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ISSUE

40

Gouves Club members’ monthly e-mag

PAWS FOR

THOUGHT

July 2021

How to make yor

dog smell better!

News from

the shelter

What you need to

know about snake

bites

Fresh Breath

Treats Recipe

Dogs in History:

Bobbie the wonder

dog

…plus all our regular features and

more!


2

CONTENTS

REGULAR FEATURES

Cover Story

This month our cover

story …

Shelter Situation

Nefeli’s Corner

Member Offers

Membership Update

& Our Mission

Dog of the Month

Cat Corner

Yappy Ever After

4

12

14

22

24

28

31


Features

3

How to make

your dog smell

better!

What you need

to know about

snake bites

Fresh breath

treats recipe

Dogs in history:

Bobbie the

wonder dog

8

10

16

18

We’re so happy to have you in

the Gouves Shelter Members’

Club! You’re support will

make a real difference.

The aim of the club is to build

up a regular income so that our

volunteers are able to focus on

the well-being of the animals

and the long term improvement

of the shelter facilities.

Anyone sponsoring one of our

dogs or cats is automatically

enrolled in our club, but it’s

also open to anyone else who

can contribute a minimum of 5

Euros per month.

In return, you receive our

monthly online magazine,

packed full of news and

information from the shelter,

interesting articles and

members offers.

Six reasons to

adopt a rescue

dog 30

Because the magazine is

created by volunteers – and

with zero costs - we can

guarantee that 100% of your

donation goes directly to the

shelter.

From everyone at the shelter, –

THANK YOU!


4

SHELTER

SITUATION

In normal years August would be the start of many internships and although

we have had many applications from students all over Europe, most have

been cancelled due to the current situation. We still have hope that we

can arrange some of the internships in the fall and we are expecting few

interns to start at the end of August.

Internships are extremely valuable for both the students and the shelter as

it give so much to both sides. The students get to see a completely

different working environment from what they are used to and they get a

lot of hands on experience, which might not be possible in all internship

places. The shelter benefits a lot as well, we get new and passionate

people to volunteer at the shelter, we get new ideas from different

countries and most of all, our animals get new friends who will activate

and pamper them.

We have been extremely satisfied with the schools and students we

co-operate with and the quality of interns has always been high. The

passion and love these young people feel for the animals can be seen in

everything they do and we hope their experiences here will motivate them

to help homeless animals in future too.


THE SHELTER IN NUMBERS

• 148 dogs currently at the shelter

• 74 cats currently at the shelter

• More than 28 dogs rescued last month

• More than 40 emergency treatments at the vet

• 200 dogs and 250 cats fed, and taken care of,

every single day!

5

While we hope that the internships will start we are busy preparing for

our plans for the fall. One of the biggest goals we have is to finish our TNR

(Trap, Neuter, Release) plan and as our volunteers have noticed, it’s not a

small thing to accomplish.

This program won’t be for a one time neutering campaign, but a long term

plan to reduce the amount of stray animals, especially cats, in an

organized way. We will start with the areas around the shelter and when

resources and funding allows, widen the program.

Introducing the long term TNR program to one area takes a lot, because

it’s not only about neutering the current population, it’s also about

monitoring it. New animals that appear in the area need to be neutered as

well, or the population starts growing again and all the previous work goes

down the drain. Of course every neutered animal helps the situation, but

if we want to create lasting change, we have to have plans for years to

come.

There are some big challenges we are still working through, but the

benefits are worth it. The hundreds of kittens we have seen struggling at

the street just this summer has broken our hearts and we know these

animals deserve better. We will work hard to make sure that in the area

where we can help, as few helpless souls are born to the streets to have a

life filled with hunger, fear and pain.


6

SHELTER

With the internships still unclear and the TNR program on the planning

face, the shelter it self is running as always. We are enduring high

temperutes which create it’s own issues and dangers, as could be seen in

the mainland and islands, with heavier greenery. Fires devastated the

whole country and once again reminded everyone about how important it

is to be prepared and careful.

