Giving back
A dogs tale
We are very lucky to live on six acres of natural spaces and olive groves, with uninterrupted views to distant hills and mountains. We have few neighbours, and none visible from home.
Our two Labradors, Inca and Orla, have loved it here, especially the outdoor life. Plenty of space to roam, although they are rarely more than a few feet away from us when we’re working outside, and miles of walking trails straight out of our gate. You could describe it as a doggy paradise!
And whilst we always keep the dogs away from guests, many of the people we’ve hosted have loved meeting Inca and Orla, both of whom are very well behaved and relish a bit of extra fuss and attention.
Claire and I have both been fortunate to grow up with much-loved pets as part of our childhoods and beyond, and Claire in particular has always had dogs as part of her adult life. A well cared-for pet brings so much joy to households of all ages, abilities and size.
Over the last year as the pace of work on the house has settled down we have been taking more time to engage with this amazing place and the outdoor life it offers. And we’ve also begun looking for ways to give something back to the locality, meet new people, and maybe learn a bit more Spanish too.
So we’re delighted to have become active members of Protectora El Cau, a non-profit Dog Protection Association near Vinaros, just a few kilometres from here. Since 1999 they have been rescuing dogs from abandonment and mistreatment, to offer them a second chance through adoption. We are proud to be supporting their amazing work and helping to give these dogs the care and security they deserve while they wait for a new forever home.
We are sponsoring Nina, a five-year old female with a lovely face and soft nature. She has been with El Cau since August 2020. As a big dog she will sadly be hard to home, as so many families come looking for puppies, younger dogs, and smaller sizes. But we hope one day the right household finds her and gives her a loving home. In the meantime, we hope our sponsorship means that her ongoing care at El Cau is guaranteed for as long as she needs it.
Claire has begun volunteering at El Cau and helps out one morning a week to clean out the pens and make sure the dogs are comfortable and cared for. And of course, there’s plenty of time to make sure they all get a hug and some fuss.
And inevitably, a new member joins our little family as we have adopted a lovely young stray who proved irresistible from the very first time we set foot on the premises! We are so excited to be sharing our home with Olive, and our two Labradors will make her very welcome. We are sure that the space, care and love we have to give will make this a very happy home for this rescued dog.
Please take a moment to visit the excellent El Cau website and see how you could support them from as little as €3 a month. And look out for updates on the continuing adventures of Inca, Orla, and now Olive, on this blog and on our social media feeds.
Claire & Ed
