Podencos in Portugal - a hell for hunting dogs - the law needs changing to protect them

This story was on my facebook page Save the Galgo. The events happened between 20-24 May 2013. Please read what has happened, sign the petition and write to the authorities listed at the end of the article.

Do you go to Portugal on holiday?

This is the story of forty dogs - loving, open, friendly, gentle dogs kept in hell.

Please do not turn away from this story, please take the time to make a complaint, because without your complaint the dogs will remain in this hell. To publicly expose and complain is the only way to show the authorities that allowing this treatment of dogs in Portugal is NOT going to be accepted and must be stopped now.

SEPNA, the GNR, the mayor, the Presidente da Cãmara Municipal de Aljezur and the municipal câmara vet are all aware of the situation and agree that it is a problem and should not be happening…but they say it is too difficult as there is no law or authority under which to remove or help the dogs.

So we share the story and the photos because, without your help and complaint (and please see below for where to make complaints) the dogs will simply be left and their suffering forgotten about.

The dogs belong to a Matilha in Rogil, Aljezur. A Matilha is a rent-a-dog hunting kennel. There are many people aware of what is happening, and many have tried to help. But despite several visits from the câmara vet, from the relevant branch(es) of the GNR/SEPNA, the owner simply refuses to give up his dogs (he even refuses to sell his dogs).

The owner’s “care” of 40 his dogs…. care that is evidently legal in Portugal… is care under which the dogs starve to death, they have organ damage from prolonged lack of water, they have gunshot wounds and broken limbs that never receive treatment, they must kill and eat new born puppies to survive, they die in an untold number of despicable ways about which the owner does not care. The owner will proudly explain that he only feeds his dogs Monday through Wednesday (sometimes on Thursdays) because they must be “hungry” at the weekend to be able to properly hunt. He simply does not care. The dogs are never let out. They do not get to walk. They are rarely taken hunting, except perhaps a few weekends of the year. Instead, they are simply caged day in and day out…always.

There are pregnant dogs which give birth while living on short chains, amidst other chained up dogs, living on concrete flooring and in filth. The puppies are left to fend for themselves and, and once they start walking, are vulnerable to the other starving dogs. Injuries. Bites. Wounds. Abscesses. All are infected. The dogs are sick. You can tell immediately. The look in their eyes is heart-breaking, they show it all. There are dogs with broken legs, malformations, dogs with legs hanging half way off…legs that need amputations. There was a pregnant mother (a few days away from giving birth). Her back paw was torn off. The bone rot creeping up her leg. The pain must be excruciating.

And yet we know this is happening, the authorities know this is happening, and the dogs are left in these appalling conditions. They are left to this torture and abuse. How is this acceptable? How can this be ignored?

We have been led to believe that because the owner has a license for a hunting kennel, there is no authority to fine the owner or to take the dogs without the owner’s consent. In other words, he can starve his dogs to death, abuse them however he wants, and this will all be allowed and legal in Portugal.

We have argued and fought to free these dogs for 5 months. Six dogs were removed by the municipal câmara vet with the owner’s agreement, ten dogs have simply disappeared. Over twenty dogs remain. During these 5 months neighbours (alerted to the situation and unable to watch while doing nothing) begun to feed and water the dogs, to try and bring them some minimal form of care, so the conditions improved. The dogs are still starving but it is not as extreme. And the neighbours, no longer able to continue, will soon leave and without their care it will be simply a matter of weeks before the dogs start again dying.

The owner rarely visits, he sends no one else to feed or water the dogs.

At what point will the authorities take action?

What other evidence do they need? Under Portuguese law a companion animal is entitled to reasonable care.

How can this possibly be reasonable care?

Is an owner who has a license for a hunting kennel protected and allowed to starve and torture 40 dogs to death?

We are at a loss to understand how, under any law, this treatment of these dogs is acceptable. The authorities simply throw up their hands and ignore the situation. If this is the sort of treatment to animals allowed in Portugal it will not go without exposure.

Please join sosalgarveanimals.com and sign our petition.

And if you also wish to make a complaint (in any language) to share your voice and show that this is not acceptable, our complaint has been addressed to the authorities listed at the end of this posting

23 5 2013

Matilha Update: Our understanding is that SEPNA will visit the Matilha tomorrow, Friday May 24. Today (for the first time in over one week) the owner of the Matilha was seen at the property. The owner does not live locally, and the last time he was seen in Rogil was over 1 week ago. He has no other arrangements in place for the care, feeding or even giving water to the dogs.

