MAY 2009

MAY UPDATE

A court hearing was planned for May 5th but, in spite of all relevant parties being present, it was postponed at the request of DG. She was demanding that another person was present, even though no previous request had been made for this person's presence and in spite of the fact that such a request should have been made by DG herself! We understand that DG maintained that she only had four dogs in the compound, even though there was photographic evidence that at least 7 dogs were currently being held there. In the absence of the person that DG was insisting was there, the court hearing was postponed.

As you can see from the photographs below, taken on May 31st, there are now AT LEAST 10 dogs in the compound.....the original 7, plus three puppies. There has been little evidence of a vet visiting the new arrivals and, given the conditions in which they are living and the absence of any regular food and clean water, their chances of a happy and healthy life are about as low as that of the other inmates in this dreadful place. One of the puppies was photographed defecating onto an area of months-old faeces.......its own faeces was bright orange and not healthy-looking at all!

No effort has been made to clean this compound in the last five months and, when anyone does visit, their visits are short and their contact with the animals minimal. Only the owner's dog (the one on the left in the first photograph) is released to run about and even then, there is little attention from his owner and he is soon returned to the compound where he whines and howls to be freed.

Work on the additional structures continues, although their purpose is not clear. It is obvious, though, that the owner feels no fear or concern about the outcome of the court hearing, confident that they will be continuing to keep animals and develop this Hell-hole, with no restrictions or penalties from the authorities! How can this be? Do they have powerful contacts amongst the 'powers-that-be' that protect them from the law? We must hope not.

A new date has been set for the next court hearing at the court house in Totana......June 30th at 10.15am. We hope to be able to bring good news to you in July, concerning both the future of these animals and a suitable penalty for the people who have spent the last four years making the lives of these, and many other dogs, a living Hell.