Help me provide a New Future to Rescued dogs Far Away

No worries at all. No question is stupid and I am happy to answer.

You are right, I have not been on site and not met the dogs in person. I put my faith in the integrity and professionalism of the trainer and her judgement, and given that we have also analysed together my own dog’s characteristics before she came back with a list of potential dogs, I believe any of them will fit in with my family. There is no way that these dogs will have been thrown out by me once they arrived, not ever. I would have sorted any issue if needed and dealt with it. Behaviorists, training to mention two ways that come to mind.

I like what you say about fate, because I totally believe that too. Call it a lucky charm or whatever, but both my plan B’s were adopted last weekend after long long long months waiting. I was so happy to see my plan B’s go to loving homes. But not to worry, there were also plans C and D… only…. If you read all the way through you will see that it matters not. Not any more.

With the funding question – I am actually receiving the funds as I go, it is a cause not an all-or-nothing project. When people donate they are charged immediately. There is a due date but I think this is just formality. You are correct to assume that GiveaLittle charges in New Zealand Dollars (NZD).

I don’t know if you had a chance to look at update number 3 but now that I actually have a concrete quote from the shipping agent (no more a “rough estimate”) things look grim. I had the shock of my life to receive the formal quote of USD 5395.00 (American Dollars) for a single dog, and… it’s only for the Flights! not even covering quarantine, which is another NZD 1800 (give and take)… so all in all it is way more than the NZD 6,500 I was originally asking, more like NZD 10,000 for one dog (with the current exchange rates being very unfavorable as they are).

So what happens now? I’m afraid I’m losing hope. This cause page is still open, maybe in the hope of a miracle... I was really hoping to get support with tweets and, yes, maybe even a (generous?) donations from animal-loving celebrities (like Ricky Gervais)… sometimes dreams don't come true. It’s not going to happen. I’ve been shouting the loudest I can, over and over – begging… but what can the little ant do to draw the attention of the mighty bear? Nothing.

So I am at the point where I think what is the point to continue? There is no way I can ever get enough funding. I am tired and spent.

I will keep the cause open and let it run its course until its closing date. Then I will collect whatever has been funded and it will be donated directly to Let the Animals Live so at least it can be used towards providing for these dogs. I will provide a proof of payment so people can be satisfied nothing went to my own pocket.

I appreciate your interest in this cause Erik. I wish there were more people with interest like yours, but most people are indifferent.

I am currently totally hearbroken and in pieces. I got very attached to Demi and Max. What kills me the most is that, locked in their cells, they will never know that for a brief moment they were truly wanted. Never know that in spite their harsh living conditions, they are truly loved.

Keep hoping for a miracle.

Cheers.

Hi Erik. First thank you for your question. It shows you have checked out my page and gave it some thought and I am grateful for that.

It is hard to pinpoint the exact moment when the project came to be, maybe it was a post that a friend of mine shared on Facebook several months ago - it was the most beautiful dog in a shelter, behind bars, with the saddest eyes I have ever seen. I couldn't believe it when I read that the dog was there waiting to be adopted for 7 years. I thought to myself "how can that be?"... I started following the Facebook page of the shelter myself. Day after day hundreds of posts haunted me. There is a catastrophic problem of stray dogs in Israel. That specific shelter is run by the biggest charity for strays there (Let the Animals Live). They do so much for the animals, but in the scorching heat, in the crowded cells, dogs suffer greatly, especially the old ones. I kept thinking "someone must do something!" but with every single day there was this little niggling thought at the back of my mind: "why don't YOU do something?"... and one day I just snapped and said to my self "yes. I will!". The first thing I did was approach the Ministry for Primary Industries here in New Zealand, because I thought it was not even legally possible to do that. I was wrong. It is a lengthy process but it is absolutely possible. Next step was to call the shelter. Finding the right time to call was not easy as the time between here and there is completely opposite (day is night and night is day) but I managed to get a hold and had a lengthy conversation. I had to explain who I am and what I wish to do... Adopting to an overseas destination is not their everyday occurrence, and had to be approved first by their kennel managers. They are in such dire need of adopters and fosterers that I suppose they saw a good home and thought - it will still be a good home - even if it is across one or two oceans.... I filled some forms and was assigned a contact person who is a dog trainer and handler there, she knows all the dogs very very well. Since then I have been in touch with her regularly. I gave a detailed list of what characteristics I am looking for: e.g. I have an old dog so the other dogs must be social. They must be able to be trusted around young people etc. She came back with a list of about 7 dogs. We had a long chat on the phone and I managed to narrow it down to two: Demi, the 3 legged female and Max the old fella. Of course, while this process of raising funds is still going (slowly...), should someone come to the shelter and ask to adopt any of them I will be elated - and heartbroken at the same time... but there are more than 200 dogs waiting there, so I am sure that if Demi or Max are adopted before I get my funding sorted, there will still be another dog to save.

A flight from Israel to NZ is about 24 hours (roughly 2x12 hrs each leg) but can be even longer (with transitions between airlines etc). One of my criteria for choosing the dogs was that they must be able to make the trip. My dog (in the photo with me) flew across the globe also, and so I know it is possible and can go pretty smoothly.

I hope I did not leave anything out. Please feel free to ask further. Also donations will be highly appreciated ;-)

Thanks again,

Maya