Gitano Jr., the last member of the pack, has been brought to our friends at Dogland Shelter in San Ramon. It’s strange not having any of them around anymore. It’s been a week since I took Gitano up to his new home. This is the same shelter where Spud, another member of the Market Pack is living and they were happy to be reunited.

Wolf, the Alpha of the pack has taken to adopted life quite well I am told. I hope to see her soon. Her new owners have been very good to her and I know she has a happy, healthy, and safe life ahead of her.

The Group has had many losses over the years, and some triumphs too. I miss those I lost to the streets, and think about them often… I will always keep them with me.

A new pack is already developing. We will see who stays…

In reality there will probably always be a Market Pack. The Pack I knew, controlled the market for 3 -1/2 years.

I’ll be posting photos soon as the new pack develops,

till then.

I had rescued 2 beautiful babies from the streets 20 months earlier. They were sisters and I named them Cleo and Gigi. I have often heard people talk about having an animal companion that was there “soul mate” and although I have always been close to animals, loved them, I couldn’t say that I had ever felt the same as some of these people described.

Then Gigi came into my life. She was a funny little puppy, legs to short, one black eye, but I quickly realized what all those people were talking about. Gigi, in short, was my soul mate.

I loved Cleo to be sure, as I do all my babies. I can’t explain the connection I felt to “G” (later I called her G, or Super G) but there it was.

The sisters Gigi & Cleo

I had been living at the beach for quite a few years and had made the decision to seek out more mountain surroundings and settled on moving to a really nice little mountain town. I found a great house with a lot of land for the babies to run, and there we went.

In all at the time it was myself, Cleo, Gigi, and my feline friends Ninja the Cat, Humo, Pepe, & Unica. This was in October of 2007, the girls, Cleo & G were full grown and about a year and a half old.

You could see for what seemed like 100 miles from my balcony.

Life was perfect.

Cleo was the kind of dog that could not be contained. I don’t know how many have come across pups like this but she was never satisfied with her yard, her surroundings, and from the time she was able it was a constant chore to keep her in any yard. She would always find escape and Gigi would always be in tow. Cleo had the heart of an explorer.

Gigi always looked up to her sister, they loved each other deeply and Cleo being the bigger of the 2, I think Gigi wanted to be like her.

I remember the first time they escaped from our new mountain home. I freaked as usual and went about patching holes in fences, trying to outsmart Cleo and her insesnt need to go run and play unfettered. It was always a losing battle with her. Given enough time she always found an escape with Gigi right behind her.

This went on for a few months but after time I started letting my guard down. Our house was surrounded by sugarcane fields and there were only 6 houses at the end of a dead end road. I could not really see my neighbors, just one house was close, we shared property lines but for the most part I was surrounded by Sugar and Cow Pastures. From my upstairs balcony I could watch Cleo and Gigi playing in the fields, running and chasing each other having fun, so I let it happen.

I need to say that again “I LET IT HAPPEN…”

When they were tired of playing in the fields I would call them and they would always come. That’s how life was for awhile, peaceful and happy.

And then the night of March 24^th I called and no one came running.

I had let them out at 7pm and as usual Cleo made a beeline for the fields with Gigi right behind her. I started to make my dinner and after about 20 minutes I started to call them, nothing. Okay I thought, not done playing I will give them 10 more minutes.

I called. Nothing…

Now I am a little concerned, not greatly but a little. I go to my balcony to see if I can see them and continue to call. The sun had set so I decided that maybe an animal had caught their attention and I went out looking.

After a quick run over the places they would usually be I started to panic. Where were they? How come they were not coming when I called? Flashlight in hand I made the decision to plunge into the sugar cane. This is no easy task by day, at night it is ridiculous, easy for a small dog, difficult for a human, but my babies were missing. I started thinking about the possibility they were bit by a snake, and began frantically looking, calling, listening.

1 hour turned into 2 hours turned to 3 hours, and in my searching, nothing.

After a while I started to lose it. I could hear a dog barking far off in the distance and in my head, panicked and desperate, I was sure it sounded like Gigi. I immediately had formed this idea in my head that somehow Cleo had gotten in trouble and Gigi refused to leave her side.

I followed the sound of the barking and it took me many kilometers away from my home, sound travels funny in a valley, in the end it was all in my head. The dog in question was not Gigi, I did not find them, and my dread kept growing.

I looked all night, and when the sun came up I was in a taxi looking further a field in hopes of finding them.

Then I got a call on my cel phone. It was my neighbor saying something about “a terrible mistake” I sped over to his house and my world came crashing down around me.

