21/07/2021
So here is our story, it is long but ends as best it could.
From the very start we must mention we are a family of 3 adults. Myself, Christian and Laura. We have 2 adorable male cats who are 1.5 year old brothers.
Between us 3 we have had over 10 dogs and over 20 cats and various other animals so we have experience in the bucket loads. And so let's continue this terrible take of a family just wanting to love and change a dogs life.
Bobby is an amazing soul, who we found by accident after asking about over 3 other puppies. Being told to wait, be patient, etc. etc. We Honestly thought we had found the perfect friendly rescue place, recommended to us by a dear friend. We were sceptical as Pro Anima Rescue is in Macedonia but we gave it a try.
After a while I saw a post by them asking for volunteers to help them start fundraising, marketing and admin roles. I've always loved raising for animals so yes I volunteered. Placed in a chat with others. And not long after came a photo of Bobby asking if I'd consider a dog with issues etc. Bobby being 2 they said. Nervous and quiet. And told me his only cure would be his own family. Oh his story of how was dumped on a road with his 8 siblings, only 5 survived and 4 rehomed but Bobby was left. Awwwww we talked as a family and said oh we sure could help him and give him the love needed.
We stated that we wanted to be able to take a dog everywhere with us, and were excited to be offered Bobby and would love to help him.
We had a video call with The Shelter Owner, and two associates. The shelter owner spoke no English called Jasmina, who Elena called Boss. Elena spoke fairly good English and had Tamara based in Scotland as her associate who helped with anything not understood.
I answered a multitude of questions which felt like went on forever. Considering so many were on the application form also. And then was asked to take them round my flat and communal garden as they were aware of.
I took them round both and even went further to show a field which through a gate attaches to our gardens. And our communal garden gates. Also it was seen that other gardens backed onto ours but had 6ft high fences so all good.
I even locked myself out and needed buzzing in during the live, Tamara laughed and said " showing us how secure it is"
After the home check I was told they would get back to me about Bobby
Then Justina left and I was left with Elena and Tamara who discussed the fundraising sides and other things asking me to be the lead fundraiser for the UK if I was ok with that. Of course I'd really wanted to help other poor dogs and cats.
The call ended.
The next day I messaged Elena and asked about Bobby and was told yes.
She asked if we were sure and I found it odd given he was nervous and shy but we already knew and had decided to help him.
So anyway it was agreed he would travel over in July.
Time went on. Elena gave me discount on the travel as said because I was helping them. Which I was chuffed about.
We bought everything we needed and asked for measurements as really wanted to make sure we had all his needs taken care of.
I also asked if was lead trained and she said no but they would look at sorting that before he left. She also said was fine with cats etc.
So time passed, Elena suddenly said if we wanted she could see if he could travel earlier in June. We were excited
So it was arrange he would leave them in June. Oh my we were so happy to get him. So we waited patiently for news when he was leaving.
On the day he was due to leave I messaged Elena and asked how he was and if he had left. She told me yes he had and that he had to be sedated to go. Oh my heart pounded as I was so worried as if I had known he would need sedating as so distressed I'd have said no stop he isn't ready. But was done so I just asked to keep me up to date. I was so extra worried for him at this point.
We got updated when they arrived in Romania and stayed overnight.
Oh the wait was painful like waiting for a family baby to be born etc.
When they arrived at the Euro Tunnel we began to get so excited. Our boy was on his way. Our new family member coming home. We got no sleep as very anxious for him.
The morning came and the van arrived. Oh my he was here.
We all three went out to welcome him. He was so scared they had to pull him from the van and as soon as he got out he did a wee for England and a poo. Thanks Bobby welcome home.
We then had to have a photo showing us with him even though Bobby was not keen and I wasn't either as so worried about him. We then carried him in as they advised. He was only given to us on a lead we had to hand over. We said we had a harness inside we could get but they said no its fine. They had one on him already and a very badly broken collar. ( see pics )
We carried him in. He was so scared poor soul understandably because of his travels. He ran under our table to a corner. So we allowed him to and gave him space.
