Spain: Mother-of-three dies after being attacked by her own Pit Bull

SPAIN -- A 40-YEAR-OLD woman has died after being attacked by her own Pit Bull dog in Spain.

The mother-of-three died from her injuries before the emergency health services arrived at her home on the island of La Palma, Tenerife.

Guardia Civil officers killed the pit bull and have opened an investigation into the circumstances of the attack.

Earlier this month an 82-year-old woman had both legs amputated after she was set upon by two French Mastiffs owned by a neighbor as she returned home from Catholic Mass church services.

And, just days later, a 76-year-old woman was seriously injured after her own American Pit Bull terrier attacked her in the Galicia region in northern Spain.

(Euro Weekly News - Nov 30, 2017)

Spain: "It was horrible, there was bone mass exposed" - Seventy-six-year old woman attacked by her own Pit Bull

SPAIN -- A 76-YEAR-OLD woman has been left seriously injured after her own American pit bull terrier attacked her in the Galicia region in northern Spain.

The victim is the second woman to be attacked by dangerous dogs since the weekend.

The attack happened in the neighborhood of Sequeiros, Mos when the dog, that was loose from its chain, became aggressive with road contractors working nearby.

When the woman heard the commotion she stepped in with a broom. But the dog lunged at her, knocked her to the ground and started to bite her arms and legs.

One of the roadworkers said, "The lady was completely torn" before they managed to scare the dog away by restarting one of their machines.

The head of the Local Police in Mos, Gerardo Álvarez, who lives nearby drew his gun in case he was forced to shoot the animal.

But the son of the woman managed to calm the dog and chain it until the Guardia Civil arrived and took the animal away to a shelter in Meis.

The mayor of Mos, Nidia Arévalo, who was in the area along with other councillors to oversee the works, saw the woman lying on the floor.

"It was horrible, there was bone mass exposed."

*  *  *  *  *  *

The attack comes just  days after another elderly woman had both legs amputated after a vicious dog attack in northern Spain.

The 82-year-old from Covelo, Pontevedra, named as Maria Dolores AB, was set upon by two French Mastiffs owned by a neighbor as she returned home from Mass.

Horrified witnesses described how the animals bit her lower legs and scalp to the bone before being pulled away.

BREED SPECIFIC LAWS (BSL) IN SPAIN:

Ownership of Potentially Dangerous Dogs in Spain

Spanish law requires that the owners of potentially dangerous dogs obtain a license for that animal. Potentially dangerous dogs are:

• Pit Bull Terrier
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• American Staffordshire Terrier
• Rottweiler
• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro
• Tosa Inu
• Akita Inu

For any large dog weighing more than 44 pounds with a square head, strong jaws, and a strong muscular back, you must obtain the license or your animal will be impounded.

Licensing
In order to obtain a license, the owner must apply with the appropriate Spanish municipal office. To be eligible for a license, applicants must:

• Be 18 years old
• Have no criminal history
• Pass a physical and psychological exam
• Pay an application fee (currently 34 Euros)
• Obtain civil liability insurance in the amount of $120,000/203,000

If your application is approved and you received a license, there will be specific security measures that the owner of these dogs must take:

• You must carry your license with you if you are with your dog in public
• Your dog must be on a fixed leash no longer than 6.5 feet in public
• The dog must have a muzzle affixed to its mouth such that it cannot bite
• The owner can only be walking one such dog at a time
• A dog left outdoors, such as in a yard, must be secured such that they cannot escape into the public

Questions may be directed to the Staff Judge Advocate's Office at extension 3171 or the Security Department, Interpreter's section, at extension 2547.

(Euro Weekly News - Nov 8, 2017)

Spain: Man accused of dragging dog behind his vehicle released by police

SPAIN -- The man arrested by the Guardia Civil for alleged animal abuse for dragging a puppy behind his vehicle for 10km (more than six miles) has been found innocent and acquitted.

When officers stopped the Suzuki all-terrain vehicle on the A-8201 near Jimena de la Frontera in the province of Cadiz in Andalucia earlier this month they found a German Shepherd puppy tied by its hind legs to the tow hitch.

As the Euro Weekly News reported at the time the driver of the vehicle told officers that he was not aware that the dog was tied to the tow ball. He claimed that someone had done it ‘as a joke’ after celebrating a Halloween night party.

