In the Netherlands, we had sponsors for things like food, but not in Spain. And that is why the entire proceeds from the Painting Lucky Stones go to our animals.

Our animals

We have always had a big heart for animals. In the Netherlands, we ran a private shelter for older cats. We have also fostered dogs, and the extremely difficult or unadoptable animals stayed with us. Our dream of a new life is, of course, with the animals. It was a big step for us, and certainly for the animals as well, one that caused doubt, especially just before the emigration. The animals came to Spain on a special animal transport; my mother was allowed to travel with them. Upon arrival in Spain, we did not have lights yet, and the bus could not get up the hill because we live on a mountain with a steep sandy road. They had to be rushed to the house in my car because it was getting dark. Our animals are not typical animals. 

Hope

Hope was found along the road. The rescuer thought she was dead because, according to the report, she had been lying there for a few days. They were able to save her life, but she did lose a leg and is paralyzed in her tail. She was terrified of the dark, and we still sleep with a light on. She came to the Netherlands and felt like her life was no longer worth living. We are volunteers at the shelter, and she tried to get our attention by stealing cookies, among other things.She was allowed to stay with us. she is the boss from the pack.

Sam is a rascal and his biggest hobby is being lazy and catching flies. He is the least fearful and most social of the group. He comes from Bosnia and ended up in a large group of dogs in Belgium. There was no balance, and Sam, as well as the other dogs, regularly got into fights. One dog passed away, and Sam had to leave quickly. We only had female dogs, so the foundation asked us if we could take him in for a while until another home was found. He never left.

Freya

Freya came to a shelter in the Netherlands together with her brothers. They were all terrified and not used to space because they had lived together in a small kennel. The first thing we had to teach her was not to sit like a small, frightened heap. She is truly happy in Spain. She loves to run, takes up space, and if you say the word "sausage," she goes crazy. She is very reserved and wants regularity. But when she is scared, she comes running to us. She was a foster dog first and was subsequently rehomed. She escaped from there and was only found days later. When she got scared, she would run and wouldn't look where she was. In the Netherlands, she once got stuck in the fence.

Jazzi

Jazzi is the loudest of the bunch. She trusts almost no one, luckily she does trust my mother, and I am allowed to pet her, but only if I really want to. Often she doesn't even know what she wants herself.

Banshee

 
Banshee the crazy dog. That is what the people at the factory where she and her brother stayed called called her. We met her after we had to put our two other dogs to sleep over a weekend; one suddenly, and the farewell for the other had already been planned. She came to greet us immediately and gave us a hug by standing on her hind legs and holding onto us with her front paws; the shelter staff were surprised. But she was already reserved, and the people were coming to pick her up that afternoon. Late in the afternoon, we received a phone call; the people had been there, but Banshee made it clear that she didn't like them. She was allowed to come home with us and from day one she was a wonderful dog, though she is terrified of the wind. She is a goofball, but in a silly way. She saw a male dog peeing with a leg up, and the next day she did it too.

 

Thor

Thor came to us as kittens along with his sisters. His sisters were half his size and both passed away at the age of 12. Hexia in the second month in Spain, and Loki just before that in the Netherlands. Thor is doing great in Spain. He and the other cats have their own cat house and outdoor run. With wildniss the wild cat that we sinds spain allowed to pet and Phoenix the old grumpy cat live hè by us.