dina
I drove back home because I had to watch Boomer while the neighbours went out shopping. Boomie had indeed started to bark and cry after I had left him alone. When he heard my voice in the distance, he became quiet...and the entire time I was with him (without me keeping him busy), he was as quiet as a mouse. Around noon the vet's were coming to finish the vaccinations of the foals, so I had to leave Boomer alone for a while. And then we had a drink and a bite to eat for my birthday!
And then I did something stupid .... when the vets got into the car ready to leave, I was close to the van and gave it a slap to say goodbye. He then started the engine, which was still in gear, and the car drove straight into my knees. My already bad, fragile knees...... Without crying out loud, the tears ran out of my eyes ... And the vet felt terrible. But it was just a stupid accident and I only had to keep away ... I got to the neighbours to see how Boomboom was ... And the neighbours came to pick up pallets from my place to secure his place for Boom Boom Secure and to protect his doors in case Boomer would scratch them.
Then I went to the emergency department at the hospital where I spend a few hours to see the emergency doctor who sent me through for RX recordings and then I was sent to my traumathologist who saw me in between his patients. An MRI will follow.
Al bij al een turbulente & pijnlijke verjaardag die ik inderdaad nooit vergeten zal maar die ik ook nooit herhaald wil zijn. All in all a turbulent & painful birthday which I really will never forget and that I never want to see repeated.
Dino is on his way to Germany Dina and Boomer are staying at my neighbours house for the time being.
Tomorrow I will post details and many pictures and videos .... Right now I'm just mentally and physically exhausted ... and I've got a sick foal to look after ...... so see you tomorrow! But thanks for visiting the blog!
For once I can stay at home for the day ... without having to go anywhere ... What a relief ! Sometimes I even stayed here for a week without looking for people .. . I 'm just so happy to be at home, surrounded by my animals and enjoying nature and serenity of the hills...I don't need traffic or other noise.. It is an advantage when you have your office at home and you're your own boss. Nobody tells you what to do and when to do it.
Today I had a very long conversation with a man who builds electronic fencing devices and what the problem might be with our installation. His website contains a lot of useful information. According to him there is nothing wrong with my current machine but the new tape takes away too much energy (75%) from the device and when the horse touches it he will only feel a slight nip,which of course has no effect whatsoever.
In the afternoon I changed a small portion of the tape for a cable to test it.... I will let you know the results tomorrow.
Only Chiki was allowed into the field today, the others remained inside ... very much against their will. Chiki had cramps tonight and had lost his appetite. I torch-treated him (+ colicpoints & standard treatment) immediately of course and he is doing fine now. I will keep an eye on him tonight anyway eh ...
I visited 4 horse stores, I drove over 120 km, I lost a whole morning and still came home without a new machine for the horses. It seems there is no other solution than to buy one over the Internet ... and that means waiting until next week .... As of tomorrow, everything is closed untill next Tuesday ..... hey ... Spain is known for their Fiestas
In the afternoon me and the neighbour brought Dino to the vet for a health check and a review of all the documents.
In the afternoon I had to make further changes to the paddock sizes and I let the horses take turns grazing. They're really starting to look like beautiful horses!And as they're losing their wintercoats, their looks are changing again.....
I went to the Conseilleria to get more information and tips related to the problems that have arisen in connection to the new law.
I then I returned to the Counsil and had a long talk.
On Sunday the dogs should have been moved to a refuge before their departure to Germany in a few weeks, but they're having some problems and they're unable to take the dogs. Moreover I had a written altercation with the organization where they are at the moment and from where they would to leave on Sunday. Dino won't be neutered on Thursday because I cannot accept the conditions under which this would happen.
I 've been ringing and mailing a lot today with the refuge and other help organizations ... it was pretty stressful
Fortunately, there is an agreement that Dino will be neutered in Germany, just like the other 2 dogs ... Thankfully a Protectora 25 km away is prepared to take in Dina and Boomer for a few weeks
All worries aside, there still was some good news at the end of the day .... so all in all it was worth the hassle.
The horses didn't care at all ... they just want their food on time .... and roam freely and graze. But this has to be done gradually, so that their intestines can get used to it.
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