And when he drove off in the morning he wasn’t aware of it until he was stopped by the Guardia Civil officers more than 10 kilometres down the road.

The claims of Francisco Quirós Ocala, better known in the municipality as 'Pacurro', appear to have been true.

It is believed that the already dead puppy was tied to his vehicle by ‘persons unknown’.

Police investigations continue to find the culprit.

(Euro Weekly News - November 9, 2017)

Earlier:

• Spain: Puppy dies after being dragged more than six miles along road tied to tow hitch

Spain: Puppy dies after being dragged more than six miles along road tied to tow hitch

SPAIN -- A man has been arrested by Guardia Civil officers from Jimena de la Frontera, Cadiz for animal abuse  after allegedly dragging a dog behind his vehicle on a road.

When officers stopped  the Suzuki all-terrain vehicle on the  A-8201 in Andalucia they found a German Shepherd puppy tied by its hind legs to the tow ball.

The young dog died from the injuries it sustained after being dragged for several kilometres.

The driver of the vehicle claimed to officers that he was not aware that the dog was tied to the tow hitch.

He claims that  someone had done it ‘as a joke’ after celebrating a Halloween night party.

And when he drove off in the morning he wasn’t aware of it until he was stopped by the Guardia Civil officers more than 10 kilometres down the road.

(Euro Weekly News - November 8, 2017)

Spain: Elderly man mauled to death by his neighbor's five dogs

SPAIN -- A Spanish man has been mauled to death in what police believe was a vicious attack by his neighbor's five dogs.

The 66-year-old was discovered by his son lying on the ground covered in wounds "caused by animal bites" which police suspect were the work of the dogs, all crosses between pit bulls - considered dangerous - and bull terriers.

The victim left his home in Beniarbeig, southeastern Spain, on Saturday to tend to his vegetables nearby, the Guardia Civil police force said in a statement on Tuesday.

When his son realized he had been gone a long time, he went to look for him and found him lying on the ground in a "horrific scene", they added.

Police said the state of his arms and legs suggested the man fought hard before he died.

There are no dangerous wild animals in the area, and suspicion soon fell on a neighbor whose dogs have caused problems in the past.

"The dogs didn't have any trace of blood on them, but police realized that one of them was soaking wet, as if it had just been washed," the Guardia Civil said.

"The owner alleged he had fallen in the pool."

Police took DNA from the dogs to confirm whether they killed the man. If they did, the owner could face charges of involuntary manslaughter.

The dogs, meanwhile, were taken to a shelter where they bit a worker and destroyed the cage they were kept in, police said.

Spain, like many other countries, strictly regulates the ownership of potentially dangerous dogs. Potential owners have to undergo physical and psychological tests to make sure they are fit to own them.

The dogs have to be muzzled in public places and must be kept on short leashes.

(9News - Feb 22, 2017)

Spain: British expat’s dogs shot dead and her horse’s eyes gouged by vengeful gang of Spanish hunters after she refused to let them shoot on her land

SPAIN -- A British expat’s dogs were shot dead by rampaging gunmen in a sickening revenge attack in Spain.

The hunters massacred the dogs and gouged the eye of a horse out after creeping on to the property in the dead of night.

Locals believe the slayings were a part of a revenge attack because landowner Illona Mitchell refused to let them hunt on her land.

The 48-year-old left Britain in 2004 to live in Sierra de Baza in southern Spain after purchasing 173 hectares of land for £100,000.

She had initially allowed hunters to shoot pheasants, deer, wild board and rabbits because it is part of the country’s culture.

But as her rescue centre grew, the animal lover decided to seek a ban on hunting, which was granted in May last year.

Since then, she has been the victim of late-night visits to the home she shares with Spanish partner Isi Doro, 39, and 11-year-old daughter Ella.

The former restaurant manager, from Chester, told the Daily Mail, said: “I am sickened as to why someone would carry out such a cruel and barbaric attack on innocent, defenceless animals.

“As rescue dogs, they have already suffered mistreatment or at the very best have been ignored. And just when they reach a place of supposed sanctuary, they are made to suffer even more.”

She continued: “The only motive I can think of is hunters getting revenge. I recently stopped hunting on my land, and made this clear to all local hunting groups.

“It has led to me receiving harassment from local hunters calling at my house. They have also stopped me in the street, hurling insults and intimidating me. This happens several times a week.

