Mashala Shelter

Hey friends!

One of the things keeping busy lately is an animal shelter that I really love. I’m talking, of course, about Mashala Shelter, and if you follow me on social media, you’ll have seen me post about it quite a lot! Mashala Shelter is an animal shelter in the south of Lebanon, and it is home to over 300 animals, mostly dogs, but there are cats, birds, donkeys, rabbits, and other animals living there, too. It was founded in 2006 by one big-hearted man, Houssein Hamzeh, who works tirelessly every single day, to rescue as many animals as he can. He responds to calls concerning injured and abandoned animals, and his solitary mission takes him all over Lebanon.

I’ve been doing what little I can from my home in the UK, helping out with social media and some fundraising activities, and it’s been really exciting to watch the shelter’s Facebook and Instagram pages grow so much, as interest in the animal shelter continues to rise. One day, when travel restrictions are no longer an obstacle, I’ll go and volunteer my time there in a more hands on way, but I’m proud to be a tiny part of the effort now, too.

Although the shelter is definitely gaining a little attention, as it certainly deserves to, it’s a long way from being financially stable, and donations are always needed from animal lovers around the world. Those very people have risen to the occasion so admirably, and it is heart-warming to read some of the messages of encouragement and appreciation that people send. Every person that shares a post, comments, likes the page, or donates directly, is a part of keeping these animals safe and healthy, and I think that’s what makes this such a rewarding cause. One small act of kindness can produce a ripple effect, after all, and this is what I’m seeing here. It gives me hope, especially with all the heart-breaking things happening to animals every day, that in this small corner, these animals are loved, they are safe, and there are people that truly care.

Don’t take my word for it, though! Go and check out all the cool videos and content that are all available on Mashala Shelter’s social media pages. I put them all in a Linktree (I am obsessed with these! Everything in one neat little link? So organised!), along with donations links and so on: https://linktr.ee/MashalaShelter

Namaste,

Amanda x

Is “All Creatures Great And Small” my new favourite series? You bet!

Hello friends!

I had many, many favourite books growing up, and James Herriot’s books were always firmly on my list, along with Jane Austen, Roald Dahl, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Charlotte Brontë, J. M. Barrie, C. S. Lewis, Tolkien, J. K. Rowling, and so many, many more. It was James Herriot, and the Animal Ark series by Lucy Daniels, which well and truly solidified my already strong love of animals. I adored James, but I also dearly loved his vet comrades, Siegfried, and Tristan, not to mention that crafty cartoony character, Tricky Woo. To say I love the new series “All Creatures Great And Small” based on James Herriot’s life and his books is no small feat. I’m very pernickety when it comes to onscreen adaptations of my favourite books, as I’m sure many bookworms are, because we guard these treasures fiercely. I can safely say, however, that I couldn’t have picked better actors, and every episode surpasses the other in sheer awesomeness. The series stays true to the books, and James’ characters is not only wonderfully kind, sincere, and benign, but also full of honesty and integrity, which I love.

James Herriot is played by newcomer Nicholas Ralph. Picture: Playground Television

The most emotional episode by far was Andante, where James’ diagnosis of a prize winning racehorse is questioned by what seems like every resident in the village. Siegfried remains loyal, however, and there’s a line dropped by both him and James that left me with all the feels. “We will never leave an animal in distress.” Because ultimately, that is what it’s all about.

Siegfried Farnon is played by Samuel West. Picture: Playground Television

The lack of cliff-hangers is a huge blessing, too, and yet every 45 minute episode will keep you hooked until the end, with plenty of tension and excitement thrown in for good measure. It is stories about a vet, and the animals he cares for, and the people around him, sure, but it’s also a story about fighting the good fight, and staying true to your morals. It’s heart-warmingly funny, fresh, feel good, and clever.

Now, let’s just address the Shorthorn cow in the room. Where can you watch it? Catch “All Creatures Great And Small” on Channel 5 every Tuesday at 9pm.

