on the road with Animalcouriers

Couriers J and M had quite a time of it when they reached the northern French port of Calais. Fencing was being erected and there was a strong police presence to hold back a flow of migrants, reminding us about all the unhappy places in the world people are fleeing from. Then, on checking in, we discovered there was a strike at the port, so it was a three-hour wait before we could set sail.

Eventually we made it back to our Surrey base, where a delighted Teresa was waiting to collect her cats Napoleao and Cuca who had travelled from Porto. “We would have waited all night!” they told us. So wonderful how much people care about their pets, and what a lovely contrast to the rather trying time we’d had at Calais.

The following day there were more ecstatic scenes when Ana and George arrived to collect their dogs Kathy and Neska, who travelled with us from Granada. The whole family is moving to Bristol.

Meanwhile courier M headed north to deliver more pets to their waiting owners. Along with African Grey Charlie and young wolfdog Galatzo who travelled with us from Spain, he also had Melody on board. This lovely black-and-white Pointer was flown to the UK by the Friends of Filozoikos, who support the Filozoikos shelter in Athens which does such a great job with stray and abandoned dogs. Melody was fostered by Gabby, who brought her to us in Surrey ready to travel up to Ayrshire in Scotland to her new home with Sheila.

We also recently received news of another Filozoikos rescue — Danae, who had an eye operation and was then adopted by Erica and Hans in the Netherlands. Erica wrote to Martha at Filozoikos to tell her how well Danae is getting on:

“We are so happy we have Danae. She is listening very good, she likes to be cuddled (can sit beside us for minutes long to be cuddled). And she very much likes to play with other dogs. That is, she likes other dogs to run after her — there are only a few dogs who can run as fast as she can. We want to thank you and Kiki again for giving us Danae, we enjoy every day with her.”

Teresa and her friend were waiting patiently for cats Napoleao and Cuca at our Surrey base

More sheer delight — Kathy (L) and Neska (R) have kisses and cuddles with Ana

Charlie arrives in sunny Stokenchurch where he and Nick were delighted to be reunited

Galatzo with Casey. Casey visited Spain to choose a puppy from the wolfdog breeder, and spent two weeks bonding with Galatzo — who clearly hadn’t forgotten him! Courier M was barely on his way before Casey was off for a walk with Galatzo to show him around the leafy Glasgow suburb that is now his home.

Sheila cuddling Melody

Melody gets a reassuring stroke from Sheila

Beautiful Danae enjoying her life in the Netherlands