There had been a mistake, the worst mistake.

This, the closet neighbor in proximity to my own house, had in the corner of their yard constructed a pen to keep chickens at a later date. I did not know this and it was back behind their house in the corner against the 14 foot wall we shared as a property line on the backside of the house.

I remember so clearly the scream that left my mouth as I ran across their yard, I have never screamed involuntarily and with such force in all my life. Before I even reached their bodies the terrible reality of the previous night had unfolded in my mind.

The farmers in the area had recently started to cut some sugar cane for the season. Sugar cane fields are full of rodents who love feeding on the cane. When they start to cut the rats and mice tend to move out until the cutting is done and they can go back in safety.

My neighbor had purchased rat poison for this and was keeping it in the chicken pen he had made. Cleo and Gigi jumped in and thinking they had found snacks began eating the poison.

I lost Cleo, Gigi and Ninja the Cat in the blink of an eye. When the neighbor found them in the morning they were already dead.

Cleo & Ninja the Cat

Gigi loved playing in the rain and mud

They were inseparable in life and in death.

This is the event that almost sent me over the deep end, the event that changed the course of my entire life. I had never felt pain so acutely before, I’ve lost friends, have buried both my mother and father, but nothing in my life can compare to the pain I felt that day, or continue to feel if I dwell on the events of that night.

In the end it was my fault, my complacency that made this happen. The reality that as I was out looking through endless sugarcane fields for my babies they were the entire time dying an excruciating death a stones throw from their home and safety will haunt me forever, as every mistake I made that night haunts me.

My beautiful life ended that day.

I took the help of my dearest friend to bring me back from a mental breakdown, but I was changed. Every animal I saw that was in need became my priority. Within 6 months I had rescued and adopted 5 dogs myself and had rescued and placed many more.

I had become obsessed with saving dogs and still am. I still cry uncontrollably when I think on this event and so try not to dwell but to move forward. It has taken me a long time to have the strength to write about it. I think the people who have found their own soul mates would understand.

To add insult to injury I lost Pepe the cat 1 week to the day after this event. He was attacked by 3 street dogs in the middle of the night. I heard him scream and went out side but was too late. I don’t know how many have ever heard an animal scream but they do, and it’s a sound I hope I never hear again.

Pepe was one of a kind, he is survived by his sister Unica

My only goal in life now is the opening of a shelter, a place where animals are safe and I can do more for those I care so deeply for. I will never give up on this and I will not fail. I do it in memory of those I have lost and I do it for those I might be able to save.

Wolf has been a good friend, one of my best for over 3 years now. It’s strange what I am feeling about all of it. I deal with many street dogs but don’t get close to too many, occupational hazard. Most come and go in the form of adoptions. But the Market Dogs I have been involved with on an almost daily basis for years. In my mind, and in theirs, they are my babies. Yes they lived in the Market, street dogs, but they were also quite happy there, safe for the most part, well, safer…

I feel as though I have given away one of my own dogs, one of MY babies. An act so inconceivable to me, words can’t describe it, and yet, there it is.

I always envisioned that they would be the first dogs that the Project Sanctuary Shelter would take in off the street, that they would remain permanent residents of the shelter, not for adoption, and remain a family group, together.

I never tried too hard to find homes for The Market Pack, they were dumped in the Market as puppies, and the market is all they have ever known. I met most of them when they were just a year old. Multiple people keep an eye on them and call me whenever something is up. They have butchers in the market that give them all the bones and scraps a dog could possibly want, I provide medicine, love, food, and was one with the pack. They were happy, healthy, and a family.

But, then I start to think of the deeper reality. Half the original pack I met more than 3 years ago ARE dead. Even life in the relative “safety” of the market has its pitfalls…

Still, I can’t help feeling the sadness I do, I have to tell myself that she is safe, that she is better off, that she will live a normal, long, healthy life the way a dog should, and that she will be loved.

It doesn’t help…

I thought of bringing them all to my home on several occasions, but the logistics of bringing a family pack of 5 into a family pack of 8 in a 2 bedroom house, with cats on top of it, is simply not possible.

I know Wolf doesn’t understand, doesn’t know why it is that I, someone she loves and trusts, would put her in the back of a strangers car, to be taken away from everything she loves and understands, to be taken from her family.

She didn’t want to go…

I had to pick her up and put her in the car. All I could do was cry and hug her, and tell her that this was for the best, and she looked at me as though she could not believe what was happening. The Americans said they would love her and take good care of her, and I said okay, and thank you, and I cried.

