WHAT WE ARE AND WHAT WE’RE NOT: We encourage owners to take better care of their animals. We provide castration and spaying services for cats and dogs at affordable prices. We want to control the population of stray cats and dogs by providing a castration and spaying service. We will provide education to the younger generations on how to care for and respect animals. We provide information on animal rights laws in Spain. We work with local authorities to meet their objectives regarding animals. We work with area organizations such as ours.
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The First Six Months J.A.W.S. has only been in existence since June 2012. It is remarkable how much work has already been done: Some ten dogs homed; firm and helpful contacts with local vets; we created and established a Christmas/Three Kings campaign (see below); had successful meeting with the Mayor of Jimena and Councillors; created a Facebook page as well as our own website (both are still under construction but progressing nicely); purchased equipment for our cat castration programme (to be started in the New Year); made excellent contacts with some of the area’s similar organizations with the same objectives as ours; intervened in several incidents involving horses... and we even got a committee together. Of course, there’s a long way to go but we had to start somewhere. Now we need to start
The beginning of it all: July 13, 2012. Thanks to Henrietta! at the beginning. That is, with the young. One of our stated objectives is to ‘provide education among the younger generations on how to care for and respect animals’. So we are now embarking on putting together a presentation to our local school officials, who are the ones who will open their doors to what we grandly call our Education
Programme – an empty phrase just yet, but one we look forward to filling. In the meantime, let us thank you for your support by wishing you the very best for the holiday season. Enjoy!
WE ARE NOT A REFUGE CENTRE and cannot care for animals until they are homed. We can provide temporary help and resources and occasional shelter through our volunteers and other similar organizations. WE DO NOT RECEIVE GRANTS WE ARE FINANCED BY DONATIONS AND SPONSORSHIPS.
I am NOT a toy! I am a living being! This is our first campaign, aimed at eradicating thoughtless gifts of animals. We all know the problem: cute puppy, cute kitty, cute foal, cute hamster, cute present – but who takes care of it when the child gets bored with it? It is in Spanish because we live in Spain. The text reads. “I AM NOT A TOY! I AM A LIVING BEING! You have to have me vaccinated and chipped, and sometimes i get ill (I can cost money!) · I need to eat and drink (and exercise)
every day · As a puppy I eat: furniture, shoes, clothes and a lot more! · I sometimes bother the neighbours · I bark and cry · I pee and poo anywhere · BUT IF YOU REALLY LOVE ME, I WILL LOVE YOU FOREVER · an animal is not just for Xmas/ Reyes, it is for life! · A reminder from J.A.W.S.” We could do with your help to distribute these posters – send us your email and we’ll send you a printable version -details on last page. (‘Reyes’ is on January 6.)
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recently held talks with a provincial dogcatching organization to come and pick up street dogs and cats, and admitted that there was indeed a problem in the municipality. Mayor Guillermo Ruiz Ruiz Val Jubb and Aberto Bullrich had a meeting with Mayor Guillermo Ruiz Ruiz and Councillors María Rosa Mena Caballero (Environment) and Olivia Sánchez Carrasco (Vice-Mayor for Estación) in order to inform the Council of the formation and development of J.A.W.S. Among other things, Mayor Ruiz offered the Council's full support in our activities, for which he expressed his and its thanks. J.A.W.S. prepared a document for the meeting, which included the society's aims and objectives (plus the information that WE ARE NOT AN ANIMAL SHELTER), a fact sheet, a questionnaire, a poster from this year's Christmas/Reyes campaign ('I am NOT a toy'), and a reminder of some legal requirements regarding animals. The Mayor acknowledged that although the Council has the legal obligation to provide pick-up and transportation for abandoned or lost animals in the municipality, as well as shelter, food and water for a minimum of ten days, the present financial situation makes this impossible. However, he also said that he had
this now - his fiancée is a vet.)