“They even forged my signature on an official document, suggesting I was happy for them to hunt on my land.

“Others said they would carry on hunting regardless. But this is not going to drive me away. I appreciate I have a problem to deal with, but it’s not going to stop me caring for abandoned animals.”

The twisted hunters are believed to have shot the dogs with pistols hours after locals attended a parade to mark Three Kings Day, or the Epiphany.

Illona believes the horror attack had been planned for a night when the police would be busy elsewhere.

Pal Mandy Lewis and her husband found the slain bodies of the dogs when they arrived at the kennels the next morning.

Three crossbreeds – Dizzy, seven, Coco, two, and two-month-old Maisie – were dead after being shot in the head, but two others were still alive.

German shepherd Jack, five, had been blasted through the roof of the mouth. He died within half an hour of being taken to a vet.

Crossbreed Domingo, three, was shot in the side of the face and died the next morning. A sixth dog is missing.

Mandy, 44, said: “All of a sudden I heard my husband screaming, ‘They’re dead, they’re dead. The dogs are dead’.

“I quickly ran up to where he was. It’s the most horrific thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Our life here now feels a bit tainted. Some part of what we were all trying to achieve here has been lost.”

Police have now beefed up security in the area after telling Illona it was one of the worst attacks on animals they had seen.

Officers have questioned some hunters, but no arrests have been made.

(The Sun UK - Jan 23, 2017)

Spain: Animals shot in 'barbaric' attack. Owner believes it was in retaliation from her banning hunting on her land

SPAIN -- Five dogs were shot and killed and a horse nearly blinded in a ‘barbaric’ attack which is being blamed on hunters in a national park near Granada.

The plight of Illona Mitchell’s animals has led rescue centres and animal charities from around the world to offer their help.

Enough money has now been raised after pictures of the attacked animals were shared on the internet, to raise money for a reward to find the attackers.

Ms Mitchell, who moved to Caniles from Chester in 2004, owns more than 170 hectares of land in the Sierra de Baza national park.

After she removed her land from the hunting zone in the park, she says she was subjected to verbal abuse in the street, threats and intimidation from hunters angered by her decision.

After reporting these offences Ms Mitchell says Guardia Civil officers mounted patrols on her land, at one stage even scouting round her land at night.

But the attackers then struck on the night of the Three Kings celebrations knowing that officers would be busy and that the following day would be a fiesta.

When Ms Mitchell drove up to her land on January 7 she found dead and dying animals in their kennels and her rescue horse, Rocco, so badly beaten it may lose an eye.

Three of the dogs lay dead, two died later at a vet’s and the horse has been left so traumatised the vet is struggling to get close enough to administer its medication.

Ms Mitchell believes at least two people took part in the attack, one holding the animal while the other fired the shots at almost point blank range.

One dog was shot between the eyes, another was shot through the side of the face and one through the roof of the mouth.

In an attempt to raise the alarm she was forced to bang on the door at the home of a police officer who then alerted members of Seprona to the crime.

“When they arrived they couldn’t believe what they were looking at. It was a vile and barbaric attack,” she says.

Ms Mitchell´s friends have rallied, putting her plight on the internet and even starting a Crowdfunding page to help raise funds for her vet’s bills and put up a reward to find those behind the attacks.

(Euro Weekly News - January 18, 2017)

Spain: Shocking footage shows savage farm workers torturing pregnant pigs and cutting out their babies – as four men go on trial

SPAIN --  THIS horrific video shows farm workers laughing as they torture pregnant pigs with SWORDS.

The shocking scenes will be played in a Spanish courtroom today as four men go on trial for animal cruelty.

The workers were filmed hitting the animals over the head with iron bars before digging dirty metal swords into their sides repeatedly.

The piglets inside the sows were pulled out of their mothers’ stomachs alive after they were slaughtered.

One of the men plays up to the camera as a pig writhes squealing and dying in front of them after he stabs it repeatedly along with a colleague.

He flexes his biceps as he stands over the animal after murdering it in the most savage way possible while a colleague jokes out loud: “Rest in peace.”

The shocking images were filmed at El Escobar farm in Fuente Alamo, Murcia, south-east Spain and published by a worker shocked by what he saw.

They led to the arrests of four men due to go on trial today.

Miguel Rodriguez, a veterinary hospital anaesthetist, has described the footage as the worst he has ever seen.

