Rob Horgan
Exclusive by Rob Horgan
THE agonising death of five dogs in Competa is being treated as ‘suspicious’ by the Guardia Civil.
The dogs – a mix of Huskies, Newfoundlanders and Podencos – died in a matter of minutes from internal bleeding after ingesting what is believed to be strychnine poisoning.
They were discovered on the side of the road, looking in pain, by expat couple Marian and Jacob Madsen who took them to their German owners.
“We passed the bins on the road from Competa to Torrox and noticed the dogs,” said Marian Madsen.
“Suddenly the Huskie began to lose his legs under him, trembled and vomited.
“My husband screamed ‘he is poisoned’ and I grabbed the dog in my arms and rushed up the dirt road to where we could hear their owners.”
The dogs’ owners – who wish to remain anonymous – told the Olive Press that they suspect the poisoning was carried out ‘on purpose’.
Expat vet Jens Klausen examined the dogs shortly after they died and said he was ‘90% sure of foul play’.
He said: “The dogs were definitely poisoned, they all died within minutes of eating the poison.
“Strychnine is often left out illegally by Spanish hunters to kill foxes and stray cats so that could have been what happened. But it may be that someone deliberately gave the dogs the poison.”
So far the Guardia Civil have made no arrests but have been talking to residents in the area.
Happens all the time. Wonderful people the Spanish campo dwellers!
Same things happened to a friends dog, went for a walk along a local rambla, ate some poison, dead. Not many laws for anything in Spain.
This is a shame for the dogs. However why the hell have 5 (FIVE!!!!!) huskies? Huskies in Spain! That is cruelty in itself. They don’t want to be in the heat like we have here. Very pretty dogs but not for here.
Why were the dogs so far away from their owners? Possible clue to why someone might poison them? Roaming around on their own no doubt playfully barking away.
Trouble with a lot of dog owners is they think more about animals than humans. Having a constant dog barking in your neighbourhood or worse howling (huskies don’t forget!) can drive anyone to desperate measures. Not condoning it but wouldn’t be surprised if the owners hadn’t had complaints before and chose to ignore them. Many pet owners believe that the various noise laws only apply to loud music from bars or cars. I’d take that over a howling dog any day.
Disgusted – you are not allowed to criticise dog owners, they are all perfect and it’s always someone else’s fault.
This is a very sad story, but once again the crux is: “They were discovered on the side of the road”. Expats must learn to keep their pets — particularly five large dogs — under control.
Farmers everywhere have a cold-blooded, dollars & cents attitude to animals – both their own and others’ – that often appears heartless and cruel to we town-bred, pet owning folk.
Looking for excuses are we!