The very image of Spain, like the bullfights, like the Spanish flag, is still the suffering animals, animals in dreadful conditions, mistreated or killed. Such torture to animals is accepted because it is “culture” or “tradition”, while in our opinion it is just another example of poverty.

Especially tragic is when the animals get mistreated in the name of animal protection. During our visit to Spain in April 2005 we lived the experience that we have documented with many photographs.

The images show the plot belonging to A.J. and L. are Dutch nationals that settled in Spain at the beginning on the 90s and since then have operated under different names. They intended, they said, to create a paradise for the helpless animals.

The photographs published here were taken in April, 2005 and we also have others taken in previous months.

In the name of “Podenco Aid Foundation”, “Podencofarm” or “Animal Aid Foundation” they ask the general public for donations for the suffering dogs.

After the couple got established in Benissa in 1994 and the municipal authorities turned down their request for a permit to continue running an animal shelter there they moved near Valencia. According to her own words “ I will hang on to 5000 square meters in Benissa to keep the dogs there. I will call it Dogs Residence and it will be a lovely and spacious residence”

The reality: the 40 remaining dogs there, like the horses, were left in dreadful conditions. Every two days L. appeared and shortly after there would some of them dead and buried. One keeps discovering recent graves of the buried dogs.

The stench is terrible.

According to Annelies J.: “ 180 euros per year sponsorship ensures the maintance of a dog” and also” We urgently need products against internal and external parasites, medicated shampoo; we have received products against internal parasites from a family in Oldenburg”

In her own words: “ we urgently need a vehicle to transport the animals to their new homes. A diesel powered van would be ideal”

Reality: this vehicle is there, in the abandoned property.

Was it a donation?

Time and time again we read that this couple are wholly committed to the animals, that they sacrifice themselves for them, that they ask for nothing in return, that they give it all to the animals. They ask for donations that arrive mostly from Holland and Germany.

At present these are her properties in Spain:

• In Benissa 20.000 square metres, formerly named “Podencofarm”
• In Oliva she acquired a new plot and collected donations for a new shelter that was never built.
• In Llorca, Murcia, a plot.
• In Benifayó, near Valencia (Villa Marianne) is the new animal shelter.

We keep seeing in the media the great work being done on behalf of the animals, with photographs that are almost historic, where the workers are shown, workers that have now become critics of the situation, of a shelter abandoned already a long time ago.

All the dogs that remained were killed except four. From the four,  that were out of the plot, only three could be saved. It is not clear whether the hurt podenca (that being in heat was kept with 12 males in a cage) has survived or went back to the plot.

This is the destiny of many of them:

As it was private property only restricted access was  possible.  The names of the people that gave us information, have observed and have taken the photographs will not be disclosed here . The names  of those people are known and of course they  appear to be trustworthy people. The photographs are property of the organization Podencos in Not, including the ones that were not taken by us.

Donations ?

Food. Unfortunately it was not reachable by the dogs abandoned there.

When L. realized someone had been to the property the open graves were partly covered and the toxic products taken away.

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Please, co-operate so this maltreatment and killing of animals does not go on in the name of animal protection.

You can support our initiative

• letting us know about any experiences to do with this case
• by signing the petition to the Spanish authorities
• collecting more data about this
• by forwarding the information to other people that have given or will give donations to this supposedly just cause.

We are receiving massive support from animal protection organizations, the media and supporters of every kind; this is the moment for you not to look away, to help us so that together we can prevent more suffering for the animals.      

This initiative is beeing supported by the following organisationes and websites.

Petition

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