Against All Odds
Animal Organisations
Fun Gallery
People Who Really Care
PEOPLE WHO REALLY CARE
This Section is to “Show Case” the many different Animal Organisations that operate throughout Spain and the rest of Europe who work tirelessly either rescuing abandoned or neglected animals or who are trying to stop the animal abuse/cruelty that is so prevalent out here. Without these amazing people I dread to think what the true scale of these problems would actually be. Mankind has so much to answer for! If you know of any Organisation who you feel deserves to be in this Section to raise public awareness about their dedication and hard work, please email me.
A.I.D. (Animals In Distress) Asoc. Registrada: 7974
For many years Janice and Joe independently helped animals in England before moving out to the Costa del Sol in 1998 where they continued to help animals whenever possible. A few years later they moved inland, away from the coastal tourist area, to Coin where they became even more aware of the plight of the animals and the rescuing and re-homing of animals became a no.1 priority in their lives. The animals are taken in either into their own home or to people who have kindly volunteered to act as Foster Carers until new homes can be found.
All the animals taken in are taken to the Vet where if they’re not in need of urgent medical attention, they are given thorough health checks. Janice and Joe act responsibly and ensure that all animals are vaccinated and are either neutered or castrated. They do not receive any Government funding and raise funds by relying on donations from the public, holding charity events and running two Charity Shops.
They heartbreakingly see misery and death every day but they stand firm in their belief that the welfare of all animals along with the care, safety and protection of them remains their utmost priority in this part of Andalucia. If you look at their Web Site, you will see the magnitude of their work www.animals-in-distress.eu
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K9 Club Asoc. Registrada: CV-01-043388-A
The K9 Club is an official non-profit Animal Rescue and Protection charity and have been working desperately hard rescuing and re-homing abandoned animals in Southern Costa Blanca for the last 23 years. They work tirelessly to raise funds for food, all necessary veterinary treatment and other ongoing costs for the animals in their care. It goes beyond just blood testing which is vital in order to know the general health of an animal and what they may be faced with. Many of the animals they rescue have life threatening diseases and some have broken limbs usually from having been hit by a car. Sterilisation is also a priority for the animals that they rescue as this is the only way to try and reduce the number of unwanted dogs and cats in the future.
The K9 Club is not a shelter and relies solely on the kindness of foster carers which is so much the case for all these Animal Organisations. They desperately need more people to come forward and offer to be a foster carer so that more animals can be helped.
Once an animal has been re-homed, K9’s work does not stop there. They feel they will always have a responsibility towards each and every animal that is re-homed and keep in touch with every home provided. They don’t walk away and think “that’s my job done.” Why? Because they care!
If you take a look at their web site you will see the scale of abandoned/unwanted animals that they help. Some of the stories are heartbreaking but you will always see an update regarding a particular animal. Please visit www.petsinspain.info
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PACMA (Partido Antitaurino Contra el Maltrato Animal) is a legally constituted political party, out here in Spain, founded on 24 February 2003 as the Party Against Bullfighting, Cruelty and Mistreatment to Animals and to fight for animal rights. Each year, millions of animals are killed, often for no reason and through the use of cruel methods. Others are mistreated for the sake of cruelty or simple fun. The PACMA's aim is to create a harmonious relationship between man and animals, with measures to ensure this in every field: laws; social education and awareness; the ban of all types of public entertainment with animals; promotion of vegetarianism or veganism and other related scopes.
Do not be put off when you first visit this Site and you find yourself reading Spanish. There is a language button to change most pages into English. If you click on the "NO! al abandona de ANIMALES" there is a particularly good article entitled "Education for ending animal abuse and exploitation." In case people don't realise it, abandoning animals is animal abuse and the sooner people realise this the better! It has reached an unacceptable level. So please visit their Site to read about their stance against Animal Cruelty www.pacma.es
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P.E.P.A. (Protección y Educación Para los Animales) Asoc. Registrada: G97646921
P.E.P.A. is based largely in the Valencia Province and is run by a dedicated team of people. They do not receive any Government funding and have to rely on various fundraising activities in order to finance their work. Recently a Charity Shop was opened in the northern Costa Blanca area which has been a great success with both the Spanish and English.