While we applaud the recent response of the authorities, and pray that something will now be done, we worry that it was over 5 months ago that the situation was first reported to SEPNA (and they had been provided with the same photographs used in our on-line report). They have visited the property before (although we do not know what access they were given). How can this be reasonable care? How can it be allowed to continue for so long? If there is law to protect the dogs of Portugal….what does it take for the authorities to actually apply the law and help the animals? What needs to be changed?

So our hopes and prayers are that tomorrow help is given to the 20+ dogs left (but no longer forgotten) in this hell-hole.

24 5 2013

Although the 20+ dogs all remained at the Matilha yesterday, with advance notice of an upcoming inspection we have now learned the devastating news that earlier today the owner moved all the dogs. Earlier today we had alerted the authorities that this was our concern, and they did manage to get there quickly today instead of tomorrow …but it was still too late.

The owner, Mr. Pedro Miguel Oliveira of Portimao, previously had all the dogs registered and licensed to his name and address. We ask and plead the authorities to not let this man get away with such blatant disregard to the purpose of the law…so long as the dogs are registered he is still their owner. Is there no criminal or punitive action that can be taken against him?

We question the system. We question that in the 5 months that the dogs remained at the Matilha and even though the authorities had notice of this situation, the dogs were left to all but starve to death. We question why (even now) it took the authorities four days to respond…and they were still too late. There are laws in place to protect the dogs…..why are they not implemented? What is wrong with the system and the bureaucracy that so far it has failed? Does the whole system needs changed.

We question also what can be done against this man? Surely some law has been broken and he can be punished? Can the dogs be found?

(If anyone could please comment a translation into portuguese it would be much appreciated). Thank you, we are terribly saddened.

25 5 2013

Despite our best efforts, all the dogs of the Matilha have been moved by their owner, Mr. Pedro Miguel Oliveira, to places unknown.

On Thursday May 23, SEPNA-Portimao, the municipal vet, the Aljezur mayor all visited the Matilha in Rogil, Aljezur in response to the public outcry regarding the abuse and conditions in which the dogs were being kept. On arrival Pedro Miguel Oliviera met the authorities and told them the dogs had all moved.

Our understanding is that he claimed they went to Northern Portugal and Spain, but in actuality we believe he has moved them to a location in Monchique. However, 3 dogs remained at the Matilha, which the authorities did not even help or remove!

Aware of these dogs still being there and hoping the authorities would claim the dogs we wrote to them asking they take action to help the dogs….but again, they did not, and the 3 dogs were moved by Pedro Oliviera sometime on Monday May 27, to places unknown…

We are truly devastated by this outcome. For nearly 6 months we have been fighting to free and help these dogs and to end the abuses that they continuously endured and suffered at the hands of their owner. We believe it is morally reprehensible to leave dogs in this condition… That the law allows us to do nothing…especially when those (authorities) who are supposed to be helping are themselves doing nothing… it is unjust, it is a travesty.

During the time of our involvement we have noticed many dogs “disappear” from the Matilha… we hope that some at least disappeared for good reasons…(we have not been the only persons involved). We did (illegally) provide food and water to these starving dogs. Perhaps if we had done nothing and allowed them to starve to death the authorities would have been more likely to take action. Something must change for the benefit of all the animals….

Many persons may not understand why we did not just take the dogs. This was not a decision made easily even though doing so is completely illegal. The biggest problem is that if the dogs were taken…the only result is that the owner will simply acquire more dogs and will continue to treat them in the same way.

Unless and until there is (legal) action taken against this owner he will continue to subject all dogs in his possession to the same negligence and abuse and he will continue to acquire more dogs. After all, to this man a dog is worth absolutely nothing and can be easily replaced.

We went to the authorities – they did not respond. We went to the public – you responded and pressured the authorities into acting, but all that has happened is they have happily allowed the problem to move out of the public eye. We did not take matters into our own hands because we wanted the owner punished. We wanted the dogs protected. We wanted other dogs protected from this horrible fate.

There reaches a point in which it is not just about these dogs, it is also about making sure the owner will never be able or allowed to do the same thing again to more dogs. Sadly, the authorities were unable or unwilling to take action for either, in truth they have done nothing at all. They should be questioned too…

This is a terrible outcome, the authorities should be exposed and ashamed. Portugal and its treatment towards animals should be exposed and ashamed. The law in Portugal (the civil code) is outdated and provides no protection for dogs.

Portugal is part of the European Union; not having adequate protections for animals is in violation of the EC. With few exceptions those in power in Portugal simply do not care. So long as they can hide that this happens, so long as tourists arrive and money is made, they do not have the time, inclination or the desire to make the changes required. After all, doing so would take time and money and these are only dogs….

