Perdóneme, the Clocks Changed and I'm on Scooby Time




Perdóneme, But I'm on "Scooby Time"

I had the very best of intentions to write regularly about my Scooby adventures on this trip to Spain.  But once I arrived, remembered that I'm on "Scooby Time", which means that hours and days pass all too quickly when you are volunteering at Scooby and before you know it, it's time to leave. I still have two precious days left to visit with the beautiful galgos and other animals here, and will savor every moment.

Beautiful Galgo with an Angel Face

When I return to California, will update this blog with many wonderful stories about what I experienced on this trip.  The highlight has been working with Melissa Beamish, my UK super-volunteer hero, who is traveling around the World, volunteering at the neediest of pet shelters. Today, Melissa said, "Hasta Luego" to her beloved Scooby galga, Hacinta, who she fell in love with during her first volunteer visit in May.  We escorted the lovely Ms. Hacinta along with 19 other galgos and two other types of dogs to the Scooby transport van which will deliver them to their forever homes in France in the next couple of days.  It was a bittersweet day, knowing that this moment had come. Feels great to know that loving arms are waiting for these dear, sweet dogs,and that they will now have the lives that they deserve.

Melissa Beamish and Her Beloved Hacinta

I have a day-by-day journal of my adventures, which I will share in upcoming postings. Apologies for not keeping you informed while here, but those who have visited will understand how "Scooby Time" takes hold of you while you are here, and you have little time for anything but the lovely animals -- as it should be.

Stay tuned for lots of updates about the happenings at Scooby.

What a wonderful, soulful experience being back to volunteer again! I will be very sad to leave, but the satisfaction of knowing that I will soon return certainly helps.

Hasta Luego! Thank you for reading my blog! More to follow. Bless sends her blessings.

Our gorgeous Galga, Bless!

Please support Scooby!

Know an organization that will donate dog food? Please let me know.

Hasta Luego! Back to Scooby, 11/10/12 (We are Star Fish Throwers)

Happy Days! Gone to Hug Galgos at Scooby!


So excited to return to Scooby! Leaving from San Francisco to Philly on Saturday, 11/10/12 a.m., and arriving in Madrid at 7:45 a.m. on Sunday, 11/11/12. Will take the cab to the train, and then the train to Medina del Campo. God willing, I'll arrive in the early afternoon.  My volunteer hero, Melissa Beamish, will pick me up at the train station and bring me to the Scooby sanctuary. From there, who knows what will happen?  It will likely be settling into my digs at the Scooby dorm and then meeting and greeting all of the wonderful animals.  So happy just thinking about it!
:-)

My Friend, Melissa, Whom I have Yet to Meet in Person and Her Beloved Hacinta

Melissa learned that her beloved Hacinta is supposed to go to France to her adoption home on 11/16/12, so if this happens, it will be bittersweet. There will be tears of joy and sorrow. I am so glad that I'll be there to share that with Melissa and Hacinta, as they have such a special connection and love for one another.  Am so looking forward to many a late night chat with Melissa to hear of her adventures, as she travels the World, volunteering at the most needy of animal rescue facilities. Yes. Angels do walk among us. 0:-)

Our Bless Sleeps on One of Her Many Beds - Happy Galga Girl!

Bless, our adopted galga of almost two years, will be cheering for her peeps back at Scooby, wishing them the same great life that she has her here in wonderful California, where she is an adored member of the Easter pack/family.  All of this is thanks to the great rescue work that Scooby does. Two years ago, Bless was left at the Scooby facility, and I found our precious needle in the haystack, traveled to Spain to get her, volunteered to learn more, and then brought my princess home.  You cannot believe what a wonderful companion dog she is.  100%+ lovin' from the galgos. Please consider helping Scooby with its mission or adopting a galgo.

So why does Margie and all of these other crazy people do what they do? Does it really make a difference?  An answer: I stumbled across something that was on one of my fellow Scoobettes Facebook pages (Louise Stanforth -- thank you!), and that is this story:

Saving One at a Time Still Makes a Difference

The Starfish Thrower

There was a man who was walking along a sandy beach where thousands of starfish had been washed up on the shore. He noticed a boy picking the starfish one by one and throwing them back into the ocean.

The man observed the boy for a few minutes and then asked what he was doing. The boy replied that he was returning the starfish to the sea, otherwise they would die.

The man asked how saving a few, when so many were doomed, would make any difference whatsoever? The boy picked up a starfish and threw it back into the ocean and said "Made a difference to that one..."

The man left the boy and went home, deep in thought of what the boy had said. He soon returned to the beach and spent the rest of the day helping the boy throw starfish in to the sea....

We are starfish throwers and proud of it! On the immediate horizon, Melissa and I shall be throwing dozens of starfish back. We hope that you will join us in spirit, and in person some day!