Some of our volunteers and friends were in the front lines saving and

helping the animals and people who were trapped in the danger zones

and the videos and photos we have seen from their efforts move us

deeply. Although these events were extremely tragic, it also showed

some of the best sides humanity has. People coming together, helping

and supporting each others and animals in danger. People putting their

lives at risk to save those who need it and opening their homes to the

ones that had lost theirs. We are humbled and proud to have a group of

people with this kind of dedication around us and it once more shows

how much people with the same goal and good heart can accomplish.


SITUATION 7


Like us, dogs naturally have their own smell which is perfectly normal. But if

their odor becomes abnormally strong or fishy – it’s a good idea to find the

cause of the bad dog smell before choosing a treatment. Possible reasons why

your dog stinks include…

Poor grooming : Older dogs or dogs in poor health may stop self-grooming. This can cause

them to develop a bad smell as oils, dander and dirt builds up. Pay attention to your dog’s

grooming habits to see if this is the culprit.

Environment: When your dog goes outside, they’re exposed to all the (possibly smelly) things

out there (like skunks). And many dogs love to roll around in mud, dirty water, or even other

dog’s poo! So yes, this could be one reason why your dog stinks.

Gas: Aka dog farts – a common reason why dogs smell! This could be a sign that your dog has

eaten something that’s difficult to digest. Or if serious bouts of gas occur more often, your dog

may have a food allergy or bowel disease. See a vet if you suspect that your dog farts more

than normal.

Dental disease or halitosis: Halitosis is another name for bad breath in dogs, and it may be

caused by bacteria caused by plaque buildup, tartar, decomposing food, bleeding or oral

tumors. Brush your dog’s teeth regularly to prevent odor and check for any oral health issues.

Ear infection: If your dog has a strong smell coming from the ear, it may be a sign of an ear

infection. See a vet as soon as possible for treatment.

Atopy or allergies: Atopy is a skin condition caused by environmental allergies and can lead to

other issues including odor in dogs. Learn more about seasonal allergies in dogs.

Wet dog: A dog’s skin is filled with glands which excrete liquids. Those are meant to protect

the dog’s skin. The composition of these liquids is often the reason why your dog smells. As

the fur gets wet, more particles are spilled out and the unpleasant smell increases.

8


So, what can you do about it?

1. Feed a high-quality diet

Diet is one factor that affects your dog’s

smell. So if you want to improve your

dog’s smell naturally, avoid feeding them

low-quality food. Instead, add more raw

meat and dog-friendly fruits and

vegetables to your dog’s diet. Some fresh

herbs like parsley will also help to the

neutralize your dog’s smell.

2. Keep up with grooming

Dogs groom themselves, but that doesn’t

need mean they don’t need your help.

Help your dog stay clean (and healthy)

by doing the following:

• Brush your dog’s coat regularly to

prevent unpleasant odours and manage

shedding.

• Gently rinse your dog’s coat and feet

after they get dirty from playing outside.

• Bathe your dog as needed (talk to your

vet for recommendations).

• Gently remove dirt and crust from

around your dog’s eyes with a soft damp

cloth anytime you notice it.

• Wipe the fold and flaps of dog ears with

a clean damp cloth every few weeks.

• Trim the coat, and hair between your

dog’s paw pads, as needed.

• Clip dog nails regularly and take good

care of paws.

3. Wash bedding regularly

Bedding should be cleaned regularly to

avoid odor. Dirt, bacteria, dust mites, skin

cells, hair, environmental debris, and

even parasites can accumulate in a dirty

dog bed. Dogs can also bring fungal

organisms into bed with you – like the

kind that cause scabies

9

4. Brush your dog’s teeth!

Brushing your dog’s teeth regularly is

another way to avoid an unpleasant dog

smell.

It will prevent the build-up of plaque and

tartar, not to mention gingivitis and gum

disease. You can simply use water to

brush your dog’s teeth, or a special dog

toothpaste.

5. Get a check-up at the vet

Sometimes, a smelly dog can point to an

underlying health condition that may

need treatment, so if your dog really

stinks, it’s a wise idea to bring your dog

to the vet for a full check-up.

