From the SPA
By Christine Foster, Aug 25, 2006

Treasure hunt

Julia is a small treasure. She is also a triumph and an inspiring survival story. She arrived at the SPA in the arms of one of our supporters, literally rescued from starvation. Julia had been living in the campo with a family who had barely enough to feed their own six children and could only offer the pup a few tortillas from time to time.

The rest of the litter had already starved to death. Fleas and parasites and malnutrition were taking their toll, and Julia's life was slowly ebbing. When her rescuer found her, she could barely stand.

This kindly Samaritan took Julia home and carefully bathed her, treated her for parasites and lavished her with both kinds of essential nourishment: good food and love. Now the little one is happy, affectionate and playful. (Her rescuer couldn't keep her because she lives in a small apartment with a rather jealous elderly feline, but she was heartbroken to give her up.) Julia is a few months old, comfortable with children, alert and bursting with new hope. She would make a wonderful addition to any family. She'll only grow to be a medium-small dog, but her heart is big enough to hold as much love as you can give.

Have a look, too, at Brandy and Mandy, peering out of a kitten basket in the SPA sunroom. They are treasures, too, and just two of the bright and lively little souls waiting for adoption right now.

In the last three months I have had a total of 12 kittens in my home (not, thankfully, all at once), getting a little bit of extra attention and care, and they have provided a kind of entertainment and flat-out joy I'd almost forgotten existed. New babies, human or animal, are like life's way of reminding us about love and play, reawakening our own childhoods, making us chuckle and beam for no reason at all. Feel like putting a bit more spring in your step and a grin on your face? Come and meet the experts!