🐾 GIVE A DOG A SECOND CHANCE ❤️ Ragnar the German Shepherd's story - Part 52

At ''For Sale By Sally In Spain'', we love everything about living in this beautiful part of Spain, the sunshine, the mountains, the beaches, the villages, the lifestyle and, of course, the wonderful people and animals we share it with!

But there is another side to life here that is very close to our hearts: the many abandoned, unwanted and vulnerable dogs that desperately need a second chance.

If you live in the Vall d’Albaida, Benigànim, Xàtiva, Ontinyent, Gandia or the surrounding areas in the Northern Costa Blanca, there are lots of ways you can help.

You don't necessarily have to adopt a dog.

You can volunteer, walk a dog, foster, donate, buy something from a charity shop, sponsor an animal, help with fundraising — or simply share a photograph of a dog looking for a home.

Sometimes, a little of your time can make an enormous difference to a dog that has very little else.

❤️ AND THEN THERE IS RAGNAR THE GERMAN SHEPHERD'S STORY...

We could have adopted almost any dog.

We could have chosen a beautiful puppy.

We could have looked for a healthy young dog with no history and no obvious problems.

But sometimes you meet a dog whose story simply gets under your skin and into your heart.

That happened to us with a young German Shepherd we eventually named Ragnar.

Ragnar was originally found starving and wandering through a village in Jaén, in southern Spain.

He was in an extremely poor condition.

He had huge areas of missing coat because of a skin condition, severe hip dysplasia and virtually no muscle. He had lost all hope and faith in humans, he was collected by the police and taken to dog pound.

But physically was only part of the story.

His experience in a dog pound had clearly left him deeply distressed. He had spent weeks in a very small area and had developed severe repetitive behaviours, constantly spinning, as a way of coping with the stress.

Eventually, his condition became so serious that he needed veterinary treatment and surgery, so his tail was amputated.

When he was transferred to a more local protector near Alicante, we went to collect him.

And this is the bit that we will never forget.

We were told very kindly, that we could choose another dog if we wanted, as the wonderful people running that small rescue centre knew of his mental and physical condition, and knew it would be a long and hard road to rehabilitate him.

There were plenty of healthy and wonderful dogs there to choose from.

But our hearts were already with the dog that desperately needed somebody to say YES.

His back legs were so weak when we collected him that he couldn't even jump into our car. So we brought him home .....

And we called him Ragnar.

🐺 THE TROUBLED SOUL WHO FOUND HIS FAMILY

Ragnar was, quite simply, a troubled soul.

A German Shepherd who had been through far too much for his age.

He had found kennels he had lived in incredibly difficult, and was scared of small spaces where he might be trapped, he was still displaying very distressed behaviours when we first brought him home, he would spiral into a spinning mode at any sound.

But underneath all that fear and confusion was something very special!

An incredibly intelligent dog.

And an incredibly loving one.

German Shepherds are known for being intelligent, loyal and highly responsive dogs, but that intelligence can also mean that some individuals struggle particularly badly with prolonged stress, isolation and a lack of mental stimulation.

For a dog like Ragnar, simply putting him somewhere safe wasn't enough.

He needed time to decompress.

He needed lots of patience with no harsh words.

He needed a daily routine.

He needed kindness and love.

And above all, he needed somebody who wasn't going to give up on him.

🌊 LOOK AT HIM NOW (PHOTO ABOVE) ...

The transformation has been incredible.

The skinny, frightened dog we collected is no longer the same dog.

His beautiful coat has grown back.

His body has developed muscle where once there was hardly any.

He goes on long regular runs along the seafront,  something he absolutely adores.

And when evening comes, he curls up on the sofa.

Then comes one of our favourite things about Ragnar...

He chooses his human.

He puts his head on their lap or shoulder and simply stays there, soaking up all the love and affection he can get.

This dog, who once had so little, now has a family.

He has security.

He has exercise.

He has a sofa.

He has people who adore him.

And most importantly...

He knows he is home. ❤️

Ragnar was always special.

His path was incredibly difficult, but he has now found the happiness and love that every dog deserves.

🐕 FROM RAGNAR TO YOUR NEXT BEST FRIEND...

We didn't rescue Ragnar because he was the easiest dog.

We rescued him because he needed us.

And in return, he has given us something far greater than we could ever have expected.

He has given us his trust.

His loyalty.

His ridiculous goofy personality.

His beautiful companionship.

And a daily reminder that sometimes the dogs who have been through the hardest journeys can have the biggest capacity for love.

There are so many dogs out there waiting for their own happy ending.

Maybe yours is waiting too.

Don't overlook the dog that needs a second chance.

Because somewhere out there could be another Ragnar...

A dog waiting for somebody to look beyond the scars of their past and see the wonderful companion they could become.

🐾 ADOPT. FOSTER. VOLUNTEER. DONATE. SHARE.

Give a dog a second chance. ❤️

And believe us...

you might just find that they give you a second chance at something too.

🐾 WHAT IF YOU COULD GIVE ANOTHER RAGNAR A SECOND CHANCE?

There are dogs out there right now who may not be the easiest choice.

They may be older.

They may be frightened.

They may have health problems.

They may have spent too long in kennels.

They may need to learn how to trust people again.

They may not know how to play.

They may be nervous when you first meet them.

And they may not immediately run up to you with a wagging tail.

But sometimes, the dog who needs you the most is the one who takes the longest to show you just how wonderful they can be.

That's where fostering can be so incredibly important.

