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