It was agreed that there are certain cultural and even legal differences between Spain and Britain (from where most but certainly not all of J.A.W.S. supporters come). These differMayor Ruiz suggested the possibility of the ences need to be respected and taken into Council ceding land and space to create a account at all times, which also means there is shelter, if J.A.W.S. is willing to run it. Our a long road ahead in educational and attitudeanswer was that we would be unable to do changing terms. It was felt that the welfare of so under our own present situation, that it animals is a universal necessity for would require a considerable investthe well-being of humanity, as one of ment to build one to the legal standards required, as well as to maintain “Cultural the councillors put it. it. It was agreed that if it were possiIt's as well to say here that the ble at some future date, the matter differences Mayor himself comes from a family would be looked into in more detail. of local farmers and landowners. He In the meantime, we stressed that acknowledges that attitudes regardwe would try as much as possible to need to be ing pets have changed, and are work with other organizations such as Spanish Stray Dogs and ADANA, respected and changing, very rapidly. He admits, too, that his own attitudes are difamong others ferent from his own father's, and taken into therefore welcomes J.A.W.S. and One of J.A.W.S.'s objectives is to offer local schools an education account at all offers as much help and support as programme to encourage respect possible. and care for animals. The Mayor and times” It was also emphasized by all conhis councillors were advised that cerned that it was essential for approaches had been made to the J.A.W.S. to become an official assomain village's primary and secondary ciation as soon as possible. We said that this schools without any success, even with definite negativity. Councillor Mena said that she would be put in hand in January. would take up the matter with other schools In conclusion, the meeting was in the municipality, where such a welcome deemed successful. The society was welcampaign could be carried out. This, she said, comed warmly, encouraging us to continue would probably poke other schools into the work we set out to do only six months doing something. (The Mayor interjected that it would be a good idea to begin working on ago.
These are photos of some of Jimena’s well-taken-care-of pets, past and present, lost and found, homed and not. Naturally, they can’t all be shown. We know the name of only a few, so we haven’t named them any of them. IF YOU’D LIKE TO FEATURE YOUR PET HERE OR ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, PLEASE SEND US A PHOTO OF HIM OR HER OR EVEN THEM, INCLUDING HIS/HER NAME. See e-mail details on the last page. (Photos courtesy of CampoPulse)
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not that different from anywhere else. The difference lies in their enforcement. For ferrets example, there is a law forbidding hobbling horses, etc., yet all around us we see hobbled horses, mules and donkeys. Animal cruelty, though, is a crime, and the laws against it are enforced. But remember, the basis of Law here is akin to ‘guilty until proven innocent’, which is why a complaint has to be made officially before Passport for dogs, cats - and
The laws on pets (called animales de compañía) in Spain are
action can be taken in the less extreme cases. In rural Spain, it will take a long time for the sensible laws to be enforced. In the meantime, we have to be aware of this fact. J.A.W.S. has been working on a translation into English of the more salient and applicable laws – it is a laborious job of research and interpretation, but it is happening. If you would like a copy , please let us have your e-mail (see details on the back) and we’ll be happy to send it to you (you will, of course, be asked for a donation). ‘I am SO cute!’
We already have a list of sponsors. These enterprises are not necessarily donating anything more than their time and knowledge, or their services, at a discount. But they are essential. PLEASE VISIT THEM, OR USE THEIR SERVICES, AND YOU WILL BE FURTHERING OUR CAUSE.
(We have linked those that can be linked online, but we’re constantly updating this information)
La Viña de Liñán · Union Jack Removals · CampoPulse · Casa Henrietta· Clínica Veterinaria Campayo · Clínica Veterinaria Castellar
We also work with other organizations, so this list will expand in time. They need our help, too, with our time at their refuge centres, as well as with such practical items as food, blankets, baskets, pet toys, etc. etc.: • •
Spanish Stray Dogs ADANA
“There are many ways you can get
There are many ways we can use your help. The first is to pick up and deliver an animal in crisis, or organize for this to be done. We can supply further information but can say that this is not (yet?) a daily occurrence; far from it, but essential when we get the call. In time we will have an emergency phone number, so your turn on that will be very welcome. The second important help is housing an animal for a few days, while a home is found for it. This rarely involves much more than giving it some TLC, as well as food, water, a bed, or a place of its own. We can help with these,
as well as getting veterinary attention if needed. Our fund raising events always welcome helpers. If you think you will be able to help, please be sure to keep an eye on our Facebook page or on CampoPulse. (On the last page, you will see all the details.) We also need help with stalls and poster hanging, and a long etcetera. Attached to the e-mail through which you received this, is also a questionnaire that you may have already seen and filled in. If not, please do so. We don’t yet have the technology to fill it in online, so we have to ask you to scan it
when filled, and send it to us by email as an attachment. Sorry. (You can always print it and hand it to anyone you know who is part of J.A.W.S. – they’ll get it to us. Or leave it at Casa Henrietta, or Mingo, and we’ll pick it up.) Then there’s money. Which makes our world go round, too. We have an account at La Caixa (2100-4878-162100311281) for donations and we hope to be able to open a PayPal account in the near future. And there are plenty of tin cans around with our name on it- make sure you put your spare change in there!
involved.”
