The Guardia Civil (Seprona) has begun to investigate the municipal dog compound over accusations of animal cruelty.

They are investigating two individuals, who are: the owner of the private company, who obtained the lease from the Town Hall, and the company’s installation manager who is physically running it.

The former is being investigated for fraud animal mistreatment and dereliction of duty, whilst the latter could be facing charges of fraud as there are indications that the municipal animal shelter has received funds for service that it has not supplied.

The investigation began after Seprona received several complaints from an animal-protection association over alleged animal cruelty through a lack of veterinary attention for dogs with injuries. Also, there were reports of dogs “mysteriously disappearing,” before the mandatory period of ten days had passed prior to an unclaimed animal being put down.

Gema Palma, who is a spokesperson for the said animal-protection association, cited the case of a Pitbull bitch which was taken in with a broken paw. Yet when the association went to take over the care of the animal, well before the 10-day period had expired, it was no longer there.

However, the Director General of the said company (Athisa), Manuel Bueno, says that they are collaborating fully with both the Town Hall and Seprona and added, “No way is there any animal mistreatment. The facilities could be improved, certainly, but we obey the law to the letter.”

Editorial comment: you can’t run an animal shelter like a business; i.e., for profit, therefore leasing such facilities to a business will not end with the well-being of the animals as the top priority, surely?

(News: Motril, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)