July 2024

A warm hello to you dear readers.

Follow-up to June's Newsletter

You've patiently waited 6 weeks to find out how tomcat Snow is doing. Over the past two months we've reported extensively about the affectionate white tomcat with his radiant green eyes. His broken hip was a major issue and caused him great suffering. After long conversations with several veterinarians, a decision was made for the animal's wellbeing. An amputation of his leg was planned to give tomcat Snow a carefree and risk-free life.

We flew tomcat Snow from Mallorca to Switzerland. Our dear veterinarian, Jann Rapp, and his wife Manuela Rapp, kindly agreed to operate on him. Of course, we accompanied him on this journey. Upon arriving in Switzerland, we had to wait three hours until the appointment. Snow was able to recover from the trip in the apartment and even had a chance to try out the sofa. I released Snow from his travel carrier and was instantly speechless. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I simply observed the whole situation for a while. Snow walked around the apartment so naturally and confidently. He jumped on chairs, tables, and the sofa as if he'd been doing it forever. And now please pay attention.....

He did all this on 4 legs. Snow used and put weight on his leg three hours before he was supposed to have it amputated. We were speechless, we couldn't explain it, and we were sooo happy.

The operation was cancelled. Sarah, Snow's wonderful adoptive mother, moved heaven and earth to get Snow to her in Germany right away. The transport chain was organized, and Snow could finally go to his forever home. Today he is a happy white tomcat with radiant green eyes on four legs, he's free-roaming, lives with another cat and a dog, and enjoys sleeping on the sofa and climbing around in the garden.

A huge thank you to everyone who believed in a happy ending for Snow.

A miracle we've been waiting for for so long....

During the time I've been working here at Finca Noah for the animals, I've been able to accompany many animals, care for them, look after them, and say goodbye as they go to their forever homes.

This time, saying goodbye was mixed with joy, gratitude, pain, and so many tears.

Mischon the Pastor Mallorquín Dog

About two years ago, we rescued the lovely Pastor Mallorquín dog, Mischon, from Natura Park, the largest kill shelter on the island of Mallorca. In the last second, we were able to get Mischon and her little companion Príncipe, a small Labrador, out of the kill shelter and bring them to Finca Noah. Here, Mischon was supposed to settle in, find peace, enjoy regular walks and playtime. Leave her past and her time at Natura Park somewhat behind and feel like a dog again. Her partner Príncipe quickly found his home. Mischon had been less fortunate until now. Mischon is not an easy dog. She is a very intelligent and capable learner. She is so intelligent that we had to secure the door to her enclosure, which all have double locks, with a chain and padlock. Because Mischon figured out how to open the door. At first glance it looks very dangerous when you stand in front of her locked door, but she loves people, whether small or large, whether young or old. Everyone who has met Mischon said wow, that's a dog you fall in love with. When it comes to walks, things get a little more difficult. She seems to have had experiences in the past that still mark her today. Cyclists, joggers, and fast cars don't appeal to Mischon much. You have to be prepared for this and keep the roughly 40-kilogram dog under control. Fast movements seem to really stress her. I'm not a dog trainer, I went for walks with Mischon every day, but it was really just walks, far from training to get her problem under control.

This summer, luck finally turned in Mischon's favor.

After two long years full of hope, two volunteers arrived at the farm who took Mischon into their hearts from the first second and spent as much time as possible with her every day. Nischa and Thorsten fell in love with Mischon. This was the dog they wanted to walk through life with. The dog who would always be by their side. The dog, friend and companion for life. They returned to Switzerland, made a plan, made some changes, all so that Mischon could come with them. The two couldn't wait to come back to Mallorca to see Mischon again. They actually took Mischon with them to Switzerland. It was her first time flying. Flying into a new life, into a home where she gets the attention she needs. Nischa and Thorsten are working with Mischon with a professional dog trainer, and as mentioned, she is an intelligent dog and is making such wonderful progress because she simply wants to learn.

We are soooo infinitely grateful to the two of them for seeing Mischon and giving her a new life in freedom after so long in an enclosure. They recognized that Mischon is an intelligent dog and immediately contacted a very competent dog trainer in Switzerland. She is making great progress and clearly enjoys learning.

Mischon, I thank you for the experience in dealing with dogs that I learned through you. Despite all the effort, I really enjoyed our walks. The last walk with you before you flew to your forever home was very emotional. You will always stay in my thoughts. I carry you in my heart. You are such a wonderful dog, I wish you a beautiful life with your beloved people. You belong together.

New Residents at Finca Noah

I have a little riddle for you this time.

Maybe you can guess which animals we welcomed as new arrivals at Finca Noah.

They live on land, but love water.

They are more sensitive than guard dogs, immediately sound the alarm with their warning calls at unfamiliar noises.

For their nests, they like to collect twigs, bark, and leaves.

They experience emotions just like we humans do. For example, if their life partner dies, they mourn for a very long time and withdraw.

They can hear, see, and smell excellently.

They travel 5km or more in search of food.

They are constantly foraging; you might think they are always hungry.

When they're small, they're really cute, but when fully grown, many people respect them.

That's right: We've taken in two geese.

Our two baby geese now have their feathers. Jakob, the male, is white, and Doris, the female, is grey. We received both from our dear animal welfare friend and protector Martina. Geese are herd animals, but Martina had simply gotten too many. With us, they're enjoying their cuteness factor to the fullest. We're trying to hand-tame both so that they remain cute as teenagers and don't become annoyed or even aggressive toward us humans. Two siblings of Jakob had a genetic defect, and unfortunately we had to relieve them of their suffering. The genetic defect made it difficult for them to walk. One was even blind. Blindness wouldn't have been the problem—we could have managed that with patience. Geese become 5kg or heavier; walking would have become torture as they became teenagers. We hope that Doris and Jakob will enjoy a long life with us.

We're still looking for one or two kind sponsors for both geese. Feel free to contact us if any of you dear readers would like to become a sponsor. Normally, sponsors get to choose the names, but in this case the names have to stay. The two now respond to their names when you call them.

We would be delighted if the sponsorship would secure food for both geese month after month. The two eat us out of house and home, as they say.

We thank you dear readers for your time and patience with reading. We say thank you very much, and cordially invite each and every one of you to Finca Noah to personally meet all our animals that we introduce to you in the newsletter every month and whose stories we tell.

Warm animal greetings from Finca Noah.

Nadine