ACTIN on Perreras – making money out of killing dogs

Viv Wharton of ACTIN recently learned of a case where a pet dog was taken by the dog collector and ended up in the local perrera. Luckily the owners headed there as soon as they realised their dog was missing, and reclsimed it. What if this is happening in thousands of Perreras in Spain?

Viv writes. ‘There is a recession, little money for anyone, let alone Perreras and animals are the bottom of Spain’s list of priorities!! The council run ones get paid for every dog brought in and now many volunteers pay to get them out.

What an incentive they have now, to collect dogs!! If they are taking any dogs, including people’s pets and if they are not micro chipped, then people may never get another chance to see their dog. And even if they are micro chipped, who is there to protect those dogs and make sure the right thing is done.

There are no guidelines, rules, or procedures that protect these dogs by a governing body and then if they are pts – no evidence.

I have experienced the dog catcher trying to take my neighbour’s dogs more than once, and I was there to stop it – I know others have too and then a serious incident reported on facebook the other day, by another Association and we are told we cannot speak of this incident!

The system for Perreras is terrible. The men who collect the dogs are possibly on commission, what other motive do they have?

The last time I felt like this I came to a brick wall because although people complain, they don’t want to really do anything – to gather evidence for complaint, or give any information they have. I know people are protective of the dogs in the pounds and their first thoughts are to get them out but there are thousands that don’t get out.

We need proof of course but I saw with my own eyes the other day, a pound full of healthy dogs with collars on and I want to know what is going to happen to them. We are waiting for a meeting with them, but I worry what will happen to the dogs there now, the dogs before and the dogs next week.

We need people willing to give us solid photographic evidence, or videos, of something that is illegal going on in the perreras. If we can prove it and prosecute one pound, we can get the momentum to go for change. That we would use it as a winning prosecution to change other perreras would be the obvious solution, because anything else will take too long.

Then to set up something, so there is a set criterion of proper behaviour guidelines for perreras throughout Spain -but we have to prove it’s needed first…a body to protect the animals in the Perreras and inspect them…this has to happen.

Why isn’t it happening? The Perrera system here is another aspect of lack of respect and care for animals and is in the dark ages.

Please people we have to do something?’

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