What happened to Mr Grey?
From the perspective of an Aiderbichler
(written by Gisela Pschenitschnig)
Dog rescue took on a new meaning in 2017. Dieter Ehrengruber was left speechless when he saw the appalling conditions in which street dogs were living in Romania.
Iona was the animal-loving woman who looked after over 300 strays in a shelter in Glina. Not a cosy dog house, but scaffolding, clayey, muddy floors, no roof over their heads but rags – but the dogs were given food and fresh water every day, which was dragged in by the bucketful.
Whether it was winter or summer, the climatic conditions for the dogs in the Glina shelter were a disaster. As a result, the place had to be “cleared”. Gut Aiderbichl endeavoured to find a new solution for the strays – God knows what would have happened to them otherwise.
There is now an Aiderbichl shelter for strays, young puppies and cats. We are trying to help the Romanians with neutering and to persuade people to rethink the welfare of the animals.
Mr Grey - a stray with fear from experience
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Mr Grey’s film was played on the occasion of a patent meeting. I can just feel the goose bumps again as the film shows growls coming from a wooden shed in a dog kennel.
Outcast, despised and malnourished, Mr Grey must have wandered the streets before someone cut his throat, thankfully missing the main artery. He survived, but he showed his Aiderbichler rescuers that he was terrified, growling, his ears drooping and his eyes wide open. “What do you want from me?” – he asked, cowering from his kennel. His wounded soul said “Get away from me, far away …”.
The story of Mr Grey horrified people. How could anyone be so brutal and cruel? What kind of person manages to torture an animal like that?
Over time, Mr Grey learnt that there are also good human hands
Anita and Klaus, Aiderbichler employees, worked patiently and lovingly with the maltreated Mr Grey. As if by a miracle, the traumatised dog became a companion who loves and loyally accompanies his humans.
Mr Grey has now been living at the home farm in Carinthia for several years. And a lot has changed in his life.
Havana – a new companion for Mr Grey
Mr Grey has found his love. Havanna is a Romanian dog who was handed in to the Aiderbichler animal shelter in Romania with her eight cubs. She now also lives in Carinthia and has won Mr Grey’s heart with her gentle nature.
She also needed time to trust people. She quickly realised that many people mean well by her. One in particular: her Mr Grey.
Trust is a very sensitive plant that does not flower at will.
– Victor Cherbuliez, Swiss-French writer (1829-1899)
Only a white line of fur on his throat bears witness to Mr Grey’s past. He looks confidently to the future, together with the wonderful Havana. Yours sincerely, Gisela
