|
TOWARDS POLAND... JUNE 2007
|
|
|
|
Monday June 4 we begin our journey with a van loaded with a gas cooker, dog food, microwave oven, rugs, blankets and chewy bones towards Warsaw. Our first stop is Karlskrona where we will take the ferry to Gdynia. On the ferry we meet Hanna and Wientek Michnik from Gothenburg - they will guide us all the way through Poland - so we aim at their red SAAB when we disembark on Tuesday morning… It is all thanks to Hanna that we first got in contact with EMIR!!! We were at the shelter in March but we flew to Warsaw that time; now we have 440 kilometres ahead of us and +30 degrees… our van does not have air condition and we are happy that Wientek and Hanna know the way… Traffic is heavy and the kilometres seem very long, we do not arrive until six thirty in the afternoon - but when we see all the wonderful dogs all is forgotten! The dogs in the front yard come to greet us; happy, curious, friendly and cuddly… it makes your heart swell… Krystyna invites us for coffee and biscuits in her garden where Abra, Sultan, Emi and Norton dwells. Abra with a body abused from a life as breeding bitch in a puppy factory…Disgusting. Despite that she seeks contact, she is very cuddly and absolutely gorgeous with her soft ears She is safe now at the shelter… After coffee, mingling with dogs and chatting to humans we go back to Anna`s flat - she has invited us to stay at her place this time as well - Thank You Anna! Wednesday morning we are picked up by Hanna and Wientek; a visit to a shelter run by the council, which keep about 1800 dogs… is on the agenda for Hanna, Monica and Ingrid. Wientek and I go on a church tour… |
 |
| Around two thirty in the afternoon we go back to EMIR´s shelter; Krystyna and all the volunteers have organized an EMIR-day!!! Big festivities with lots of food and drink; fresh salads, homemade bread, pickled vegetables and Polish sausages on the grill…yum-yum!! For dessert various cakes bursting with nuts and covered in chocolate-icing…mmmm… We are sitting around the tables in Krystyna`s wonderful jasmine- arbour, we do not all know each other but have one important thing in common; The welfare of Dogs…Krystyna gives a small speech and announces that a sub-branch to her shelter will open 300 kilometres away!!! Wonderful!!! More dogs will be given shelter! The evening is rounded off with a huge fire lit by Tomasz… |
 |
| On Thursday morning we arrive at
the shelter at eight thirty - the cages are in the van and safely secured
- Thank You Tomasz! For the last time we have coffee in Krystyna`s garden.
We look at the map to find our way - we have no red SAAB to follow this
time... We are all a bit jumpy; we, because we are taking the dogs with
us and Krystyna, Anna and Tomasz because they are leaving the dogs in our
care…We start loading the dogs; Aza, Misia, Malinka, Zelek, Zelka and
Salsa… The dogs are calm and quiet and do not protest when we put them
in their cages…After some photographing, hugging and cuddling we seat
ourselves in the van and head towards Sweden… It is hot; +35 degrees in the shade - but as long as we are moving the van is not too hot... After a couple of hours we stop to air the dogs and give them some water. Malinka and Salsa do both a number one and a number two as if nothing is more natural than going with us in the van…The other dogs sniff around more cautiously but they are all remarkably calm and when we put them back in the van they go quietly… |
 |
| We arrive at Gdynia around six thirty,
we air the dogs again and give them some more water. They are all so calm
and quiet that we decide not to give them any tranquilisers for the ferry.
A bit of anxiety through customs - but the man checking the dogs just smile
and ask if all dogs are Polish…Very nice dog-cabins on the ferry; little
rugs for the dogs who curl up and go to sleep. No dog has made any fuss,
not even barked, no throwing up or anything in the wrong place… We disembark at nine the next morning - no trouble through customs... We immediately call Aza´s and Salsa´s new families who are going to pick them up in Karlskrona and of course they have already arrived! When they see the dogs they make the kind of sounds people do when they meet such lovely, furry creatures… Both families are very pleased… When Sandra leaves Salsa is sitting next to her in the back seat looking forward…Little Aza is curled up on Anne-Christine`s lap… All the best to both families…And we head towards Stockholm… |
 |
|
The dogs will undergo a physical examination at a clinic in Hagsätra and we arrive a bit late. Malinka´s and Misia´s new families will pick them up there; the same little sounds occur as they meet their lovely little dogs - Maria takes Malinka home and Misia with her pretty collar goes with Eva. God bless… Only Zelka and Zelek have to be taken to their "foster-homes". Why is it that no one has shown any interest in these two beautiful dogs… At least they will come to homes with lots of experience of dogs and other dogs already living there! Our journey has come to an end… It has been
a wonderful experience… The dogs have been absolutely wonderful and
we hope all will be well for them! Thank You All!!! |
 |
| <<<Back |
 |