Safe Haven for 100 special strays in Colombia

Dear donor and friend!! In Report 2 I already introduced you to Topo, our senior Mister Sunshine, who is looking forward to celebrating his second anniversary as an officially adopted canine great-grandfather. He is still doing fine, though he’ll need a wheelie soon to ease his hips, but despite the circumstances of being blind, medium deaf and quite senile, he is still healthy and enthusiastic about life. A certain daily routine gives him security, so he knows exactly when it’s feeding time, when he goes out for a short walk or when it’s fun time, the magic moment for mental stimulation. "BRAIN GAMES" are designed to interact through mental and cognitive play with our dogs without the need for large spaces, or excessive spending of money, just creativity, patience and much observation. Despite their physical limitations, older dogs are capable of continuing to learn, which can slow the natural rate of mental decline due to old age. But, contrary to puppies and younger specimens, older dogs are not mentally stimulated because by moving less and less, the level of training is unconsciously reduced. We understand the importance of mental stimulation and want to encourage Topo to explore, challenge and expand his abilities by doing “nose work”. I use to play “hide and seek” with him by hiding dozens of small treats all over the livingroom and he spends his Happy Hour finding them all.  In the picture below we see some more examples: a labyrinth food plate, snuffle mats, a ball pit, different kongs stuffed with treats hidden in a box or in an egg carton. We accept and embrace his limitations, nevertheless we require a lot without overstraining him; sniffing on a 10-minutes-garden trip is also a valuable part of “canine enrichment”, or warming aching bones in a sunny place. Topo loves eating outside, accompanied by the curious chicks, and does not mind them stealing some kibble. I am grateful that he is such a perfect master, preparing me for the rescue of senior strays. We can do this together, dear donor and friend, thank you for supporting our Project “Safe Haven for 100 special strays in Colombia”.