Hello dear supporter,

Today I am asking for help on behalf of a kind soul: Monika, who runs a foster home for dogs. She takes dogs into her care on her own farm at her own expense until they can be rehomed, partly because the animal shelters are overcrowded.

Over the past year, she has had a run of bad luck that just won’t end. That is why I would like to lend her a helping hand and am asking for your support to save Monika’s farm.

She needs financial help for vet bills, food, repairs and an assessment for the licence under Section 11(1) of the Animal Welfare Act, which will help her in the long term.

Below you can read more about her story and what the donations will be used for:

Monika’s rehoming work and a brief history

Two years ago, I met Monika through a rehoming placement in my family. She is a caring and warm-hearted woman who does everything for the dogs waiting to be rehomed. At her farm in Brandenburg, she provides the animals with a loving home until a family is found.

So far, she has covered all the costs of the rehoming work and the care of the dogs herself, using her pension and widow’s pension. Sadly, she lost her husband to a brain tumour – so the dogs are her life.

She devotes every minute of her time to them, regularly taking them to the vet for vaccinations and routine check-ups, as well as to treat any illnesses. She does all this to help them find a new life in a permanent home as soon as possible.

She usually takes in around four animals from a shelter in Romania. However, she also takes in emergencies such as abandoned dogs or dogs that can no longer be kept, for example due to illness. She normally has around 10–15 animals with her on the farm.

So far, everything has gone really well…

…but misfortune rarely comes alone: over the past year, there have been numerous setbacks and unexpected events which she can unfortunately no longer afford to cover herself and which are now threatening her livelihood – and with it, the lives of her charges. She currently only has enough money for food, but no longer enough to cover further vet bills. Her savings have been used up, and unfortunately, a loan from a bank or individual acquaintances/friends is not possible given the amount required – which is why I am seeking help from as many people as possible to raise the necessary funds.

Please help me save Monika’s dog sanctuary and support her for the future.

What has happened and what is the donation needed for?

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1. Veterinary costs: illnesses affecting foster dogs

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Last year, Monika spent almost more time at the vet’s than at home. An excerpt:

Unfortunately, one of the dogs in her care contracted the often fatal Babesiosis virus (canine malaria). Fortunately, he survived, but the dog had to visit a specialist vet almost daily for weeks, and expensive medication had to be ordered from abroad. Unfortunately, due to the illness and treatment, he lost the toes on his right paw.

Another dog had a ‘blood ear’ (a haematoma on the ear – if left untreated, this leads to constant bleeding and permanent deformation of the ear or damage to the ear canal).

In addition, there have been many other procedures over the past few months, including: removal of tumours and abscesses, gastric torsion, blood poisoning, removal of stones from the stomach, as well as neutering, intravenous drips, and medication (including painkillers, Bravecto for ticks, etc.).

In total, this amounted to over €9,000 for vet visits alone last year. However, further vet visits will also be necessary in the future.

Extract from last year’s veterinary bills:

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2. Urgent repairs: Flooding and storm damage

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Following the run of bad luck with the illnesses, there was recently a flood in her house as well as storm damage in the garden, which makes it difficult to look after the dogs and needs to be repaired.

The flooding meant that the dogs, who used to play and sleep there, had to move into the living area for the time being, and the basement can no longer be used. To restore the basement and prevent flooding in the future, some alterations need to be made to the yard so that water can no longer enter the house.

In the garden: A 1.80m-high fence is needed for the dogs – currently, some of the fences, which were partially destroyed by the storm, have been sporadically rebuilt. They urgently need repairing, for which materials are required that Monika cannot currently afford.

She needs a further €5,000 for the repairs.

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3. Puppies & Adoption Permit: Assessment and Relief for the Future

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Unfortunately, there was a final, unplanned incident.

Someone dropped off a pregnant bitch at her place. She had also separated two other bitches as a precaution because they were in heat. Unfortunately, however, these bitches also had puppies, as a male dog managed to get into the room through a small gap in the kitchen whilst she was briefly away (shopping). Nature took its course and she now has puppies from three litters, which has caused costs to skyrocket. She would like to rehome the puppies as soon as possible, but she can only do so with a licence.

Fortunately, there is plenty of space (3,400 square metres of yard), but in order for her to rehome the dogs and remain legally compliant, she must take an exam at the Potsdam Chamber of Industry and Commerce. This will grant her permission under Section 11(1) of the Animal Welfare Act to officially register as a boarding kennel, animal shelter or animal welfare association, and to sell the puppies as a (casual) breeder.

Furthermore, this licence will help with future veterinary costs: as she can claim some of these expenses back, her outgoings would be lower. This would mean more money available for the animals’ care. It would also allow her to

membership fees,

donations,

placement fees,

lump-sum payments from local authorities for carrying out municipal animal welfare duties (contracts),

payments for taking in stray animals, as well as grants,

. Feeding the animals would therefore no longer be a problem.

The examination would therefore provide significant financial relief in future. The IHK Potsdam’s online preparation course for the examination includes preparation for the proficiency test, i.e. fees for the lecturers (€840.00). The exam itself costs between €41.00 and €328.00. In total, she will need between €900.00 and €1,200.

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Summary

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This means that around €15,000 is required to cover future vet bills, repairs and the examination, in order to minimise future costs:

Veterinary costs: approx. €9,000

Repairs & conversion: approx. €5,000

Permit under Section 11: approx. €1,200

Please help me so that this wonderful woman can continue to provide the dogs with what they need until they are rehomed.

If you’d like a detailed breakdown of the vet costs, more photos or similar, please do get in touch. Also, if any of the animals have caught your interest, please feel free to contact me.

Thank you very much for your time and support!