|
REPORT ON 6TH VISIT TO CALPE,
COSTA BLANCA
8th – 15th November 2008
TEAM
|
Sharon Cole |
Veterinary Surgeon |
|
Tamzin Davey |
Veterinary Nurse |
|
Trappers/Drivers |
Emma, James, Joel, Sue, Joe &
residents |
|
Vera Davis |
Organiser/Administrator |
A Trustee/Secretary together with
trapper/driver James, set out from Stansted to Alicante to meet up
with the vet and vet nurse who were travelling from Newquay. Emma
and James were able to catch an afternoon flight to meet the vet and
vet nurse, arriving Alicante on the last flight from Newquay. As
arranged , a car and van were ready for collection and
pharmaceuticals from the flight were packed and taken to the
surgery. (Calpe) by Emma and James before the vet and vet nurse’s
arrival, as they themselves had landed early evening. The
pharmaceuticals were packed in the hold of the plane but
unfortunately, on this occasion, EasyJet, who has always been used
on these trips, refused to allow the drugs to be loaded as medical
equipment on a purely compassionate trip to help ferals. We were
asked to pay an additional £195 in excess baggage. All helpers take
the minimum baggage weight. This was despite numerous attempts to
waive/reduce the fee at the check-in desk and after a (very) long
call to EasyJet’s Customer Service Centre. A letter will be winging
its way to EasyJet expressing our dismay!
Sunday saw an early start. Sharon, Tamzin, Emma
and James, were all staying in an apartment kindly made available by
Sue and Joe, in Calpe harbour. James and Emma on arrival to meet up
with Sue to unload the pharmaceuticals at the surgery, found 20
ferals had been delivered during the day. They were given cat food.
The vet and nurse started Sunday morning with these, whilst others
were being brought in sharp succession.
There was once again a list of calls that had
been received by Sue following an advert in the local paper of our
arrival. Numerous calls were returned to arrange visits to access
‘sites’, one of the first being to Maryvilla - a large urbanisation
in the hills on the outskirts of Calpe. These people do not own an
automatic trap, but are feeding some on their property.
Unfortunately it was not possible to make it to the prearranged
destination, as a large un-neutered feral in need of medical
attention was found outside a Maryvilla restaurant. Once trapped he
was taken straight to the ‘surgery’, treated and neutered. The lady
that was due to be met at that time was of course notified of the
necessary detour. Meanwhile it was busy in the ‘surgery’ with ferals
transported and collected by locals who fed colonies. There were
also cats coming in from nearby areas.
Due to the sheer volume of cats that were seen
it was not possible for all the requests for help to be dealt with
but every enquiry was responded to.
Ferals were seen and treated from various areas
including: La Cometa, Rafol, Manzanera, Calpe Harbour, Los Pinos,
central Calpe, Cucarres, Jalon, Villajoyasa, Mascaret, Olta,
Pedramala, Gran Sol, Los Almendros, La Fustera, Empedrota,
Benicolada, Buena Vista, Pinada, Bel Air, Cuxarette, Colari, El
Tossal, together with those brought in by locals, Anna from Benidorm
and Lorraine of PACK – a shelter in La Polop. She requested the ears
were left untouched. The vet told her they should go to a private
vet, and she refused to see them. She carried out our policy. Grants
so hard to obtain during the year are always used on ferals and
genuine abandoned cats.
This year our vet, Sharon (who was found
through the World Veterinary Service) was accompanied by her nurse,
Tamzin - from the practice where they work together in Truro. This
was fortunate as they were used to working together closely as a
team, especially given the number of cats that were treated this
year.
This trip saw a return to the usual hectic
schedule, with all the team working late into the evenings. Once
again it was a pleasure to see a large number of healthy and
contented cats with tipped ears along the way, which is testament
that the programme is working. As always females operated on later
in the day were kept in overnight and checked the following morning
ready to be returned to site. The males were released
earlier.
