Gaia Update: Mom Gets a Home of Her Own

We are thrilled to share some heartwarming news about Gaia – she has found her forever home! Gaia's journey led her to a loving adopter with experience from Alaqua, where she has also connected wonderfully with her new fur sister. Patsy, Gaia's 10-year-old Spaniel/Lab mix sister, was adopted in August 2013. Patsy is an alumna of Alaqua's Unconditional Love program, where prison inmates help train Alaqua dogs in essential skills and manners. Perhaps Gaia will have a similar opportunity in the future, although we believe she's already perfect as she is.

This success story continues with six adult dogs, including Gaia, from the cruelty case, now living happily with their new families. Hooray!

Gaia Update: Puppies Find Forever Homes

Gaia has made her way out of medical care and is now thriving in the dog zone! After a period spent with a loving foster family, she made remarkable progress – and now, she's back with us.

The exciting news is that all six of her puppies have found their forever homes – YAY! Plus, two other adult dogs from her cruelty case have also been adopted and are on their way to happier lives. The person responsible for all this suffering has finally been found and arrested. They're facing four felony charges and 30 first-degree misdemeanor charges. Justice is being served!

Meet Gaia, a brave 5-year-old Bulldog mix named after the Greek Goddess of Life. When she arrived at Alaqua Animal Refuge, she carried the weight of her past, having fought tirelessly to feed her six puppies despite being severely malnourished herself.

Gaia was rescued from a heart-wrenching cruelty case alongside 31 other suffering animals, ranging from horses and dogs to exotic birds. The scene was truly horrific. Gaia and her pups were confined to a sweltering trailer, with scorching temps soaring above 100 degrees. There was no electricity for cooling, and they couldn't find a source of water. Despite all this, Gaia's motherly instincts and determination to protect her pups never wavered.

Upon arriving at Alaqua Animal Refuge, it was clear that Gaia needed urgent medical attention and a safe space to recover. Her fear of humans was a heartbreaking consequence of her past trauma, and they had to separate her from her puppies temporarily to ensure they all received adequate care and nourishment.

Currently, the Alaqua Animal Refuge team is preparing Gaia for eye enucleation. Her road to recovery may be challenging, but they are hopeful that she will regain her health and trust in humans. Stay tuned for updates on her progress, as well as that of her precious puppies!

The Smurfy Ever After Rescue Project is helping this incredible organization's team to provide rescue & healing:

Alaqua offers respite to over 500 animals at any given time, helping them find loving homes through over 100 adoptions monthly. Their impact goes beyond finding homes, as they've developed programs that serve diverse members of the community, from children with special needs to seniors seeking companionship. Committed to providing the best care, Alaqua ensures its animals enjoy optimal living conditions, with cats roaming freely in "loft apartments" and dogs relishing spacious outdoor runs.

To continue their vital work, Alaqua relies on donations and fundraising events, with operational costs exceeding $250,000 per month. Their dedication to saving innocent lives is boundless, and they envision a future of even greater impact. Alaqua's Campaign for Animal Refuge is a multi-million dollar fundraising initiative aimed at relocating and expanding to 100 acres of donated land. This new home will redefine sanctuary for animals and people alike, fostering hope, renewal, and second chances.

To learn more about Alaqua Animal Refuge, please visit HERE.