Two of us volunteers are in Greece for a week helping with the 50 or so dogs in Elpida Shelter of Hope, Livadia.
I want to tell you a story...
There is a fable that gets passed round dogs in shelters (they know exactly what is happening every minute of every day and observe us humans' every move), that mothers tell their puppies, brothers tell their sisters, kennel mates tell their bonded partners. In hushed tones, late at night, they whisper to each other 'When they put a collar on you, that means you might be going! Try to be good, stay still while they buckle it up. Then let them put a long thingy on to the collar and show them that you can do what they ask. Don't resist, sit or lie down or twist your neck around. Just walk alongside them and be proud of your collar because it is your passport to their world of food, warmth, soft beds and 'walkies'. Let them point that clicking box at you and let them stretch that measuring thing over you. Then maybe, just maybe, you will be on the next van, on the way to a home....We will miss you and wish it was us but we want you to be happy and we will wait patiently until it’s our turn. Some of us know, deep down, that it will never be our turn but hey - we are dogs, and dogs are loving, giving creatures who will live in Hope to the end of our days.'
I want to tell you a story...
There is a fable that gets passed round dogs in shelters (they know exactly what is happening every minute of every day and observe us humans' every move), that mothers tell their puppies, brothers tell their sisters, kennel mates tell their bonded partners. In hushed tones, late at night, they whisper to each other 'When they put a collar on you, that means you might be going! Try to be good, stay still while they buckle it up. Then let them put a long thingy on to the collar and show them that you can do what they ask. Don't resist, sit or lie down or twist your neck around. Just walk alongside them and be proud of your collar because it is your passport to their world of food, warmth, soft beds and 'walkies'. Let them point that clicking box at you and let them stretch that measuring thing over you. Then maybe, just maybe, you will be on the next van, on the way to a home....We will miss you and wish it was us but we want you to be happy and we will wait patiently until it’s our turn. Some of us know, deep down, that it will never be our turn but hey - we are dogs, and dogs are loving, giving creatures who will live in Hope to the end of our days.'