And then she was gone…

And my heart broke…

I sat with The Pack for awhile, they don’t understand it all either, and at this point probably think she will be back in a couple days. It wouldn’t be the first time I have had to take her off the street for one reason or another for a couple days. The reality will set in for the Market Pack soon enough, they just lost their queen.

I will spend more time with The Market Pack these next few weeks, try and help them with the loss, but we will all feel it. The Market is already much emptier without her…

Miss you friend, hope to see you soon.

I have had a pretty rough few years in terms of my street dogs and my pack at home. Lost Prince last year & Cricket just recently, both part of the Market Pack. The Alpha of the pack, Wolf was just hit by a car this past month. She has fully recovered and was lucky, as Gitano Jr. was lucky when he was hit a few months before. Spud, also of the Market pack is still with us, and still fighting the cancer he has been diagnosed with.

Many new street dogs these days, puppies, have been dying from Parvo outbreaks here around where I live. The three puppies mentioned with photos, Angel, Camila, & Milton  in my earlier post, “A Day at the Adoption Fair” all died of Parvo in the end. Problems with Erlichia persist with no news about vaccines. This is of epidemic proportions here and the only treatment is 30 days of Anti-Biotics. Even then there is no guarantee.

It’s all these realities that make it hard to write down what’s going on sometimes. After dealing with those realities everyday it is difficult to bring it all to the surface again when I have moments of peace.

Here are at least my upcoming stories that will be posted soon. As of now they are still in my head but I will be trying to post more often.

COMING SOON

The Day My World Changed Forever

Life on the Road

A Day at the Adoption Fair – Revisited

My Friends at the Lighthouse

This is a photo of my Baby Cricket, the Market Dog who died recently. He was just 1-1/2 years old and was a joy. I had spent the day before he died with him. The next day I was called by the vet to come and identify his body, he had been hit by a car. As far as I know I have the only photos in existence of my street angels. Without them, how would anybody ever even know these  babies ever existed at all. I miss him and like so many others will never forget him, they all touch my life.

I have written about “The Market Dogs” on several occasions on the internet. It is time to officially introduce them to the Project Sanctuary Blog.

The Market Dogs are a pack that lives in and around a semi-outdoor market in the Central Valley of Costa Rica. I first encountered them in 2007 and quickly became part of the group. The faces have changed and their numbers have dwindled over the years. When I first met them they were 6 in the main pack. Lazaro was the male Alpha; Loba was the dominant female with her sister Wolf. Then we had Spud, Gitano Sr. and his son Gitano Jr.. This was the main pack and although there are always “satellite dogs” that live in and around the area, the Market Pack always keep a tight hold on the space they occupied. No trespassing.

It’s weird to write the names down now, only half the original pack are still with us. It also pains me that I don’t have photos of Gitano Sr. or Loba. I, at the time, was not always with a camera. Now I make sure never to leave home without one, never to miss an opportunity to photograph a dog. The sad truth is that they may not be around the next day.

Never the less I will post what I can and tell their story as I know it. With that I give you “The Market Dogs”

This is “Wolf”. She has been the dominant Female since her sister “Loba” disappeared over a year ago. I later found out that Loba had been poisoned. I only wish I had a photo I could show you, she was beautiful. Wolf is 3 years old and a wonderful soul. She is very affectionate but she runs a “tight ship” as it were in the market. No female dogs allowed in the area! The Market Pack always consists of her and several males.

Lazaro was the dominant male when I met the Market Dogs in 2007. He was young, only about a year old when I met him. Very aggressive towards other dogs in general. In those days it was a chore to keep Gitano Sr. and Lazaro from fighting. Overall they tolerated each other only.

At one point Lazaro got into a fight with a Rottweiler. Laz lost, his throat literally ripped out. When I heard of this I searched for him all day. I found him 12 hours later in a field. I was calling him and he came to me. He collapsed in my arms, still alive, but only barely. I rushed him to the vet and after extensive reconstructive surgery,  he made a slow recovery. After he was released a month later he was back with the pack but he was never quite the same after that.

These are the only photos of Laz I have.They were taken about 6 months after his fight and a month after Loba disappeared. Lazaro would disappear in the next 48 hours. I to this day don’t know what happened to him, one day he was just gone. But that’s how it happens sometimes here. The hardest part is not knowing. I miss him.

I would like to now introduce “Spud”.

Don’t let his small size fool you. Spud is usually the first one to spot trouble in the market and also the first into battle. He, like Wolf is about 3 years of age and has been with the group as long as I have known them.