You don't necessarily have to make a lifetime commitment immediately.

By fostering, you can provide a dog with a safe home environment while the rescue organisation searches for their permanent family.

SPAMA Safor actively offers fostering as one of its ways to help animals in need.

And sometimes, of course... the foster dog never leaves. ❤️

🏡 ADOPT – DON'T SHOP?

There are so many wonderful dogs waiting for homes across Spain.

Big dogs.

Small dogs.

Young dogs.

Older dogs.

Crossbreeds.

Pedigrees.

Terriers.

Galgos.

German Shepherds.

And every imaginable combination of all of them.

Some are confident.

Some are shy.

Some are full of energy.

Some simply want somewhere quiet to sleep.

And some, like Ragnar, need somebody prepared to invest the time and patience required to help them recover from a difficult past.

Responsible adoption isn't about finding the perfect dog.

It's about finding the right home for the dog you choose — and understanding that rescue dogs sometimes need time to become the dog they were always meant to be.

❤️ YOU COULD CHANGE A LIFE

🐕 WHY NOT VOLUNTEER TO WALK A RESCUE DOG?

Imagine spending long periods of your life in a kennel, surrounded by unfamiliar smells, strange noises and lots of other frightened dogs.

Now imagine that someone arrives, puts a lead on you and takes you outside into the sunshine.

You can walk. You can sniff. You can explore. You can feel grass beneath your paws.

And, most importantly, someone is giving you their time and attention.

For a rescue dog, that can mean everything.

Walking dogs isn't only good for the dogs either. It's a great way for people to get outside, meet other animal lovers, enjoy some exercise and do something genuinely worthwhile at the same time.

At SPAMA Safor near Gandia, volunteers can help by walking dogs, bathing them, playing with the cats and helping to socialise some of the more nervous animals. SPAMA also offers fostering, adoption, sponsorship and other ways to help.

That's a pretty wonderful way to spend a Saturday morning! 🐾
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🏡 LOCAL ANIMAL CHARITIES YOU CAN SUPPORT

There are several organisations and groups working hard to help animals in our part of Valencia.

🐶 Protectora d'Animals la Vall d'Albaida -  https://www.facebook.com/perreradogsalbaida/?locale=ca_ES

The Protectora d'Animals la Vall d'Albaida, based in Ontinyent, is a non-profit animal protection association working with abandoned animals and responsible adoptions.

They rely heavily on foster homes and volunteers, with volunteers helping in many different ways, including walking dogs, helping at information events and promoting animals looking for homes.

For anyone living around Ontinyent and the Vall d'Albaida, this is another wonderful way to become involved without necessarily having to adopt a dog yourself.
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🛍️ BENIGANIM VINTAGE POR LOS ANIMALES - https://www.beniganimvintageporlosanimales.org/ 

And then there is something rather special right here in Benigànim!

Beniganim Vintage por los Animales is a local independent animal rescue charity based in Benigànim. Their charity shop raises money to support shelters, rescue organisations and individual rescuers helping abandoned, neglected and vulnerable animals throughout the region.

The money raised can help with things such as veterinary treatment, transport to safety, emergency food, beds, blankets, towels, toys and sterilisation programmes. They also help fund rescues from situations where animals are at risk.

So the next time you're having a little wander around Benigànim and fancy finding a pre-loved bargain, why not pop into the charity shop?  You can donate any quality items of furniture or anything that would be sellable in the shop, clothes, bric a brac, household items etc, everything is very gratefully received by the volunteers that run the charity shop, you will be welcomed with open arms and smiling faces, so pop in with your unwanted items and see what they have to offer!   You never know what treasure you might find, and your purchase could help save an animal's life. ❤️

New to the area and want to volunteer by helping in the shop, then what a great way to meet new people, we are always seeking volunteers for the shop to help out, in a fun and happy environment, speak to Margaret if you are interested.

Beniganim Vintage also works with rescue groups across Spain.  They give their support to organisations rescuing dogs from pounds and the streets, including helping with transport and fostering.

A bargain for you. A lifeline for them. 🐾
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🐕‍🦺 SPAMA SAFOR – GANDIA - Visit the SPAMA Safor website

On the edge of Gandia, SPAMA Safor is another fantastic organisation helping dogs and cats that need homes.  They are based at Camino de la Banyosa, 46728 Gandia, and currently ask visitors and volunteers to arrange an appointment before visting.

They currently have animals waiting for adoption and offer several ways to help, including:

❤️ Adopt
🏡 Foster
🐾 Volunteer
💶 Donate
🐶 Sponsor an animal

SPAMA specifically encourages volunteers to spend time with the animals, including taking dogs for walks and helping the more nervous animals become accustomed to people.

So, if you live here in the Vall d'Albaida, Benigànim, Ontinyent, Xàtiva, Gandia or the surrounding area, why not think about how you could help?

🐾 Take a rescue dog for a walk.

🏡 Offer to foster.

❤️ Consider adoption.

💶 Make a small donation.

🛍️ Buy something from Beniganim Vintage por los Animales.

🐶 Sponsor a dog.

📱 Share a rescue dog's photograph.

🧺 Donate food, bedding or other items requested by a local rescue.

🙋‍♀️ Volunteer your time.

You don't have to do everything.

Just do something......

Because for a dog sitting in a kennel, waiting and wondering what will happen next, one person deciding to help can change absolutely everything.

Please contact each organisation directly before visiting or volunteering, as arrangements, opening times and volunteer requirements can change.