Lucy Irvine Foundation Europe

One of the Lucy Irvine Foundation Europe 's most valued and versatile helpers is Roma. With us for nearly 6 years now, he's learned how dogs and horses can be handled differently - with more sensitivity to their needs - than is customary in the community he comes from. His new knowledge is starting to spread among others making Ilia,  in effect , an ambassador for LIFE in several Roma communities so that more dogs and horses are experiencing more thoughtful handling.  As Ilia learns, others learn from him. This past week he acquired a new useful skill to pass on: how to file a horse's hooves between trims carried out by an expert. LIFE wants to thank trimmer Vanya Lavarova, who's also a qualified vet and a successful competition rider, for helping Ilia to learn how to file hooves. Vanya Lavarova demonstrating how to file hooves Supervising & Guiding Ilia Ilia learning to file his filly's hooves With Ilia, who helps translate my Bulgarian into Romanes when we...

The Lucy Irvine Foundation Europe (LIFE) held a meeting last Monday with Roma owners of horses we want to help. Most local horses are seen first and foremost as transport. They haul wood and water for their owner's family and whatever roots or herbs a buyer will take for onward sale. The horse is vital to the family because it enables them to earn. But for many, the horse is disposable because it can be replaced easily; far more easily and cheaply than a tractor or car. LIFE, at the same time as treating horses for parasites and tending their wounds, aims to teach that horses feel pain, loneliness and joy just like us. Meetings like the one held on Monday give us the opportunity to do this. The meeting was only able to take place because 3 amazing individuals dedicated their time, skills and energy to making it happen. Suze Crane, a regular volunteer at LIFE, provided most of the materials needed to set up a stall on which we displayed lucky dip prizes. She concentrated on treating...

Last Sunday saw two causes for celebration at LIFE . The first involved an elderly overworked donkey who found a happy retirement home with a caring British couple.  How his body language has changed since we came upon him dejected and neglected, his rope tangled in thorns and hobble marks on his little legs. In every photo the kind new owner sends, I see a soul lit up from within. She gives him the love and attention he lacked in his former life where he was only used to earn money, his own needs ignored.  Rescued donkey Vesko The second cause for joy was confirmation of a wonderful new home found for a young puppy we'd been keen to release from a chain. He'd been left in hot sun without water repeatedly. A long coated breed, he'd have suffered horribly in summer. We've known dogs to die of thirst on chains here. This baby is in gentle and safe hands now and will lack for nothing. Daniel with the puppy who was happily rehomed The subject of using animals for monetary g...