Spud has recently been diagnosed with cancer and the outcome will be sad if we are unable to raise the money needed for chemotherapy. We are doing our best.

Giatno Sr. was a BIG MEAN street dog. As I already said I have no photo. I regret that. I am not often ill at ease around dogs but I always watched myself around Gitano Sr. We developed a relationship in the end because I think I was the only person who was ever brave enough to pet him. He loved affection, so much so that he would growl at me if I tried to stop petting him. He disappeared one day, as they all seem to do. In doing so he left behind his son Gitano Jr.

Gitano Jr. was just 6months old when I met him in 2007. He grew fast and is a very strong dog, but unlike his father doesn’t have an angry bone in his body. Although he could easily take over as Alpha he doesn’t want it. He has always been content in his position. His expressions speak of his nature.

Gitano Jr. is doing well thankfully. I love the time we spend together.

“Prince” was a joker. He was the comedian of the group for the brief time he was with us (8 months), and had an odd sense of humor. He became part of the group after Loba, Lazaro, & Gitano Sr. had already passed. He was an adult and I put him at maybe 5 or 6 years of age.

He was not outwardly friendly unless he knew you. He loved scaring the hell out of people.  He would sneak up behind someone who was minding their own business and nip them in the butt. The person would jump, than start cursing the dog. Anyway, he thought it was hilarious. I loved Prince as I have loved them all. Prince was hit by a car in August of 2009. I was in the United States at the time and missed his passing by only days. He is dearly missed, this is the only photo I could find of him.

Rollo Thomassi was a young dog, just a year or so old when he wandered into the Market area. He was accepted into the group but was only with us for about 3 months.

What has happened to him remains a mystery. Like so many before, he was just gone one day.

These dogs are a part of my life. I look forward to seeing them everyday and if it were not for the fact that my house is full of dogs already I would take them off the streets myself.

I am always scared about loosing part of my street family. As much as I want to see them everyday I always get a sense of dread just before I arrive. The thought that maybe one of them won’t be there preoccupies my mind. The average lifespan of a street dog in Costa Rica is only 2 years. I look at some of my Market Dogs and can’t help but think that some of them are already on borrowed time.

Chance was only a “Market Dog” for a few days. He was only 8 months old when he was dumped. We named him Chance because we hoped he had one. I and others tried to save his life, but we could not. He was suffering from the advanced stages of Eurlichia, a blood disease carried by ticks. 2 blood transfusions later…He died in my arms.

Chance – 8 month old

Jasmin was only a part of the pack for about a week before I took her off the street. Gitano Jr. with the heart of gold gave her a pass to join the group. I think Wolf allowed it because of how sick she was, didn’t see her as a threat. When I was finally able to get close enough to her it was apparent she was suffering from multiple injuries. She had a broken back leg, advanced Eurlichia, and was extremely scared of humans. I can only guess from a lifetime of abuse. She was only a year old when I found her.

She has made a full recovery and has been adopted into a very loving home.

MARKET DOG UPDATES

As I said I started writing this back in December and than got busy with other work. In that time Gitano Jr. was hit by a car (he is okay). Wolf was kidnapped off the Streets only later to be dumped again. 2 new dogs named Cricket & Ashley have come to the group. Ashley has been given a temporary pass from Wolf because she is still a puppy. I will be posting updates when I can about the group. Thank you for taking the time to get to know these amazing friends of mine.

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This is a street dog I met in Alajuela, Costa Rica. He sits in the middle of a directional arrow pointing Left and right (unsure where to go). In the background you can just see part of the sign of a store but all you see is “NO MUNDO” or “No World”.For me it struck a chord. This is no world for this baby. She should be safe and sound in a loving home, not out in the streets.

“Sometimes I  sit at this busy bus stop here. I’ll be watching one or two of my street dogs from afar (they don’t see me). ” I watch 100 people go on by,  not one of them acknowledges the dogs existence.

200 people.

400 people.

“Sometimes I wonder if anyone ever notices them in a day besides me. ..”

These next 2 photos may be hard for some to see, not horrible, but not pretty. This is just another reason life on the streets can be tough. Meet Mickey.

Mickey’s story is largely unknown but we do know this. Mickey was the victim of a hit & run. The driver did not even slow down. He suffered broken bones, internal injuries, and severe lacerations, including having her face half ripped off.

He is healing nicely. You are seeing him well after the accident. I will not post any photos prior to these, it is not my intention to shock or dismay anyone, but to make people aware. Mickey will never be 100%, but he will heal. He is a beautiful soul.