This year’s trip was exceptionally busy and
demonstrates the need that still remains in and around Calpe for a
TNR programme. It is the first year that has allowed us to reach the
elusive 200 mark in relation to the number of cats seen.
A reporter at “Around Town News”, was provided
with details of the number of cats seen and photos of the vet and
nurse at work ,or an article in the forthcoming edition of the
paper. Once again the team reiterated that the scheme is purely for
the benefit of ferals and the necessity for ear tipping to safeguard
the cats future welfare. This was demonstrated when an already
spayed but un-tipped female was brought in and underwent an
unnecessary procedure, which resulted in clinical complications but
thankfully the cat responded well, as a result of the care and
attention she received from the vet and vet nurse.
A total of 200 ferals were seen and treated
during the week’s work, of which
108 females -
spayed
83 males
- neutered
They all received multi-vitamins, long-term
painkiller, penicillin, worm injections, and finally Frontline flea
killer. The left ear was tipped for future recognition.
Sadly five cats had to be euthanised; two
had FIP, one FIV, one a squamous cell carcinoma and one
was extremely dehydrated and had very small kidneys, it was
therefore kinder to put to sleep in the vet's professional
opinion. The cats that were put to sleep would have been even
if in the UK. One of the cats with FIP was brought into the
surgery following a telephone call from an English lady living in
Maryvilla who said that the cat, a tortoiseshell, had arrived on her
patio that morning and was dying. The cat was collected as a matter
of urgency and rushed to the vet, sadly as she was dying on her
arrival there was nothing the vet could do, other than end her
suffering. The lady who called us was concerned that there were and
had been numerous sick/dead cats in her garden and she felt they may
have been poisoned. She was advised that this was unlikely and it
was most probable that they had all been infected with FIP.
At another property in Maryvilla numerous stray
but some friendly cats were seen, approximately twelve, of which one
had already been tipped and six were spayed/neutered. Unfortunately
there simply was not the time or space for the remainder to be seen.
Two of the cats were suffering from cat flu but it is hoped that as
they were young and relatively healthy cats they will fully recover
and not infect too many of the others.
The remaining four consisted of three that had
already been 'done' and had their ear tipped, which
reiterated the vet’s point that it is important the mark
on the ear shows up, as it is dangerous to work on an already
sterilised cat. The vet also gave advice to Lorraine of PACK regarding the
care and treatment of an abandoned ginger kitten that had
calicivirus.
The vet and nurse did state that there was
clearly some kind of difficulty (likely to be genetic) with a number
of the tabby females that were spayed, as they had a tendency to
bleed excessively during their operations. Fortunately they were
well monitored and suffered no serious side effects, as far as we
are aware, following surgery.
The vet and nurse’s flight was on Saturday
afternoon and therefore they were able to see twelve cats before
their departure and prepare a list of pharmaceuticals for the next
trip. As Emma and James’s flight was not until the evening they
packed the equipment away, with the help of Sue and cleaned the
‘surgery’ and van before heading to the airport for their flight
back.
Our Sincere thanks must go to the
following:-
Elinor Gonzales again for letting us use her
surgery.
Sharon the vet and Tamzin vet nurse for their
very hard work on their first visit to Spain.
Joel for his support and help.
Sue of course, our Spanish based Trustee, for
accommodation and assisting in the ‘surgery’, together with the help
she provides throughout the year with any problems.
We must also say thank you to Joe, Sue’s
husband, for trapping and transporting cats.
Emma and James for trapping, driving, working
in the surgery and taking the vet and nurse lunches and extra
pharmaceuticals from a Calpe vet.
Yvonne, for once again assisting in the
surgery.
Not forgetting the locals for fetching,
carrying and providing some donations.
Once more this was a very hard week’s work
carried out under immense pressure by a vet and nurse, who had not
worked in Spain before. The work they did was excellent, (any
repercussions you know I will have thrown back)!!
