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Issue 629
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North EDITION
04 - 10 NOV 2011
Euthanasia drug left dogs in agony
Information a click away Official websites have been set up for British Expats to answer any questions they have about living in Spain p7
Treading the boards
George Parker, a teenager from Benidoleig has won a scholarship from a Costa Blanca charity p20
by Jack Troughton
The price is right....? Read the second article by Adam Simmons on p26
Why Live - in Carers are needed... Consultus Care & Nursing Ltd, established in 1962 are the UK’s leading provider of private live-in carers, offering a wide range of services for their clients p36
Gadget Inspector investigates the Apple iPhone 4S The question on everybody’s lips is do I upgrade or buy the new Apple iPhone 4S? p38
Murray OUT! Andy Murray has been forced to withdraw from the Swiss Indoor tournament due to a right gluteal strain. p62
Baby bat
All creatures great and small (and scary)
The centre of Moraira was packed for fun and games with a bouncy castle face painting, doughnut bobbing and a fancy dress competition for the annual Halloween party thrown by Teulada Moraira Lions Club. See page 20 for the full story.
SHOCKING NEW allegations have been made against a Costa Blanca animal shelter over the use of an outlawed drug when dogs are put to sleep. The accusations have been lodged with SEPRONA – the Guardia Civil wing responsible for the environment and animal welfare – and are a further attack on conditions and managing regime at Benidorm’s Sociedad Protectora de Animales y Platas de Benidorm. The ‘denuncias’ accuse the shelter of using the muscle paralyser Anetecine independently to euthanize dogs and maintain animals were put down in the presence of others, another prohibited practice. It is claimed that on repeated occasions the amount of the controversial drug administered was not enough to kill the animal outright or not injected directly into a vein. And workers discovered dogs were still alive before their bodies were placed in an incinerator – requiring a second dose of the medication. Animal lovers and volunteer workers past and present have launched a campaign calling for the current directors of the shelter to resign and be prosecuted.
Both the shelter’s committee and the volunteers are raising petitions demanding town hall intervention. The shelter is home to some 300 dogs, cats, and various other animals and the initial 31 allegations made by campaigners were headline news last month. DENIAL The directors continue to deny all the accusations made against them and say they have successfully rescued animals from across the Marina Baja for 40 years. Campaigners say the charity is supported with grants from both Benidorm and Villajoyosa Town Halls and are hoping a public court case or inquiry will bring out the truth of what has happened over the years. RTN was told the use of Anetecine as a sole drug for euthanasia had been illegal in Spain since 2002 under a Royal Decree. “It is illegal because it is very painful and causes death by asphyxia,” said one protester. “The animals remain conscious until death – and it must be a very painful death. Continued on page 3