Many updates to come as often as possible.

Hasta Luego! Thank you for reading my blog! More to follow. Bless sends her blessings.

Our gorgeous Galga, Bless!

Please support Scooby!

Know an organization that will donate dog food? Please let me know.

 

Scooby Fever Takes Me Back to Spain

Scooby Fever =
When You Fall in Love with Scooby, You Must Return Again and Again and Again......

So excited! :-) Returning to volunteer at Scooby in Medinal de Campo, Spain.  Leaving on 11/10/12 and returning on 11/19/12, which means that I'll be at Scooby on 11/11 for 7 days visiting the lovely animals and people.



Yay! I finally get to meet Melissa and Hacinta!

The timing for this trip was another bit of serendipity. Melissa Beamish, my hero volunteer, whom I wrote about in my last blog posting, learned that her beloved Hacinta is still at Scooby.  So she was able to work things out to return to Scooby to volunteer for a month. Will be meeting up with Melissa, and we'll be working together to take care of the wonderful animals at Scooby. She's already there, working tirelessly to take care of the precious ones that we love. I so admire her strength, courage and heart for taking care of the neediest of animals at this shelter, as well as the others she has and will be working with during the coming months. I cannot wait to meet Melissa, her Hacinta, and to meet and greet all of the oldies and newbies at Scooby.  We may be two of the only non-Scooby staff and non-local volunteers there at this time, but one never knows because others show up unexpectedly.  No matter... it will certainly be an adventure and delight, as always.


Wah! I missed my UK Scoobettes!

Sad to say that I just missed my lovely UK Scoobettes, Heather, Jacqui, Ellie, and Lucinda by a few short days. :-( Had volunteered with Heather, Jacqui and Lucinda the first two times that I visited, so this is this is my first non-UK-Scoobette visit ever. Wah! I love these folks and will miss them so much. My bright shining star on this visit will be Melissa, who is one of the most noble of animal volunteers ever.





Upon the advice of my fellow Scoobettes, am taking the train from Madrid to Medina del Campo, which takes about two hours. The Scooby sanctuary is only about five minutes from the train station, so someone there will pick me up, or I'll take a cab. 

Scooby "Dorm" - Photo from my first stay.
Used to be the store too. Bunk beds make you feel like a kid again. Comfy digs!

Will be staying there in the dorm and on-site for the entire time, which I like to call, "total Scooby immersion". Will be sleeping next to the quarantine quarters and hearing the, "Song of the Galgos" many times during the day and night. In fact, will bring ear plugs, just in case. ;-)

Melissa is staying in the caravan nearby, so I'm sure we'll have some great talks about her travels as we work together, and especially while caring for the animals and making dog food lasagna (layers of cat food and bread -- yes, we *always* need more dog food folks).



Scooby Medina del Campo Sanctuary

Planning out all of the logistics to make sure things go smoothly. Already half-way packed for the trip.  Taking supplies: leads, collars, antiseptics, and other medical and people supplies from Nan Wallace, fellow Scooby volunteer (thank you so much), a couple of good pooper scoopers (always in dire need), bandages, rubber gloves, and other supplies which will be left at Scooby.  My husband, Darrell, has optimized and adjusted everything to make sure it all fits in my suitcase. Will be taking a Gargantua suitcase for the supplies, which must only weigh 50 lbs. or less, plus my clothing in a smaller bag and my backpack.

Suppose I'll Look Like Carrot Top with My Giant Suitcase Full of Scooby Supplies ;-)

It is Fall/Winter there at around 40-50 degrees during the day and in the 30's at night, so I'll be packing warm layers of clothing. (My years of growing up in Michigan will pay off here for preparations weather wise!) Bought a new pair of rubber boots to leave there, and nice new pair of rain-proof pants and jacket to wear over my performance clothes, as well as hats, gloves and warm socks. Ready for the elements, and expecting cold, wet weather including snow. If the sun shines, will consider it to be a great blessing. To avoid hassles and pick-pockets in the Madrid Metro, I'll probably take a cab from the airport to the train station.  On the return, I'll probably take the train to the Metro to the airport, as I'll be unencumbered.

Have a new iPhone 5, so planning to take lots and lots of photos and videos, and will try to send you all daily updates, as I know that I wait on pins and needles for updates from others when they visit. I will try to be the best "roving Scooby reporter" possible. Lord willing, the AT&T and Scooby WiFi networks will hold out. ;-)

Will provide another update before I leave.  If you have special loved ones at Scooby that you want to see in photos and/or want to give special hugs and kisses, please let me know.

Hasta Luego! Thank you for reading my blog! More to follow. Bless sends her blessings.

Our gorgeous Galga, Bless!

Please support Scooby!

Know an organization that will donate dog food? Please let me know.