Not forgetting World Veterinary Service who put
the vet in touch with us.
Many thanks to all concerned.
A Special thank you must go to the following,
without whose support feral and abandoned cats would receive little
or no help:-
Sylvia Aitken Charitable Trust
Jean Sainsbury Animal Welfare Trust
Louise Clark
Pauline Firks (Treasurer for the Trust)
These funds are most welcome and very necessary
for us to be able to continue our spay/neuter programme in Calpe,
and beyond.
Following on the report are photos taken during
the week’s work.
We are a Member Society of World Society for
the Protection of Animals (WSPA)
and are affiliated with RSPCA
International.
We receive no funding.
Registered in U.K. Charity No 1074492
Spanish Registration: 05 D (a)
Vera Davis (Mrs)
Chairperson
Costa Blanca Feral Cat Trust
November 2008
Following photos of work at Calpe Nov 2008
Feral
spayed/neutered in 2007
REPORT ON 5TH
VISIT TO CALPE,
COSTA BLANCA
10th-17th November 2007
TEAM|
|
Lynda Ross |
Veterinary Surgeon |
|
Emma Perry |
Veterinary Nurse |
|
Trappers/Drivers |
Emma, James, Sue, Joe & residents |
|
Vera Davis |
Organiser/Administrator |
A Trustee, a trapper/driver, and a vet
nurse set out from Stansted to Alicante to meet up with the vet who was
travelling from East
Midlands. It was an early start for all! As usual, the
car and van were ready for collection, pharmaceuticals were packed
(which were transported from England in the
hold of the plane), and the team made their way to the surgery in
Calpe.
Sunday saw an early start Emma and James, who
were staying in an apartment kindly made available by Sue and Joe,
were able to trap a couple of cats from the North Beach who had
‘escaped’ the catcher during previous trips! There was once again a
list of calls that had been received by Sue following an advert in
the local paper. One of the first calls on the list was to Benicuco,
where an ex-pat had a family of six, that she was feeding, living in
her garden and was concerned for their welfare, as she was going to
Andalucia for some weeks. Five were caught on the first day,
although numerous return trips were required to check on the traps.
The male took a little longer but the next day his desire for
sardines caught up with him! All six ferals were safely transferred
to an alternative feeder to ensure their continued well being.
Meanwhile it was busy in the ‘surgery’ with ferals transported and
collected by locals who fed colonies. There were some cats coming in
from nearby areas as well.
Ferals were seen and treated from various areas
including: Carrio Park, Buhlman, La Canuta, Cucarres,
Pedramalar, La Vallessa, Buena Vista, El Tossel, La Merced,
Maryvilla, Altamira, La Fustera, La Manzanera, together
with those brought in by locals, and two from the Town Hall.
We were lucky to have vet Lynda join us yet
again. This time she was accompanied by Emma, a vet nurse from the
Royal Veterinary
Animal
Hospital in Hertfordshire, and
they worked together closely as a team.
This was the first trip where the team were not
required to work late into the evenings and the large number of
healthy and contented cats seen with tipped ears is testament that
the programme is working. As always females were kept in overnight
after their operation, checked the following morning ready to be
returned to site. The males were released earlier.
Towards the end of the week the team received a
visit from a reporter for “Around Town News”. He was told of the
positives of Trap, Neuter and Return (TNR) schemes, the “Gold
Service M0T “the cats receive, and the obvious effect the programme
is having on the stray cat population in Calpe. It was made clear no
domestic cats are treated, as the scheme is purely for the benefit
of ferals. A very good article detailing the work of the Trust was
published in a recent edition of the paper.
A total of 130 ferals were seen and treated
during the week’s work.
75 females
- spayed
49 males
- neutered
They all received multi-vitamins, long term
painkiller, penicillin, worm injections, and finally Frontline flea
killer. The left ear was tipped for future recognition.
