How To Rescue Animals In Spain Without Losing Yourself

Spain has 1 of nan highest rates of abandoned animals successful Europe. Hundreds of thousands dogs, cats, and different animals are near connected nan streets each year, often sick, injured, aliases starving. Many person been abandoned owed to irresponsible ownership, economical difficulties, aliases a deficiency of consciousness astir animal care. Shelters are overcrowded and underfunded, volunteers look immense affectional pressure, and nan reality of rescue activity is emotionally and physically demanding. Approaching rescue activity pinch knowledge, preparation, and realism is nan only measurement to make a sustainable quality for some animals and humans involved.

My Rescue Journey

I rescued my first canine successful Spain astatine nan property of 11. Rover, 1 of nan galore “Mil leches” arsenic they telephone cross-bred animals successful Spain, aliases “Heinz 57,” arsenic I telephone them, was conscionable 1 of nan galore strays surviving connected nan streets astatine nan time. He, however, dissimilar others, would hold for maine connected our Lanjarón flat doorstep each greeting and evening and locomotion america to and from school, down to nan park, and moreover connected evening walks conscionable for him. We fed him and loved him, but unfortunately, we couldn’t support him, it was against nan flat rules.

One evening, we came down to find him pinch half his caput divided unfastened by a boar trap. My parents moved eden and world to screen each his aesculapian bills and recovered a impermanent spot for him until a fewer months later, erstwhile we acquired our ain cortijo and Rover could move successful permanently, he was nan first of hundreds that person travel successful to my care.

At nan property of 16, I rescued my largest rescue to date: Tsuki, a day-old foal. He had conscionable been calved nan time I met him. His future? The nutrient man, on pinch his mother. I couldn’t spend rescuing them both, but my grandad had immoderate savings put aside, capable to get him. I worked to screen his expenses, I bottle-fed him, raised him, trained him, and almost 20 years later he is still pinch me, faithful, forgiving, and loving. Not galore group really cognize maine without him.

By 2009, astatine 21, I was surviving pinch my then-boyfriend successful his cortijo, caring for complete 30 animals, horses, dogs, cats, a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig, ferrets, moreover a tarantula!…All of them that 1 measurement aliases different recovered maine aliases I them. People would moreover dump puppies aliases kittens complete my gate. There was nary sound of reason; I couldn’t move them away. I needed to attraction for them all: nan innocent, nan injured, nan mistreated, nary pinch immoderate faults of their own, humans were to blame.

The reality, I was earning conscionable 400€ a month, beneath nan minimum costs for nan hours I worked. I would provender myself nan bare essentials, pasta pinch herb sauce, atom pinch vegetables, truthful I could screen each their needs. It was emotionally and financially draining and went connected for astir 10 years, until nan sound of logic yet appeared, and I had to judge that I couldn’t prevention them each and that limits were necessary.

Today, I still person rescues, including a dog, iguanas, chickens, a cat, and my horse rescue. I’ve learned I don’t request to return them each home, and saying “no” doesn’t make maine guilty. Many newcomers to Spain autumn into nan aforesaid trap, spending each their salaries connected abandoned animals.

Advice for People Wanting to Help Animals successful Spain

• Can you spend it? Hidden wellness aliases behavioural issues, medication, food, aliases vet attraction adhd up quickly.
• Do you person space? Spain’s caller animal use law allows only 5 animals astatine location unless registered arsenic a rescue.
• Can you meet their needs? Animals whitethorn require specialised food, enclosures, aliases veterinary care.
• Mental health: Rescue activity is emotionally intense. The much animals you return on, nan greater nan toll—heartbreak, anger, and accent are common. For some, repeated vulnerability to maltreatment and neglect tin harden nan heart; for others, it tin beryllium profoundly painful. Being honorable astir your affectional limits is crucial.
• Will you beryllium staying successful Spain? Temporary residents whitethorn later request to rehome pets.
• Set boundaries: Not each animal tin beryllium saved. Saying “no” protects some you and nan animals.

Hard Truth, Reality Without nan Sugar coating

Many rescues are flooded pinch animals and deficiency funding, volunteers, and space. Some animals enactment years without rehoming owed to age, illness, aliases behaviour. Confining animals successful cages aliases crates pinch minimal workout is not a solution. Euthanasia is simply a connection galore don’t want to hear, but successful immoderate cases it is nan astir humane option, for animals that cannot beryllium re-homed owed to aggression, chronic illness, aliases aged age. Harsh arsenic it sounds, you cannot prevention them all, but you tin make a meaningful effect for those you tin help.

How You Can Help Without Ending Up successful Poverty

• Volunteer: Walk dogs, clean, tally errands aliases vet trips.
• Donate: Even 10€ a period helps; inquire rescues what they need, blankets, food, aliases vet funds.
• Fundraise: Organise second-hand sales, events aliases sponsored activities.
• Foster: Many rescues request foster homes. Medical costs are usually covered; you supply food.
• Be realistic: Over-stretching finances aliases intelligence wellness harms some you and nan animals.

What to Do if You Find a Sick aliases Injured Dog/Cat

• Ask yourself: Can you realistically return it location and meet its needs?
• If not, interaction your section Policía Local aliases Guardia Civil. They tin transportation nan animal to a rescue centre; get interaction specifications to travel up.
• If you cognize a rescue, telephone them to put transfer. Offer a mini aid if possible.

This ensures nan animal receives attraction while giving you clip to make logical decisions.

Conclusion

Rescuing animals successful Spain is challenging but rewarding. Preparation, realistic expectations, knowing your limits and learning to opportunity ‘No’ are key. By volunteering, fostering, aliases fundraising, you tin thief meaningfully without burning out. The animals you assist, straight aliases indirectly, use from your dedication, and truthful do you, giving them love, care, guidance, and a brighter future.