You dedicated your life to treating and healing animals.  
I always wanted to be a vet. Like everyone would like to be a vet as a child. What many don’t perceive is the fact that a sick animal is a serious matter. Petting a puppy doesn’t have anything to do with it! As a vet you have to deal with serious pathologies, have to cure animals that suffer a lot. And sometimes, sadly enough, you have to be ready to euthanize an animal that can’t take it anymore. No wonder the  course of study to become a vet is one of the most difficult ones that exist.

How do you work? What distinguishes your style as a vet?
Well, my approach changed through the years. At the beginning I had more of a scholastic approach. But you learn to listen to the owners.
They usually tell you quite precisely what the problem is. For the rest I follow my instincts, based on the knowledge I have acquired.   

Tell me about the dogs you adopted from the streets of Puglia!
I have three dogs, Rachel, about 10 years old, Trilli, about 10, and Gigio, the latest arrival, about 2 years old. Veterinarians often have dogs that are fundamentally in bad shape. I picked all of mine from the streets. Found Rachel on a highway, for example, Tinker Bell under my house, with an injured paw. And Gigio had been run over and I had to have his spleen amputated. Saving an animal is a major way in which an animal connects to its owner, in this case a veterinarian: The animal feels who saved its life.

In what way are your dogs amazing?
They are three dogs with completely different characters. Rachel is the most affectionate one, always closeby, asking for cuddles. And she’s the smartest of them all so she is also the group leader, the alpha female. The other two respect her for that. Trilli is the most fragile one, very delicate ever since I found her, never managed to overcome her fears. And then there is little Gigio, playful and crazy like every puppy, the little naughty boy of the group.

How would you describe your relationship?
We are pretty much best friends, spending time together as often as possible,  we sleep together etc. But they know very well what my role is in the group, so they respect me. Especially Gigio, the slightly more exuberant one, is almost afraid when I raise my voice. I talk to them a lot. And I think from my tone of voice they understand what I want and how I want it and they are very good at listening. Or let’s say, the group leader is very good and the others obey Rachel’s signals. 

Any advice you’d like to share?
I recommend getting a dog only if you have the time and energy. And don’t underestimate the money factor! Love is not enough. Sometimes you need practical things that are useful to make the dog feel 100% comfortable. 

One last question: Are you ever afraid of dogs you’re supposed to cure?
Well, I’m more afraid of cats than dogs. When it happens I use anesthesia. It is important to be a good anesthetist to be able to sedate an animal, calm it down and also make it less stressed.    

PS: Cicirelli is an expert in internal medicine, soft tissue surgery and reproductive pathologies. He operates in the Bari area. Cell +39 3408685648 Vin.cicirelli@libero.it; veterinarioadomiciliobari.it

Cat person, dog person? Who cares about all those labels when the heart is at the right place and the only thing you want to do is help those creatures who were abandoned, thrown in the garbage, hit by cars, chased or killed by other animals,  poisoned by people, drowned or got sick from bad food. The lucky ones are found by kind souls and brought to the attention of the Peniche shelter which unfortunately is overflowing with abandoned animals and short in supply. When they can’t take them, Elisabeth steps in. In 5 years as an animal “streetworker” she not only became experienced in animal care of all kinds but also more “exotic” healing pratices like Reiki to make their tortured little bodies strong and healthy again. She also created a network of animal lovers, The Kittenconnection, an organization that rescues kittens, sterilizes cats and supports people finding and fostering kittens that in 2022 only has taken in over 150 kittens, bought an incubator for the very little, fragile ones (the only one in the area), and started her own foster network, which helps to quarantine kittens. “We are working on creating a sanctuary with a coffeeshop, an affordable veterinarian, space for the animals to roam safely and to grow up in a healthy environment.”

You dedicated your life to the protection of animals, cats and dogs. Tell us about the “dogs only” activities!
I take in foster dogs and find them forever homes. I myself have adopted one dog from the streets and one from the Peniche shelter. Since the end of 2022 I foster 2 dogs at a time, and as soon as one is adopted I take a new one in. My aim is to get the dogs adopted to good families, especially outside of Portugal. Also will I create a walking group, to get the dogs weekly out of the shelter..” 

Anyone who you rescued lately?
Yes, I just found a lovely family for Kaelea, a gorgeous brown labrador lady, who was taken from a horrible family situation (with her 4 kids) and brought to the shelter in Peniche. I have no idea what happened but if police takes animals from people in Portugal the situation must be really, really bad. I had already two dogs in the house and a thrid one would have overwhelmed me. But I was convinced that I wanted to do everything I could to find a foster family for her. You must know: Kaelea means Joy in Hawaiian – and she brought joy and happiness in my life from the first day I saw her.
In January 2023 I walked her and my dogs at the beach, and a family came talking to me. They had fallen in love with Kaelea instantly! But the time wasn’t right. They had to sort things out at home in Belgium. 3 weeks later they wrote me again, asking if the dog was still available, they would be now ready for her. So Kaelea lives in Belgium now, her sweet soul bringing joy over a lovely caring family. She is the most awesome dog, kind, protective but not too much, intelligent and happy. I learned that this is my niche: Helping the animals to find foster families all over Europe. I’ve got the communication skills, I can do it!”

PS: Find Elisabeth on Instagram @magic_elisabeth or @thekittenconnection