Sadly, two ferals were euthanised, one as a
result of a tumour in the mouth that could not be treated – as it
had grown so large the cat was unable to eat. The second was a
female who was unwell after her operation, she was found to have an
abnormal anatomy and had been unwell prior to her operation but
those bringing her in had failed to notify the vet of this fact.
One cat, from Ecomar, that had already been
neutered was trapped to have an injury to his face examined and
treated and after an antibiotic injection was returned.
There were three cats brought in for
spay/neuter, that had actually already been sterilised but the ear
tips were difficult to identify, especially where they were in a ‘v’
shape. This again emphasised the vet’s point that it is important
the mark on the ear shows up, as it is dangerous to work on an
already sterilised cat.
One of the cats brought in for treatment had
been sedated, along with two of her companions, by their ‘owner’. As
a result of her bad reaction to the sedative, she was given
intravenous fluids, removed from the surgery and received
supervision until she had recovered , but as a result of her bad
reaction it was not possible to spay her.
As all the flights were on Saturday morning the
‘surgery’ was cleaned, a replacement pharmaceutical list prepared
and the vehicles returned back to the airport, ready for the flight
back.
Our sincere thanks go to the following:
Elinor Gonzales for providing a room in her
villa for a ‘surgery’ once more.
Lynda, our vet for her continued dedication and
very hard work, together with Emma
vet nurse, who joined the team on this trip,
for her excellent back-up.
Emma and James for trapping, driving and taking
to the vet and nurse lunches and extra pharmaceutical supplies at
the surgery.
Sue again of course, who is now a Trustee, for
accommodation, some meals for Lynda and Emma and for helping in the
‘surgery’, together with the help she provides throughout the year
with any problems. We must also say thank you to Joe, Sue’s husband,
for his help with trapping and transporting cats.
Not forgetting the locals for fetching,
carrying and providing some donations.
The team agreed this was once again a
worthwhile week’s work with everyone pulling together to benefit
more ferals.
A Special thank you must go to the following
Societies for Grants without which many feral and abandoned cats
would receive little or no help.
Petplan Charitable Trust
Alice Noakes Charitable Trust
Sylvia Aitken Charitable Trust
St. Andrew Animal Fund
Jean Sainsbury Animal Welfare Trust
Louise Clark for her monthly donation.
Pauline Firks (Treasurer for the Trust)
These Grants are most welcome and very
necessary for us to be able to continue our spay/neuter programme in
Calpe.
Following on are photos taken during the week’s
work.
We are a Member Society of World Society for
the Protection of Animals (WSPA)
and are affiliated with RSPCA
International.
We receive no funding.
Registered in U.K. Charity No 1074492
Spanish Registration: 05 D (a)
Vera Davis (Mrs)
Chairperson
Costa Blanca Feral Cat Trust
December 2007
Following photos of work at Calpe Nov 2007
Lynda
Emma
Treated cats awaiting release
A ‘crusher’ cage is used for transferring a cat
from a trap
REPORT ON 4TH
VISIT TO CALPE, COSTA
BLANCA
4-11th November 2006
TEAM|
|
Lynda Ross |
Veterinary Surgeon |
|
Mel Castello |
Veterinary Nurse |
|
Trappers |
Pauline, Terry, Joel and residents |
|
Pauline |
Treasurer |
|
Vera Davis |
Organiser-administrator |
Two Trustees
set out from Stansted to Alicante to meet up with the vet and
nurse travelling from East
Midlands. As usual, the car and people’s carrier were
ready for collection, pharmaceuticals were packed, and they made
their way to the surgery in Calpe. On arrival the ‘surgery’ was made ready
for operations. There are usually cats waiting, but it had been
raining heavily, and cats had gone to ground.
Sunday saw an early start for the team. Pauline
and Terry who were staying in Maryvilla, began trapping in the
area, and found there were many calls for their help. They had a
list of residents who had rung Sue before our arrival from an ad in
the papers. Sue resides in Calpe, and they worked through the list.