We popped some treats near him. He rested and looked thirsty. We brought a big bowl of water to him which he drank. And then we re filled and he drank that also. Then had his treats.
He fell asleep so we left him in peace.
7 hours later we agreed he probably needed a wee so maybe time to show him were to go but we said on his leach as we didn't want him to be spooked by the doors etc. So we did we managed to encourage him with us out of our flat door to our secure door. And then my daughter took him as I opened door. He went with her and I went in front of him so he knew where to be. I was a little distance in front so not to over crowd him so he could do his business.
He suddenly started to wriggle and before we could even move he was out of his harness. We were shocked but we immediately went to check gates which were OK. He could not get through those as to big.
He did however after a fair bit of time find a loose slat and of he went. We went to find. And came across a lovely lady called Lisa who had just had him in her garden but he ran off. He bolted towards an area called the Copse which is a nature reserve of beauty surrounded in 7 fields of beauty. Somewhere dog walkers love but with very dense bushes and trees.
And so the horror began.
All three of us went into the woods to see if could find him. We went through stinging nettles and bushes, quiet and low to not worry him. No sign.
My daughter and Lisa were looking one way. Myself and Christian went the other way. Honestly it was a shocking and emotional time.
During all this I was in contact with Both Elena and Tamara and they were keen for updates and worried also. We talked to a number of other dog walkers and kept walking and looking. And as soon as I went home to look for the dog lost sight recommended to me. Lisa had already shared him into some local groups for us. And as I was just finishing the online form for lost dog. A message came through from Elena saying they had done it already, claiming not to worry they were doing what could to help me from their end.
Meanwhile I made a poster printed lots with mine and my partners numbers on and went out to get them up all over the Copse.
When we returned we were told we had to use the ones Dog Lost had made which only had my partners number on and one of a Lady called Lynda who works for Pro Anima Rescue.
I was shocked but ok we printed lots of them also and went replacing and putting up at other places.
I was out looking all over the place. We rang the dog wardens to report as hoped for help.
After I had been looking for so long I slipped in some mud and really hurt my ankle.
When I then told Elena, sorry I can't keep being online I need do more offline as I can’t cope. She got very annoyed with me. And told me to stop talking about my own feelings and only think about how Bobby is feeling. Now that angered me as I don't know what she thought I had been doing all that time, as well as listening to her saying things like she would die if he wasn't found, she could not breath until found. " oh what have I done" etc. etc.
I then had messages saying I had to be online all the time. So I said no I am sorting posters and need to look and do offline things. I asked if Christian and Laura could be added to chats to help online while I focused offline to help myself also as online all the time hinders looking.
She was awful and rude to Christian and because of this threatened to action RBU. I was amazed at her behaviour but ignored and decided best to only speak with her in the chat she had organised with others who were trying to assist us look.
I contacted Tamara in shock about the RBU and she apologised and said must be a miscommunication etc. So I carried on and kept looking and looking even in the dark. My ankle became worse but I didn't care if it fell of I only wanted Bobby safe.
An amazing kind lady called Alex came out to help us set up our 1st food station and camera.
We also had a lovely couple called Ann & Graham who came out with a Drone. They amazingly spotted him in the meadow next to the Copse. We went as soon as they said had a sighting. We were shocked and happy. Very emotional and well as for me very wet as I went low and quiet through the long grass to get as near as I could to offer food.
Bobby ran unfortunately and that was the last sighting we had which was positive.
We moved the food station to where last saw. But again no help only for foxes.
At this point after almost a week of Bobby being missing. Pro Amina turned on us. Despite saying not our fault they knew he could run and would be very fast etc.
Someone else in the chat suggested we started another chat with the others who wanted to help called Lost Dog South UK who we were keen to bring in. And suddenly out of the blue Elena again threatened the RBU again we were shocked at her behaviour.
Very soon after she did just that via email and told everyone in the chat that our adoption was revoked because we had cut communication, not kept up to date, not done all we could and not told them truth about our ability to look after Bobby. I sobbed because I was so hurt by this.
