Obituary Quentin & Michael
Strays without value and dignity
When you look strays in the eye, you want to help. People who are convinced of the value and dignity of animals as fellow creatures become Aiderbichlers and thus actively help to help strays or other animals in need and decide in favour of life and not death for the animals.
When strays, whether adult animals or puppies, are brought to one of Gut Aiderbichl’s animal sanctuaries, they have overcome the first hurdle: they are allowed to live and are not gassed. The second hurdle to overcome is building trust in humans.
Fearful and traumatised, neglected and sick animals reach us, perhaps hoping for nothing more in their lives? However, man’s best friend quickly realises that many things are different at Gut Aiderbichl than at the place he comes from. Here there is care, medical treatment, good food and plenty of fellow animals.
The special care place contract guaranteed a good start to a new life
Quentin came to Gut Aiderbichl from Greece in 2014. He and seven other puppies had been rescued and travelled from Thessaloniki to Salzburg. You don’t have to guess what would have happened to them in their country, you know it: before the tourists arrive, strays are poisoned or otherwise killed. The good solution would be to neuter dogs and cats.
Five-month-old Quentin was full of joie de vivre and very excited about what his new home would bring. Lifelong special foster places were found for Quentin and the other puppies with wonderful, animal-loving people. Instead of simply placing the dogs in other people’s hands, Gut Aiderbichl works in the interests of the animals and looked for the right people for Quentin, with whom he would have a foster home for the rest of his life. The special care contract provides the security that if something should happen to the people, or if Quentin and his people do not get along, he could have come back to Gut Aiderbichl. Quentin was ready for his new life and he couldn’t have had a better time with his new humans.
Quentin’s light of life dimmed
Unfortunately, a few days ago we received the news from Quentin’s foster parents that he had to be put down because he could no longer walk well with his right hind leg due to a tumour and nerve pathways were interrupted due to this tumour, which originated in the spine. Within a few days, Quentin’s condition worsened and the pain was unbearable.
For ten years, he and his humans had been one heart and one soul. Together with the vet, it was agreed that Quentin should not suffer and so he was allowed to close his eyes peacefully after a full life. His humans miss their favourite, but they know that he is watching them from a shining star in the sky.
Michael Lucky loved ball games and treats more than anything else
Michael Lucky also came from Thessaloniki and was ten years old. At the age of one, he was also placed in a special foster place and spent wonderful years with his foster parents. Michael Lucky was a very lively shepherd mix and loved playing with rope, ball games and looking for treats. Unfortunately, his life was cut short too soon. Like Quentin, Michael Lucky has left a deep mark on our hearts.So Michael Lucky and Quentin remain unforgotten for their families, because the eternally persecuted have become eternal lovers.
There are moments in life when the world stands still for a moment. And when it keeps turning, nothing is as it was.
– Unknown
Dear Quentin, dear Michael Lucky,
We are grateful that we were able to accompany you for a while. We will never stop telling you about the painful, sad fate of stray dogs, no matter in which country of the world. We will never stop looking for solutions to help unneutered, unloved, stray dogs in need.
Active animal welfare means recognising the root of the problem and looking for good solutions in the interests of animal welfare. So long to the huge, wide open dog run on the other side of life.
Written by: Gisela Pschenitschnig, Gut Aiderbichl