Meanwhile it was busy in the ‘surgery’ with
ferals transported and collected by locals who fed colonies. There
were some cats coming in from nearby areas as well.
We were lucky to have vet Lynda join as yet
again. This time she was accompanied by an associate vet nurse Mel,
and they worked together as a close team.
They continued occasionally working till late
evening to catch up with the volume of work. Females were kept in
overnight after their operation, checked the following morning, and
then were collected ready to be returned to site. Males were
released earlier.
During Wednesday the team were told that
Calpe
television, arranged by the Town Hall, would be arriving the
following day to film work in the surgery. I understand the vet and
nurse were filmed operating, also ferals recovering after operations
in recovery boxes etc. Luckily Joel was on hand to interpret, as he
can speak Spanish. Two Animal Wardens from Calpe were also there. This
seemed to go well, and I look forward to receiving a copy of the
film, which the vet would like to see.
A return visit was made to the harbour and
beach areas, where some 30 ferals were spayed/neutered last year
behind the wall close to the beach. The ground had been cleared of
vegetation and prepared for builders.
What happened to them? We would like to know.
This was expensive and pointless work. Many were domestic and had
just been left there, and were in good health.
A total of 197 ferals were seen and treated
during the week’s work.
115 females - spayed
82 males -
neutered
They all received multi-vitamins, long term
painkiller, penicillin, worm injections, and finally Frontline flea
killer. The left ear was tipped for future recognition.
Sadly, five ferals were euthanised due to aids,
cancer, and tumours, including a kitten very sick with F.I.V.
I understand that some cats were brought in for
spay/neuter, but fur had grown over the tipped ear, and they
appeared not to have been sterilised. The vet wants to emphasise
that it is important the mark on the ear shows up, as it is
dangerous to work on an already sterilised cat.
Lynda and Mel stayed a day later than the team
for more work, but no cats were brought in, and the trappers had
returned to the UK.
The ‘surgery’ was cleaned, a pharmaceutical
list prepared, the car returned back to the airport, ready for their
flight back.
Unfortunately, I was unable to go to Calpe this time due to
circumstances beyond my control, but I hope to be there in 2007.
We must thank Elinor Gonzales for providing a
room in her villa for a ‘surgery’ once more.
Lynda, our vet for her continued dedication and
very hard work, together with Mel who joined the team on this trip,
for her excellent back-up.
Terry our brilliant trapper, accompanied by
Pauline, who both worked in difficult conditions.
Sue of course who helps us throughout the year
with any problems, for accommodation and some meals for Lynda and
Mel, and for helping in the ‘surgery’.
Joel who is such a good help and all rounder,
who appears calm under pressure!
Not forgetting the locals for fetching and
carrying, and providing some donations.
The team agreed this was a worthwhile week’s
work with everyone pulling together under difficult conditions.
A Special thank you must go to the following
societies for Grants without which many feral and abandoned cats
would receive little or no help:
Alice Noakes Charitable Trust
Sylvia Aitken Charitable Trust
St. Andrew Animal Fund
Jean Sainsbury Animal Welfare Trust
Mrs.J.Bulmer
We are a Member Society of World Society for
the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and are Affiliated with RSPCA
International.
We receive no funding
Registered in U.K. Charity No 107449
Spanish Registration: 05 D (a)
Vera Davis (Mrs)
Chairperson
Costa Blanca Feral Cat Trust
November 2006
Following photos of work at Calpi Nov 2006
![]() 
Lynda & Mel filmed by local TV camera
crew
![]()
Lynda
![]()
Lynda, Mel, Terry, Pauline & local animal
wardens
![]()
Joel releasing white spayed feral
![]()
Ferals fed on the rocks by a Swiss lady
![]()
Pauline releasing spayed/neutered feral
REPORT ON THIRD TRIP TO CALPE, COSTA BLANCA, SPAIN
12-19 November 2005
TEAM:
|
Lynda Ross |
Veterinary Surgeon |
|
Victoria Tonks |
Veterinary Nurse |
|
Trappers |
Terry, Emma, Joel and
locals |
|
Pauline Firks |
Treasurer, general
back-up |
|
Vera Davis |
Organiser - administrator |
All flights at this time
were either very early or very late. 6.15 a.m. saw our vet leaving
East Midlands
airport for Alicante. Our
vet nurse had a late flight from Liverpool, and four of us left from Stansted, on
a delayed flight.
