Pure bred German Shepherd found

Illustration only!

JIMENA (Via e-mail) Found young male entire pure bred GSD (Alsatian) approx 1 -1/2-2yrs old friendly and very playful. No microchip or identification. Please call 956 640 576 or 639 302 264 for more information. I can not believe that many people have lost a pure bred GSD anyway (if anyone has - I expect he was thrown out).

What's best for your pet?

You're going away for a week or two or more. What to do with your pets? Will it be better for them to be moved to kennels for the duration? Or an unknown field? What's the price difference compared to sending them to kennels or have someone house/pet sitting or coming in to check on them regularly? Here are some answers from an experienced pet sitter, Julie Allbon (617 904 671, references on request!). Animals, especially dogs and cats, are very territorial, so it may be better to leave them in their familiar surroundings. The same is true of horses, and although they're not nearly so territorial, accidents are less likely to happen on terrain they already know. As for cost, €12 per day per dog - €10 for a cat - is normal at local kennels. How does that compare with prices starting €10 per day for the lot, in their own environment? Plus your home is watched over and your plants watered into the bargain if that's what you want. Another point to be taken into account is if they're on medication - having someone giving them their dose regularly and exclusively can ensure that the vet's orders are followed to the letter. Think about it.

Processionary caterpillars are out in force

Photo: Antonio J. Sierra

The following comes from an item we published in February 2010. The reason we repeat it today is that we have been receiving reports not only of the presence in force of these nasty little beggars, but we think they may have something to do, as well, with animal poisoning, dogs in particular. These caterpillars can be very dangerous to animals and people. "The pine processionary caterpillar (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) is known as ‘procesionaria del pino’ in Spanish and during late winter/early spring they will be coming out of the trees and forming conspicuous snakelike lines as they traverse the ground searching for soft soil to burrow into. They will not be far from a pine tree, but that does not mean that you will only see them in large pine woods, they are just as likely to be found in urbanisations and road side plantings wherever pine trees are present. There are several stages within their lifecycle but they are only dangerous to people and pets during the caterpillar phase. In the adult phase they are a simple and unremarkable, short lived moth which emerges in the summer and flies at night. The male moth is attracted to the female moth by pheromones that she emits. They will mate and a single female can then lay up to 300 tiny eggs which she attaches in a mass to a pine needle. Around one month later these eggs hatch into minute caterpillars. These larvae have 5 growth stages that are called 'instars'.  They grow quickly in body size, moult their skin and that denotes the start of the next instar. You can read the whole article here.

Even more on the infamous Triguera Negra

Click to enlarge

Can you identify it in a field? If the grass hasn't been chewed down, it's easy. In any case, you might see the Triguera Negra at the edge of a field, say, among a clump of perfectly good grass. We got  instructions from Tanya this time, to whom many thanks: Look for a lighter green, slightly wider leaves with the bottom ones fading to beige. Pull it out, and if the stem is purple-ish, that's it. Nasty stuff. Don't let your horses, or any other grass-eating animals anywhere near it! (See more photos by Dan Ward below.)

Update on Triguera Negra, or Piptatherum coerulescens?

Click to enlarge

Further to our article on that poisonous grass, one reader sent in a link to a site that appears to give its Latin name: Piptatherum coerulescens. We can't confirm this as yet and need your help. The image on the left shows the seed heads and, below is another one that illustrates our doubts since it shows it growing out of a rock. Is this the same grass? The indications from where we got the images, are that it also grows on grassland. If anyone can confirm that this is the right one, we would be grateful.>>>

More on Triguera Negra, or poisonous grass, the animal killer

Normal grass on left
(Photo: Paula Creaghan-Smith)

