As if the marvellous volunteers in Spain working to save and rehome podencos and galgos don't have enough stress in their lives, living with all the cruelty and abandonment, getting hounds to forever homes also brings its stresses. Bev Farmer tells of a recent nightmare she had to deal with.
'Sancho should have been on a plane flying to Canada last weekend, along with Radley and Gawain, two more Podencos from Ibizan Hound Rescue. They travelled down in the evening with Brian, following morning all the dogs checked in at Malaga Airport and had gone through security ready to board the plane.
Then Rhonda and Denise (from Canada who were travelling with the dogs) set off to go through passenger security when they discover Rhonda's passport is missing. Anyway, to cut a long story short the Supervisor for Air Transat at Malaga was rude, obstructive and wasn't willing to help in any way. I was on the phone to Rhonda and I could hear what she was saying. The dogs' crates were tagged to Rhonda's boarding pass but the Supervisor refused to change them over to Denise's boarding pass, even though other Air Transat personnel on duty at the check in desk asked her to do it.
After explaining there was nowhere for the dogs to go and we would need to redo all the certificates etc, the Supervisor just shut up the gate, told them the dogs are being taken off the flight, then walked away with no one knowing where the dogs where.. Because of this delay Denise was not able to board the flight and there was no reason she couldn't fly.
So both girls were left stood in Malaga airport with no idea what was happening with the dogs. The handlers for dogs flying turned up with them apologised and helped them with the crates.
I acknowledge that it's not the airlines fault the passport is missing but the representative of Air Transat showed a total lack of customer care or consideration for the welfare of the 3 podencos. A formal complaint will be sent to the company. Basically she left 2 Canadian Citizens stranded in a foreign country along with 3 Spanish dogs. 'Remember, these passengers are the reason you have a job...'
Malaga is 500 kms from me and a 6 hour drive, so rather than making the trip up here only have to return Malaga airport, Luisa Grajales stepped up and found somewhere local for Rhonda, Denise and the dogs to stay, got transport arranged and also dog food along with groceries for the girls.
Now flights need to be rebooked and there is limited availability and Rhonda will need to get a temp passport. The dogs are fine and chilling out where they are staying, there a plenty of walks for them to go on.
As for the Supervisor .. I am on a mission she will be made accountable for her actions!
Pleased to report that on 31st May Rhonda, Denis and the hounds boarded a plane to take them to Canada and forever homes. President of Air Transit upgraded their status. Let's hope he also arranged payment of all the out of pocket expenses involved with this, and not expect the rescues to bear them.
Posted by: Beryl Brennan | 31 May 2022 at 02:56 PM