He said: “It’s the most horrible case of animal mistreatment I’ve seen in my career. The suffering these animals have endured is comparable to the pain we’d suffer as humans in that situation.”

Javier Moreno, international director of animal welfare organisation Animal Equality, which is also prosecuting the defendants, added: “This is without doubt the cruellest thing we’ve ever seen.

“We want a historic and exemplary sentence.”

The organisation has launched a petition which has already been signed by more than 66,000 people calling for a change in the law to stiffen the penalties for animal mistreatment.

State prosecutors are calling for a one-year prison sentence for each of the accused men – the maximum under Spanish law – as well as a three year ban from working with animals.

They will be unlikely to spend a single day in jail if they receive the sentence – because sentences of two years or less in Spain are normally suspended for first-time offenders.

The footage first emerged in February 2012 when Animal Equality was sent the 6.40 minute video.

Marcos Verduga, the worker who leaked the video, said at the time: “From the minute I set foot on the farm I saw the animals were being mistreated every day.”

Police arrested the suspects 48 hours afterwards, leading to a criminal probe led by a judge and today’s trial in the city of Cartagena.

The farm owner expressed his shock and condemnation after the footage was made public and said he had idea his animals were being mistreated in this way.

Note: If you click the link below, you can access the video.

(The Sun UK - Sept 27, 2016)

Spain: Little donkey ‘squashed’ to death by obese man court case thrown out by judge

SPAIN -- The case against an obese man who “squashed” a baby donkey to death by sitting on it has been thrown out by a Spanish judge.

The donkey was taking part in a nativity scene and was in a pen in the town in Lucena, Andalusia in 2014.

The man climbed into the animal’s pen on 10 December 2014 to pose for a photo with the donkey.

The donkey was around five months old and was not meant to be ridden in its role in the Christmas nativity scene, which was situated outside the City Hall.

However, the man — who reportedly weighs around 23 stone (about 330 pounds) — posed on the donkey for a photograph. The photo then was circulated on social media and caused general outcry.

The donkey, called Platero, was put down two days after the incident. The police were alerted to the donkey after locals reported that the animal could barely stand.

Charity El Refugio del Burrito (The Donkey Sanctuary in Spain) launched legal action, but the case has been dismissed.

“The judge dismissed the proceedings as she considers that the actual complaints are not a criminal offense and that there is not enough evidence to justify an in-depth investigation,” said an El Refugio del Burrito spokesman.

“The court order states that ‘even if an aggressive conduct had been proved, it is not clear [if it was] the direct cause of the animal’s death, and it is therefore not possible to establish the causality needed”.

The charity filed a complaint against the man that allegedly caused the death of Platero and another complaint against the city council for alleged omission of care, as the donkey was not helped by a vet until two days after the alleged incident.

“The first complaint was initially filed, but we managed to re-open it in March 2015,” the spokesman said. “This is the second time that a judge has filed the case.”

(Horse & Hound - April 10, 2016)

Earlier:

• Spain: Nativity donkey dies after being ‘squashed’ by obese man

Spain: Six vets and 26 hunters arrested in Huelva for mutilating hunting dogs

SPAIN -- Twenty-six hunters have been arrested in the Andalusian province of Huelva for mutilating hundreds of dogs, whose tails and ears they sliced off with their own knives.

Six veterinarians are also being held in custody for allegedly issuing phony certificates to try to cover up the crude procedures.

“To see such clumsy mutilations of ears and tails, and especially to see veterinarians trying to cover it up, in our day and age, is frankly surprising. We’re talking about slicing animals’ ears right off,” said one source familiar with the case.

“It is cruelty without anesthesia, just to save themselves the vet fee. The owner is aware that the animal is suffering” - Huelva prosecutors

As a result of the mutilations, the dogs were left with open wounds that can take years to heal or never will.

The hunters’ goal was to save themselves the €40 charged by veterinary clinics for the operation.

By law, however, cosmetic surgeries of this nature have been banned in Andalusia since 2003.

The raid, named Operation Ears by the Civil Guard’s environmental protection department, Seprona, began a year ago.

Sources said they expected the number of arrests to rise to 50 among the community of hunters and pit bull owners in three different areas in Huelva.

After the environmental prosecutor’s office got involved, a court this week handed down a 10-month prison sentence to the first of the hunters, said sources familiar with the situation.

