Dogs that appear with cut wounds on their necks to remove the microchip, suffering from malnutrition, fleas, ticks and psychological damage. These are the terrible conditions in which abandoned dogs arrive.now more numerous, and which are overwhelming the health care systems in many regions of Spain since the arrival of the new law on animal welfare.
These are the consequences of a rule felt by professionals and volunteers who receive animals abandoned in shelters or shelters. A situation that particularly concerns dogs which, since its entry into force, has seen a notable increase in abandonments.
Almost a year ago, the Law promoted by the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and Agenda 20230which has a significant impact on animal rights and welfare according to information and testimonies collected by OKGREEN.
Fear and ignorance
On September 3, we published the news of this increase in dropouts and physical consequences that dogs suffer because of their heartless owners.
We collected the testimony of Andrés León, president of the Association for the Protection of Animals and Plants of Vigo, who warned that Fear and ignorance are the main drivers of this great wave of abandonments. that the facilities that house these animals are suffering.
For several months, they have noticed the arrival of more dogs, “now it is continuous and they arrive in worse conditions.” We are overwhelmed“, Andrés told us, saying that “the arrival of more animals puts shelters and shelters in very difficult situations,” so much so that some can no longer accept them.
Double the number of abandonments
Andrés, who until recently was responsible for the municipal animal shelter A Madroa in Vigo, explained to us that the abandonment of dogs were shot down “in a terrifying manner”“, almost doubling the number of dogs abandoned each week and states that “nothing like this has ever been experienced.”
“For example, the average number of abandoned animals we collected in Vigo was three or four per week, and now it’s between nine and ten o’clockmore than double,” Andrés said.
From the protection association, Andrés was very worried because “the problem now is that we have met several people this year.” animals with neck cuts to locate microchip and remove it so that they don’t locate them. I mean, real animals“.
electronic device
Among the professionals who take in these abandoned and unprotected dogs is Ione Alonso, a veterinarian that Andrés recommended to us. a first-hand account of how they arrivewhat are the situations encountered and how it is possible that this wild practice of removing the electronic chip from dogs is implemented.
Microchips are electronic devices a few millimeters in size that the veterinarian places on dogs around the neck, with a simple subcutaneous injectioninside which there is a device that is assigned a unique barcode that allows the identification of those responsible for the animals. This is the reason why they are illegally extracted.
We asked the vet if it was difficult to locate him for extraction, and she confirmed that it was “because it is placed under the skin and is neither visible nor palpable because it is smaller than a grain of rice“.
Illegal practice
We want to know more about this illegal practice of removing the microchip from dogs and how it gets into their hands, acts described by the veterinarian as “cruel, illegal and inhumane“.
He tells us that “sThey usually appear with several deep cuts in different areas of the neck.normally on the left side, as this is one of the standardized areas for microchipping in dogs.
Some extractions that are carried out with “any utensil used for cutting: knives, razors, cutters, blades…;”, notes Alonso, which provokes “a deep wound“, done with treachery and without knowledge, without regard to the pain or integrity of the animal.”
Physical and psychological injuries
Among the consequences and dangers of this odious practice, there is “the risk of damaging or severing important vessels running through the necksuch as the carotid or the jugular, which would cause the death of the animal,” explains the veterinarian.
Physical injuries include infections, bleeding and significant muscle damage, and psychological injuries include “terror and distrust of human beings which, in many cases, is very complicated to rehabilitate.
Ione Alonso is categorical in stating that “It is illegal to remove a microchip. No one can do it, not even a professional veterinarian.because this would be committing a serious crime, like cosmetic mutilations (cropping of ears and tails) in certain breeds of dogs. When dogs diethe electronic chip is deleted from the database of the corresponding autonomous community, but they are never extracted“.
Major failures of the law
In her years of working professionally and as a volunteer in animal shelters, Ione has noticed some variations “depending on the area, but in general I haven’t noticed a big decrease in abandonments, remain constant and numerous“.
As for the causes, these occur “partly because of significant failures of the lawsuch as not including hunting dogs, since they are, par excellence, those who lead the entrances to shelters and municipal centers.
But these scenarios will not change overnight or in the short-medium term. Unfortunately, abandonment is deeply rooted in our country and the current awareness of society, even if it is improving, is still insufficient.
Terrible hygienic and sanitary conditions
In addition to the issue of microchip extractions in dogs, we are interested in the conditions in which the dogs arrive, their associated problems and how they recover and the consequences that result. The veterinarian who tells us that they appear “malnourished, full of fleas and ticks…mainly with appalling hygienic and sanitary conditions. There are also those who enter in good physical condition.
“But, whether they have been well or badly cared for, they all arrive in a precarious state, with fears and, above all, end up developing depression, anxiety and stress. Psychological damage that some dogs never manage to overcome,” adds the professional.
“Spain is the country with the highest number of abandoned pets in Europe. This is something that we, as a society, We need to reconsider and realize the seriousness of the problem“It is a very necessary point to evolve and improve as a country,” he replies when asked about his opinion on what is happening.
These are not stuffed animals
The main cause of dropouts is that “Many people continue to view pets as objects, whims or impulses which they will regret later. We must take into account that they are sensitive beings, aware of their reality and their environment; they are not stuffed animals,” according to Ione.
And he invites you to think about whether you decide to have an animal “because you have to take into account its basic needs and this translates into invest time, money and patience in it for 10 or 15 years“.
“Furthermore, sanctions in the event of abandonment or abuse must be toughened and, above all, they must be complied with. Unfortunately, abandonment or mistreatment in this country is not expensive.” concludes Ione Alonso.
