General Meeting 29-6-2014

Our first general meeting will be on Sunday 29-6-2014 10:30 in Kalivia at Taverna To Steki!

So finally we can officially elect the board of the charity.

All members have been informed already.

Peter’s difficult operation

Peter had no ectopic ureters, as suspected in Holland, but the left kidney was not functioning at all and much enlarged. As well as vascular malformations in the ureter and enlarged blood vessels. A very serious operation was needed, since the kidney had to be removed. It took several hours of surgery but the vet and Peter have won the fight. The kidney was successfully removed despite the size and the enlarged blood vessels, and now Peter is beginning to recover slowly at home with Claudia and Klaus.

http://www.wuestenwolf.de/?p=7554

After the first restless night, he needed prescribed painkillers drops and later he was checked by the vet. Everything was okay, the operation went well despite the severity.

Read also another report by Claudia about the first day after surgery.

http://www.wuestenwolf.de/?p=7594

Peter is, of course, still in pain and moves very carefully but he lives and !!!!! he doesn't lose urine anymore.

It is frightening to think what he would have to endure if Claudia and Klaus had not responded so quickly. First our little Peter has to recover totally with Claudia and Klaus, but we already would like to ask, who can offer a new and loving home for this small, brave, loving guy?

 

 

It is finished - ACT is now an officially registered animal welfare association on Thassos!

ACT - Animal Care Thassos (Δράση για τα ζώα Θάσου) is finally an officially-registered Greek animal welfare organization on the island of Thassos with registration number 19/2014. 

Read all about it in our newsletter!

More help for Peter

Do you remember little Peter? He was supposed to fly to Germany in March with Roxy. But after a thorough investigation because he was limping, it showed that the bones in his leg did not grow well and he had to be operated by a specialist in Kavala. (http://act-thassos.blogspot.gr/2014/03/help-little-peter.html)

When Peter had recovered from the surgery, he was flown in May with a flight partner to the Netherlands and was quickly adopted by a loving family. Peter was also accepted by the dog of the family already present, and it looked as though everyone was happy. We were glad he had found such a nice place.

But after a while, it was found that Peter was dribbling urine. For the second time Peter was thoroughly investigated. This time it was noted that he had ectopic ureter. A congenital defect in which one or both ureters not flow into the bladder. More information can be found here: http://www.vetsurgerycentral.com/ectopic_ureter.htm

This defect itself is operable and generally has a great chance of success, if the dog has no other anomalies.
This operation is very expensive and not always successful. Peter's adoptive family thought it over for a long time, but finally they saw no choice but to return Peter to our Dutch foster family.

Because of his problem with the uncontrolled leakage Peter needed extra work and attention. Unfortunately, the family situation of the Dutch foster did not allow this rather unhygienic conditions, and they also had to look for another solution.

After a lot of consultation, it was jointly decided that Peter had to return to Thassos as soon as a flight partner was found. We wanted to have Peter operated here in Greece, and then find a place for him where he - if the operation would not be successful - could live outside, so the problem with the leakage would not be so relevant. This decision was not easily made, but we were convinced that Peter's chances on a place like that would be better here on Thassos than in the Netherlands or Germany.
We placed calls on Facebook for a new foster place for Peter for the time until we found him a flight to Kavala. This call was also read by Claudia and Klaus (www.wuestenwolf.de), which have helped already so many animals of Thassos. They kept thinking of  the fate of Peter and eventually they decided to discuss the issue with their own vet. He recommended a specialist who had performed many of such operations successfully.

Then everything went very quickly. Peter has an appointment for an operation already on June 17 and may stay with Claudia and Klaus until he is recovered and they have found him a new home.
For everyone, us ACT, the adoptive family that had sadly returned Peter, and of course the Dutch foster family, it was a great relieve when they heard of the plans of Claudia and Klaus.
Together we found a solution and together we will see that Peter can also take this hurdle and find a new fine for ever home.

Dear Claudia and Klaus, we thank you so much. Without your help this would not have been possible. Peter will certainly thank you more than we can express in words.

A busy day

Yesterday was for many people a tiring but happy day. It was the day that Zina and 3 T- puppies left for the Netherlands.

Alex and Tanja were up early to arrange transportation to the airport and once there the officer had them, and hence the flight partners, waiting very long until the boxes were finally allowed through security. The puppies were, thanks to a sedative tablet, sleeping and had no problems. Zina was, however, despite the tranquilizers, agitated and barked at anyone who walked past her box. That was not appreciated by the staff and they were then asked to wait outside. But at last the time had come and they were on the plane.

Arriving in Dusseldorf they were met by Ivonne and Sandra to be brought to their new owners or foster family. Unfortunately Zina had soiled her box and it was decided to first deliver the puppies. Tilly and Tassos went to their foste families and  Toula to her new owner. 

Toula is now called Lexi and already feels quite at home, though she finds it still a little scary. Zina was then cleaned at home at Ivonne's. She was at first very stressed and unwilling, but eventually she calmed. 

In the evening she was brought to her new home and she behaved very well, played soon with her ball and toys and covered the daughter of the house with kisses. Another happy family there. 

Then finally Ivonne and Sandra could go back to their own homes, tired but satisfied.

To be a volunteer in animal care is not always easy, but when everything is brought to a happy ending then again you know why you are doing this.

It is clear that this can't be done without the help of others. Therefore we thank Alex and Tanja very much for organizing the transport, Erna, John, Jan and Bettina for guiding the dogs on their flight and their patience at the airport, and of course Sandra and Ivonne who arranged the transport and accommodation of the dogs in Holland!

Toula>Lexi with her new family

Zina in her new home