Update From Greece........

After the TV crew finished their job interviewing Ted and me and making shootings with him and Thena II in the front yard, of the shelter, we left with the hope that we would find her in Loutraki. Giorgos was expecting us, another rescuer was on her way from Athens to Loutraki and behind my wretched Fiat the TV crew was following us :-) They wanted to make shootings of Ted searching for Thena I. Actually no one believed that we would find her, but we thought it was our duty to try once again.

We parked both cars across from the Casino and we walked towards the town, passing in front of the main entrance of the Casino, where we met a very friendly white with brown patches female dog who decided to join us. Peggy, maybe you will remember that short driveway at the side of the Casino, leading to the beach and to the back side of the Casino, probably a delivery entrance? There, on the beach we saw something that could have been a rock, or a plastic bag, or a dog curled up. Ted and I looked at each other and we walked towards the "rock". Ted was whispering ,"I think it is Thena, yes it is Thena". I stayed back fearing that I might scare the dog. The TV cameraman walked towards Ted and Thena, keeping a safe distance after my sharp "stay out of the way and don't scare the dog off".

It was amazing. Thena recognized Ted! At the beginning she was reluctant but didn't run off. She was looking at him, waging her tail reluctanly and as the seconds ticked by, she became all the more confident that "yes, this is him". Funny was the other dog who insisted on getting some treats from Ted and poor him, he was throwing pieces of dry smoked chicken he was holding as far as he could, to keep the female dog out of the way. Thena had come very close to him and he attached the leash to her collar and slowly, whispering encouraging words, he led her to the car. He was hugging her and petting her and she was in a bliss :-)

We helped her sit on the back seat, Ted sat next to her and we left Loutraki. We first passed by Kifisia and stopped at one of our vets who took blood from her and examined her. Heart, lungs, gums and teeth are perfect. She still has some small scars on her face and head and her front leg has healed by itself. The bone is a bit thicker where it was broken and she has a very slight limp. Minor case .... she might have some arthritis later in life. On our way to the shelter we passed by the lab and left the blood samples and when we arrived at the shelter we were all three wiped.

Peggy, the outcome is that Ted comes back home bringing to you two Thenas as a Christmas present :-) All worries are history and you can start searching for a name for the one of the two dogs :-) I am very sorry I didn't make more pictures, though I am a photograph freak. I was so thrilled that, though I was holding the camera in my hand, I didn't think of taking pictures. The first one is when Ted went close to Thena for the first time and the second female insisted on getting some treats; and the second is after the two of them sat in the back seat of my car and we were about to leave Loutraki.

Peggy, he sends happy greetings and he said, before you leave to pick him up at the airport, you should empty the car and remove the back shelf, otherwise there will be no room for the two crates of the girls.

Hugs from an exhausted but happy Vana :-)

YAY!!! I AM BOUNCING OFF THE WALLS SO HAPPY THAT NOT ONLY WILL TED BE BRINGING HOME HIS BELOVED THENA TO CANADA!!! I HEAR TED AND THE TWO "THENA'S" ARE ON THEIR FLIGHT TO THEIR FOREVER HOME RIGHT NOW! THEY WILL ALL BE LANDING IN TORONTO TOMORROW AFTERNOON!! HOOOORRRAAAAYYYYY!
XOXO
NICOLE