A Frenchman, who led a solitary life in Maro, was the owner of around a dozen Belgian Shepherd dogs, until the Nerja Policía Local came to confiscate them.
There is very little information available but what is certain is that after losing his ‘companion animals’ as the Spanish say, meaning pets, he took his own life.
Apparently, the police had received a complaint (denuncia) from a neighbour saying that one or more of the dogs had been seen by themselves near a roundabout and could cause an accident.
From what we can gather at the Seaside Gazette, the police turned up to take the animals away, but not in conjunction with an animal refuge association to take custody of the dogs, which is highly unusual, if it were the case.
During their first visit, they took six or seven away but four escaped. When they returned to confiscate the rest, they found that the owner had hanged himself
However, this has to be confirmed but at least one such association confirms that they had not been contacted by the Policía Local.
This evening there is a memorial service for the man, as there is quite a lot of discontent over this affair. In fact, an opposition party has been critical of the police action. The ruling party, on the other hand has accused them of using this sad situation as a political club with which to attack them.
The facts, that we can be reasonably sure of are that this man, who lived by himself, had his only companions taken from him and consequently he hanged himself. Furthermore, many of his neighbours deny that the dogs were conflictive but rather well trained.
What is unusual is that other than social media, the Málaga provincial press has not taken this story up.
Editorial comment: we would appreciate any additional information or corrections, should our readers have any. We shall be updating this article as more information is available.
Update: having phoned the Policía Local at 17.30h about the affair they said that they could not give me an information and when I persisted, asking whether there had been a denuncia, they hung up.
(News: Maro, Nerja, Axarquia, Costa del Sol, Malaga, Andalucia)
I have had extended stays in Nerja and Maro for over ten years. I met the young French man with the Belgium Shepherds. He was quiet and gentle, as were his dogs. They were in impeccable condition.
I commented on their shining coats and that is how we started to speak. We talked about organic, vegan food and he told me he always sourced the finest ingredients to prepare their food.
It is heartbreaking to read how cruely the local police treated him but, unfortunately, not surprising. They are very heavy-handed with conventional and non-conventional people alike. I have seen them harrassing older visitors who do not speak English over paperwork issues. Yet, they look the other way with the pickpockets and thieves in the area.
If Gabi’s dogs were loose, why did they not just take them back to him with an admonishment? Why did they have to take away his family? Why commit an act that cruel to that gentle soul?
I hope the Gazette will continue to look into this. I hope the police can have sensitivity training and focus protecting the local population and visitors instead of targeting to cruel, totalitarian tactics.
Eric: Phone me, if you can, on 630 73 66 11. I would like to hear more so that I can pursue the affair.
Absolutely terrible. Like some of the other commenters said, this kind of callous action from the local police is not uncommon. That it resulted in a death should be spurring more people to action. I appreciate the Gazette persisting in speaking to the police to try to get answers.
May be because he knew that the police wanted to kill his dog he kill himself!
He was paranoiac
And to kill himself apparently save the dogs
The police sbould help and Talk to the owner before to take the dog
He was my friend and i know his dog story
I owned 7 dogs and i was living 15 years at playa chica
Living here for a long time, I’ve heard about a lot of stories about P. Local from Nerja taking dogs away illegally from poor people as if they had no rights..
It would be nice to have some journalistic investigation on this subject…
Just need to ask people from the street, everybody knows about this….
Hello, I’m working with a team of people to try and get these dogs out of the kill shelter they were brought to, and we’ve created a fundraiser to get the dogs any vet care and boarding they may need. Could this fundraiser be added to the article?