Next we see my baby Jasmin. She was dumped close to death in an open Market here in Costa Rica. She had a broken leg, was skin and bones, and had  severe Eurlichia. Some friends of mine, “The Market Dogs”, took her in.  The Market  Dogs don’t usually allow “outsiders” into the market area. I can only guess they saw how sick she was and tried to help. Good example of how smart dogs are.  When I met Jasmin, the severity of her condition was apparent. It was also obvious that she had been horribly abused. She has been in care now for 45 days and is a wonderful dog. This is the most recent photo I have.  And now, I give to you, Jasmin.

Isn’t she beautiful. She is still in our care and we are trying to find her a home. She has made a full recovery. Not all of our efforts have happy endings though.

“I think about the number one million sometimes.”

“One million street dogs in Costa Rica.”

Again and again it floats through my mind

“one million street dogs”

“That’s the estimate. I have met maybe a couple of thousand since living here…”

1,000,000 street dogs

“I try and picture this many dogs in my mind, try and wrap my head  around it”

A MILLION STREET DOGS

“I can’t. I just can’t. I cannot fathom what it would take to correct this problem. I, as so many others, will however keep doing what we can.”

Now, because I love them. And because we always seem to have them in abundance. I bring to you, Puppies.

Meet Blackie, dumped in the streets, rescued by The Atenas Animal Rescue Group, looking for a good home.

Blackies sister, Biminy.

And the last brother, Jasper.

The street really is  “no world” for these dogs. They deserve better. We need to be better. Better at caring, better at noticing, at acting…

at being human…

Next time you pass a dog alone in the street, don’t think of it as a dog, think of it as a baby. It’s easy. Stop to acknowledge the baby. Stop to see if he or she is okay. Just stop to say hi. It means “the world” to them.

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COMING SOON “The Market Dogs” – An entry about my beloved Market Pack.

This is any given Friday where I live. Everyone invoved in helping with the issue of strays gets together every week to try and place our rescues. We interview the people interested, get all the contact information and give them names and numbers of vets in the area.

I wanted to post some photos of some of these babies on any given Friday.

This Little one was named Molecule.

Molecule… She was one of lucky ones we placed, how could we fail with a face like that.

Patiently waiting…The one on the left was lucky enough to be reunited with the family who lost track of her. An unexpected, but happy ending. The pup on the right “lucky” is still in the system.

This little angel unfortunately didn’t make it. She died of Parvo on October 12th 2009. Sometimes we don’t get to them in time. This was the last known photo of her. We did not have her long enough to name her, so we will call her simply “Angel”

This is Angels sister. Named “Camila”. We are awaiting tests to come back and hoping she is Parvo free. Their brother, “Milton”, the last of the litter shown below, is not doing so well.

We are afraid Parvo will take Milton within days. Your heart breaks in ways few can imagine doing this work. At the same time, how can you stop? How can you turn your back? I can’t…

Camila and Milton in the last embrace they may ever have. Milton is quarantined as Parvo is extremely contagious. All we can do is hope for the best.

I will post just one more photo for now. This I hope will at least leave some with a smile. I know I smile every time I see him. Check out the mug on this kid

I call him “Bugsy Malone”

Hope this Fridays photo essay was enlightening in some way.  So much more to tell you, and show you…

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I would do this for hours,

did it for days,

years…

In hindsight this behavior seems kinda twisted to me but I understand it as the beginnings of my fascination, respect, & love of all living things.

As much as I do love nature in all its forms, nothing I love more than the interactions you have with domesticated animals. It is one thing to observe animals from afar. It is another entirely to share your life with them. This fascinates me to no end. The shared bond between 2 separate species. Which brings me to my love of dogs and cats.

(Ana ees) The only dog I ever paid money for...

* A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself. -  Josh Billings

If a truer statement exists, I can’t think of it right now. For me there is nothing more beautiful than the mind of a dog. They share a great many similarities, but every dog I have ever met (and I have met thousands) is different in personality.

I have been blessed, in the fact that dogs (most animals really) naturally trust me. I don’t know why this is, and it has always puzzled me in life, but I accept it gladly. In my thousands of encounters with street dogs, I have never been bitten.

I am thankful for that.

Wherever I live, the street dogs all know me. I get to know them. I can’t walk down the street without a pack behind me. We spend time together and they feel safe with me. More than the food I give, the medicine I provide, they simply crave love.

Just Love

These strays (almost 1 million strong) in Costa Rica have become my life. Trying to fix a problem that seems insurmountable, my obsession.

I got time…

I will be bringing you some of my stories and photos periodically.

I do this simply so people will know.

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