They do not have any kennels but rely totally on the kindness of Foster Carers until loving homes can be found. P.E.P.A. also runs a feral cat sterilisation programme in the northern Costa Blanca area. Their goal is to provide humane control of the size of feral cat colonies of which there are many throughout the whole of Spain. To implement this they provide trapping equipment purchased by their organisation and pay for the sterilisation of feral cats, asking only a small donation in return.
P.E.P.A. also operates a telephone helpline 7 days a week, currently between the hours of 10am – 5pm, where advice and help can be sought on a range of queries from finding a day old puppy in the rubbish bins, which trust me, is a regular occurrence, to regulations on taking a pet back to the UK. Whatever the problem, they will do their utmost to help.
P.E.P.A. has four main aims:
1. To foster abandoned dogs and cats until they can be found loving, happy homes.
2. Help combat the problem of feral cats by carrying out sterilisation programmes.
3. Help finance animal sanctuaries by raising money for special equipment, kennels etc.
4. To offer education to all young people on animal humanitarian issues.
Please visit their web site to read more about them and see the many beautiful animals that need re-homing www.pepaspain.com
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S.P.A.M.A. (Sociedad Protectora De Animales y Medio Ambiente La Safor) Asco Registrada: Safor 2.020 ONG
S.P.A.M.A. is probably one of the largest Spanish registered charities in Valencia and is one of few to be officially recognised by the R.S.P.C.A. in the UK. Their story is quite remarkable which started 25 years ago when people started taking lost and abandoned animals to them. At that time they were kept on a small piece of land but the numbers increased to such a level that it was imperative to find a larger piece of land. They successfully bought some land with outbuildings which were utilized into kennels. In 1999, the Mayoress of the village decided, in her infinite wisdom, that she didn’t want the kennels in her village and S.P.A.M.A. were forced to find foster homes for all those in their care and close down the kennels. Undeterred, they searched around and managed, again, to buy a large piece of land in Gandia. It is now home to some 500 dogs and puppies with a separate compound for cats and kittens.
Two of the Directors are Vets and visit the kennels on a daily basis. It is hoped that a small clinic can be built on the premises where the animals can be treated and those really ill can be kept under supervision. At the moment, all animals brought in are kept in holding kennels for 10 days while tests are carried out to ensure that all is well and also just in case their owners come for them. After 10 days, if not claimed, they can officially be classed as “Abandoned.” From here they are moved into the bigger kennels. Many of the animals have been with S.P.A.M.A. since these kennels were built and the very old ones go and live in a big garden behind their Vets. They are very proud of the fact, and rightly so, that in 25 years, they have NEVER put a healthy animal down.
The staff of 5 young men are completely dedicated and ensure that one of them remains at the shelter each and every night. There is a Kennel Manager who took up the post once he had retired and he ensures that everything is running smoothly and is himself building a new area where animals can first be taken to be checked over and to have photographs taken.
Although they get a little help from the Ayuntamiento (Town Hall) along with a grant from Valencia which pays towards the mortgage of the kennels, they rely on the generosity of the public for donations along with their own efforts at fund raising.
S.P.A.MA. works tirelessly to re-home their animals – Spanish, English and German all working together. Every animal is micro chipped and a Pet Passport issued for each and every one of them. All female dogs and cats are sterilised.
If you think you can help in any way, do take a look at their Web Site as there are many ways in which you can do so. Or maybe ring Lesley Murray, the English Liason Volunteer – 0034 962813226
http://spama-safor.blog.com.es
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EL ALBERGUE (Asociación para la Protección Animal) The Shelter is an animal organisation run by a group of dedicated spanish people in Seville. They encounter many atrocities where animals are concerned, the worst being a little dog called Ronda who survived being almost burnt alive. Her story is in the section "When Will It All End?" under Seville, Spain. An amazing little girl and I actually don't know how she survived but credit must go to her rescuers and to her vet for doing such an amazing job. Be warned that there are some distressing photographs. I hope Ronda, when she is fully recovered, can find a forever home with love in abundance which is no more than she deserves.
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