Life In The Refuge - A Long Termer's Story.

(Words by Anne O'Connor)

What must life be like for the long term residents in a refuge? For many, the long interminable days all rolling into one, with no prospect of a new life, gradually makes the eyes go dull and the soul despair. For these poor dogs, the misery of never knowing when their real lives will begin is the worst part of being nobody's dog..

This is the story of one of these dogs.

His name is PASSE

You will find him in the far corner of the compound, sitting quietly, waiting. 

Passe waits.

He has been waiting for almost all his life, in different places. The place before this one had been a place of great fear and pain for him. He remembers how it felt to be pinned down, his throat squeezed between the jaws of the angry dog. He would not have survived long had it not been for the lady who heard his struggles, took him to the vet to be healed and then brought him to this place. He is safe now, but he still waits, because his life, his real life, has still not begun. 

Passe watches.

He watches as more dogs come to this place. He watches as they learn to live here. He watches the ones who are so afraid that they shrink from attention, the ones frozen in fear, the ones who cannot cope with the noise and activity around them. He feels the need in them, he knows what it means to yearn for a soft, quiet place to call his own. He watches them grow and become new dogs, more confident, ready for their new lives. He watches as they leave this place forever with their new families. Finally, they are wanted, they are loved.

Passe remembers.

He remembers his first months here. Making friends. He remembers those who welcomed him, those who were kind, those who played with him. He remembers those he came to trust and care for. He remembers the confusion and emptiness inside as he saw each of them leave. Why does no one come for him?

How difficult it is to make friends now. He knows that soon they will be gone and he will be left  alone again.

Passe feels.

But he doesn't want to feel any more. He has felt enough. He has felt terror and relief, loss and pain but worst of all, he has felt hope. 

Passe hopes.

He recalls how, for a short time, his dreams did come true. He was the one chosen. He was to receive his great gift of life in a family. The lady who took him was a friend of his rescuer and ready to offer him a foster home while he waited for his adoptive family. He loved to sit next to her and be stroked, he loved to be loved and to have his own bed, at last. 

At last, someone wanted him and loved him. But, her cat who, being old and ill, could not accept him. Despite all best efforts, he could not stay. He had to return to this place and wait once more.

The hope inside him is starting to die and now, Passe despairs.

Passe knows.

He knows although his rescuer says that he looks very regal, he is not the most elegant, nor is he the cutest. He's not the youngest, nor is he the oldest. Somehow, he knows he does not have the appeal of his friends who have found their families. He knows he has such love in his heart to give. But, he knows too that, right now, no one wants him.

Passe fades.

The years are passing and still no one comes. The people here are kind. The lady who loved him enough to try, still comes to take him for walks. She tries to keep his spirit alive. She looks hard to find him the home he still dreams of. But his hope is dying. The life in his eyes is fading. In this place, there is nothing else for him to do. 

He waits, but he no longer knows what it is he is waiting for, a home or simply the end of all hope? 

And still, Passe waits.

Passe has been with Stacey in 4Paws Adoptions since the end of 2011. He is located in Fuengirola but he can travel.

Can you help Passe, who so wants and needs a place of his own? Could you offer a foster place or a forever home? He is a beautiful young podenco who has had a bad start in life. He is intelligent, loving and a real gentlemen. He is chipped, castrated and ready to go. He is tested negative for Med diseases.

Here is what Stacey has to say about Passe how she found him and how difficult it has been for him.: 

“I took him as I was entering the kennels 1 day from a walk could hear a scuffle and knew there was a dog in trouble somewhere. so as soon as I was through the door, dropped my leads and the dogs and followed to where the noise was coming from to find a boxer pinning down a podenco, the podenco was PASSE, managed to get the boxer off and carried PASSE into the hospital for the vet to come down, we cleaned him up he had 3 drains inserted in his neck stayed in the hospital for 9 days and then was released to me.

All seemed to be bumbling along though I was advertising him, other dogs came and went and always PASSE stayed, and time went on & I thought that was it he was going to be with me permanently and then realized that HE COULDNT STAY WITH ME, in a kennel for the rest of his life, although I am there everyday and usually about 6 hours, I only actually have approx. 25mins with each dog.

As I enter the kennels there is about 7 or 8 loose cats which I feed on my way in so they are there as I then come in and out and he doesn't bat an eye lid, But then there is not a lot he is interested in, he is a podenco and that breed normally are alert where as PASSE hardly lifts his head from the ground. 

HE is quite clever as he has learnt to open the door the ones where the handle presses down and then can pull it or push it open, he isn't interested in toys, throwing a stick or a ball, one day he can take a treat another day no, 1 day would take sausage another day no, 1 day will take cheese another no, etc etc, I have just found it so difficult to get through to him. Other than that he is a very regal looking dog (when he eventually lifts his head) and really doesn't seem to be perturbed by anything or anyone .”

Here is what Passe's short term foster carer said about him:

“The first night Passe stayed he pood in his bedroom (had his own double bedroom), it was not his fault as he has been in a kennel for over 2 years so does not know any difference and also cocked his leg on my curtain and sofa. Lovely!!I told him off, albeit gently and the next night, the darling did not poo until I had taken him out for a walk. He had obviously hung on like mad as he groaned with pleasure when he was eventually taken for a walk and able to do his business. Thus a very very intelligent dog. 

He can also open doors! He was confident with me and spent time lying on the sofa with his head in my lap and loved it when I stroked him. If my cat had not reacted that way, I would have not had any hesitation in fostering him until a permanent home was found. I took him out for walks and he needs two good walks a day. He had about 1 and half to 2 hours a day with me, which he relished. Hence as said in my write up, it is dreadful that a healthy dog who clearly needs exercise and stimulation, is still in a kennel after two years. NO LIFE AT ALL.

He is a very handsome dog and certainly got a lot of looks when I was walking him. He seemed fine with other dogs that I met and as said , did not chase my cats. HOWEVER, in just two days , I would not want to vouch for him re dogs and cats, as it was clearly early days. But the vet felt he had a very kind nature and that is the impression he gave me.

What was very evident to me, was that PASSE was very sad and gave the impression that he had given up. No permanent owner, no permanent place to his rest head, no constant love that only a permanent home can bring and no hope of running free across fields and hills and then coming home to good meal and a warm cuddle and soft words. HE DESERVES THAT. 

There is something quite special about him that is not entirely evident at first, but I got a good glimpse of that in just 2 days. “

Passe is one of those dogs who will be a very special gift to the the lucky person who takes him on. He is one of those dogs whose gentle and intelligent nature we grow to love, once given the chance. His life is wasted on waiting to show someone how wonderful their life could be with him. Let's not waste another second of it.

If you can offer Passe a home, be it a foster home or a a forever home please contact Stacey at 4Paws adoptions info@4pawsadoptions.com or if you'd like to talk to Jacqui, Passes's advocate, directly, you can email her : jacks.os@hotmail.co.uk or give her a call on: 0034 952884921.

Passe also has his own Facebook page - A Home For Passe (click). Head on over and keep him company. Hopefully, this page won't be needed much longer.