Most of the suspects have refused to give statements following their arrest, but privately asserted that cutting off their own dogs’ ears and tails is “an ancestral tradition” meant to prevent them from getting caught in the thorns of brambles. As such, they claim that they were simply following a rural tradition.

The Andalusian government’s health department and the regional council of veterinary associations have been cooperating with the Civil Guard to determine the responsibility of the six professionals involved in the case.

Since 2003, Andalusian laws have established that dog mutilation “for purely esthetic reasons or without any use, save that practiced by veterinarians” is a very serious breach of animal rights legislation. For years many Huelva hunters have traveled to vet clinics in the nearby region of Extremadura to bypass Andalusian legislation.

However, last year several hunters presented inspectors with dubious-looking Andalusian vet certificates, with a single document for more than one dog. Officers began investigating various zoological premises where hunters keep their packs, which are typically made of up 24 dogs.

Sources said they expected the number of arrests to rise to 50 among the community of hunters and pit bull owners in three Huelva areas

“It is cruelty without anesthesia, just to save themselves the vet fee. The owner is aware that the animal is suffering,” said a source at the prosecutor’s office.

The investigation shows that some of the dogs had very recent open wounds, urinary incontinence and fear of humans.

Economic favors for the vets
The suspect vets allegedly issued certificates to the hunters to try to give legal cover to the rudimentary surgeries. This represents a violation of ethical codes and criminal conduct in that they forged public documents. These individuals are also facing preliminary charges of cover-up and being an accessory to abuse.

In exchange for issuing these legal documents, the vets were allegedly rewarded by becoming the service providers for all animals at the premises, including microchips and vaccinations for all new pups. This represents unfair competition with regard to other veterinary surgeons who were respectful of the law, prosecutors argue.

Fidel Astudillo, president of the Andalusian Council of Veterinary Associations, said that the suspect vets will have their licenses revoked if they are found guilty by a court of law.

“The community of 3,700 Andalusian vets has an interest in clearing this up. If there are professionals involved, there is no reason why they should jeopardize the credibility of everyone else.”

(El Pais - Feb 15, 2016)

Two juveniles in Spain found guilty of trying to beat small donkey to death

SPAIN - Two underage boys were found guilty of trying to beat a donkey to death last year.

An Almeria juvenile court ordered the boys, aged 16 and 17, to attend a re-education day centre for 12 months after their parents and the Public Prosecutor reached agreement before the hearing.

The donkey was kept near the Los Almendros school where the boys discussed attacking and killing it with other pupils.

Despite knowing that the donkey was weak and had an injured hoof, they began kicking and hitting it during a break, the Public Prosecutor said.

A teacher saw them and contacted the local Animal Protection Association, who then informed the Guardia Civil.

The badly-injured donkey, now given the name Capitan, was taken to the Aznalcollar (Sevilla) animal sanctuary where it has now recovered. Meanwhile the Guardia Civil traced the two boys as well as the father of one of them who was also the donkey’s owner.

The investigation remains open while the authorities determine the adult’s part in ill-treating the animal.

(Euro Weekly News - Sept 29, 2015)

Horrific truth of greyhound breeding: Man’s best friend is TORTURED with cigarette burns and acid then dumped to die in tunnels, hung in trees or left with broken bones to starve to death in Spain

SPAIN -- A British charity supported by Dame Judi Dench and Ricky Gervais is helping save the lives of hundreds of dreadfully injured and abandoned greyhounds in Spain.

Some of the dogs have been tortured – burned with cigarettes and acid – some dumped to die in tunnels, hung in trees or released on busy motorways.

Others have been left with broken bones to starve to death.

 

In at least one case, a rope had become so deeply encrusted in the neck of a greyhound it had to be surgically removed by a vet while dozens of others have had gaping, open wounds – the results of abuse - by the time they are found by volunteers across Spain.

Shocking pictures taken by vets and volunteers held in the files of the Middlesex-based charity Greyhounds in Need (GIN) show the scale of the problem that has seen the group help save and treat between 6,000-7,000 greyhounds since it was formed in 1998.

Many have been found homes with families in Britain and across Europe - all treated by vets in Spain at shelters supported by the group.

Disturbing new video recently obtained by GIN and filmed undercover in the Spanish countryside shows locally-bred hunting greyhounds, known as galgos in Spain, being held from the back of a pick-up on leashes and made to keep up with the vehicle as part of their training for blood-sport competition during the four-month long hare coursing season.

