Forty dogs, 19 puppies, eight cats and a foal and her mother need your urgent help.
All the animals depend on the elderly Madelaine Nineham for food, love and medical care. Madelaine and her husband John founded Stepping Stones, a charity on the Greek island of Kefalonia. Their vision was to create a homelike atmosphere for street dogs, so they would be more likely to be adopted and find their forever homes. They gave their own home to make the dogs feel secure. Now they might have to go back to the streets.
Street dogs in Greece face terrible cruelty and hardship, poisoning and killing by hit-and- run drivers is commonplace.
Stepping Stones is a great success and scores of dogs have found forever homes and happiness because of John and Madelaine’s wonderful work.
But then tragedy struck. Last October John died of cancer then, two months ago, Madelaine who is 78, fractured a thigh bone when lifting a dog to take her to the vet.
She’s been in a wheelchair ever since and doesn’t know when she will be able to properly walk again. It hasn’t stopped her. She is determined to carry on helping dogs and is funding the dogs from her pension.
This saintly, elderly woman is caring for 40 dogs and 19 puppies from her wheelchair.
Volunteers help when they can, but their time is limited and, The animals need help right now. Make no mistake, this is a crisis for these dogs. If they don’t get help, their future is bleak. Life for dogs like these is one of callous indifference and cruelty. We have seen - with our own eyes - a dog in Greece kicked in the head because he was in the way of a passerby.
With your help, we will stand with Madelaine to save these dogs from the streets!
The dogs know something’s not right with Madelaine and they cluster round her, returning the love she gives them day-after-day.
These poor dogs are in danger and we hate to think that they might have to return to lives of hunger and horror. We have to help them. Madelaine is doing her best but she’s struggling. Imagine trying to care for 59 dogs and puppies from a wheelchair!
The dogs need food, medical care and constant love. Their future is uncertain without help, so please donate to Network for Animals today so we can provide the food and medical care they need and, vitally, to hire a full-time worker for the animals until Madelaine can walk again.
We have promised we will do what we can, but we need your help to make sure this story has a happy ending.
For the animals,
Brian and Gloria Davies (and Max and Flora!)
Founder and CEO
P.S. You’re probably wondering about the horses. Madelaine rescued the mother from an abusive owner and the foal was born in a field next to Madelaine’s home. The cats just turned up, as they do! Please donate to Network for Animals today so we can ensure that these animals will receive the care they need and will never have to face abuse ever again.