Dog poisoning protest

Benissa holds specific council meeting as pet owners host protest

THESE were the words of Isidor Mollá, owner of Benissa veterinary clinic and former Mayor of Benissa, on Tuesday evening, during a full council meeting to discuss an action plan to stop the killings.

This followed a noisy protest from a large crowd of animal lovers, who had gathered outside a school in Benissa. They marched to the town hall demanding immediate action. Shouts of ‘stop the poison’ and ‘catch the criminal’ could be heard, as they made their way to the council meeting. The meeting had been hurriedly organised following the calls for the protest march.

The council gathering reiterated that everything possible is being done to try to catch the culprit, and activity will now be stepped up to stop the ‘criminal who is killing our children’, as in the words of Mollá.

He advised the public not to walk their dogs in urban areas and on tracks until the perpetrators have been caught. “The whole town is together on this heinous crime, and we will do everything we can.” emphasised Mollá.

Much activity has occurred during the week to try and stop the person or persons unknown, who have hidden poison in an area of around 125 square kilometres, stretching from the Olta mountain in Calpe, inland in Lliber, to the last reported incident at Les Fonts, Benitachell.

On Monday morning, many individuals gathered in an important action plan meeting. These included the mayor of Benissa, Abel Cardona, Belén Ivars, councillor, together with an inspector and a local police officer, the sergeant of the Guardia civil, a representative from the hunter’s society, civil protection members, Akira and Adopta - Bèrnia Benissa dog rescue volunteers, and the Pinos neighbourhood association.

All available information was provided on cases of poisoning that have been reported to the Guardia in Benissa. The official figures so far are nine complaints in total, seven from Benissa, one from Senija and another from Teulada. Unofficial figures, however, point to the poisonings affecting as many as 25 dogs. This of course does not include the many cats that have also disappeared. Many dog owners have not reported a poisoning to the Guardia, possibly because of an assumed language barrier.

The only solution that could be offered during the meeting was that the whole area needed to be cleaned, involving hundreds of officers and volunteers. Spotting the poison, however, is extremely difficult. Identified as Strychnine, a rat poison, it has been used in sausages, chicken, or noted in black powder form, which can be inhaled. Death can be in as little as five minutes. It is a banned substance.

Eye in the sky

Meanwhile, in Calpe, the local police and civil protection took to using a drone with a video camera to survey rural areas, looking for any suspicious activity.

The officers are carrying out surveillance and control tasks in the areas of Oltà, Empedrola, Barranc del Quisi, Pla Roig and Rafol to monitor the area, and photograph any dubious vehicles.

Seprona, the animal welfare section of the Guardia, are closely monitoring the situation, and numerous patrols from all official sources will now be increased dramatically. All suspected cases should be reported to the Guardia Civil in Benissa, who are coordinating efforts to track down the culprit.

Investigation will be stepped up to stop 'criminal who is killing our children' says vet councillor