As usual, we picked up a car and van from
Alicante
airport, loaded pharmaceuticals and equipment, and made our way with
Lynda, our vet, to the loaned ‘surgery’. Lynda, who had worked with
us in February, began unloading contents of boxes and equipment
etc., with Joel, while we made our way to a local supermarket, only
to find they had closed due to our own delayed flight. The nurse was
picked up late evening.
Early Sunday morning saw our vet and nurse,
working on the ferals, all from Calpe, who were arriving in a steady flow. All
automatic traps had been lent out. It appeared that locals had made
their own traps in lots of cases.
A total of 170 ferals and abandoned cats were
spayed/neutered, and they all received multi-vitamins, long term
pain killer, penicillin, worm injections etc., finishing with
Frontline flea spray. The left ear was tipped for future
recognition. The females were kept overnight, checked the following
morning, and then released back to site. Males were released
sooner.
Spayed and treated: 101
females
Neutered and treated: 67
males
“ “
2 male dogs
There was no euthanasia, and no female was
found to be pregnant, so it appears November is the best time to
carry out this work.
T.N.R. (trap, neuter, return) is the best
internationally known method of reducing the feral cat and dog
population. The result is healthier cats and dogs, who will
eventually, if left alone, die out naturally, leaving over populated
areas free of ferals.
We returned to the beach and harbour areas
visited previously. All cats seen in February with tipped ears
looked extremely well and healthy. We were surprised to find only
three small kittens, all in a bad way. We managed to trap them, and
took them to our vet. She treated their swollen closed eyes (through
cat flue), and gave them an injection. We took them back to the
villa to continue medication and to keep them warm. On our departure
they were handed over to a German family who work with ferals, to
continue medication, and then hopefully they will be homed .
I would mention that cats are being dumped on
the beach area we visit, some even with a collar. Obviously they are
left there because there are some feeders.
In some cases the owners have returned to their
own country and left them behind, which is inexcusable.
All in all it was a good visit, but as we were
deprived of work time through flights, no work was carried out on
the final Saturday. Even so, in the three separate week’s work, with
one vet and nurse, a total of 545 ferals and abandoned cats from
Calpe, have been
spayed/neutered, and given all necessary injections for a clean bill
of health.
We must thank Lynda, our vet, for her
dedication and hard work, and for accompanying us on a second trip,
and our vet nurse Vicky, for putting in excellent work.
We must thank of course Eleanor Gonzales for
our ‘surgery’ again, and for our accommodation.
Terry for his usual excellent trapping.
Sue, for being such a help providing an
apartment for the vet and nurse overlooking the harbour, and for her
valuable assistance both in and out of the surgery.
Emma for standing in at short notice, and for
her all round help including driving,
trapping etc.
Joel for his knowledge of the areas visited and
for trapping, labelling and assisting in the surgery.
The locals for fetching and carrying, and
providing some donations.
A Special thank you goes to:
The Marchig Animal Welfare Trust
PETplan Charitable Trust
The Alice Noakes Charitable Trust
not forgetting Pauline, our own Treasurer.
These grants are very appreciated for our
on-going spay/neuter programme in Calpe, without which we would find it hard to
continue this vital work.
We are a Member Society of World Society for
the Protection of Animals (WSPA)
and are Affiliated with RSPCA
International.
We receive no funding.