They will likely be able to tell you the

reason, run further tests, and provide

recommendations, treatment, or

medication if necessary.

If your dog does have a health

issue which is making them smell

bad, early detection and

treatment is key to a long and

healthy life together!

Article courtesy of


What you need to know

about snake bites

10

All dogs are at risk of snake bites

because they’re curious and try to

play with them. When a dog is too

curious, or too hardheaded, to leave a

snake alone, the dog may be bitten.

Non-poisonous snake bites are painful

and can cause infection, but

venomous snake bites can kill a dog

within an hour unless you seek

veterinary medical attention for the

snake bite, so it’s good to know for

dog owners to know a bit more on this

topic…

Symptoms or Signs of a Snake Bite on Dogs

Thick fur helps protect the dog from body

injuries, and bites most often occur on the

face or neck when the dog tries to catch the

snake. A non-poisonous snake bite will leave

tiny horseshoe-shaped teeth marks.

The severity of a venomous bite depends on

the size of the dog in relation to the snake,

the number of bites inflicted, and how much

venom is injected.

Some kinds of venom affect the central

nervous system and make the dog appear

drunk, have seizures, or stop breathing.

There may be redness or bleeding and first

signs of a snakebite usually include agitation,

excessive panting and drooling, and

weakness. Vomiting, diarrhea, collapsing,

seizures, shock, leading to coma and

potentially death may follow. The most

common sign is a sudden and severe swelling

at the bite location that typically hides the

bite wounds. You might mistake the swelling

to be caused by a spider bite or bug sting.

The venom from pit vipers like rattlesnakes

discolors the flesh within minutes because it

digests the flesh. Even if the bite isn’t

life-threatening, it needs immediate

veterinary medical care because it can cause

irreversible damage. If you see discolored

flesh surrounding the bite mark, head to the

vet's office immediately.


Treatment

GET TO THE VET! If you suspect your dog has been bitten by a poisonous snake, get to an

emergency veterinary hospital immediately. If you can do so safely, bring the snake for possible

identification – or take photos of it. Snake bites are diagnosed by identification of the snake, 11

characteristics of the wound, and symptoms/signs noted in the dog. They are treated with

antivenin given within four to eight hours after the bite.

HELP WITH BREATHING: The poison can cause shock, paralyse, or make the nostrils or windpipe

swell shut. Remove the dog's collar or harness so that if it's body swells, the airways remain

unrestricted. Be prepared to give your dog rescue breathing.

KEEP IT QUIET: Keep your dog as quiet as possible on the way to the vet. Any movement can

speed up the poison’s spread through the blood circulation.

KEEP COOL: Turn up the aircon in the car to help slow down circulation. Apply an ice pack

directly to the wound, even a package of frozen vegetables will work. Keep the ice on until you

reach the vet's office.

RINSE THE BITE: If you can see bite marks, rinse the wounds with water or a baby wipe to get

the venom off the dog's body. If you live in a snake-endemic region in America, invest in a

vacuum pump for snake bites (included in snakebite kits) that have been shown to remove 30

percent of the venom when used promptly.

Once you arrive at the vet's office, they will examine your dog and likely treat it with antivenin,

which is a commercially made serum that neutralizes the effects of the snake venom.1 Some

antivenin is specific to the type of snake that bit the dog, so the more information you have, the

vet will be better able to treat your dog.

Common Poisonous Snakes include:

Copperheads, cottonmouths (water moccasins), rattlesnakes

(or pit vipers), coral snakes: found in America.

Common European Adder (also known as European Viper or

Vipera berus): found widely throughout most of Western

Europe and as far as East Asia.

European Asp (also known as asp, asp viper or vipera aspis):

southwestern Europe

How to Prevent Snake Bites

There is no easy way to prevent snake bites in dogs. The best method is to supervise your

dog, especially in areas where snakes are present and if bitten take immediate action.


Nefeli’s Corner

Words of wisdom from a chubby and happy

rescue

The Greek country lady

Last month we were preparing

for the big move to the

countryside and this month I can

proudly tell, that I am now

officially a Greek country lady! I

love the new place and the peace

and quiet it offers - or offered

until the rest of the pack joined

us. The two terror twins alone

could wake the dead with the

ruckus they make, but adding the

rest of the pack to the mix and

you get a lively bunch.

