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COSTA BLANCA NORTH
6th - 12th April
Cycle shop fire
By Darren Parmenter ANIMAL protection centres in the Marina Baixa have taken the opportunity of the Easter break to bring more attention to the plight of the number of pets awaiting adoption in the area. There are more than 400 animals waiting for a new home, and those connected with the two shelters in the area are asking for a series of sanctions to be imposed against the abandonment of dogs in particular. In the Marina Baixa, it’s only Benidorm and La Nucia that for a number of years (since 1971 and 2006 respectively) have dedicated animal shelters which hold the 400 dogs and cats. In addition, they have been known to come to the aid and care of other species such as bats, chinchillas and different breeds of bird. As reported in the Spanish media, the shelter in Benidorm - occupying around 13,000m2 - took in more than 500 dogs and 300 cats in 2017, with half of them getting rehomed. However, there are only four people working at the centre, helped by a team of vets, responsible for the
Photo credit: Protectora Benidorm v
FIRE broke out in a shop that sells electric bicycles in Avenida Oscar Espla in the coastal area of Albir. The fire didn’t cause too much damage to the premises as it had mainly been put out thanks to an e x t i n g u i s h e r, b u t according to reports in the Spanish media, paramedics were called to help a four-yearold girl at the scene. There has been n o o ff i c i a l s t a t e ment as to why the girl needed treatm e n t , b u t i t ’s u n derstood that she may have suffered from an anxiety attack.
Pedigree dogs are also abandoned
feeding, cleaning and general maintenance of the area. Albeit in smaller premises of about 1,200m2, the situation in the municipal
Issue 963
INSIDE THIS WEEK ... SKATEBOARD HERO HONOURED
WAITING: One of the many dogs in Marina Baixa looking for a new home.
shelter in La Nucia is just as desperate with 150 animals being currently housed. Their president, Belen Nuñez, said that “in holiday seasons, such as Easter, the situation is exacerbated as a number of visitors end up abandoning their animals that include pedigree dogs.” In an attempt to prevent the status quo worsening, the animal protectorates have called for more awareness of the problem, and a campaign has been carried out in a number of local schools to inform people from an early age of their own responsibilities.
P13 FOR HIRE... AND NO RETURN
P15 BENIDORM GETS THE X FACTOR
Old cinema is ‘all-white’ IN preparation for the Easter weekend and in response to a number of complaints from local businesses, the old cinema building in Javea was given a minor facelift. The wash and brush up has been seen as a ‘temporary measure’ and many locals have already commented that the image of the old town has improved because of it. Speaking to Spanish media, Councillor Kika Mata said that “we wanted, at least, to give the outside of the building a clean until the official decisions of what the building will eventually contain has been taken.”
P29