Dog rescue Spain

[bonster]

Probably a long way from most of you - but wanted to share where Bonnie came from, a great shelter run by hard working volunteers in Spain:

www.paws-patas.org

Its so sad to see all the dogs they get, and they are just one of many charities working here, where attitudes to pets are often found to be 'different' and terrible things are reported to happen to sporting dogs - Galgos etc.

At least I was able to give one dog a new start -- wish I could take another, maybe soon....

Just wanted to share. I'm happy today that Bonnie now has a full European "pet passport" - an official document which enables her to go in+out of the UK (my real 'home') without restriction as rabies vaccination has been made+tested. This is a new scheme and before it a six month quarantine was mandatory!

 

[Barb04]

Nice web site. I'm so glad you rescued Bonnie. She's lucky to have you.

 

[EliNHunter]

Isn't this the website promoting the heartwrenching story about a golden getting lost at the airport? What happened to her/him? Any news?

 

[Saje]

When I was living in Chile I found out that all the dogs just run wild. I didn't meet an altered dog and even dogs with owners were allowed to run wild during the day.

People would get tired of them and just turn them loose. My finance there (long story) said that you could tell which dogs had been pets and which hadn't because the ones who had been pets didn't know how to scavenge (? - I'm too lazy to look that up) and their hair would fall out. Eventually they'd learn, so he said.

The female of my landlady's dog lived in a fenced yard and when she'd go into heat there were at least 20 dogs in the neighbour hood that would bend the bars to get to her. Except the little ones who would squeeze through but didn't have a chance with her. She had a litter everytime and they always managed to sell the pups. Sad.

I don't remember ever hearing about or seeing a shelter in that city. There may have been one somewhere but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have been a shelter.

I think most if not all latin countries are like that. Pretty sad.

 

[bonster]

Not sure about the golden, although I did hear that a dog did get lose at an airport... but was reunited with its owners.

It is a sad state that the many - some foriegn (Dutch, British etc) chairties working here are always so busy - taking dogs in, fixing them up and seeking new homes continually. I even heard that an American charity working with a group here actually took some greyhounds which had been abandoned at the end of their "racing usefulness" and shipped them over the Atlantic to new homes.

Attitudes are sometimes very different.... in rural areas "pet" dogs are often left lose to roam. Chaining dogs also happens - I was heartbroken the other day to see a very scared Podenca (greyhound-like breed) running across a country road - through traffic - with a long rope tied around its neck and trailing someway behind it - it seemed it had broken its tether -- not that it should have been on one in the first place! A beautiful animal running wild, scared and suffering, doubtless one of many.....
Its reported that sporting/hunting dogs are often discarded at the end of their 'usefulness' or worse abused (beaten, hunted, hung, burned, shot, tied behind cars then driven off at speed) for 'sport' by their former "masters" - some charity and pressure group websites put the annual figures for this kind of cruelty into the many thousands of cases!
There are several websites with horribly graphic images to be found.

Then there is irresponsible 'fashion' and 'status' "dog ownership" to be found as well - I've heard of Huskies being brought here and tied up outside (presumably as 'status symbols') in boiling hot sun! seen many "outside unattended" GSDs, Dobies etc trained to bark and nash vicioulsy at anyone passing a property.... so cruel and unfair..... and surely responsible for increasing "dangerous breed" bad reputation....

And when the novelty of ownership wears off sometimes dogs are just abandoned - if they are lucky at a shelter or a vet, but sometimes in the open or even on highways!

The chairty which had taken Bonnie in has its kennels in a rural setting, out in the 'campo' and apparently abandoned dogs have been known to 'gravitate' towards it --- maybe sensing they can get help there? But I recently read that the shelter itself had suffered from burgulary and even people looking to steal (previously abused!) hunting breeds!

Let's hope that with new laws, charities (foreign and domestic), pressure groups and changing attitudes things will improve for the better.

Of course, there is responsible dog ownership to be found too, but as I think I posted before, although bad things must happen everywhere its upsetting to see that you don't have to look too far to see the 'dark side' here

 

[Martine]

Good to see the website and the good work happening....lovely that you've given Bonnie a home. I found it shocking when I moved to Spain as I kept seeing dead dogs on the road, poor babies are just left to roam, or just as bad, dogs tied up in the hot sun without water or shade. I've just read an article in our local English mag about the Spanish Greyhound (Galgo) as this is the time of the year the get thrown out if old or injured. Makes me want to cry......some people must have very hard hearts.

 

[smkie]

Bonster I don't know how you do it..seeing dogs like that would about make me crazy. I know in the states you can usually find someone to help but not always. I worked at two places where there was nothing I could do but leave before I lost my mind. We reported both, but one burned his shop down (animals and all) we couldn't prove it, and the other ended up being part of the humane soceity for that little town. That was the most insane situation I have ever found myself in. I commend you for caring so much. I have read that so many countries consider animals "walking things". I enjoy your posts and your perspective.

 

[bonster]

Thanks Smkie!