But as mom promised, out here

nobody cares and she has

outdone herself with the place. If

I thought we were isolated during

Corona, now we dropped off the

map completely. The only

company we have out here are

the deers, cranes, owls, bats,

foxes, bunnies and mooses.

The endless fields and forests

that surround us are wonderful

places to have adventures and

the river that works as a

boundary for the land is a nice

place to take a cooling dip or

chance some fish and crabs.

Of course I had to get to know

every corner of the new place

and there are two things i follow

mostly in this life - my nose and

my tummy. During the first

weeks my nose would take me

to the most curious situations.

I would follow it until I noticed i

was kilometers away from the

main house and my tummy would

remind me to get back home

soon. I would follow my nose until

I was face to face with a deer,

that seemed as surprised and

curious about the encounter as I

was. I would follow it until I found

a pheasant nest and the hen

would chance me off.

12


Born: 2013

Time at shelter: 6 months

Adopted: 2013

Passion: Food

Goals in life: To spread

happiness and love and to kiss

as many noses as possible.

Nefeli is a full breed Greek Tail

Wagger, and the most positive

dog you could wish to meet.

She has travelled to more than

10 countries doing tricks in dog

shows and expos, spreading the

sentiment:

“Adopt, don’t shop”

Because of my always curious nose every day has been an

adventure and it has caused an alarming change. I once more have a

waist! I have been happy and chubby for so long, that seeing the new

figure is kind of alarming, but I’m sure my tummy will catch up at

some point and I will be back to myself. Or then I will need to change

my slogan “Words of wisdom from a fit and happy rescue”.

You will rarely be wrong to follow your nose

and your tummy

13




16

Fresh Breath Treats

Recipe

This treat is a great breath freshener for your pooch since

it contains parsley and mint. These herby-licious

ingredients also have many other surprising health

benefits, too. Parsley aids digestion, can reduce

inflammation and is even thought to have cancer

preventing properties. Mint is a powerful antibacterial,

antifungal and antiviral herb that will help prevent

bacteria developing in your dog’s mouth. Whoever said

treats had to be naughty?


You will need:

• 1 cup of plain or Greek

yogurt

• Small handful of fresh

parsley leaves

• Small handful of fresh

mint leaves

Instructions

1. Scoop your yogurt into a blender and add your parsley and

mint leaves.

2. Blend until the herbs are evenly spread throughout the

mixture. At this point you can add a splash of water if you want

to thin out your mixture to create a better pouring consistency.

3. Fill your ice cube trays to the brim and pop them in the freezer.

4. Freeze until solid and serve.

Can you give a dog Greek yogurt?

Greek yogurt is safe and healthy for your dog

to enjoy unless they’re lactose intolerant. It’s

higher in protein than regular yogurts and has

probiotic qualities. With modest but regular

doses it can improve your dog’s digestion and

strengthen their immune system. But as it’s a

dairy product and dog’s can sometimes be

intolerant to dairy, it may still upset your

dog’s tummy. Feed in small quantities and note

any signs of stomach upset. If it doesn’t agree

with your pooch, you may need to stick to

non-yogurt summer treats.


Dogs in history:

Bobbie the Wonder Dog

Bobbie was a dog who covered 2,551 miles (4,105 km) on his own to

return home to Silverton, Oregon, United States, after he was lost

while his owners were visiting family in Wolcott, Indiana.

In August 1923, Frank and Elizabeth Brazier, with their daughters Leona

and Nova, were visiting relatives in Wolcott, Indiana. Their two-year-old

Scotch Collie/English Shepherd mix dog Bobbie, was attacked by three

other dogs and ran away. After an exhaustive search, the heartbroken

family were unable to find Bobbie and continued their trip before returning

home to Oregon, expecting never to see their dog again.

In February 1924, six months later, Bobbie returned to Silverton mangy,

dirty, and scrawny, with his toenails worn down to nothing. He showed all

the signs of having walked the entire distance, including swimming rivers

and crossing the Continental Divide during the coldest part of winter.

