May 2025

In Review: An emotionally heavy month

Another month comes to an end.
Hello dear readers
Hello dear reader

As animal welfare advocates and the Animal Police Association, we really had a rough start to 2025. You could have said things could only get better. But that improvement hasn't come yet. May was truly an emotionally exhausting, tearful, and heartbreaking month for us.

In last month's newsletter, April, I told you that we found a hit-and-run cat on a country road, covered in blood. Unfortunately, after emergency surgery, things didn't improve. In addition to severe injuries to his jaw, he suffered further fractures and consequences from the accident, so we made the difficult decision to spare him further suffering and pain. I accompanied him after the accident, after surgery, day in and day out, and was by his side when he peacefully fell asleep. The little darling was able to experience two weeks of love and comfort. That gives us strength in such difficult decisions.

Shortly after, two young Spanish people asked us for help. A cat in a hotel complex in very poor health. The full extent of his injuries only became clear when the cat was examined by the veterinarian and was immediately put on an IV. For hours, the veterinarian had to remove maggots from his body that were coming from every body opening. After a day of hope and fear that he would make it, we had to let him go too. The maggots had eaten him from the inside out so much that he couldn't recover. The veterinarian saw no chance of helping him. How long must he have suffered on the street?

Goodbyes that hurt

We took in a pigeon in July 2024 that apparently fell out of the nest. Still so small that at first we couldn't even identify what species of bird the chick was. A pigeon baby was a first for us too. Doctor Google helped us raise the ugly chick into a beautiful pigeon. With lots of love, patience, and dedication, Juan, our little boss, managed to hand-tame little Carlo. Last week, in the evening, Carlo suddenly became ill. He let his wings droop and didn't want to move anymore. After that, everything happened so fast. Carlo's heart stopped beating before we had the chance to take him to the vet. Rest in peace, little Carlo, we miss your persistent way of always flying into our heads.

In the night just before midnight, we heard chicken screams from the bushes. At this hour, our chickens are long asleep in the trees. So it was clear to us that something was wrong. Even as we ran towards the sound, we thought a rat had gotten our rooster. We had to climb over the wall and our neighbor's barbed wire in the dark to find the rooster. He had a twisted leg that caused such severe pain that he was crying for help. The veterinarian found a complicated fracture that wasn't operable. Amputation of the leg was discussed, but that wouldn't have given him a happy life. Unfortunately, chickens aren't very social animals. With one leg, he would always have been an outsider and easy prey for his own kind.

With a heavy heart, we had to let him go, hoping that our rooster Theo (I'm sure you all know him) will welcome him and look after him.

In our rabbit enclosure, among the 26 rabbits, we found Hanni with an injury to his leg. By now we know the way to the vet by heart, so we were on our way again. When I heard the diagnosis, I felt briefly sick. The veterinarian suspected a bacterium, but sent a sample to the lab to be sure. She preventively removed the dead skin that had already turned black. Until the lab results came back, Hanni had to stay in a separate area with bandages. Unfortunately, the lab result confirmed the veterinarian's vague suspicion. Hanni had aggressive, antibiotic-resistant bacteria on her skin that had already progressed to the bone. We didn't want to subject the rabbit Hanni to that pain. Here too, we had to think of what was best for the animal—she now gets to sleep peacefully forever.

The Case of Bruno: A Drama in the Night

The most recent emergency is still occupying us day and night.

We rescued a dog from very poor living conditions—24 hours a day on a balcony, where he had to do his business and sleep as well.

Our volunteer Gina took Bruno into her care, where he got to experience a real life. After a few months, Gina noticed that Bruno wasn't doing well. The diagnosis of Cushing syndrome was initially a shock, but he was quickly put on medication for the disease, so Bruno was able to recover a little. Then came a setback. Gina had to drive Bruno to the emergency clinic in the middle of the night. What unfolded there was a drama that bordered on criminal neglect. We decided to drive to a different emergency clinic because his condition was becoming increasingly critical. During the car ride, Gina had to stimulate his heart, which had suddenly stopped beating. In this situation, the drive feels like an eternity. You stop thinking, you just act and function. At the second clinic, the veterinarian immediately began resuscitation measures—measures that should have been done at the first clinic but unfortunately weren't. After 15 minutes, she had to give up and could only deliver the terrible news that his heart had stopped beating.

We had to learn how to cope with such situations. It's really not always easy. But this too is animal welfare. Protecting an animal's soul from suffering and being able to let go.

Our intention is to rescue an animal, nurse it back to health, prepare it for a family, for a forever home. Then to let it go, knowing that everything will be fine now, that the animal can finally enjoy its life.

It's always sad to see that we can't make this possible for every animal.

Animal welfare is not a business, but a passion!

Storms on Mallorca – and all animals remained safe

Flooding….!

In early May, the island of Mallorca experienced a storm in the region where Finca Noah is located. Rain, wind, or weather—we care for our animals and make sure they're doing well. The constant rain caused the roads to flood. The water ran off like a river, including through the Finca Noah property.

The hardest hit once again was the area of donkey Pablo and his friend, horse Argos. Also the adjacent area of the chickens, geese, ducks, peacocks, turkey, and our pig Magritt. The access road to Finca Noah that runs through the entire property was washed away. It simply ceased to exist. Fortunately, we knew it was going to rain heavily beforehand, so we were able to prepare and take at least some precautions to keep the animals safe.

We had to deal with many floods and destruction, but thankfully none of the animals were harmed. Everyone is doing well!

Dealing with the damage didn't distract us from the fact that we had to say goodbye to so many animals this month. We are still mourning each and every one of these little souls. They are all in our hearts, because no matter how small, young, or old the animal, we care for them daily, are there for them 24 hours a day—that builds trust and a bond that doesn't fade quickly.

Thank you!

Once again, I want to say a big thank you for your time, your attention, and for reading.

Animal greetings from Finca Noah on Mallorca

Nadine