| A man's best friend is his dog. However, a | | | | dogs. The Pet Travel Scheme was introduced in |
| visit to the vet can be a harrowing | | | | February 2000 for dogs and cats travelling |
| experience for both of them. Tony Roberts | | | | from certain European countries and was later |
| recounts his first visit to the Vet with his | | | | extended to include certain long haul |
| new friend in Spain a little rescue dog | | | | countries. There is a government information |
| | | | website and a telephone helpline 0870 241 |
| Today, is a day that Chico and I will | | | | 1710. This pet passport is a great idea |
| remember for the rest of our lives, he is | | | | because apart from exceptional cases it does |
| having the snip, as the Spanish say he is | | | | away with the need for quarantine, which is a |
| being "castrada", (it does not need | | | | distressing experience for everybody. |
| translating). It does sound painful, even | | | | |
| though the vet assures me, (whilst she takes | | | | Our experience of obtaining passports could |
| my 170 euros), that it is not. She would like | | | | not have been easier. The local vet in our |
| the Spanish people to follow my example and | | | | hometown in Ormskirk knew exactly what was |
| have their dogs "castrada". This would help | | | | needed and the timescale involved. Therefore, |
| reduce the number of stray dogs and cats, | | | | it was just a case of turning up with the |
| although to be fair, the situation has | | | | dogs and paying him. Bye, the way, the vets |
| improved considerably since we first came | | | | are excellent in Spain, where it is a popular |
| here. | | | | profession and most have a smattering of |
| | | | English, so a trip to the vet is not a |
| We sit in the reception area, smiling and | | | | linguistic nightmare. Also, the fees and |
| nodding at the other dog owners, however, | | | | medications are considerable cheaper than in |
| both of us are shaking involuntarily. Dogs | | | | the UK. Pet insurance is also available from |
| seem to know that a trip to the vet is not | | | | a number of insurance companies; premiums are |
| going to be a pleasant experience. Our names | | | | considerably cheaper than the UK and provide |
| are called and I take him into the surgery. I | | | | cover against all the usual contingencies. |
| have a terrible feeling of betrayal, I say | | | | |
| goodbye to Chico promising that I will return | | | | There are a number of ways to transport your |
| and then I make a dash for the nearest bar, a | | | | dog, rail, ferry and plane; animals are |
| quick brandy should do the trick, and | | | | allowed to travel to most airports in Spain. |
| suddenly I remember I have given up the drink | | | | All need notifying prior to your departure. |
| for Lent. | | | | We decided to combine our travel with a |
| | | | little bit of sightseeing and left England |
| The waiter smiles - Buenas dias | | | | via the Chunnel, which was excellent, but the |
| | | | plan was flawed, our route took us through |
| I reply "Coffee con leche, por favor" | | | | Paris, what an absolute nightmare, it wasn't |
| | | | romantic I can tell you. However, the French |
| I thought I would write this article on the | | | | hotels were excellent and when I asked for a |
| subject that is without doubt closest to a | | | | room for the four of us, they could not have |
| mans heart. No, it is not his wallet, | | | | been more accommodating. |
| although that is very close, it is his dog. | | | | |
| Now the Spanish have a somewhat tarnished | | | | Not quite the same story once we got into |
| reputation when it comes to caring about | | | | Spain, here the hotels prohibited animals and |
| animals. In the past, they have inflicted | | | | we finished staying in motels, mostly used by |
| cruelty to animals that we British just | | | | businessmen and long distance lorry drivers. |
| cannot accept. | | | | Whilst, the furnishing were somewhat old, the |
| | | | food and drink was fabulous, all you could |
| I still think bullfighting is horrific, if | | | | possible eat for 10 euros. If you are not in |
| you get the chance to go, and then do not, | | | | a hurry to get to your final destination, |
| you have been warned. Irrespective of what | | | | then this easy driving is recommended, the |
| people say about tradition and art, | | | | scenery is incredible, and don't worry about |
| bullfighting is gory, but it is big business, | | | | the roads , they are quiet and mainly dual |
| there is a lot of money involved, some of it | | | | carriageway. |
| even coming from the EU in the form of | | | | |
| subsidies. Surprisingly, the majority of | | | | So there we are, the four of us (me, the wife |
| Spaniards are actually against or indifferent | | | | and the two dogs) sitting on a beach in the |
| to bullfighting and the disgraceful behaviour | | | | mid-day sun, thinking it might be a good idea |
| of so-called "hunters" appalls them. | | | | to find some shade, watching some young |
| Following the bombings Madrid, there has been | | | | Spanish lads tease a little dog. The dog was |
| a change of government and now the ruling | | | | obviously starting to get a bit distressed, |
| PSOE is considering introducing the | | | | so the wife goes over to offer her assistance |
| much-needed national animal protection | | | | and comes back with the little fellow, he is |
| legislation; we will have to wait and see | | | | obviously not a pedigree, what we call a |
| how. | | | | "bitsa", a bit of this and a bit of that, but |
| | | | he is very friendly and even our two dogs |
| However, the good news is, it is getting | | | | seem to like him. He shares our lunch, has |
| better, helped of course by the Brits, who | | | | some liquid refreshment and decides he quite |
| open charity shops, rescue centres, and do a | | | | likes us. So, when it time to go home our new |
| truly wonderful job. Here in the southeast | | | | found friend decides he fancies the challenge |
| corner of Spain, in the little coastal town | | | | of learning a new language and walks home |
| of Mojacar, there is a charity rescue | | | | with us. He's been with us ever since, we |
| organisation called PWAS (Peoples Animal | | | | call him "Chico" |
| Welfare Society), who since 1990 have done | | | | |
| outstanding work, rescuing and caring for | | | | At this time we where living in a two |
| abandoned animals. Their work was recognised | | | | bedroom, one bathroom apartment in the centre |
| in 2000 when they were awarded a prestigious | | | | of Aguilas. Renting an apartment or villa in |
| Certificate of Association by the R.S.P.C.A. | | | | a prime location for long-term stay is quite |
| | | | difficult. The property owners are quite |
| When we first came to Spain, we brought our | | | | happy to have you for the winter, but come |
| two dogs with us, both Yorkshire terriers, | | | | summer and the prospect of high short-term |
| brother and sister. In a moment of madness my | | | | rentals, means that you will have to find |
| wife christened them Cagney (apparently after | | | | somewhere else to live. When we rented the |
| James Cagney, because the dog looked like a | | | | apartment, the property owner told us "no |
| little toughie, bless him) & Lacey (I still | | | | animals or pets", we told him "no |
| do not know where this name came from, but | | | | cockroaches". Surprisingly, in our block, |
| she is a cutie, the dog that is, not the | | | | almost everybody seems to own a small dog. |
| wife). | | | | This flagrant breach of rules is typical of |
| | | | Spanish behaviour; they often say one thing, |
| Before coming to Spain, we had to go through | | | | then either ignore it or, do the complete |
| the procedure of obtaining passports for the | | | | opposite. |