Les Amis des Animaux
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It Was Just a Kiss
by Lynn Hull, Les Amis President

Lynn Hull

At Les Amis we always strive to ensure that we have a good match between the family interested in adopting or fostering with us and the cat or dog concerned. I would guess it’s a bit like running a dating agency! There are a few differences – some of our candidates cannot read or write – but they have wonderful skills in other areas – and we have to find out what they are!! This is what makes this journey interesting and although the technology has changed it has worked extremely well over the last few years – in fact pretty much since inception back in 2014.

We have always held the view that if we

  • work hard enough to help the animal concerned, 
  • work hard enough to get them seen in social media and on our website
  • work hard to give an honest profile . . . . sooner or later that family will step forward and say “we love you” to that animal and all will be well.

That is the ideal KISS principle! Keep It Simple Stupid!

SINCE 2025 - TWO DISTURBING TRENDS

Supply of abandoned and unwanted animals is far outstripping demand for adoptions. More and more people seem incapable of keeping their animals especially when faced with difficult problems. We are having to do something we have always tried to avoid – disappointing people who ask for help to re-home an animal. Of course we ALWAYS do our utmost to help animals that have already been abandoned and notified to us. From the adoption/foster demand side, there’s a change in trend. Some people are just not applying at all – a reduction in applications. Some change their minds about having a new member of the family post application – the reality seems to loom too large. Others are ultra careful – wanting things to be just right – nothing wrong in that when it’s about the animal; but more tricky when it’s about lifestyle, booked holidays, trips, etc that are simply getting in the way. Hanging on to suit family arrangements blocks up a foster home. And these tend to apply to the straightforward adoption cases. There is undoubtedly a harder than ever journey to find the right home for those whose lives have not been easy in the first place!

By this we mean those who

  • have suffered unattended broken bones – such as VANDA or TIMMY or FRANKIE
  • have been chained up and never known love and freedom – such as LENA or FRANKIE or MAXOU
  • are traumatised by their prior experiences – such as ODDY or POCKET or TIBO or MAXOU or PANDORE
  • were born to do a job but somehow failed (perhaps too old, no good, too terrified) – such as LENA or MIRKA or PANDORE
  • who are still young but suffering life-changing conditions such as EDEN who is blind, STEVIE shot in the face and blinded, and PERLE and BLANKA who are both diabetics.

Why would you take a chance on any one of these when you can get one that is “trouble-free”? Yet our skilled and chosen foster families work as hard, if not harder with these unfortunates than with those who are “straightforward”. Our profiles are always honest.

CAN WE LOOK AT THIS DIFFERENTLY?

An animal that has survived neglect, abuse, injury – is already a wise soul. A human has as great a facility with adaptability as a dog or a cat – there’s always a way.

A “coup de coeur” is far more potent than over-thinking. A new animal in the life of a human brings new perspectives, new relationships, new experiences.

As an association, we are there throughout to support, guide, inform, refer – as needed. Requesting help is a strength not a weakness. 

Celebrating success does not stand alone – it means always that two and not just one have been helped.

Now that really would be a KISS principle to follow!

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