Beaches that allow dogs in Spain

SPAIN It seems that although there are strict rules about not allowing dogs on beaches throughout the country, an increasing number of councils are making room for pets - usually a small beach or the part of a beach. A very informative website, Red Canina, gives a breakdown of the very few of them for 2013 (see map). As you will see, there is only one such beach in Andalucía, near Casares, described as 'a small beach full of pebbles'. Red Canina also gives information on what hotels allow dogs, some for free, others not.>>>

Imported species endanger Palmones turtles

LOS BARRIOS / Palmones The native species of turtle on the Palmones River is being taken over by two species imported from America. The latter (trachemys Scripta Elegans and trachemys Scripta Scripta) are the type bought at pet shops or won as prizes at fairs - and then tossed into the river because they've grown. The environmental pressure group, Verdemar-Ecologistas en acción, have asked the Junta's Department of the Environment for permission to remove them and take them to the zoo at Castellar. Behind the request is a study of two important parts of the river. The first was at the old dam close to the now-closed Celupal factory, where the invading species accounts for between 20% and 30% of the turtle population. The second tranche of the river inspected, was between the Mirador del Río urbanization and Cortijo Jaramillo, where the invasion accounted for 5%. The problem is that the American species reproduce more rapidly than the native species, and there is a fear that this could be a repetition of a severe invasion of non-native red crab, which is proving extremely difficult to eradicate because of its adaptability.

More on dog fouling and 'official' notices

JIMENA This, believe it or not (we have trouble doing so) is an 'official' 'poster' coming, we understand (and are willing to be mistaken), from the Council, whose official seal it has at top left. You've seen them all over the place. It reads: "We want a village without excrement. Cooperate! The municipality is everyone's." While we applaud the sentiment, and being aware of a lack of readies at the town hall, we cannot but be astonished at the lack of professionalism of the design and execution of the 'poster'. There are plenty of people who would be willing to volunteer their time to make this kind of thing look a lot better than this - all they have to do is ask. More importantly, however, is the reason behind the unusual amount of dog s**t everywhere: there is only one street cleaner, the other one being on holiday. Also true is the nasty habit of opening the door to let the dogs out in the morning, and only allowing it back in in the evening. (Check the translation of the official notice about fines.)

Municipal fines for dog fouling

(Photo: TioJimeno)

JIMENA Mayor Guillermo Ruiz recently signed into being a local law whereby irresponsible dog owners (nothing about cats or horses) are to be fined 100.17euros or 200.34euros for allowing the animal to excrete (pooh, that is) in public places. A full translation of the official notice (image) will be available on Monday. In the meantime, please comment below! 
TRANSLATION: According to the Ordinance regarding Possession and Protection of Animals in the Municipality of Jimena de la Frontera, all those who walk domestic animals are obliged to maintain security, health and veterinary measures; said walk must not include grass areas, public gardens, fountains, children's playgrounds, etc. Al excrements must be picked up by the owner, not only from the aforesaid places but also from public sites such as streets and pavements, and deposited in containers for solid urban waste. - Non-compliance of this ordinance could mean a fine of up to €100.17 for a minor offence or €200.34 for a serious one, the Local Police having been given orders to be vigilant in its compliance.

Widespread cultural support for campaign against abandoning pets in summer

MADRID A household pet is abandoned every three minutes in Spain. That adds up to some 300,000 every year, 10,000 of them in Madrid alone (don't know/can't find figures or Andalucía - any help?). So the Federation of Animal Protection Societies of the Community of Madrid, FAMAP, has come up with a campaign this year aimed at, at least, stopping those figures from getting any bigger. The title: 'Would you abandon him just for a holiday?' The campaign is being supported by numerous celebrities, particularly from the theatre, cinema, music, arts and letters. These include such well-known names as>>>

Over 35,000 seagulls were culled in five years

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GIBRALTAR (GibChronicle)Over 35,000 seagulls have been culled over the past five years, according to data released in the Gibraltar Parliament last week. Annual figures revealed by Environment Minister John Cortes laid bare the scale of the gull cull in Gibraltar – and the extent of the problem of rising bird numbers. Dr Cortes said the Gibraltar Government was looking at increasing the resources of the gull cull team and was looking at other methods that could be used to keep bird numbers down. One option that has been considered in the past is the introduction of predators including foxes. The figures were revealed by Environment Minister John Cortes in response to a question from Opposition MP Jaime Netto. In total between 2008 and 2012, teams from GONHS and the UK – the latter under contract to the government – culled 35,544 gulls. The numbers include adult birds and eggs destroyed before they hatch.