When the video of the five greyhounds being ‘dragged’ from behind the truck was shown by GIN at the Royal Society of Medicine in London, there was outrage.

‘They are awful pictures,’ said Martin Humphery, of GIN, ‘It is very clear that they are suffering greatly.

‘We hope that it will finally help open eyes to the kind of abuse that is going on. It is very disturbing but sadly typical of the kind of things that is going on with these poor galgos.  There is supreme neglect and cruelty on a large scale.

'We have had cases of dogs being tied to rocks and left to starve to death, others with cigarette burns and some just thrown over fences and abandoned with broken legs.’

GIN works with a network of shelters across Spain where the primary rescue and treatments are carried out.  It funds vets, treatment, shelters and care – and assists in finding homes with families of greyhound lovers in Britain, Italy, Belgium and France.

Among those supporting the organisation, which spends around £250,000 a year on saving the dogs – funding comes mainly from donations and two shops on the South Coast run by the charity - is comedian Ricky Gervais, who has highlighted the plight and mistreatment of greyhounds around the world on Twitter.

Oscar winning actress Dame Judi Dench, author Jilly Cooper and actor Peter Egan, a star of Downton Abbey – the owner of six rescue dogs - are among GIN’s heavy-weight patrons.

Last month a shipment of eight dogs arrived at GIN’s kennels at Wraysbury, near Windsor, while they await adoption with their details posted on the organisation’s website.

In Spain, they had been treated at shelters, sterilised, micro chipped and have been tested and found clear of Mediterranean diseases before they come to the UK.

Not all are abandoned to die, some are left outside shelters because they are no longer of use and some merely dumped over the shelter fence – several broke bones in this way.

Others are rescued injured and terrified from dog pounds, known to rescue groups locally as ‘killing stations'.

One dog was found hanging from a tree while many are found with badly damaged legs caught in snare traps.

‘We hear some dreadful stories of how the galgos are treated,’ Mr Humphery said, ‘The standard of care is very low, the hunting season takes place in very hot ghastly conditions and once that is over there is often little need for the galgos.

'We are not just talking neglect but cruelty. Some have been tied up to rocks and left to starve to death.

‘We are thankful for the goodwill of some very dedicated Spanish people, who are often derided by the local community they live among because of their attitudes and work in trying to help the galgos.

‘Yes, Spain is in Europe but these are often very macho rural communities and the welfare of the dogs is not a priority.

'It is a problem that national and local governments choose not to address.

‘While some laws do exist concerning the mistreatment of animals, prosecution are extremely rare. It is just not something most people seem to care or worry about.’

One of the many cases highlighted by GIN, is that of is that of Fuga, ‘a lovely white galga’, (a female) that was found with a terrible slash in her neck from an incrusted rope in the Huelva area of Spain popular with tourists.

A volunteer found her and she was treated – the cost picked-up by GIN. She made a full recovery and has been adopted by a family.

‘It was a disgraceful case,’ said Mr Humphery.

(Daily Mail - Jan 9, 2015)

Spain: Nativity donkey dies after being ‘squashed’ by obese man

SPAIN -- A donkey in Spain has died after being “squashed” by an obese man.

The Donkey Sanctuary told H&H it is investigating after the incident in Lucena, Andalusia.

The donkey was taking part in a nativity scene and was in a pen in the town.

The man reportedly climbed into the animal’s pen on 10 December to pose for a photo with the donkey.

The donkey was thought to be only five months old and was not meant to be ridden in its role in the Christmas nativity scene, which was situated outside the City Hall.

However, the 150 kilo (330 pound) man clambered into the fenced off area and made the donkey pose in a “galloping” position. The photo then was circulated on social media and caused general outcry.

The donkey, called Platero, was put down two days after the incident.

The police were alerted to the donkey after local people reported that the animal could barely stand.

A vet was called and the donkey was examined to find the extent of his injuries. He was transferred immediately to a specialist clinic for treatment.

An investigation has now been launched after two welfare groups — the Asociacion de Defense del Borrico and the Circulo Animalista de Podemos Lucene — made formal complaints to the police.

According to local press the city council has ordered a vet report to be undertaken to determine the cause of death. If it is found the donkey died to injuries caused by the man, legal action will be taken against him.