 

Namaste,

 

Amanda x

 

 

A Note From Frodo

Hello friends!

My majestic boy Frodo wishes to remind everyone, that bunnies don’t just eat carrots 🥕 Frodo enjoys carrots as a treat, but to stay healthy, a rabbit needs a balance of good quality hay, dry pellet rabbit food, fresh and varied fruit and vegetables, and clean drinking water available at all times. Frodo is clever and drinks his water from a bunny bottle, which keeps the water clean and avoids spills. He learned to use it as an adult, as the person he lived with previously gave him a bowl of water, which he would often spill. He enjoys all kinds of vegetables, including lettuce, corn, celery, radishes, and carrots. Fruit wise, he enjoys small amounts of banana, either fresh or as sugar free chips. He also enjoys dandelions, kale, parsley, mint, and coriander. All fruit and vegetables should be fed in small quantities. Rabbits need a diet of 80% hay, 10% fresh fruit or veg, and 10% pellets, ideally. Frodo enjoys a mixture of Timothy hay and meadow hay, which he has access to whenever he likes, be it out and about in the garden, where he runs around freely most days when the weather is nice, or tucked into bed in his large, indoor bunny cage for the night, where he sleeps on a bed of clean sawdust. In winter, and colder weather, he likes extra straw to keep him warm, but now that it’s warming up, sawdust is just fine (if he’s indoors, which he always is at night, anyway. I ain’t leaving my baby out there on his own! I’d have to camp out with him with a sleeping bag, and it’s just not ideal.) .

Namaste, Frodo x

Frodo in his bedroom

PS: A Rabbit is for up to 12 years, not just for Easter.

A Message From BETA

Hello friends!

This is an email I received from BETA a few days ago. It left me pretty chocked up. But imagine how they are feeling. Please read it, please consider helping if you can, and please share this.

Namaste,

Amanda x

Dear friends,

Over the past few weeks, the global pandemic has affected our lives greatly, but we are dedicated to continuing our mission and helping animals in need.

Lebanon is currently on a two-week medical lockdown, but the truth is, this country has been on a different kind of lockdown for months due to the economic crisis that has led to tens of thousands of people losing their income, limited access to personal cash, and various debilitating restrictions. 

This is an unprecedented challenge on many levels; Ensuring food for over 1,000 dogs and cats, as well as horses and donkeys has become almost impossible with the (unofficial) hyperinflation, therefore, inability to import, and local food providers demanding to be paid in advance. Moreover, dumping has at least tripled over the last period, reaching its all-time peak, first for socio-economic reasons, and now for medical ones, due to the COVID-19 panic.

Furthermore, our airport is closed and dogs who have found their forever homes abroad are currently stuck in the country, and to make matters worse, the dog shelter was severely damaged a few days ago, with parts of the roof completely collapsing, due to devastating strong winds. 

We are currently working far beyond our capacity, especially with the enforced curfew that is making our daily work even harder, and while prioritizing the health and safety of our volunteers, we are continuing our daily tasks to keep helping animals in need. 

International help is extremely vital for the continuation of our mission at the moment. Hope is what keeps us going, and we would like to thank all those who gave us a helping hand in the past few months, ensuring that wellbeing of over 1,000 animals. 

This is a plea of help to provide the basic needs, such as dog and cat food and medical care, and to carry out our daily mission.

This is a plea to come together from all around the world at this time of global crisis, as animal lovers who want to give animals a second chance at life. 

Please help them.

Please contribute to our rescue fund:
https://betalebanon.org/get-involved/donate/ 

The BETA team

Animals Lebanon

Hello friends!

You may have noticed that I disappeared for a few days, the reason being that my blog nearly died. Yes, my blog crashed and I thought it was all lost in the great vortex of interwebs forever. Luckily, my computer savvy cousin came to the rescue, and he managed to sort it all out. I dunno how, but he did, and thank goodness. Thank you, cousin! Anyway, I must stress to my fellow bloggers, it is vitally important to have backup files of your blog, because it can all disappear in the blink of an eye, and you’re left standing there, dazed, confused, and freaking the flip out.

