kfravon

I don't even know where to start... Most of you have already read my story about the 'vafa shelter dogs' on iranian.com a couple of months ago.

Checks started arriving in the mail within a few days of the posting. I was thrilled and so thankful that iranian.com readers trusted me enough to open their hearts/pockets and be so willing to help out. Folks were so thankful that vafa shelter staff and volunteers do all that they do for the beautiful dogs, and they continued to send in their donations (small & large!)

'YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE....and I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH.....'.  I even received 2nd and 3rd checks from donors!

Well... Vafa Shelter director, Mrs Lida EsnaAshari has kept us up-to-date with the progress at the shelter. I wish I could go back now and capture some shots of the happy dogs, but haven't had a chance to go back yet... however the shelter volunteers managed to take some pictures, which I would like to share with you along with a 'translated' note from Lida through their newsletter: Kabootarnameh.

In the house that you live in, if there is a child living with you, every once in a while you need to wash even the walls to keep the place up. The more the number of the kids, the more substantial the up keep. Now, imagine that we have 300 of these strong minded bombs of energy!

When they are given toys, they dig holes in the yard to hide them. When they are not given toys, they still dig holes to recover the ones they hid before.

We love them dearly regardless of how destructive they get when they get bored.

Last year before I was hospitalized, I had repairs done to some parts of the shelter. The next day I discovered a huge ditch in place of the brick and mortar wall!! At the sound of my unhappy reaction in order to calm me down, a group of them gathered around me, tumbled me to the ground and covered me in most slobbering kisses.

This time around, during construction a few of them ran away. I was so worried for them getting lost or hurt. Limping along using my cane, I tried to get them to come back and was unable to do so. Agha Karam said to me not to worry as they will come back. Sure enough, after only half an hour every one of them came back, tongues hanging out and covered with mud and sludge. They all rushed to the pools of water and drank all they could. Later Agha Karam and Gholam got busy hosing them down with water.

These are our children. All of them, puppies to the 13 year old ones, live like a happy and at times un-ruley family, with each other and us, blessed with love.

Lida EsnaAshari - Vafa Shelter

Thank you again for taking the time to read about these beautiful dogs.  If you like to help, please refer to my original posting (loyal angels) and feel free to email me if you have any questions: kfravon@yahoo.com

With Warm Regards,
Faranak Ravon