“The Donkey Sanctuary was deeply saddened to hear of the tragic death of this poor donkey,” a spokesman told H&H.

“Our Spanish Sanctuary, El Refugio del Burrito, is currently investigating the case to establish the facts as there are a number of sources of information to contact but will be on hand to offer support and advice.”

Activists in the town have now called for the use of live animals to be banned in nativity scenes.

(Horse & Hound - Dec 23, 2014)

Horse allegedly dragged by tractor and left to die at popular Spanish equine centre

SPAIN -- Animal rights activists are pushing for the prosecution of a man who allegedly dragged a skeletal horse out of its stable with a tractor and left it to die on wasteland at the Villa Salada Equine Centre in Spain's southern Alicante province.

A distressed young woman, who saw the abandoned horse and took photographs as evidence, called police to the Villa Salada centre at Torrevieja on Sunday afternoon.

The horse was still alive at the time, but was moved out of sight before police arrived. It is understood the horse was later put down by a veterinarian under police supervision.



The young woman has since filed a police report with Seprona, Spain’s animal welfare arm, alleging that the owner of the Villa Salada Equine Centre failed to provide adequate food and water for the horse and then abandoned it in cruel conditions.

Villa Salada is a popular tourist attraction offering Spanish horses and flamenco fusion shows, plus riding lessons and livery facilities for horse owners.

The horse is understood to be named Chiquitín. Photos by former employees uploaded to a Facebook protest page show the horse in good condition as little as three years ago. The photos taken on Sunday have created a storm on social media, and Villa Salada closed down their Facebook page this week.

A response on the Facebook protest page, purportedly by Villa Salada, claims the 32-year-old horse was found sick and with symptoms of pain early on Sunday morning. The post says a vet was unable to attend but gave instructions over the phone, and the horse was removed from its stable using a hoist. “Chiquitín has been looked after and supervised until the very last moment,” the post says.

While some have called for the closure of Villa Salada, Sue Weeding, a British expat who runs Alicante's Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre, said the events should instead serve as a warning to horse owners in Spain to clean up their act.

“We must use pictures like these to ensure people keeping horses realise they can no longer get away with abuse and neglect. Witnesses are now prepared to go to the police and the police will act. Things are changing,” she said.

“We’re not asking for all these places to close down because that would create another problem – where would all these horses then go? But people must realise that if they want to stay in business, they must no longer do this. Public opinion is a very powerful thing.”

Ms Weeding and her husband Rod care for more than 80 horses, ponies and donkeys saved from abuse and neglect, at the rescue centre they founded in 2008 just outside the small southern town of Rojales. Some of the animal's remarkable stories were told in this documentary.

The couple have previously been involved in several high-profile abuse cases, such as the 2010 case of Captain and Hope, two skeletal horses left to die inside a garage. Their dreadful condition attracted major media attention and amid intense community lobbying, police finally acted.

A man was later jailed in what was believed to be the first such prosecution in Spain. Ms Weeding said authorities have been on the rescue centre’s side ever since.

Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre founders, Sue and Rod Weeding
Photo: Koren Helbig

The couple earned further fame in Spain for their challenging rescue of the neglected pony Faith, left with a mutilated foreleg after she became entangled in her own rope. Despite their best efforts, Faith’s leg eventually had to be amputated and she became the first pony in Spain to be fitted with a prosthetic leg.

“There are lots of very good people here who do care for their horses. But there are others that abuse their animals and that’s where we come in. We’ll always take in a horse, pony or donkey and do our part to care for it, because the police need us as a tool to work with,” Ms Weeding said.

“Slowly, by working with the police, we’re seeing a huge attitude change. They’re doing the reports and they’re doing the work. We always encourage anyone who sees an animal in distress to report it because police are acting promptly and taking these matters seriously. This is the only way we’re going to move animal welfare forward here in Spain.”
(El Pais - Dec 11, 2014)

Man seriously injured after being mauled by three lions at Barcelona Zoo after he jumped into their enclosure

SPAIN -- A man has been left with serious injuries after jumping into a lion enclosure at Barcelona zoo where he was picked mauled by three of the animals.

Dressed in military uniform, the man climbed over railings and began scaling one of the walls in the enclosure before being picked off by one of the animals and thrown into a pit. 