Foal born near sports centre almost dies

JIMENA TioJimeno reports on the council workers finding a mare giving birth on the grass by the sports pavilion last week. José, Antonio and Mota suddenly realized that the foal was being strangled by the umbilical chord, but fortunately, they were able to sort things out - mother and foal are doing fine. Good for them all!

Cat Neutering Day to be held within next 3 weeks

JIMENA The postponed Cat Neutering Day is now to be held within the next 3 weeks - date to be confirmed, so watch this space. If you have a cat that needs castrating/spaying or know of one of the many strays in the village that we can catch and neuter, then please contact J.A.W.S. or write a comment below. We have negotiated good rates with a local vet so please do the right thing and put a stop to the numbers of cats that are roaming the village!

J.A.W.S. information meeting on April 4

JIMENA Jimena Animal Welfare Society (J.A.W.S) will be holding a meeting upstairs at Pastor 2, on Jimena's main square, at 12 noon on Thursday, April 4. The idea is to offer everyone an update on what has been done so far (only 9 months), progress and future plans. Guests will have to get their coffee at the bar on the way up, but if anyone wants to bake a cake to have with it, no objections. Everyone with any interest in animal welfare is very welcome, as are their ideas and suggestions.

Are diseased and abandoned animals being used in feed?

(Photo: galgonews.com)
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Laboratory also checking hamburger 'beef'

VIGO The nature conservation unit of the Guardia Civil, Seprona, is investigating the possibility that the remains of sick and abandoned animals are being used to make compound feed at a meat processing plant in Galicia, according to information released earlier this month. The investigation, which began in May 2010, arises from a number of complaints among which is from an animal rescue centre at Cambras, against several transport companies that are now under investigation as well. The feed has apparently been distributed among several dozens of pet and cattle feed manufacturers, including some outside Spain. The dangers inherent in including sick animals in the mix is best illustrated by the mad cow disease saga of just a few years ago, all over Europe.>>>

J.A.W.S. is holding a cat neutering day on Wednesday

JIMENA J.A.W.S. is having a cat spaying and castration day on Wednesday, January 23. They have negotiated a special rate with their vet (only €25 per male and €35 per female). If you are interested please call 956 640 936 for more information. Places are limited and filling rapidly, so contact them NOW!

Looking for Bruno

Fireworks last night seem to have caused Bruno to run away from his home near Marchenilla. When Dan Ward went to feed him this morning, he wasn't there wagging his tail as usual. You can see he's a black Labrador, and he IS chipped. If you see him, please call Dan on 635 862 731. How did your pets react to the fireworks this Year? Write in and tell us.

Fires in Spain: animals also suffer, but be careful with the appeals

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SPAIN /Marbella The fires that have raged throughout Spain this summer have impacted not only the people who have died in them, the injured and their families, and many homes, but also the animals in their vicinity. Wild or domestic, they will surely have suffered enormously. To bring this awareness closer to home, the fire that swept through the Marbella area over the weekend, caused the death of over 75 domestic pets, according to one source. Where these figures come from, we don't know, as the authorities rarely if ever give out anything related to animals in such cases. In any case, a number of Facebook and other appeals are under way. We are trying to locate the genuine ones and will publish them as soon as we can, but please be aware that scam artists are also looking for your money. (Watch this space, but if you have any information on genuine appeals, please let us know!)

New leishmaniasis vaccine becomes officially available in Spain today

SPAIN It is called Cani-Leish, or Canileish, and costs between €50 and €55 per injection at the vet's. A course of 3 vaccinations is required to start with, and an annual boost after that. According to information on Internet, it is suitable for puppies over 6 months and dogs that have tested negative - please note you must check your dog is NOT positive with any kind of leish score via a current blood test before you start any vaccinations. The blood test costs around €30. If your vet doesn't have it or needs some more information, he or she can buy it at farmaciaveterinaria.es. (Note: the dog pictured is an old friend of this site - and the cause of a new animal protection society being set up in Jimena. He had a very bad case of Leishmaniasis, among plenty of other things and has disappeared, presumed dead.) (Read more about Leish, which can also affect humans, here)