Just saying.

Anyways.

Today I come to you with a very important post.

See, it all started when I was playing this animal rescue center game on my iPhone (it’s called PetWorld Free, if you want to look it up. It’s actually quite realistic!). Anyway, there I was, cleaning out virtual animal cages and feeding the virtual animals in my care, as you do, when it got me thinking about animals in Lebanon. This isn’t unusual, but there I triggers that I really try not to set off, because the whole thought is very upsetting to me, since I still haven’t come up with what I can personally do yet. I wrote a post on all this called I Will Be Your Voice last year (on my birthday, funnily enough), which is one of my most popular and most circulated posts to date!

See, I’ve tried to wrap my mind around the animal cruelty that goes on in the world, but you might as well tell me to sprout wings and fly. When I see an animal suffering, I can hardly describe it to you, it’s like a the cold hand of death wrapping a hand around my insides and yanking them, hard. It fills me with sadness and cold fury and leaves me baffled at the human race. It’s why I am an animal advocate, and I am 100% sure that it is the reason I was put on this Earth.

Animals have a way of stealing our hearts the way no other being ever could. If life has taught me one thing, it’s that getting over a man is easy – getting over an animal is impossible!

Anyway, all this tearful, heart jerking thinking set me on a familiar path which I often tread. I often have this dream/ fantasy that, if I had the funds, I would open a massive animal rescue center in Lebanon and save all the animals that needed saving. I would personally work my ass off for them on a daily basis, and not one stone would go unturned.

Unfortunately, I still don’t have the funds, but you know what, ONE DAY.

I decided to Google animal shelters in Lebanon. Bear in mind, the last time I did this, there were none, and I didn’t set out feeling very optimistic, in fact, this was probably a little skip towards mental torture.

But this time, I came across Animals Lebanon. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest! Yes, this is what Lebanon needs! It’s a group of animal lovers and volunteers in Lebanon, campaigning, rescuing and rehoming animals all over the country! This made me so happy I literally had a  little cry (again, FFS)! It’s the first step this tiny country needs. It may be a baby step, but heck, it’s better than nothing, it’s a HELL of a lot better than nothing!

Animals Lebanon is currently campaigning to enact national animal protection and welfare. The petition is open until the law is enacted. Please, please will you sign the petition, you guys? And tell your friends and family to sign it too, this is so important. We have to be the voice for those who can’t talk, this is our chance to do just that.

Check out their awesome website right here, it’s super fresh, informative and cool, and it outlines the awesome work that they do, as well as easy ways that YOU can help, too, it’s freaking awesome!

Let’s do something awesome and make a little difference RIGHT NOW!

Namaste,

Amanda x

Why I Love Being A Cat’s Ptotection Sponsor

Hello friends!

I love all animals on our Mother Earth, but cats have to be my favourite. Each cat is entirely unique, and once you give your heart to a cat, I guarantee that you’ll never get it back.

So because I love cats so very much, I decided to become a Cats Protection sponsor, and because I can’t have a cat of my own, right now.

When you become a Cats Protection sponsor, you are sponsoring a pen at one of the Cats Protection centers, as well as one of the cats currently resident in the pen.

The cat I am sponsoring is Chalky. Just look at this cutie! Those amber eyes eyes and the little owl face! Chalky was found as a stray, and he is a very shy boy, but he likes gentle strokes. He will stay with Cats Protection until a suitable, loving home is found for him.

Let me tell you a little bit about Cats Protection. They are the UK’s leading feline welfare charity, and they help a mind boggling 194,000 cats and kittens every single year! How fantastic is that? Now, in my mind, it’s a real shame that all those kittens and cats need help in the first place, but thank goodness there are charities like Cats Protection around to do just that.

