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Whilst pottering about in the high mountains this week, I stumbled across this little fellow. ABout 12-15 cm long. I’ve never seen such a big one this side of the mountains before. Most of the big ones are over in the Cabo de Gata. I took a video of him – he was eating ants. Whilst recording, he refused to move or eat an ant. As soon as I put the camera down, he relaxed Continue reading A new friend….
A bizarre situation happened yesterday in Almería city. Local police found a small pony abandoned in the city centre – and had to use a rubbish lorry to take it the pound. Residents of C/ Lopez Vega called the cops early Sunday morning after spotting the scared animal nosing for food. The local police managed to catch the animal, but had no way to take it to the local pound. The city has cancelled its Continue reading Small pony abandoned in Almería city centre
A video of two pig farm workers from Húercal-Overa killing 72 piglets by jumping on them has made the town notorious across the world, being reproduced in media across Europe. Two workers of Pienso Garla, 19 and 22 years of age, filmed themselves squashing the piglets to death and then sent the video to friends via the Whatsapp mobile phone application. They were supposed to be herding them to a new pen when one of Continue reading Piglet killers fired and charged with animal cruelty
Some b*stard in Palma beat his horse to death after he lost a horse race in Manacor, Palma de Mallorca. And a Judge has ruled he must now serve his eight months in jail. He’s the first person ever to serve jail time for animal cruelty in Spain. Sorky the horse lost a 2012 race, and shortly afterwards the man whipped it to death in the stables at the racecourse. A horrified vet denounced him Continue reading First jailed for animal cruelty
Two animals died in horrible circumstances due to the negligence of their owners in the hot weather. A police patrol spotted a dying dog in the back of a locked car yesterday and smashed the windows of the vehicle to get him out. However, 14 month old Fidji and was too far gone and despite help from a local vets, the animal died of dehydration and internal organ failure. Its owners are two French tourists Continue reading Boxer dog dies in hot car and another dog throws himself off roof to escape blistering heat
A local circus was raided by environmental police (Seprona) who seized a two and a half year old male lion which didn’t have his papers in order. (There is a joke going round that it should be been the immigration police who seized him….) Anyway, Seprona carried out a spot check on the circus in Cabo de Gata this week and discovered that out of the five African lions in the act, one didn’t have Continue reading Lion seized by police from local circus
Small villages across Almería will now have access to an official dog catcher paid for by the Diputación (county council) after a contract worth €60,000 was awarded this week to a local company for this service. Montaña del Sol Animal Service SL will now be in charge of catching and removing stray dogs from villages with fewer than 2,000 inhabitants. The company will provide an emergency 24hour service for the capture of dangerous or hurt Continue reading Villages to get dogcatchers to reduce feral animals
Goats across Spain are celebrating after the government decided to make zoophilia (sexual exploitation of animals) and animal fights illegal. The Penal Code will be amended to allow jail sentences of between three months and one year for fiddling with animals, and six months to two years for “cock or dog fights in shows without a license”. Interestingly enough, the zoophilia article is redacted as maltrate injustificadamente cualquier animal que no viva en estado salvaje, Continue reading Sexual exploitation and fights of animals to become illegal
The municipal pound of Almería has been putting an average of two animals to sleep every day, according to the townhall. The number is dropping however: in 2012 they sacrificed 934 animals, in 2013 just 797, or 30% fewer.
After a strong residents petition, the Madrid suburb of Pinto has passed a new bylaw meaning pet owners could be fined 750€ for letting their dog bark all night, roam free or not picking up their mess on the pavement. You can be fined up to 1,500 euros for not disposing of your dead pet responsibly (one imagines the good citizens of Pinto were not, up to now, in the habit of tossing their dead Continue reading 750 euro fine for letting your dog bark or foul the pavement