But we didn't stop we kept looking for our boy despite Elena always saying he was always hers and all dogs they adopt out are always theirs forever.
We were also very concerned as they never registered his chip until after he went missing and again told us he had a dual chip. So we did not have Control.
They never sent us his chip paperwork.
It was not long after this that Pro Amina told everyone to step back and stop looking. As they were taking on a company called Canine Capture to take over looking for him.
Both others and ourselves were shocked indeed.
Time passed and we never game up, hoping we could get him back as he was all we cared about. Oddly the Revoke notice stated they would pay us our transport costs back once he was safe in his RBU in Scotland. We never asked for money back we wanted Bobby as he was ours. This felt so bad to want to find him and then send again on another journey.
They started to spread round that we had taken him out for a walk not for a wee like we did. They were really upsetting us with their lies. Using my words “taken for walkies for a p*e p*e as if we had taken him away from our property.
We researched them and were shocked to find lots of issues and we then realised how important it was to get Bobby safe be it with us or someone else. He was the priority. If we found him we would fight to keep. If he was found and went elsewhere we would fight for his rights and others so families not put through this.
Which is why I am sharing our story to help others even if one person some good has to come from this.
And to cut a long wait short. After 2 weeks of running free, Bobby was found and trapped. And collected by SNdogs who were following instructions from Elena. So we lost him.
After this, the ping pong game as we call it began.
After some time after he was safe, we were grieving our loss but also relieved he was safe again. We didn't know at this time where he was only that Canine Capture had handed him to someone working for the Pro Anima.
We took advice from professionals and we emailed Pro Anima directly advising that now Bobby was safe, could they refund as they had stated so we could end the horrendous ordeal. Which had ended with us having no new dog or money. Very unfair.
They replied with new demands saying refund would be sent only upon return of his passport and a letter from me relinquishing all rights to Bobby.
We agreed to comply with their extra requests but only upon receipt of the refund.
This carried on for a fair few emails.
Once this started to really effect my mental health we were advised to Use a trusted third party which was best to hold the passport and my letter until payment made.
So our dear friend Jennifer offered and so we sent her the documents via 1st class 24 hrs signed for post.
Jennifer then took over for us and started her own ping pong game to try and sort a payment before sending them the docs via the same postage method so we also had the proof of handover.
Well after a fair few emails and then a sudden message to my partner from Elena, advising should we cause any more problems we would be in court. We got the address. And payment was refunded to PayPal.
After payment was sent. Despite advising them docs were not with us, they sent a lady from SNdogs who my daughter saw walk round our flat buy never buzzed. Very odd indeed.
PayPal advised delay as refund 3-5 working days so we waited for this to clear, made sure they were aware and once cleared authorised Jennifer to post docs to the address where Bobby is now.
Now documents are received. We have a sense of closure and some would say we won our fight, but no we didn't we simply didn't allow them to take more than they could. Poor Bobby was our priority because we are determined to share our experience and help others not to go through what we did.
We were waiting to see how this ended first. Fair play we got money back. And we are grateful to Canine Capture for safely catching him and to SNdogs for looking after him as his RBU here not in Scotland oddly.
Where he will end up is unknown but all we can hope is someone will put in the time needed to undo the harm caused since he was a small puppy to make him how he was. Poor soul.
I asked Elena what had made him so scared and shy, she said “we don’t know" yet Confirmed they had him from 15 days old.
And to lead train him also as he turns 2 on 1st August according to his documents so I hope his Birthday now away from the hands of a shelter in Macedonia Will mean his 2nd Birthday is amazing and happy for him.
Happy freedom day Bobby you beautiful boy, we are proud to have helped you arrive here in the UK and to have met you and hear you snore happily while you slept under our table.
Shame on you Pro Anima Rescue for all the distress, unkind words and upset caused with delays to ending this horror you caused.
We regret ever contacting them and ever helping them like we did.
A family haunted by this trauma.
Please please if we stop one person suffering like us by sharing. We are happy to have helped.
Admin Sue
