In their Paws

I live in Indonesia, but I will soon be returning to my “home” country- Costa Rica. As my family has been preparing to leave a country we’ve been living in for 10 years, saying goodbye to friends that are like family, community, and selling or giving away precious possessions, there is something that I cannot leave behind- my two dogs. First, because I love them and want to have them with me. Secondly, since Indonesia is an Islamic majority country, most families consider dogs to be filthy/impure animals. Lastly, in many communities around us people eat dogs. The funds raised here, through your help, will be used to cover the remaining costs of their travel fee to Costa Rica. I need to raise this money within a month.

I used to not like animals. Not that I hated them, but I didn’t like having them around me and even less having them in my home. Well, shortly after we arrived in Indonesia my husband bought Luna, a charming and stubborn little beagle. From the moment we got her I feel in love with her.

In Indonesia I was struck by the reality that for many Muslims, dogs are impure animals, and then I found out that in many places they actually eat dogs! Some of our friends would jokingly say how delicious Luna would be. In the first year of having her she was poisoned twice and nearly died.

When Luna was a little over a year she got pregnant and had nine puppies. We were set with just her so I began searching for families that would want them. I found a family for each one of them except for one, Bella. No one wanted her because she only had one eye, and for locals that was seen as bad luck. Seeing how people rejected her my love for her began to grow, as well as my desire to protect her.

So that is why I have two dogs and why I am trying to do all that I can to bring them with me. I went from someone that I did not care for animals to someone who absolutely loves them. Leaving Indonesia and my friends is very hard and I can’t think of leaving them behind- just the thought of it makes me cry.

I would be so grateful if you could help me, with even the slightest amount. I know for many this is nonsense. Many of my friends told me to just leave them, but I’ve thought about it and analyzed this for a long time now and I can’t leave them. Thank you so much for reading this, and even more so if you made a donation. Luna, Bella and I are so grateful!