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Yummm-ooooooo - I love yoghurt!
For those who can't keep up with Enzonews (and I don't blame you!), a few Enzo-notes might summarise what is happening for him.
1. First of all, how much money was raised for his journey, and how has it been spent?
In total, Enzo's Raffle raised $4600 Australian dollars. This quite extraordinary amount of money, in nearly 200 separate contributions, has virtually covered to the last cent all the outgoings on Enzo's behalf. And again, I thank you all for such blessed generosity for a boy most of you will not meet, but love as much as if he were your own. And because of that, as Paul Diggins wrote, we are all connected by the same strong thread.
The total costs to date (in Australian dollars) are thus:
Air ticket (Vienna to Melbourne) plus crate plus government vet costs: $2100
In a gesture of extreme generosity, Helmut Bogner of Animals First in Vienna did not charge a cent for his time & effort in handling Enzo's departure, including all the emails to me, Enzo's overnight care in Vienna and the endless quarantine & government paperwork involved prior to departure.
Again I extend my gratitude to Helmut, for without his commitment & dedication to Enzo's needs, we would still be floundering. Helmut took charge and controlled the strings perfectly.
And the very same must be said for Simona & Frantisek in Czech Republic. They too played a role in Enzo's survival which leaves us forever in their debt. Not only did they save his life, but they both charged only a bare minimum for his board & lodging, and his necessary vet care, in the five months leading up to his departure on 11 December 2006.
I don't believe I can ever thank them enough.
2. Who won the Raffle prizes?
Well, without going into vast detail, the answer is found on the Enzo Fundraiser Page HERE.
What I still love best when thinking about the winners is that they come from all over the world, reflecting Enzo's entire team of supporters & well-wishers.
3. And perhaps the most important question now . . .
When will Enzo be reunited with his family - Atia, little Maia & Atia's great support & partner, John?
The answer is on Monday, 5 March 2007.
We knew that a number of factors had to be considered fully before this final step in Enzo's Journey; Atia has been kept fully abreast of all decisions and is very happy just knowing that Enzo is happy & loved with us.
Firstly, we run a business full time from home. That could not be just dropped and left to look after itself. Our absence has to be planned for; as we will be away for at least a week, we will include some business while in Sydney.
Secondly, this summer, Australia, especially in our home State of Victoria, is experiencing the most brutal temperatures & bushfire activity in living memory. As an aside, we have now lost over a million hectares of the State in the most horrendous fires, many of which are still burning and may continue to do so for weeks yet. Therefore we can not leave Wombat Bend unprotected.
Thirdly, we have three other Airedales to care for; leaving them in kennels is not an option. So, with arrangements being in process for Elizabeth Hurtt (Chester's Mum) to return from her year+ in UK [which can be seen HERE], we were awaiting her date of arrival before we could fix Enzo's date of reunion with Atia in Sydney. Lizzie will arrive here at WB on 2 March to take care of The Three As while we head north to Sydney with Enzo.
The five weeks between now & Sydney give me extra time to ensure Enzo is as fit & healthy as possible before his hand-over to Atia. She has still a vast amount on her own plate caring for little Maia, (who has just had her seventh birthday on Sunday, and a week ago delighted everyone by taking her first steps without the walking frame as support.) An appointment at the Sydney Children's Hospital this week will confirm her progress, and even whether it is likely that the pins in her leg may be removed sooner than expected. We hope so, of course.
And in a journey that has had some extraordinary twists & turns & serendipitous moments of timing, perhaps the most remarkable of all is that the date we arrive in Sydney with Enzo will mark precisely one year since Atia fled Czech Republic for Australia, breaking her heart because in spite of relief on the one hand, she had been forced to leave Enzo behind.
I can still only guess at the emotional greeting Enzo will receive when we finally bring him home.
Sue - trying not to cry (yet)
Oh that's incredible! An actual date for the reunion (starred already on my calendar) and to know the $$ came in so close to what was needed (with thanks to our friends in Czech Republic & Vienna.) We are happy dancing and Aire-wriggling every time we think of how wonderful this all is.
Thanks again, Sue, for all you did. Give hugs to Enzo boy (& Aerem & Chester & Ascha) . . . and you & Bill, too
"I can still only guess at the emotional greeting Enzo will receive when we finally bring him home. "Sue ~ trying not to cry (yet)"
Oh I love this statement . . . I hope you realize that every time any one of us reads these stories we are sitting in front of our computers crying our eyes out! I can only imagine what it will be like. But on the other hand . . . Wombat Bend looks like such paradise that I am not sure I would want to leave if I was Enzo! Especially after what he has been through . . . he must feel like he is in heaven! I am sure he will miss you & Bill & the others. I am so glad I finally read the book, Emma's Journey, because I can at least console myself by saying he can come back and take a look later!
You two have accomplished amazing things!! Hats off and HUGS from here - with BIG SMILES.
ELLANA LIVERMORE: [I] Read the note through twice -just because it made me happy to think about all of this tonight. Isn't it interesting how Enzo just moved right in to WB? We get fosters from time to time who fit in here so well that we hardly have to do anything extra at all. I love the way he looks - just want to give him a big hug when I see his pictures.
Does he have a deep bark? Is his coat soft or wiry? Are his eyes clear or are they very cloudy? I think I'm in love with him (grin).
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CONTINUE WITH THE SAGA OF ENZO OF CZECH REPUBLIC & AUSTRALIA HERE
GO TO RAFFLE WINNERS
GO TO LIST OF DONORS