There seems to be a measure of panic, or disease of the week syndrome, about Triguera Negra, the poisonous grass that has apparently killed several (18?) horses in the area; if your horses have been affected, panic is naturally understandable. As a result we have consulted expert horse people (who wish to remain anonymous) and are told that this is nothing new. They attribute the panic created to the fact that the grass itself, which is indistinguishable from most normal grasses to the naked eye, is rare further downhill than La Hoya; most previous cases, such as those in the early 1990s have been during droughts. We are also told that danger arises when it rains because the horse pulls out the roots, which contain cyanide, an instant killer in sufficient dosage.  But it hasn't rained! we hear you say. True, but>>>

Scoobie's looking for a good home

JIMENA Actually, it's his present owner who needs to find a good home for him. As she says: "I sadly have to re-home Scoobie as I cannot go anywhere with a dog that size ... so I have to search for a home where I feel he would get the same love and care that I gave him." He is a lovely, gentle dog that will give enormous affection to someone who can offer him the home he needs. If you can help, or know anyone who can, please call Renate on 956 640 898 or 672 072 616. (See more photos below)>>>

Animal shelter needs volunteers urgently!

LOS BARRIOS The animal rescue centre in Los Barrios needs volunteers urgently. You can email: amee@spanishstraydogs.com or contact via Facebook: http://facebook.com/spanishstray. Their website is under construction, but Facebook has plenty of details about this organization's excellent work.

Two (more) pups looking for a home

These two charmers are looking for lots of loving care. They were abandoned and were found -and cared for- by a kind person who can no longer look after them. If you can give them a forever home (they are threatened with the dog catcher right now), please call 669 266 461, or come by Calle Fuente Nueva, 12, to see them.

Lost dog looking for its owner

JIMENA (Source: Phil Heinzl) There is a lost or abandoned dog near and around the Venta Carrasco. Female, about two years old. If you know her or her owner, please have her (the dog!) picked up, as she is evidently very distressed. 

What a little love can do ...

BEFORE

AFTER!!

You may remember Grace (Grace needs a loving home and plenty of food). She featured in one of our many appeals. She was lucky, she was fostered and ended up staying with her foster family. Her progress is almost unbelievable and it makes us extremely happy that she is so very well. Alas, there are still lots of animals all over the place that need help - there was also talk of setting up at least a fund-raising entity in Jimena but that seems to have fizzled out when it was evident that Prospero was not about to run it, though he did offer to help with setting it up, and Spanish appeals, etc. More AFTER photos below>>>

Welcome to ... No Name Yet

(Photo: europasur.es)

CASTELLAR The zoo in Castellar has a new member. She was presented to society in general and the media in particular on Friday at a press conference at the Holiday Inn Express in Los Barrios, where she was shown to everyone and where a chat was given about the kind of care she needs, etc. The daughter of Rahin and Tronca, the little nameless 'kitten' is the result of a lot of work with her parents, both of whom were rescued, one from a private home, the other from a circus. She has no name as yet, but the zoo, which houses some 500 animals of all kinds of species, is using Facebook to find a name for her (although I can't find any reference to it there...)

Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee need a foster home over Christmas - please help!

(Via email) "Hi everybody. I desperately need help to foster these two kittens I found near my home. I am leaving for South Africa for 3 weeks and cannot look after them. If somebody could foster the two while I am gone I will be very appreciative. Please contact me. Renate (672 072 616)"

Grace needs a loving home and plenty of food

LOS BARRIOS/JIMENA (By e-mail) The Los Barrios refuge centre got her yesterday. She was found wandering around some streets. So nobody knows anything about her. I took her from the shelter to my vet in Estación San Roque. I have named her Grace just so she has a name, which she thoroughly deserves. She is young; the vet thinks not even 2 years old. Her ears have been 'chopped to give that hideous curled look.

As you can see, she is skin and bone, but she had all her blood tests done and there's nothing wrong with her.  She just needs food and a good home. She LOVES the boot of the car!!!  Never wants to leave it.  Or never says no to jumping into it! If you know anybody who could give her a forever home please contact me, Renate (956 640 898).