Hopefully, this case will serve a bigger cause, the implementation and control of new animal welfare laws, as laid out by the EU, benefiting all animals subject to abuse….so as next time…..next time we pray that when we know such atrocities are happening to animals there will be a law to protect those animals, that it will be applied, the animals will be saved and there will be a way and desire to find the person inflicting those abuses guilty and ensure he is punished ….and perhaps most importantly prohibited from ever doing the same again.

We would like to thank everyone who has shared and signed the petition. We must ask once more… please do not turn away, do not ignore this problem, support and public outcry is needed not just this time but again and again until the law and the application of the law is changed so as next time….hopefully….the dogs can be helped, can be saved, they will have a protector. At the moment, with the way things are, if we find the dogs would the authorities actually do anything…probably not.

We therefore ask everyone who is affected by this case, affected by this atrocity -please join the page of ANIMAL, a Portuguese NGO campaigning for a New Animal Protection Law in Portugal and ESDAW (the European Society of Dog and Animal Welfare) campaigning to have member countries enforce and apply European animal welfare treaties.

Petition To Change Animal Protection Law in Portugal
(ANIMAL):

http://animal.org.pt/cmpnhfase2.html

Petition Demanding Investigations in EU States to Ensure That Animal Welfare Treaties are Followed (ESDAW)

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/303/624/117/we-demand-investigations-in-eu-states-to-ensure-that-animal-welfare-treaties-are-followed/

Last, we generously received several hundred euros for the benefit of the Matilha dogs. As sadly it is unlikely we will be able to help these dogs, we can think of no better purpose for this money than to be donated to ANIMAL to help them in their campaign to change animal welfare laws in Portugal. If any donors would like the funds applied differently please send us an email to sosalgarveanimals@hotmail.com

Presidente da Câmara Municipal de Aljezur
José Manuel Velhinho Amarelinho
Rua Capitão Salgueiro Maia - 8670-005 ALJEZUR
Telefone: 282 990010 Fax: 282 990011
e-mail: geral@cm-aljezur.pt

SEPNA - Serviço de Proteção da Natureza e do Ambiente da GNR Lisboa
Comandante do Destacamento da GNR Lisboa
Largo do Carmo - 1200-092 LISBOA
Telefone: 213 217 291
Email: dsepna@gnar.pt

SEPNA - Serviço de Proteção da Natureza e do Ambiente da GNR Portimão
Comandante do Destacamento da GNR Portimão
Alto da Raminha, Avenida V6 - 8500-510 PORTIMÃO
Telefone: 282 420 750
Email: ct.far.dptm.pptm@gnr.pt

SEPNA - Serviço de Proteção da Natureza e do Ambiente da GNR Lisboa
Comandante do Destacamento da GNR Lisboa
SEPNA
Largo do Carmo - 1200-092 LISBOA
Telefone: 213 217 291
Email: dsepna@gnar.pt

DGVA - Diretora Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária Lisboa
Dra Maria Teresa Brito
Largo da Academia das Belas Artes
Rua Victor Cordon, 2 - 1249-105 LISBOA
Telefone: 213 239 500
Email: dirgeral@dgav.pt

DGVA Faro - Diretora Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária (DGAV Faro)
Serviços Veterinários do Algarve
Dra Cristina Ferradeira
Braciais – Patacão, Apartado 282 – 8001-904 FARO
Telefone: 289870723
Email: cferradeira@dgav.pt

Presidente da Federação de Caçadores do Algarve
Sr. Vitor Manuel Bota Palmilha
Praceta das Bernardas, no.4 – r/c - 8800-685 TAVIRA
Tel. 281 326 469 / 281 324 050 Fax. 281 324 060
geral@fcalvarve.pt
presidente@fcalgarve.pt

Sincerely,
Laura V. McGeoch
President Animal Aid Associao Protetora dos Animais

Comments

[Kathryn]

This is a bloody disgrace. I will be signing all the petitions and will be emailing those in authority listed above. Those poor dogs, this is disgusting. This cretin must be made to hand these dogs over and stopped from owning any more. The poor pregnant dog with her paw torn off. Please, everyone sign the petitions and write to those in authority to try and stop this.

[jenny]

i have signed and will be emailing the contacts im pissed off with all this

[Kate]

Horrible, and I'm sure there are many other similar places. Thank goodness the Portugese are trying to change things now and thank you for letting us know. Will write and sign, of course.

[jenny]

emailed the contacts dont know if i will get a reply

[Kate]

I watched the short video on Youtube, not on the petition page, and after it, the suggestions were all absolutely horrible - rich idiots shooting wild boar from helicopters or going on trophy-hunting holidays to Hungary or shooting wild goats - yes, wild goats - in Wales. Some were American, but most were English. People really are foul, everywhere, foul bullies, and animals are easy to bully now humans have the technology and don't have to spear them by hand.