Meet Flop

Meet Flop. He arrived at The Hideaway after our visit on Monday to the Canine Defence League in L'Aquila. We had been collecting donations for dog food all week and decided that Monday was delivery day. Nearly a ton of dog food was safely taken and we had to pass through some of the more devastated areas.

It was very distressing, especially as torrential rain fell on the tendapoli - over 12000 people forced to live in rows and rows of blue tents, some unable to return as their homes destroyed, some too frightened to return home.

We knew that it was going to be a difficult day. There are over 420 dogs needing to be rehomed - the forgotten victims of the earthquake.

As we had a look round the immaculatly kept kennels, ran by only 4 full time dedicated staff and unpaid helpers. All the dogs were watererd, fed and cleaned, despite there being row after row of outdoor kennels for them to look after. These animals in a way are so lucky to be alive and living here - so many other kennels in Italy are dreadful, indoors, smelly, hot and the dogs housed in tiny crates stacked high on top of wach other.

Towards the end of our tour (we were taking as many pictures of the dogs as possible so that we can build a website to sponser and hopefully rehome some of them), we spotted 'Flop', hiding at the back of his kennel, running backwards and forwards. As the other visitors passed by and left us alone, I put my hand out through the bars and he came up and licked my fingers then sat in front of me and just 'posed' for the photo above! How could I resist him - he was just so beautiful.

Mark came along 'no.....no.....NO' - 'oh but pleeeeeeaaaasee' I pleaded and guess who won in the end - Flop and me!

He was taked to be de-ticked and as the documentation was compleated, I though 'now only 419 more to find homes for' but as I turned around, one of the helpers stood behind me clutching a tiny puppy, just found in the rubble of a nearby house. Oh damn, back up to 420 again!

Flop came home with us to The Hideaway, covered in scabs and sores and settled in immediatly. He is just the most loving, friendly dog who is the perfect pet even though he has been traumatised by the eathquake, lost his owners and been carted away to the kennels.

Whatever stories lie untold behind those beautiful brown eyes, will stay with Flop forever but at least hopefully we can say we have helped ease the pain.