'Pure animal love'

ALGECIRAS We often publish pictures of animal cruelty, so we needed to put this one up from EuropaSur. "They say that the dog is man's most faithful friend, but there are exceptions such as this. Caramelo is the only donkey to ever be trained in the traditions of the Spanish Riding School. At a recent presentation in the bullring at Algeciras he showed a great deal of affection for his handler, who could do no more than correspond it. A perfect match," said the item.

These wonderful little puppies, and Mom, have now found a home!

Yes, they're all off to Germany by plane, and accompanied by their foster mother Renate, who will travel to Dusseldorf, hand them over and come back straight away. Then she'll probably break down and cry. The German contact has already found homes for a couple of them but thinks there will be no problem for the rest. We really need to congratulate Renate on the enormous care, attention and money she has spent on them. In order for them to travel, they all had to have passports, which also means vaccinations, worming, etc.etc. THIS IS WHY WE NEED TO SET UP A FUND, so that if someone is helping an animal to survive or find a home or whatever, they can be helped financially. There has been considerable interest in setting up such a fund, even from Carlos the vet, so please keep an eye on this space for more information. Also, there is bit of a move to get as many Campo animal charities together as possible to form a 'federation' of sorts to work together and maybe be a pressure group. Watch this space.

These wonderful little puppies are still looking for a home!

They are wonderful! Prospero spent a couple of hours with them the other day, to take these photos. They are vacinated and they have their passports - all of them, including the ever-patient mother. The thing is, the kind person who rescued them from the side of the road can't have them any longer, mainly because she already has another seven rescue animals! She is trying to find them all a home, even in other countries, but without any success so far. So PLEASE, PLEASE e-mail the link to this item (http://jimenapulse.blogspot.com/2011/10/these-wonderful-little-puppies-are.html) to all your friends, post it on your Facebook Wall and talk to everyone you know. The puppies won't grow a lot (see the Mom), so they don't need a lot  of space. They are very nearly weaned and are what is called 'socialized' - they get on very well with people, in other words. Please make an effort, they need a loving home right now! CALL RENATE ON 672 072 616. (We will soon be posting something about the proposal for an animal charity in Jimena, so watch this space.)

Please help!

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Brussels criticizes Spain for treatment of animals

Castellar Zoo (English) from Igualdad Animal on Vimeo.

SPAIN (Agencies) The treatment given animals in Spain is worrying the European Commission. It therefore initiated proceedings yesterday on the treatment given animals at abbatoirs and threatened Spain with fines for those who live in zoos. As to the latter, the fines could be into the millions becausethe country ostensibly does not meet European regulations about the care of the animals nor on authorization for the zoos themselves. Spain was already fined because those zoo regulations were not being met in several regions (Aragón, Asturias, Balears, Canarias, Cantabria, Castilla y León, Extremadura and Galicia) and proof has not yet been received that the proper "authorization is being issued, nor that the zoos that did not meet the required standards had been closed," according to an EU communiqué published yesterday. Recently, there have been demostrations all over Spain against animal cruelty, which followed a report issued by a pressure group called Igualdad Animal (Animal Equality) in which several zoos, including those of Jerez and Castellar (above), were condemned for the quality of care and space. Igualdad Animal demanded the closure of the zoos in their report because the animals suffer at "physical and psychological level, their facilities do not meet their needs, there is nowhere for them to look for food and there is no live vegetation nearby. We have chosen to show the Castellar zoo documentary because it is in the Campo de Gibraltar. However, zoos all over the country were included in it.

Sleeping dogs don't lie

JIMENA This is Frankie, one of the puppies rescued with his mother last week. He is still looking for a home (call Renate on 672 072 616). His brother Brandy (not sure if brother or sister, but great photo below!!) is also, as are all their siblings. There was one response on the previous item about them, who offered to take care of one of them and we asked her to contact us so we can put everyone in touch, but we have heard no further from her. (¡Ceci, llama a Renate!) Also, there are people who might be interested in setting up some kind of local animal charity, so if you support this idea, please let us know via e-mail, or as a comment on this article (click on the word 'comment' below!).