APA Nerja
The APA story
APA Nerja Estacion Esperanza was born out of an unbridled love and compassion for the abandoned and abused dogs and cats of Nerja . In April 2014 , a small band of twenty like-minded people decided they had to protect and care for these animals and APA Nerja was born .
They worked initially from a small piece of land in Oasis Capistrano taking dogs from the streets and the Nerja pound but it wasn ’ t long before the enormity of the task they had undertaken became overwhelming and they knew that if they were going to make a difference to the lives of the dogs in their care that they needed to have a purpose built Shelter – but how was that going to happen with any funds they raised being used for vital vet fees for vaccinations , microchipping and passports for the rescued dogs ? So they searched for materials and in January 2016 APA sourced a piece of derelict land and the work began to build their dream – a safe haven for dogs who would eventually find their own special homes . Blood , sweat and tears enabled them to initially build eight pens with a safe enclosed area for recreation .
Word started to spread that APA needed more volunteers and support and the APA Nerja Walking Group was formed to enable the rescued dogs to have training and socialising including walks to the beach and learning how to behave in public . Fast forward to 2018 and APA Nerja has achieved the unachievable – homing over 700 dogs and puppies in Spain , Holland , Sweden , Belgium , Poland , Finland and the UK but not without cost . The cost of running the Shelter is underwritten by donations and the monthly food bill alone is € 400 coupled with the cost of cleaning materials and medical bills for those dogs who enter into APA care injured and sick . Without the support and kindness of the APA supporters this work cannot continue – but continue it must – these dogs didn ’ t ask to be born but they deserve to have a life filled with love .
So APA are asking , can you support us ? Could you be a foster family to a puppy or a dog who has a home to go to but needs to learn how to live outside of the Shelter ? If you can foster – that frees up a place for another abused or abandoned dog …… please ? Contact APA Nerja for a chat to see what your help and support can do for them . Thank you .
The life of a Fosterer
This year , we have fostered two puppies with APA Nerja and we would like to tell everyone about our experience , in the hope it may encourage others to help out . We have two dogs of our own but had a little space and some extra love for a puppy in need . Welcoming them in to our home , making them feel secure and safe , teaching them to play and socialise has been a mutually rewarding experience ; for the puppy , our dogs and us . We find that very quickly they fit in to our family life ; out for long walks , trips to the mountains , paddling in the sea and lazing on the sofa with a film and a chew toy .
We really enjoy showing these dogs what a loving and stable home is like , it ’ s a privilege to be the foster parents that are preparing them for their next steps in life .
One of our dogs is a rescue from Cyprus who didn ' t have the best start in life but has become a wonderful best friend to us and a foster brother to the puppies we are caring for . He has given us so much joy , we wanted to give some back to other pups . We clean up accidents , we have grown eyes in the back of our heads and we have scrapped the long lie-ins , but it is so worth it to see the progress the puppies make in the time they are with us . Saying goodbye is bittersweet , there are often tears , but the puppies both strode off confidently towards their forever homes without a backward glance , which I like to think of as our little gift to them .
Talk to the paw – March 2018
Alex ’ s urgent shelter repairs appeal I AM SO HAPPY - I ’ m in a new pen : our humans obviously realised how important I am and moved me to one of the finished pens ! It ’ s fantastic . So much safer and cleaner for us dogs , and our volunteers . Thank you everyone for working so hard to make this happen .
Five pens have been totally re-done ; there are 14 that still need work – it ’ s a huge job and will take a long time as we rely totally on donations for materials , and labour from volunteers . Can you help please ?
Oops , nearly forgot ! We ’ re still appealing for blankets and towels to keep us snug ; and newspapers please ‘ cos our shelter mummy is looking after five little puppies at her house !!
Contacts
With Love from Alex xxx
APA Nerja Email : apanerja2015 @ gmail . com Volunteering : Sue 0044 7735 579 695 Volunteering / Adoptions / Foster : Penny 695 817 343 or dragongb2000 @ yahoo . com Fundraising : Lou 662 556 753 If you would like to donate to APA you can by PayPal apanerja2015 @ gmail . com or via bank transfer to Solbank : ES24 00810548990001583768 bic BSABESBB
5 2