Firstly, thank you so much for all the donations, all the support, and all the kindness shown since this fundraiser began.

As a local, I am very touched by all of this, and the staff at SPAD have honestly been at a loss for words. For the first time, they truly feel seen. When the fundraiser was first launched, we were so surprised by how quickly everyone wanted to help. It reminded us straight away that we have a very special community.

Secondly, I also want to thank everyone for their patience. The Madeira Friends team is very small (but full of love), and alongside this, we already have a lot of day-to-day work, so it has been hard to keep up with everything as quickly as we would like. But there has been a lot happening behind the scenes, and we wanted to properly share that with you.

One of the first things we bought was new leads and collars for dog walking. They were very much needed, as the leads they had before were simply not safe enough. The staff have been incredibly careful with everything that has been purchased and make sure the leads are packed away properly after use so that nothing gets misplaced.

We also bought two big beds. What struck me most was how careful the staff were not to “abuse” our goodwill. They were so modest about what they asked for. When I asked what else they needed, there was a silence, and then one staff member quietly said, “Well, this is impossible to ask, but we wash all blankets by hand.” I immediately said, don’t worry, we will get this for you.

While looking through online stores, I suddenly had the feeling to just make a Facebook post saying we were looking for donations of washing machines. I really did not expect anything from it. But then two really lovely ladies reached out and said they were happy to donate. I was honestly shocked. They did not know me at all, and somehow they trusted me.

I will never forget the day I arrived at SPAD to walk the dogs and one of the staff grabbed my arm and showed me the machines. “Look! Look!” she said. She had even made a poster with hearts around it. She said, “I can’t believe I don’t have to wash blankets anymore, and we are even more spoiled with a dryer. This is more than what we expected.”

That moment will stay with me for a very long time.

But even before all this, when I spoke to the director about SPAD, she said something I will never forget: “They are our family, we are their family. They have food, they have water, they aren’t on the streets, they aren’t tied up. I just wish we could afford to have beds for them.”

Then, a few days later, one staff member said, “My dream before I die is that they all have beds, especially the old ones.” At that point I thought, surely this part will be easy. I was wrong.

Plastic beds get chewed. Wood does not last with urine and faeces. Other possible options were discussed, but nothing seemed practical enough. It just was not working out. Then one community member suggested playground tiles, saying they were soft and not easy to chew. Everyone nodded in agreement, and off I went.

It was Easter holiday, the weather was perfect, and I could easily have been on the beach, but instead I was doing every search possible, sending messages, going back and forth on Facebook, and trying to make it work. Then, once again, kindness appeared. A wonderful man reached out and said he had 50 blocks to donate.

We got them picked up from a happy handyman and delivered to SPAD on Sunday afternoon. And it did not end there. Out of pure goodwill, he then went out of his way to buy a further 54 blocks. Once again, this was someone who did not know me from anywhere, and yet he still chose to help.

Some dogs loved the blocks. Others thought it was a new toilet. Others tried to play with them. It became clear that more blocks still need to be bought and rearranged, but also that the best next step is to elevate the platform and place the blocks on top. That way, it will be easier to wash underneath and the staff will not need to keep removing the blocks every time they clean. Once the blocks get wet, they become too heavy and difficult to manage.

So after weeks of chasing, we are now waiting for quotes for either raised platforms or a more metallic platform that can be washed easily, with a blanket placed on top, while the current blocks can be moved to the older dogs. SPAD has also had some staff on sick leave or on holiday, so this part has been delayed more than we hoped.

Alongside all this, we have also received so many blanket donations for the dogs, which has made a real difference.

We also now have more volunteers going to SPAD, some regularly and some at their own pace and times. One dog has already been adopted because of one of the photos we shared, which is such a beautiful reminder that even small actions can change an animal’s life.

We also have people who come to Madeira on holiday and still choose to go there to walk the dogs. Some have even become attached to certain dogs and return to see them. Over time, we have become closer to the shelter staff too, and we now share laughs as well as the hard moments. That human connection matters too.

Once this bedding situation has been settled, we would also love to help improve SPAD’s social media and website and find an easier way for volunteers to book themselves in.

And this work has naturally started to spread further. We are also helping other shelters, and we will be sharing more about that on our blog soon as well.

For now, we just wanted to properly update you and say thank you. Your support has already brought practical help, comfort, encouragement, and hope to both the animals and the staff who care for them every day. We are still working on the next stage, especially the raised beds/platform solution, and we will continue to keep you updated.

Please keep an eye on our Facebook page, Madeira Friends International Community Association, our Instagram, and our blog posts for further updates.

Thank you again for being part of this.

Transparency note: The current amount shown on GoFundMe is not the exact amount remaining for this project. Some funds have already gone toward leads, collars, transport of the blocks, and Stripe fees. We also received one donation through an activity where 50% was always meant to go back to the facilitator and 50% to SPAD. We wanted to share this for full transparency and clarity.