Through this journey, Tina learned how complicated international travel can be with dogs-especially three of them! There were many details to work through, including which airlines would fly dogs internationally, securing pet passports and international health certificates, ensuring proper crate size, and preparing for cleaning the crates after landing. She also learned that at the layover in Paris, they would need to collect their baggage and the dogs and move them to another terminal without the assistance of a porter! It was not an easy trip, but due to Tina, Nancy, and Mary's careful research and preparation, the three beautiful Brittanys arrived safely in America where they were greeted by ABR foster families who took the pups home to begin their new lives.

Cinnamon's story is illustrative of how different life for a dog can be in other countries. A woman from Athens was on a weekend vacation in the mountains and while on a walk in the woods, a scrawny dog ran up to her and followed the woman back to the car. The woman's travel companions wouldn't allow the dog in their car, so they left the dog behind.

 

In the middle of the night, the woman woke her husband insisting that they go back for the dog. The next morning they returned to the same spot, and Cinnamon ran right up to them again. They found a vet who agreed to hold her until their vacation was over, and then they took her back to Athens. They got her medical care and had her spayed. When she was healthy enough to travel, they turned her over to ABR.

 

Cinnamon was microchipped and her owner was traced. The owner had given her to his brother to go hunting. The brother gave her to someone else, and she was then abandoned. The owner was not aware that the dog had been abandoned, nor did he care. He did not want her back. It was evident that Cinnamon had spent weeks in the wild, barely surviving.

 

Cinnamon is showing her true colors in her foster home-she is a fun, sassy girl with lots of energy. She loves to play and enjoys snuggling at night. After being thrown away and left to fend for herself, Cinnamon finally has the opportunity to live the life she deserves.

Because of the successful trip to Greece, the Board has decided to set aside a separate fund for future trips abroad. This month, ABR will conduct two more trips to Greece and a trip to Serbia to rescue a total of nine dogs. A trip to Spain for two dogs is also in the works. With each trip, the overall success of the program will continue to be evaluated. The hope is that ABR will be able to conduct international rescue missions again in July of 2017 and then every six weeks going forward. 

ABR of course remains deeply committed to helping Brittanys in America, and the separately-funded international rescues will in no way detract from ABR's continued mission here. 

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