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It is not a legal requirement to obtain insurance for a dog or a cat, unless the former belongs to a ‘potentially dangerous
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breeds’ (See list in Page 5). Horses, and cattle are obliged, but not dogs or cats. One of the reasons often put forward the excuse for not getting a pet chipped is the cost of insurance. This is not valid. Certainly prices vary, but only between €11 and €20 PER YEAR for basic coverage of anywhere between €50,000 and €150,000 (these figures are approximate). Home insurance will not always cover a visitor or postm,an being bitten on the
premises, but you can buy coverage separately. It is also possible to buy coverage exclusively for pets from most vets. We strongly suggest you do so from the vets who support J.A.W.S. for no other reason than that it is a way for you to support our cause as well. Pet health insurance might be useful too. Offered by specialised companies (e.g. Segurvet), it can cover virtually any illness, operation, medication needed. It is not cheap, but neither is veterinary care.
We have held a few fund raising events over our first six months. And there are collection tins all over the place (for YOUR spare change!). The only two Christmas Market stalls we have had this year have been a very welcome learning process, though
somewhat disappointing in financial terms. Fortunately we managed to cover costs, but little else. One of the problems was a lack of volunteers coming forward of their own accord, which is a shame. However, now we know better and will be asking our members, followers and friends to spare an hour or so for the next time. As with so many similar organizations, It is not fair that everything lands on only very few shoulders.
“Accidents happen, but if your pet causes one, it could be very expensive”
“Fund raisers this year have
The last fund raising event of 2012 was our stall at La Estrella’s annual Christmas Fair on Sunday, December 16. Our tombola table was a wild success, not least because of the wonderful donations we had from our supporters. Aside from fabulous donations from private individuals (most of whom wanted to remain anonymous, but you all know who you are and we’re really, really grateful!) several local businesses were generous beyond even our own optimistic expectations. We are careful to take care of all our supporters, so we put their business card next to the item
donated. We also promised to mention them elsewhere, so here goes: Farmacia H. Regueira (Jimena)· Farmacia V. Regueira (Estación)· La Casita· Vivero Los Planteles (Castellar)· Gimnasio Frontera· Pinturas Villena· La Viña de Liñán· Pastelería Troyano· Restaurante Mesilla Los Ángeles (‘Troyano’)· Gasolinera Los Ángeles· Piensos Canelo· Librería/Papelería Garabatos· Bar Restaurante El Ventorrillero· Sheila Humphreys (Avon Rep)· Hostal/Restaurante El Anón· Distribuidora Repsol. Anything left over from this event is being stored for the next time.
been a very good learning experience”
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This is Victor Domínguez Caballero, one of several vets who have offered to help us in our endeavours. Victor lives in Jimena but has his surgery in Castellar. He has a good smattering of English and is always willing to learn more. And he really cares about animals. His surgery is at Avda. Las Adelfas, 4, Castellar His phone number for appointments is 956 693 379 and for emergencies 630 186 127. Please mention that you saw this article in the JAWS newsletter. There isn’t enough room here to list each of all the vets who have come aboard, but we will have more info in
In Spain there is legislation in common throughout the country dealing with what are called 'potentially dangerous breeds'. There are eight breeds on that list, but several regional authorities have added their own; the chart below shows which and where. Included are cross breeds among them. The national law states that third party insurance must be taken out with coverage of a minimum of €120,000.
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Phones: (Val) 956 640 936 / 680 136 643 (Alberto) 685 052 684 E-mail: info.jaws.jimena@gmail.com
Now that we’ve started, we daren’t stop! We’re already planning a Spring Fair – or an Easter Market. Other ideas are coming thick and fast: an auction, a photo opportunity, a dog show (how about a horse show, aside from Jimena’s annual May Fair?), a fashion parade for summer outfits, a children’s ‘sponsor an animal’ contest ... so what’s your idea? We always need good ideas. Markets and fairs are wonderful, so are collection tins in bars, but if we want to be a bit different to raise funds, we have to be creative.
Sometimes we need to use shock tactics!
Like everything in these parts, we need to plan ahead, mainly because of the weather - but funds are needed all year round, so we can’t just think of summer ... Go on, send us an e-mail with your craziest idea! info.jaws.jimena@gmail.com
Not in Jimena!
Design, text and photos, courtesy of CampoPulse