URGENT SPANISH GALGO APPEAL 24/02/05

Help urgently needed now!
Please realize that you can really make a difference in this case!
full details: http://www.scoobymedina.com/home_en.htm



Update > 24/02/05
please also read on to see the original alert which is still in force.

Since I last emailed you, more greyhounds have been found alive in wells and pictures show their rescue. They were found because they had been barking, which is not common. Most don't bark or make noise. Thus, many -- thousands throughout Spain -- do not get found or rescued from their deaths.

On January 5, 2005 (a few weeks ago) 5 greyhounds were found alive in a 30 meter (90 feet) deep well in Alaejos, Spain. Someone heard them barking. A private greyhound rescue group named Scooby (more details/pictures are on their site: http://www.scoobymedina.com/home_en.htm) came to rescue these hounds.

The Scooby site states: "Each dog had a rope around its neck. This had clearly been a deliberate act to kill the dogs. It is believed from the stench coming out of the well that it is a dumping hole for unwanted galgos and decomposing bodies remain."

Then on January 25, 2005 (one week ago) 3 dogs were found alive in a different well -- this time in Malpica de Tajo (Toledo province of Spain). Someone heard the dogs barking. Local people/government officials wouldn't help in rescuing the hounds. Scooby was called and came to rescue them.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Since my last email to you, I regretfully learned that I had been misinformed about the Spanish laws concerning animal welfare. Spain now INCLUDES hunting/sporting dogs (such as the greyhounds) in their animal protection law, which is article 337 of the Federal Penal Code. HOWEVER, the Spanish government does NOT enforce this law!!! So the farmers/hunters continue to hang their dogs or throw them down wells every year and go unpunished!

The Scooby Refuge is asking animal lovers to send letters to the local and federal government, asking them to enforce this law and to punish the owners of these 5 hounds found in the well. (The dogs have tattoos, which could lead to the identification of the owners). Please do these two things:

1) If you haven't already since my last email, please forward this letter to your family and friends who love animals. PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS HORROR.

2) Please send an email to Senora Cristina Narbona, the Spanish Environmental minister who can push for enforcement of animal protection laws. She is sympathetic to animals but lacks support within the Spanish government. Our emails will give her ammunition. Her email: ministra@mma.es. Politely tell her in English or Spanish how you feel after seeing the pictures above. A sample letter:

Dear Senora Narbona, I recently learned about the barbaric and violent treatment of the Galgos/Greyhounds in Spain. I am horrified. I will not to travel to Spain or buy Spanish products until Spain prosecutes people who torture and abuse dogs. What good is having protection laws if they are not enforced ? Civilized societies punish people who abuse and torture animals. Please do the right thing and ENFORCE the laws (article 337 of the federal Penal code) that protect these docile, sensitive creatures.

I also learned about the five galgos found alive in a well on January 5, 2005, in Alaejos. Please ensure the perpetrators of this barbaric, cruel crime are punished !! Thank you.

And please, please cc: the federal government of Spain, the Agriculture Minister of the Spanish Embassy in Washington, D.C. and his counterpart in Madrid, and the President of the Regional Government of Castilla y Leon. Their ids are: infopsoe@psoe.es, portal.presidencia@mpr.es, juarez@mapausa.org, sministr@mapa.es and presidente.responde@jcyl.es.

Do not underestimate the power you each have to end the suffering of these docile and sensitive animals. Thank you for doing these two things and for caring.


Original alert ... still in force ... please act on it

Dear Greyhound lover,

You are, no doubt, aware of the barbaric treatment of galgos (Spanish-bred greyhounds) cruelly discarded by the coursing fraternity in Spain. Last week produced further evidence of callous conduct towards these beautiful dogs.

Late in the evening on 5 January, Scooby was informed of barking coming from a well (30 metres deep) along an isolated road in the village of Alaejos, Castilla y Léon.

A rescue operation was mounted at first light on 6 January by Scooby in conjunction with the municipal firemen and 5 galgos were pulled out alive. Each dog had a rope around its neck. This had clearly been a deliberate act to kill the dogs. It is believed from the stench coming out of the well that it is a dumping hole for unwanted galgos and decomposing bodies remain.

The galgos were immediately taken for emergency treatment to the Scooby refuge, where they are presently recovering. It is expected they will all survive. Two are still in a fragile condition, as can be seen in the attached pictures. All of them remain under the care of a veterinarian.

Galgos are protected under article 337 of the Penal code. This is a federal law and overrules any regional/autonomous laws. There are penalties for disposing of unwanted dogs in this manner, which can lead to imprisonment.

Two men have surfaced since the rescue claiming to own the galgos and demanding they be returned to them. One of the men showed up at the well just before the dogs were pulled out and afterwards he officially reported his dogs as stolen. On the day after the rescue, the other man claimed his dogs had escaped from him. The dogs have tattoos, which could lead to the identification of the owners and an arrest for irresponsible abandonment of the dogs.

Please take a minute to use the sample text below (original letters incorporating the facts presented are also always appreciated) to urge Spanish officials to sign the dogs over to Scooby and undertake a thorough investigation to bring those responsible for this crime to justice. If a prosecution is successfully achieved on this occasion, an example will be set to other perpetrators of animal abuse in Spain.

Please also find enclosed a list of relevant contact details for your use. If you would like to send a free fax, please send your message requesting one to reneeandgreys@aol.com and one will be sent for you. We urge you take the fax route if you can because experience has shown that the faxes often work when email mysteriously does not!

This is an urgent appeal as we expect the case to be decided quickly by a judge in the vicinity.

