In Denmark, lives a woman who by nature always has been generous with her love, trust and kindness to both humans and animals. In particular, animals have always held a special place in her heart. Just ask the pig who almost moved in, the turkey, who loved to be cuddled under the chin, the many cats who got a home with her - the flies, which she did not have the heart to kill - but not least, her
faithful companion for many years - Nikita - a small Greek dog with a strong mind and a strong love for her mother. When Nikita crossed the Rainbow Bridge, she left a big hole in her mother's heart. When Marianne became curious as to what this “facebook” was abouti, it was predictable, that she immediately sought out dog groups and pages. Before long, she was involved in Rescue - helping dogs in American death shelters to Canada so they could be beloved family members. She got in touch with a Bosnian woman who made a tremendous effort for street dogs and with others, she started Dankas Animals. The need to be able to deal with rapid action led her to create Marianne Dog Food Bank, hoping to be able to give just a little food for the many starving dogs in the shelter in Tuzla. In the course of a year, we managed to supply the entire shelter with food every day. Thanks to people from all over the world, who saw the plea for help and wanted to support a good cause with case specific donations or through our virtual adoption program. Alongside that, she continued to help dogs in acute distress, by helping them to get to Almirs Pansion Psa King in Sarajevo, where his competent and loving hands helped dogs back to health. In England, there lived a woman named Dawn Legge. She was a great animal lover, and as she described themselves - owned by a Chow-Chow. She became a cherished member of MDFB with her goodnight greetings and her observations of the little things, like the weather in Tuzla and how much membership had increased. She contacted Marianne with the desire to help and really make a difference for dogs with special needs. She gave a large donation, which made it possible to create Dawn's Nest with much better conditions, time and resources than a public shelter may have. Dawn Legge was very ill with cancer and the last months of her life she spent at Hospice. We kept in touch with her and could tell how the plans for our mini shelter evolved. When Dawn left this world and went off to meet her dogs at Rainbow Bridge, she knew that we would name the shelter after her and it brought tears of joy to her eyes. Every time a dog comes HOME we send a grateful thought to her. She will never be forgotten. The shelter was now running on its own and the uncertain situation for street dogs underlined once more the need to help the dogs out of Bosnia and to support the people who daily struggled just to feed some dogs and help them to safety. When Dawn's Nest was built and the opportunities to socialize the dogs were much better, there we got the opportunity to get to know them very well through Meris, Amila and Ivana and other rescuers. and we could mobilize a very good and thorough preparation to get dogs to the right home. The new "kill dogs" law resulted in increasing pressure on the places where we could place dogs in need and that became the beginning of Dawn's Nest II, where Marko accept them with open arms and make sure that the dogs are safe and feel good. Mariannes Dog Food Bank consists of a dedicated group of people supporting Marianne in her vision: We owe Amila Citakovic and Ivana Tomic huge thanks for their attention to detail, their tireless work both early and late, for their dedication and responsibility that they have shown every time from start to finish in this work. A special thanks to Tina Trier Engelbreth, who works around the clock organizing transports of dogs and food, keeping records of donations and many other things, and to the rest of a deicated team, who makes all the aspect come together. Beside that we are so grateful to our company sponsors, who have a tremendous generousity and hearts, that beat for our four legged friends. A big thank you to the people who have opened their homes to take a dog into foster care and help them go to loving homes, and to those who have given a strays their very own home forever - locally and internationally
When big hearts beat in the same rhythm and go towards the same goal, then great vision and results are created. This is supported by a determination to fight against all odds and a loyal body of members, who are the ones from far away reach out and say to a dog in need - I got you, I will hold on and never let go. I am your friend and will follow you on the way home.