During his ordeal, he crossed

plains, desert, and mountains in

the winter to return home, an

average of approximately 14

miles (23 km) per day!

After his return to Silverton, he

experienced a meteoric rise to

fame. His story drew national

attention and was featured in

numerous newspapers and

even a film. Bobbie played

himself in the 1924 silent film

‘The Call of the West’.

He received hundreds of letters

from people around the world

and was honored with a

jewel-studded harness and

collar, ribbons, and keys to

cities.

Bobbie the wonder dog

1921-1927


People who had fed and sheltered Bobbie on his journey wrote the family to

tell them about their time with Bobbie. The Humane Society of Portland was

able to use these stories to assemble a relatively precise description of the

route Bobbie took.

The society concluded that after returning to Wolcott and unable to find his

owners, Bobbie initially followed their further travels into northeast Indiana.

He then struck out in several directions, apparently seeking their scent. He

eventually headed west.

During their original trip, the Braziers had parked their car in a service

station each night. Their dog visited each of these stops on his journey,

along with a number of homes, and a homeless camp.

In Portland, an Irish woman took care of him for a period of time, helping

him recover from serious injuries to his legs and paws.[

Death and legacy

Upon his death in 1927, he was buried with honors at the Oregon Humane

Society's pet cemetery in Portland. Bobbie's demonstration of loyalty is

celebrated during Silverton's annual children's pet parade that serves as a

reminder of the special place animals and pets have in people's lives. The

event was started several years after Bobbie's death and the first parade

was led by his son, Pal.

A huge outdoor painting featuring Bobbie's story is part of a series of murals

that decorate the walls of businesses in Silverton.

When you read a story of the pure love and dedication demonstrated by a

dog, is it any wonder we love our dogs the way we do?

The direct walking route would

look like this. Bobbies route was

far more complex!


20

ESSENTIAL SOUL FOOD


AN EXCLUSIVE MEMBERS ONLY OFFER!

WHAT’S YOUR DOG’S BREED?

Many rescue dog owners would love to know what kind of mix

created their beloved friend – and now with this fabulous

members-only offer, we can help!

Embark, the leading dog DNA testing company, has agreed to

cooperate with us and give all our club members a fantastic

discount!

To claim your $20 discount, use voucher code PUPS20 at

checkout.

We’re sure you’ll be fascinated by the results. If you have a

dog from our shelter, please share your results with us. We’d

be fascinated too!

21


MEMBERSHIP

UPDATE

Currently we have 189 Club Members, bringing us in

1567 Euros per month. This amount of money

enables us to feed around 104 dogs!

To run the shelter costs around 4000 Euros each

month and this year we’d really like to gain as many

members as possible, since it is the best way to

provide a steady income.

Many dogs have sponsors, but for those that don’t,

your support makes is possible to feed more of

those waiting for sponsors and homes.

Thank you

for

supporting

Gouves

Shelter!


OUR MISSION &

2021 GOALS

The long term goal of any animal shelter should be

to close down. Our dream is to live in a world

where all pets have responsible owners who neuter

them so that one day, there will be no more strays.

We believe that the key lies in educating the

current and the next generation of pet owners, and

in neutering programs.

Until we reach that goal, our aim is to be financially

secure enough to be able to help every sick, injured

or abandoned animal that finds it’s way to our gate

and to provide the best care possible to all animals

at the shelter until we can find them the good

homes that they all deserve.

OUR 2021 PLANS FOR THE SHELTER ARE:

Due to the current financial situation, our 2021

improvement plans are on hold and we hope to

restart them once we are in better financial shape.


DOG OF THE MONTH

LIO

Sex:

Age:

Humans:

Dogs:

Cats:

Male

Around 1-2 years old

Amazing

Great

Great

Anything living: Also great

Health issues:

No issues as fas as we can tell!

Lio is a young and energetic boy, who came to the shelter in the summer

of 2021. Although he is extremely friendly with people and very good with

other animals, he can be a bit timid in new situations and needs a family

that will give this young boy time to explore the world and gain

confidence through positive experiences.

