To many, Majorca is known as a blissful holiday destination in the Mediterranean, but for those of us advocating on behalf of animals, the poor treatment and welfare of animals on this island, and in Spain generally, has long been of serious concern. A recent study on the island shows that 14% more companion animals were abandoned in the first quarter of 2012 than in the same period the previous year. The reasons cited were lack of public education about responsible pet ownership, poor bylaws, lack of policy and low compliance with microchipping laws.
However, the last decade has shown an improvement in attitude and behaviour towards animals, specifically amongst young Majorcans who are far more passionate about respecting and caring for an animal´s health and welfare than previous generations. At Dogs For U, I have the privilege to be working alongside many of them.
Yet there is still much work to be done in promoting kindness towards all animals. One problem is that in many Majorcan households, dogs are not allowed inside. Instead they are left to wander outside which exposes them to many life-endangering risks: car accidents, dog fights, getting lost and mistreatment by people. A major problem lies in Majorca’s relaxed attitude towards neutering, which sees many unwanted puppies being born into this world that are subsequently neglected, abandoned, harmed or relinquished to public shelters.
In these public animal shelters, dogs are killed if not claimed or adopted after 21 days. In 2010, in one public shelter alone (Son Reus), 2,600 dogs were euthanised (source: Diario de Mallorca). The smaller dogs have the best chance of finding homes, either by direct adoption or by being taken in by shelters or private individuals on the island who will then work to place them in good homes, locally or overseas.
The older and larger ones are not so lucky. Every day many beautiful and loving German and Majorcan shepherds can be found on ‘death row’ waiting, in dirty or poor conditions, to be euthanised. It is to the nation´s unending shame that no solution, other than killing them, has yet been found.
Laws are in place, but need to be actively enforced so stop the free-roaming and abandonment of dogs. Much suffering could be prevented if all animals adopted from public pounds were sterilised first as a matter of policy, and much more emphasis could be placed on education and public awareness campaigns to promote kindness to animals and the benefits of spay/neuter. There is much work to be done here in Majorca.
We appreciate your support so that our work at Dogs For U of rescuing and rehoming German Shepherds and other similarly sized dogs can continue. Please donate if you can to help realise our vision in which all companion animals have loving homes, where spay/neuter is common practice and Majorca becomes a “No Kill” paradise for dogs.
Ask about our monthly dog sponsorship programme or send a donation (see below). We can´t do it without you.
Thank you,
Cornelia
