After volunteering for 5 years at an animal rescue charity, Carl & Anita Hooper decided to start their own dog rescue/rehoming organisation in Coín, near Malaga in February 2019. It's run entirely by volunteers and is completely reliant on donations and fundraising by friends and family to care for and help as many unwanted and abandoned dogs as possible.

Links

See below links to their website where you can leave a donation. They also run an online shop to raise funds - items are posted on their Facebook page (link below).

Donate to Pawsawhile  | Pawsawhile on Facebook

1. How long have you lived on the Costa del Sol?

Approximately 9 years.

2. What made you choose the Costa del Sol as a living place?

We had holidayed here and fell in love with the area and way of life. 

3. What's the best thing about living on the Costa del Sol, in your opinion?

The more laid-back feel of the place and the weather, of course!

4. Give us a brief description of what you get up to on your usual working day.

Carl and I run Pawsawhile Dog Rescue, a registered rescue and charity. It is just the 2 of us, and we do it all voluntarily. We receive no Government funding and rely solely on donations and fundraising. Our day starts early, as soon as it's light, with cleaning, feeding, and giving medication to the dogs and puppies we have here with us on our Finca. Then we start the vet runs, taking them to the airport if they have been adopted abroad, playing and socialising with them, and preparing their food for later.

Messaging with potential adopters, arranging visits to meet the dogs/puppies, etc. We also do all the paperwork associated with the dogs, including the accounts I prepare. Carl also checks perimeter fencing daily and does all the maintenance work to the Finca, particularly the puppy runs, which is a full-time job.

They will If they can chew, pull, or dig it. We run an online shop, too, where we sell donated items to help raise funds to care for and vaccinate the dogs and puppies.  Lots of travelling to pick up and drop off the items, too.

Feeding and medication start again at teatime, followed by a long walk and play (for the dogs!) in the 10,000-metre finca (if you're not sure what a Finca is, check out this post: "What is a Finca?"). Our day generally finishes around 9/10 p.m. However, when I sit down, I respond to numerous messages I receive daily.

5. How do you enjoy spending your weekends and free time?

We do not have any free time, but we try to go out for tapas together once a week, usually after shopping for dog food and cleaning materials! We know how to live!!!

6. If you could change jobs with anyone for the day, who would it be and why?

I would love to work as a genealogist and further research my family history. Carl would love more time to work on his collection of motorbikes and travel around to various shows with them.

7. What is your favourite food? 

I love Chinese and Italian food. Carl loves a good steak. 

8. Describe your perfect home on the Costa del Sol and where it would be.

Well, if we didn't have dogs and the dog rescue, I think somewhere by the sea with views and a peaceful setting. With a large outdoor area, a modern open plan, and an uncluttered space. Probably in Benerafe.

9. What theme would you choose if you were to appear on "Come Dine With Me"?

 Carl would go for spicy hot food, Indian or Mexican, and lots of meat!  I prefer creamy sauces with lots of seafood, so probably Italian.

10. Who would be your perfect dinner guest?  

Carl would probably choose Cher. We would love to have our children and grandchildren together around the dinner table. Since starting the dog rescue, we rarely get to see them all for any length of time and certainly not together, as one of us stays home in Spain to care for all the dogs/puppies. 

11. What would you like to ask the next "10 Minutes with…" guest?

When you first arrived, did you think you would live here 10 years later?

Thank you John for taking the time to answer our quick questions!

If anyone reading this would like to take part in our "10 Minutes With..." Interviews then please contact us.