“A dog doesn’t care if you’re rich or poor, big or small, young or old. He doesn’t care if you’re not smart, not popular, not a good joke-teller, not the best athlete, nor the best-looking person. To your dog, you are the greatest, the smartest, and the nicest human being who was ever born. You are his friend and protector.”

The volunteers at the Island Sanctuary at Delimara understand this all to well, and its why they dedicate so much of their time to providing love and care to these special animals who, for one reason or another, were abandoned or neglected by their owners. The Island Sanctuary opened its doors to stray dogs needing a home 19 years ago and has made miracles ever since in nursing sick and hungry dogs back to a health, giving these unfortunate dogs a second chance for a love-filled, happy life. The volunteers here become the animals’ friends and protectors until they can find a loving home where they can be accepted as part of the family.

But of course, in order to be able to do so much, both the dogs and the volunteers need your help. Even if you can’t take a dog home with you (although that would surely be the greatest gift of all), there is still a lot you can do – you can visit the Island Sanctuary and take one of our dogs out for a walk therefore providing them with love and care as well as much-needed exercise; you can sponsor a dog by digging deep into your piggy banks, and offering just a small amount of your savings to help provide food and shelter to the dog of your choice; or you can simply visit us, along with your family, at the BOOK SALE that is going to be held between 10 and 15 July (in Fgura). All the money we raise from the books we sell will go directly towards the caring of our special friends at the Sanctuary; so visiting the Book Sale is a must for all animal lovers out there.

For further information about how you and your family and friends can help out, you can always visit us

at the Island Sanctuary (calling beforehand on 2165 9895 is always recommended), or else by logging on

to www.islandsanctuary.

com.mt