James BryceEXCLUSIVE By Eloise Horsfield
A HEARTBROKEN expat has been forced to put down six of his dogs due to a lack of funds.
Kind-hearted builder Martin Perry, 43, was forced to have his beloved Staffordshire pitbulls injected at a vets in Alhaurin.
“I’m gutted,” said Martin, originally from Chelmsford. “I have had to kill six happy, healthy dogs.
“It is especially sad as they were rescue dogs and I’d made them a promise when I rescued them. Now I have had to break it.”
He had offered homes to Kikker, Frog, Pongo, Rana, Loki and Mella over three years.
Loki had been found abandoned in a cardboard box by a river, the only puppy alive in her litter, and Rana – a victim of illegal dog fighting – was found sitting in her own faeces.
“She had open sores up to her waist because of chafing from a chain,” explained Perry, who lives in Villa Franco, near Coin.
The builder was able to give them a new lease of life at his rented finca, but after the housing crisis caused a dry up in his work, he started to feel the pinch.
Then when his wife, a chef, was not paid for three months, it was the final straw and the couple are now being evicted.
Despite several attempts to temporarily rehouse them with the help of Coin animal shelter CHAIN nobody came forward.
“Nobody would take them because of their breed, but they were as soft as butter,” he added.
It is very sad, but they are correct in a way, their breed did hold against them. Most people have dogs of their own and with the best will in the world would not risk it. I am deeply sorry for the family and the dogs through no fault of their own have had to pay the ultimate price, but please take heart in knowing that at least they ALL KNEW what kindness was in their life and that their last memory is that of someone who loved them enough to to the kindest act when nothing else was available.
It is sad for the man after bonding with the dogs and trying his best. It is disgusting that they are usually bred for fighting but I have read of many people who’s ‘gentle’ pit bull has suddenly turned and with fatal results, often kids. To be honest there are far too many potentially dangerous dogs in the world and it’s usually children that come off worst. I am an animal lover myself but there has to be limits.