When you become a sponsor you receive a lovely welcome pack which includes a personalized certificate, your very first photo introducing you to the lovely cat you’re currently helping to care for in your pen, a photo album to collect all your photos along the way, and a window sticker!

You learn about the cats you are helping and you hear all their stories, and you really feel like these special felines are a part of your life!

I love being a Cats Protection sponsor because I love cats, I love making a difference, and it is so totally rewarding. So, why not sponsor a Cats Protection cat today, and start your own special journey?

Namaste,

Happy 5th Birthday my Julian. This special post is for you.

LEXI, MILLIE & THE DOG’S TRUST

Hello friends!

I wonder whether you’ve heard of the Dog’s Trust? It’s a wonderful charity founded in 1891 that helps rehome and rescue dogs all over the UK. Sometimes the dogs need to stay with Dog’s Trust at their centers for a variety of different reasons, because they need constant medical care, have behavioral problems or suffer from traumas due to being mistreated. Each year, they take care of around 16,000 dogs at their nationwide network of rehoming centers. One of the things I love about them is that they will never put a healthy dog down.

The Dog’s Trust relies heavily on sponsors and volunteers to help care for these dogs. I’ve been a Dog’s Trust sponsor for a few years now, and it’s so heartwarming and rewarding.

This is Lexi, the lovely dog I currently sponsor. He is a Labrador Dalmatian cross, and he loves toys and playing games!

When you go to the Sponsor A Dog section on the Dog’s Trust website you can choose from a variety of wonderful dogs, or, if you can’t choose, you can pick a Mystery dog, and the Dog’s Trust will choose one for you. I was agonizing for about an hour, I couldn’t just pick one, I wanted to sponsor them all! So I picked the Mystery option, and I got lovely Lexi.

When you become a sponsor you receive a certificate, a wallet sized sponsor card, a fridge magnet and window sticker! Then you get three updates a year, to let you know how your sponsor dog is getting on and what they are up to.

My previous sponsor dog was Millie, sadly she passed away 😦 I still miss getting letters from her, and I still carry her picture in my purse. But I’m happy that maybe I made a little difference to her.

If you love dogs, you would love to be a Dog’s Trust sponsor. It’s a decision that definitely made me happier!

Namaste,

Amanda x

PS: If you like this post, you may also like WALKING CHARLIE & THE CINNAMON TRUST.

Walking Charlie & The Cinnamon Trust

Hello friends!

This is Charlie, the Bichon Frise!

I’m a volunteer for the Cinnamon Trust and he has been assigned to me. I’m not sure which of us is happier about going for these walks together three times a week, but I know that we both get fresh air and exercise, Charlie looks forward to me arriving and waits at a window, and I go home feeling tremendously happy! Luckily, Charlie’s home is literally two minutes away from a lovely, green park, which is where I always take him.

The Cinnamon Trust is a wonderful organisation in the UK that sets up volunteers with the elderly or infirm that need help with their pets. It doesn’t stop at dog walking, either, some people need help pet sitting, fostering, transporting their pets, cleaning cages, litter trays, feeding, and so on.

I was assigned little Charlie because he is in my area.

It’s such a rewarding little job, and it’s really works out well for the volunteers as well as the people they are helping. It’s fantastic for animal lovers like me who perhaps don’t have the space for a pet, but who still enjoy caring for one. And it is a great way to help out your community, the lady who owns Charlie really appreciates that I take the time to walk Charlie, as she is unable to.

It was a pretty simple process, I filled in the application form, and I had to give three references, one being a former employer, and two character references. The Cinnamon Trust then completes your application once they’ve verified everything with your references, and then you receive a welcome pack and an ID card.

You don’t always get a volunteer job straight away, I had to wait about a month before I was assigned Charlie, but I don’t mind that I had to wait now, as it was worth it!

Namaste,

Amanda x

I’M A VEGETARIAN, GET ME OUT OF HERE!

Hello friends!