Lio is not a small dog but he does love to spend time on your lap, so he

would be ideal in a home that wants a bigger dog that has still that puppy

side very much alive. He won’t be growing anymore, except in weight, so

he will be around the size of a collie or a small german shepherd.

24


Because of his lively and energetic

personality we hope to find him a

home that loves to go out for long

walks or that has a big garden where

he can play and chase toys. Lio would

be probably an amazing friend for

any hobbies as well and because he is

a smart boy we don’t think teaching

him some tricks would be an issue at

all.

A social dog or few furry friends

would be also good, as Lio enjoys

playing with others and could gain

confidence from an older and more

experienced dog.

If you can find a place in your home

for Lio, or know anyone who would

be interested in him, please send us

a message and lets get this happy

and loving boy to a family he

deserves!

25


KEEP TRACK OF YOUR DOG WITH OUR

FANTASTIC MEMBERS ONLY OFFER!

We’re delighted that Gouves Shelter Club members are eligible for a

whopping 15% discount off Tractive GPS tracking devices!

Never worry about your dog getting lost again, since you can track

their every movement! With Tractive you can see immediately where

your dog is going with your smartphone!

I can honestly say that since we got our tracker for our Cretan rescue

dog, Rozi, we have been so much more relaxed with her on her walks.

Even when she catches the scent of something and disappears, we

know we will find her using the really user-friendly app.

It even lets us see where she is when we’re not at home – just to

make sure she’s still there – and there’s a handy buzzer you can

activate to help locate your dog when you can’t see them.

Just go to tractive.com and use the voucher code GSCP15 to get your

15% discount – and some peace of mind.

Rozi the rescue dog

26


27

Tractive offer - Lisa



Raki deserves to find a loving

home as she is a perfect

example of a stray cat that

still loves people and would

be the happiest lap cat. We

want the best for her and

that’s why it breaks our

hearts to see her in the

shelter when all she wants to

do is spend time with you


Six reasons to adopt a

rescue dog

We’re sure we don’t need to tell you, our supporters, this – but just

in case you’re ever trying to convince a friend or family member to

adopt a rescue dog – or cat – here’s some good points!

There's more variety. When visiting

a shelter, you will be met by dogs of

all shapes, sizes and ages so you

will have far more choice than if you

were to go to a breeder. Carers at

the shelter can offer you information

on the dog’s character to help you

find the right fit for you.

Important life lessons for children.

Most rescue dogs have had a bad

start in life and can provide an

opportunity to teach your children

some life lessons. Rescuing will also

help show your child responsibility

and the importance of learning to

respect and care for animals.

Support, training and advice. Most

shelters will be happy to provide you

with support after you adopt so can

help you with advice and training

tips to ensure your new pet gets the

best start.

There are too many unwanted

dogs. In fact, there are more than

600 million stray dogs across the

world! Adopting strays reduces the

demand on dreadful puppy farms.

They can be healthier. When you

rehome a dog from a shelter, you

can be sure that the dog is healthy

and usually they are neutered,

microchipped and fully vaccinated

and treated for fleas and worms.

Stories about sick pups that sadly

die within days of going to their new

homes are all too common these

days.

It’s soooo rewarding! Rehoming an

unwanted dog is an amazing thing to

do. It gives a dog a second chance at

a happy life, and they will repay you

with love and kisses for the rest of

their lives. Who on earth wouldn’t

want that!?

I’m Bella, rescued

from the streets. I’m

learning to trust

humans and I’m

available!


YAPPY EVER AFTER!

Louis!

Louis was the last of our old

timers, now that Morgan is

reserved as well. Louis spent

years at the shelter and

finally found his forever

home this month! We could

not be happier for our sweet

boy and we hope his new life

will be filled with love and

joy, just as he deserves!

31


THANK YOU

FOR YOUR

SUPPORT

Stay Safe

CONTACT US

gouvesshelter@gmail.com

www.gouvesshelter.com

Facebook.com/gouvesanimalshelter

PayPal: gouvesshelter@gmail.com

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