On 28 May, Sue writes a synopsis of SAVING KENZO:
In what might be a speed record for a Rescue that went 'international',
in just ten days of across-the-globe communication,
a sad, lost & very neglected Airedale boy was found,
the word spread over the internet, and a collective effort to save him was mounted.
Kenzo The Airedale was in Spain.
He was filthy, matted, dreadlocked, heat-stressed, depressed, lonely & utterly forlorn.
He looked feverish, dull-eyed and was rapidly losing the will to live.
The initial announcement of his plight was posted on a number of Yahoo lists,
and within moments of his photo being published on Facebook on 15 May,
a group had formed with the sole mission of saving Kenzo.
Not just any group; USA, Australia, UK, Dominican Republic and Spain itself were represented.
Supported by hundreds of well-wishers, nine of us spoke, 'chatted',
emailed & facebooked in a round-the-clock, round-the-world
24-hour, ten-day push to organise Kenzo's pull
from where he lay in a high-kill shelter in Malaga,
arrange a temporary 'safe house' in Spain,
and organise his final transport to the care of UK Rescue,
with an adoptive home ready & waiting.
What made it even more of a challenge was that communication was largely in Spanish.
Hmmm . . . thank doG for Google Translate.
If you have ever hankered for instant multi-linguistic skills,
there you have them. We also had the help of Patricia Cruz
in Dominican Republic, who willingly translated for us.
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With everything in place
bar the actual release of
Kenzo from the shelter,
the news flashed through
that he had been safely adopted
by an Airedale-
experienced person in
Murcia, a few hours
away from Malaga.
With a collective sigh of relief
that was heard over the internet,
we waited for confirmation
that it was true.
Sidney Hardie was able to contact
the adopter and received
the news that Kenzo
was indeed safely home
with his new Guardian Angel,
Yaiza, and her several
very sweet little Pugs.
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26 May 2012
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Donations were already streaming into my PayPal account;
the decision was made to split the donations between the
Rescue Group (Ladridos Felices - Happy Barkers)
who had first published Kenzo's plight, and Yaiza herself,
to assist her with Kenzo's vet expenses, which will be considerable.
So 200 Euros were donated to Ladridos Felices and 200 Euros to Yaiza.
[200 EUR = 247.52 USD = 159.86 GBP = 254.55 AUD = 254.75 CAD = 9,615.57 DOP]
We received ecstatic thanks from both.
I know that if we had needed additional funds to get Kenzo
to England, the money would have been found.
And back to Kenzo. The photos say it all.
From dreadlocked to groomed, from dull-eyed to bright-eyed,
from lost to found, from lonely to loved . . .
utterly adored would be a better descriptor.
Yaiza is the perfect AireAngel for Kenzo.
Kenzo is another Starfish. The words of Helen Keller echo:
I am only one; but still I am one.
I cannot do everything, but still I can do something.
I will not refuse to do the something I can do.
Together, again & again, we do what we can. I know we always will.
Thank you to everyone everywhere for all the support you gave in every way.
And we salute Kenzo & Yaiza in Spain.
Sue in Australia
AireNet Australia
Airedale Terrier Rescue & Adoption Network of Australia Inc.
Kenzo sez: Give the dog some toast. Give the dog some toast.
You WILL give the dog some toast.
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