Since becoming a vegetarian I have honestly never felt more at peace with myself and my life choice.

I have to be pretty careful not to become one of those preachy veggies, though, but I do find myself becoming more and more appalled at the thought of eating meat and the whole awful process. I have to stop myself from saying “how can you eat that?” to people. I can’t let myself become too bothered by it because I would find it difficult to get through life! When every street corner has a chicken takeaway and a butcher’s shop, not to mention the extensive meat section at the supermarket, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for me to understand how this is something that can be treated so casually.

My mum has been awesome and super supportive of my decision, she even makes me delicious vegetarian alternatives when she is cooking meat dishes, and she doesn’t mind me stocking up on stuff like kale, quinoa and soya milk. I also enjoyed a spicy veggie wrap on our recent family trip to McDonalds, and it was just delicious!

I don’t miss meat one notch, on the contrary, it really feels like the time was right because my body seems to have a physical aversion to it, now, which makes me believe in my decision more than ever.  It feels so natural and easy to me, and I was a big fan of fruit and vegetables, anyway, so added bonus! I’m just annoyed that I didn’t become a vegetarian sooner, but maybe it just wasn’t meant to be, before now.

When we went to visit a farm, recently, I couldn’t have been more proud of myself for being a vegetarian. It throws a whole new light on it all, seeing the beautiful sheep, cows, pigs, and chickens, living and breathing before my eyes, and to be honest, I can’t even think about these creatures being killed for their meat. What gives us the right?

I listened to the story of a little boy called Elias in the USA on the This American Life podcast (episode #553: Stuck In The Middle) who stopped eating meat when he was about 3 or 4 years old, and would cry and get upset when his brother or anyone else ate meat. I thought how awesome it was that he knew what he wanted from such a young age.

The problem is though, that I would dearly LOVE to take the next step and become a vegan. It just seems like the natural thing to do, and if I’m so happy as a vegetarian, think how happy I would be as a vegan! So it’s something that I’m going to think about.

According to One Green Planet, a vegetarian saves about 400 animals a year, while another source said it was only 100. Well, I’m not sure how many it really comes to, but surely a vegan saves double that amount.

I will always be a campaigner for animal rights, and I will always be their voice when I can, but before I can change the world, I have to start with myself. And don’t we all?

Be the change.

Namaste,

Amanda x

CUTE GIFTS FOR DOG LOVERS

Hello friends!

As anyone who knows me will tell you, I’m a major animal lover! My world pretty much revolves around animals. I’ve been getting a lot of dog stuff in particular lately, and I thought it might be fun to make them into a list of ideas on what to buy a dog lover!

Pug Socks, Primark

Maybe these are just too cute to wear, though!

French Bulldog Folder/ Binder, Wilkinson’s (from my mum)

How cute is this? I absolutely LOVE Frenchies! I can always use extra stationary and I love organising my paperwork, so this will be extremely useful! Thank you, Mama!

Chocolate Labrador Money Tin from the pound shop

Chihuahua Charm for my charm bracelet, Amazon

Charms from Amazon are purse-friendly alternatives to their more expensive cousins, and I’ve bought myself lots of budget friendly charms from there! If you’d like to see my collection, check out A PEEK INSIDE MY JEWELLERY BOX. Also, you can add your favourite charity to your amazon account through https://smile.amazon.com, and then every time you shop, the charity of your choice will benefit, as Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your purchases to them. I thought that’s a really cool idea. I’ve added the WWF as my favourite charity to my Amazon account.

Dog tweezers from Primark

Chihuahua Gloves, Primark (another gift from my mum 🙂 )

Okay, maybe you’ve noticed I’m a bit obsessed with Chihuahuas!

Chihuahua Art

I’ve also been enjoying painting Chihuahuas, lately! Here are a few of my paintings. I like giving them to my friends and family as gifts.

So what do you think? Would you gift any of these items to your friends or family?

Namaste,

Amanda x