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NEVER-ENDING
ARCH (the Andalucian Rescue Centre for Horses and Donkeys) is facing its 14th year of fighting for the rights of equines. The Alhaurinbased charity was founded in 2009 and since that time has helped countless horses, ponies and donkeys go on to better lives. At their AGM at the end of last month President Jill NewmanRogers told members that last year alone the charity took in 40 equines and found homes for 30.
ARCH is a rescue centre, not a sanctuary (though some of the rescues stay for a long time). It is a place of safety for the abandoned, abused and neglected, working closely with the authoritiescruelty cases come to ARCH through SEPRONA (the animal welfare arm of the from Front page
Guardia Civil), abandoned animals are brought in by the Local Police. Some of the cases are pitiful and upsetting. Together with a dedicated animal rights lawyer ARCH tries to prosecute the offenders but this is a frustrating and slow process at the moment there are 23 outstanding cases waiting to be heard in the courts, some dating back years. New Animal Welfare legislation has been slow to be followed, and SEPRONA are frequently understaffed. Often by the time the necessary formalities have been completed to confiscate the suffering animals it is too late for ARCH to save them.