Council appeals to dog owners' sense of responsibility

TARIFA The local government is proposing to take to the Council plenary session, a motion that is aimed at dog owners, who may well be required to pay an additional special tax. The animal recovery service (i.e. dog pound) is likely to be reinstalled, if the proposal is approved. The idea is that dog owners should be charged for their pets' droppings, which has a considerable clean-up cost. That, plus the fact that many ownrs just let their dogs out whenever they want, day or night, to wander the streets. Councillor Juan José Medina, who is bringing the proposal, put it this way: "Tarifa has a serious problem with dog excrement in the street and other public places. The town is cleaned daily but it is impòssible to watch everything 24/7. There are clear regulations on the subject yet a large proportion of the residents do not take charge of their pets or their responsibilities. So, we just have to make the rest pay for those who do not have a civic attitude to their neighbours."

'I have to have that pony!'

TESORILLO & SOTOGRANDE He is grey haired, stands up on order and loves his job. Children adore him, and he them (at least we think that's what his nibbling means!). He is a short little fellow who has found a permanent home, after living at eight different places over the last eight years. His life hasn't been easy, though not as bad as too many of his kind. He is definitely a puller. His owner, Lavanya, tells us that Rambo first caught her eye some four years ago, when she was doing some work on a private stud farm near Jimena. One of the local people had bought him for his younger brother, who would drive the pony up and down the dirt track in front of the farm she was working on. "He was so eye catching, this minature stallion," says Lavanya. "He would sometimes be cheeky and stubborn with the young boy and root himself to the spot. I loved him from the moment I saw him and joked with friends about how 'I need that pony'." But one day, the pony had gone, disappeared into thin air. Never saw him again. Until ... >>>

Horse killed in three-car accident

Often seen on Spanish roads
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Fortunately, only one slightly injured victim

ALGECIRAS (Agencies) A horse got onto the A-7 road yesterday morning at 7.20, apparently escaped from a field next to the road, at Km 104, and caused one car to hit it, while two more following behind were unable to avoid it. One of the drivers was slightly injured and treated on the spot. The horse was killed as a result, while damage to the vehicles involved was serious enough for one of them to be towed away. The police have not said if the animal was chipped, as is required by law.

Guardia catch illegal hunters' illegal take: eight stag heads

(Photo: Guardia Civil/Seprona)

Licences were only for does and young animals

JIMENA (Agencies) The nature protection unit of the Guardia Civil, SEPRONA, last Sunday confiscated eight stag heads at a shoot in Jimena de la Frontera. The stags had been shot shortly before the Guardia intervened as part of the usual control operations carried out during the hunting season. The hunters had permits that allowed them to shoot females and young deer, as there is a considerable over population in the area at present, but not males. The hunters will be taken to court.

Welcome to ... No Name Yet

(Photo: europasur.es)

CASTELLAR The zoo in Castellar has a new member. She was presented to society in general and the media in particular on Friday at a press conference at the Holiday Inn Express in Los Barrios, where she was shown to everyone and where a chat was given about the kind of care she needs, etc. The daughter of Rahin and Tronca, the little nameless 'kitten' is the result of a lot of work with her parents, both of whom were rescued, one from a private home, the other from a circus. She has no name as yet, but the zoo, which houses some 500 animals of all kinds of species, is using Facebook to find a name for her (although I can't find any reference to it there...)

Pets or pests? Dogs and cats abandoned everywhere and who gives a damn? (TAMBIEN EN ESPAÑOL)

These are just some of the dogs looking for a home. Cats aren't even featured, let alone horses, mules or donkeys...
Estos son algunos de los perros que buscan un hogar. Ni siquiera presentamos los gatos que también lo necesitan, ni mucho menos los caballos, mulos o burros ...

EDITORIAL You saw our feature about seven puppies and their mother found by the side of the road, didn't you? (You might not have, it was on JimenaPulse.) The Spanish media is full of reports from all over the country about abandoned pets - mostly owing to la crisis, apparently, although it has been going for many, many years. But this site is dedicated principally to the Campo de Gibraltar and because I live in Jimena, I choose to use my village as a microcosm, an example of what is going on beyond its municipal frontiers.>>>