The 45-year-old was rescued around 30 minutes later covered in scratches and bite marks. He was taken to the city's Hospital de la Vall D'Hebron where he remains in a serious but not life-threatening condition.

 

 

According to Spanish reports, the man climbed over fencing to enter the enclosure as horrified tourists watched on.

Footage of the bizarre incident shows him scaling one of the enclosure's walls before being tossed by the leg into a pit by a lioness.

He emerged some 30 minutes later after fire fighters used hoses to fight the animals off of him.

According to local reports, the man, named by El Pais as Justo Jose MP, is a neo-Nazi demonstrator.
He was arrested last month in the city centre after draping banners emblazoned with Swastikas over the famous Casa Mila building in an anti-abortion protest.

It is not known whether the incident at the zoo was a demonstration, though fire fighters said the man could not have entered the enclosure accidentally.

'The security system makes it impossiblef for a person to fall into the enclosure. It cannot have been by accident, to enter (the enclosure) you have to want to go in,' said chief fire fighter of the Bomberos de Barcelona, Hector Carmona.

While he emerged from the enclosure covered in bite marks and scratches, zoo keepers have insisted the lions were merely trying to play with him, Spanish news outlet 20minutos reports.

'The intention was not to kill him, they were just trying to play with him, Ignasi Armengol, director of Barcelona Municipal Services said.'

(Daily Mail - Dec 7, 2014)

Madrid: pit bull attack 'destroys' man's face

SPAIN -- A 34-year-old Madrid man has been seriously injured after being attacked by three dogs, two of them pit bull terriers.

The three dogs repeatedly bit the man in the face and knees in Monday's horror attack in a park in the the town of Torrelaguna in Madrid province.

Ambulance workers said skin had been ripped from the man's face, jaw and scalp. He also had serious injuries to one knee.

The victim of the attack was rushed to Madrid's La Paz hospital in a serious condition, Spanish daily ABC reported.

Local authorities said the man attacked was a regular walker in the park. The dogs involved included two pit bull terriers and one dog of a race not described as dangerous.

Municipal police are now trying to track down the owner or owners of the dogs.

(The Local.es - Nov 18, 2014)

Heartbreaking: Shocking moment matador abandons his stricken blindfolded horse as it is gored by an angry bull

SPAIN -- This is the terrible moment a horse was seriously injured during a bullfight after it was gored by the rampaging animal.

As the bull charged, the matador tried to stab it in the back with a spear but the bull continued its run, dropped its head and hit it in the barrel.

The matador tried to hang on to his horse as the animal fell onto its side. The horse reared up, and was struck a second and a third time by the bull which had to be lured away from the scene.

The shocking incident happened at the Corrida de Toros in Valencia, Spain. 

However, on this occasion, the picador was too slow allowing the bull a side-on attack.

Fans paid between €12 and €120 to attend the show.

Eventually the horse stands upright and is able to slowly stagger from the arena with a heavy limp caused during the encounter with the bull
Bullfighting has been banned around Barcelona and has reduced in popularity in recent years. A recent opinion poll found that almost three quarters of Spanish people dislike the sport. 

(Daily Mail - July 28, 2014)

Outrage after top bullfighter posts pit-bull attack on Facebook

SPAIN -- Bullfighter (aka bull torturer, bull abuser, animal sadist) Joao Moura Jr is set to incur the wrath of animal rights groups around Europe after posting a series of shocking photographs on his Facebook page.

A private corrida at his house has caused outrage in Portugal after pictures showed a pack of pit bulls attacking a calf at his finca.

Animal rights group ANIMAL revealed that they had received numerous emails regarding the ‘barbaric action’ and stressed that they would do ‘everything to ensure that these people are punished’.

In a statement, Moura expressed his regret at posting the images on the social media site, before adding: “But, most of all, I regret not being able to prevent it.”

He said: “It was an isolated incident as the dogs inadvertently entered the ring where the cow was; it was not an animal fight.”
 

 

 

The animal welfare group member have replied that they ‘don’t believe for a second’ the bullfighter’s statement, claiming that he only ‘regrets the fact that he was caught’.

(The Olive Press - June 28, 2013)

Does this guy remind you of anyone? He doesn't feel bad about what happened... just that he was caught. - Jamie Olson

 

Olson encourages his dogs to attack a trapped coyote, which is
already dehydrated and weak from its earlier struggles to escape
the leghold trap. They rip the coyote to pieces.