A story to warm the heart, Fenix the dog that wouldn't die

The saddest little dog used to live near us.  Fenix, with his back legs paralysed, dragging himself around with his front legs, living disabled on the street.  But who was sad?  The little dog?  No!  Fenix was happy and playful and loved.  It was only my own feelings that made me unable see anything else but his suffering and not see his big heart and his strong will to live.

So many people thought it was wrong to let him live this way, with no hope of recovery and (as some may have thought) no quality of life.  But a few people with huge hearts refused to give up and saw in this little dog a survivor's instinct - and knew that he deserved to be helped.

This is the story of Fenix's life (with apologies to Surfactivity for the poor translation):

"Better to be born lucky than rich"

Fenix has survived:

• 1st assassination attempt hit by a car at Vila Verde = FAIL (result: paralyzed lower limbs) 
• 2nd attempt to murder by lethal injection = FAILED (abandoned in the desert hoping that soon the injection would kill him) 
• 3rd attempt to murder through neglect again in the desert = FAILED (recovered and dragged himself back again) 
• 4th attempt to murder by suffocation = FAILED (Tossed into a plastic bag to suffocate, but released in time) 
• 5th attempt again by lethal injection = FAILED (recommended by veterinarians who thought it inappropriate for him to live in this condition) 
• 6th assassination attempt by poisoning = FAILED (found in time and saved)

And after all this, his relentless will to live and our care have been rewarded. 

Tonight Fenix ​​flew to Italy, thanks to the Association Vita Animale in Milan where they will try to cure his paralysis or look for someone to care for him.

Fenix on his way to the airport in the back of Francesco's truck

Fenix's treatment has already begun and he has found a place with the other dogs.  The seventh miracle in his short life is the friends that he had living in Santa Maria and their relentless quest to help him.

I, who doubted and was even scared to look at him through my own fear and pity for him, salute you Pat, Nicky, Francesco, Debora and all others who fought for his survival.



Good luck Fenix!

One RIU hotel guest who won't be fobbed off!

This is the response one RIU guest sent after Claudia Schunk the head of communications at the RIU sent a standard email

Dear Mrs Schunk,
Thank you for your standard reply which unfortunately does not really answer any of my questions . Since the manager of Riu Funana admitted to contacting somebody to 'take care of the problem' and a person has come forward admitting to having placed poison on the beach in front of the hotel, in a private arrangement between the hotel and the individual concerned, I would like to ask you who you think is responsible for this incident???

I would also like to know what guarantee there is for me and my family who will be going to the Riu Karamboa that we will not face a similar situation, and what measures have been taken by Riu to ensure the safety of families and dogs on the beach at the Riu Funana.

I would also mention that I have read many, many reports on forums for this destination from holidaymakers having come into contact with stray dogs on the beach. They all describe them as friendly and shy.. not the agressive wild dogs that the hotel has described.

With regard to your final statement. What is the Riu chain's actual policy with regard to stray dogs? Is there a global policy or is each individual hotel manager repsonsible for dealing with things as he or she sees fit? In what ways are you "working with local authorities" and how do you intend in the future to help to solve the stray dog problem?
I would really appreciate if you could give a more personalised reply to this mail as the seriousness of the subject warrants.