THANK YOU

Annette Henning

 


 

SAMPLE TEXT: English Below - Contact info Below:

Estimado señor o señora: xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Le escribo para llamar su atención sobre el caso de los 5 galgos rescatados por la sociedad protectora de animales Scooby( Registrada con el nº 93458) en colaboración con la brigada de bomberos de la localidad de un pozo de 30 metros de profundidad en la localidad de Alaejos el pasado 6 de Enero de 2005.

Durante la noche del pasado 5 de enero, Scooby fue informada de unos ladridos provenientes de un pozo de 30 metros de profundidad en un camino aislado en el pueblo de Alaejos.

Se preparó una operación de rescate por parte de Scooby conjuntamente con la brigada de bomberos y 5 galgos fueron sacados vivos del pozo.Todos los perros llevaban cuerdas alrededor de sus cuellos. Esto ha sido claramente un acto deliberado para matar a los perros. Se cree por el olor proveniente del pozo que pudiera ser un agujero para deshacerse de los galgos y cuerpos en descomposición todavía permanecen allí.

Los galgos fueron inmediatamente trasladados para un tratamiento de urgencia al refugio de Scooby, donde permanecen en la actualidad recuperándose. Esperamos que todos ellos sobrevivan. Dos de ellos están todavía en malas condiciones, como se puede ver por las fotos tomadas aquel día. Todos ellos permanecen bajo cuidados veterinarios.

Dos hombres han aparecido desde el rescate reclamando ser los dueños de los perros y pidiendo que se los devolvieran. Uno de ellos apareció en el pozo incluso antes de que pudieran ser rescatados y después denunció oficialmente que sus perros habían sido robados. Al día siguiente del rescate, el otro denunciaba que sus perros se le habían escapado. Los perros estaban tatuados lo que ha hecho posible la identificación de los propietarios y podría hacer posible una detención por estos hechos. Yo soy también consciente de que podría haber pruebas que indicaran que al menos uno de los dueños o incluso ambos podrían ser responsables de haber arrojado los perros al pozo.

Los galgos están protegidos por el artículo 337 del código penal. Esta es una ley nacional que tiene más importancia que cualquiera otra ley autonómica. Yo le ruego que una investigación profunda se lleve a cabo para que los autores de estas atrocidades sean llevados ante la justicia. Asimismo le solicito que los perros sean depositados bajo la responsabilidad de Scooby con efecto inmediato. Devolver los perros a sus dueños podría significar posteriores maltratos y posiblemente la muerte de los animales.


Sinceramente suyo,

(nombre y ciudad)



English version:

(For your information. Please use the Spanish version for sending to the Spanish authorities)


Dear xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I write to draw your attention to the case of 5 galgos rescued by Protectora de Animales Scooby (Registered No. 93458) in collaboration with the municipal fire brigade from a well 30 metres deep in the village of Alaejos (Castilla y Léon) on 6 January 2005.

Late in the evening on 5 January, Scooby was informed of barking coming from a well (30 metres deep) along an isolated road in the village of Alaejos.

A rescue operation was mounted at first light on 6 January by Scooby in conjunction with the municipal fire brigade and 5 galgos were pulled out alive. Each dog had a rope around its neck. This had clearly been a deliberate act to kill the dogs. It is believed from the stench coming out of the well that it is a dumping hole for unwanted galgos and decomposing bodies remain.

The galgos were immediately taken for emergency treatment to the Scooby refuge, where they are presently recovering. It is expected they will all survive. Two are still in a fragile condition. All of them remain under the care of a veterinarian.

Two men have surfaced since the rescue claiming to own the galgos and demanding they be returned to them. One of the men showed up at the well just before the dogs were pulled out and afterwards he officially reported his dogs as stolen. On the day after the rescue, the other man claimed his dogs had escaped from him. The dogs have tattoos, which could lead to the identification of the owners and an arrest for irresponsible abandonment of the dogs. I am also aware there may be evidence, which indicates that at least one of the owners or even both of them could be responsible for throwing the dogs down the well.

I understand that galgos are protected under article 337 of the Penal code (a federal law and overrules any regional/autonomous laws). I therefore urge you to ensure a full investigation is carried out and the perpetrators of this crime are brought to justice. In addition, I strongly encourage you to formally accord responsibility for the dogs to Protectora de Animales Scooby with immediate effect. To return the dogs to the men claiming to be the owners would surely mean further barbaric treatment and possible death of the dogs.

Yours sincerely

(your name and country)




CONTACT DETAILS:

>President of the Spanish Government
>José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
>Presidente del Gobierno
>Complejo de la Moncloa
>Avda. de Puerta de hierro s/n
>28071 Madrid
>portal.presidencia@mpr.es
>
>Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
>Excma. Sra. Ministra Da Elena Espinosa Mangana
>Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentacion
>Paseo de Infantana Isabel 1
>28014 Madrid
>sministr@mapa.es
>Fax: +34 91 467 5854
>
>Regional Government: Castilla y Leon
>Juan Vicente Herrera Campo
>President of the Regional Government of Castilla y Leon
>Plaza de Castilla y León, 1
>47008 Valladolid
>Tel: + 34 983 411 119 / +34 983 411 120 / +34 983 411 121
>Fax: +34 983 41 1269
>
>Regional Minister for Agriculture in Castilla y Leon
>José Valín Alonso
>C/ Rigoberto Cortejoso, 14 - 7ª Planta
>47014 Valladolid
>Tel: +34 983 41 9022
>Fax: +34 983 41 9510
>
>Emails to José Valín Alonso can be sent via http://www.jcyl.es
>(via "mail" / "correos")
>
>Director General de la Guardia Civil
>Don Carlos Gómez Arruche
>C/Guzmán el Bueno, 110
>28003 Madrid
>Tel: 0034915146008
>Fax:0034915146007


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