Registered in U.K. Charity No:
1074492
Spanish Registration: 05 D (a)
Vera Davis
Chairperson
Costa Blanca Feral Cat Trust
November 2005
____________________________________________________________________________________
REPORT ON SECOND TRIP TO CALPE, COSTA BLANCA, SPAIN.
5-12 February 2005
TEAM:
|
Lynda Ross |
Veterinary Surgeon |
|
Tanzi Ridge |
Veterinary Nurse |
|
Trappers |
Terry, Joel, Ron, locals |
|
Pauline Firks |
Treasurer, general
back-up |
|
Organiser |
Vera Davis |
An early start on the 5th February saw us at Alicante airport collecting the
rented car and people’s carrier, loading with pharmaceuticals and
equipment, whilst waiting the arrival of our vet and nurse from
Bristol and
East Midlands
airports respectively.
We made our way to the villa, a room of which
was to be used as a ‘surgery’, which was supplied to us by Sociedad
Protectora de Animales, (who deal mainly with dogs), and had been
used by us before. As it was early afternoon the vet started work
straight away when all had been prepared ready for operations. Cats
were already delivered as traps had been lent out before our
arrival.
We were mentioned on air, and from then on a
steady flow of ferals and abandoned cats were arriving during the
week. Our vet and nurse coped admirably under all the pressure. Each
cat was spayed or neutered, given multi vitamins, penicillin,
wormer, flea spray, and clean bill of health. The left ear was
tipped to recognise in the future.
A total of 196 ferals were seen and treated:
Female 109
Male: 87
All ferals seen were from Calpe, where there are a
lot on the beach and harbour areas, which will warrant a visit in
itself. Some locals were returning again and again with ferals from
colonies, all anxious to cut out unwanted litters.
During our visit a meeting was arranged with an
official from Calpe Town Hall, together with the Calpe Animal
Warden, Eleanor Gonzales, (chairperson and translator) from Sociedad
Protectora de Animales, and ourselves, when it was discussed that
the Council would be prepared to provide a shelter and feeding
places for ferals away from the tourist area, whilst we would
continue providing vets and nurses including pharmaceuticals for
future visits to spay/neuter. It would appear that Eleanor Gonzales
and our Trust would be included in an official document for
signature. The Council would then like to use the “blueprint” of the
work to include the next town etc., etc. This would be a great step
forward for all ferals and abandoned cats in Calpe, and hopefully in
time along the coastline.
We would mention domestic cats are abandoned at
the harbour, one of which was a ‘special’ breed. He was so friendly,
we took him back with us to stay in the villa. He was neutered, and
has now been re-homed in Germany. We do like a happy
ending!
Sadly one of the harbour cats, a chocolate
point abandoned cat had a tumour at the back of the throat and was
euthanase
We must thank Eleanor Gonzales for providing a
room at her villa for a ‘surgery’, and also for our accommodation.
Lynda and Tanzi, our vet and nurse
for their caring and valuable work.
Sue for the vet and nurse accommodation, who
also helped in the surgery as she is a nurse and had some time to
spare.
Joel, for his help in trapping, knowing the
trouble areas, and his knowledge of languages.
We thank the locals for ‘fetching and carrying’
their ferals to us for spaying or neutering, giving us more time to
concentrate on the harbour and beach areas,
and everyone who contributed to a worthwhile
week’s work.
A return visit to Calpe November 2005 will be
made if sufficient funds are available.
A Special thank you must be given to:
The Jean Sainsbury Charitable Welfare
Trust
The Alice Noakes Charitable Trust
The St. Andrew Animal Fund
Marchig Animal Welfare Trust
for their continuing help with grants, without
which we could never have made the step forward in our work to help
so many ferals left stranded to fend alone with sickness and worse.
We must mention also our treasurer, Pauline,
for her commitment to our cause.
We are a Member Society of World Society for
the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and Associated with the RSPCA.
We receive no funding.
Registered in U.K. Charity No:
1074492
Spanish Registration: 05 D (a)
Vera Davis
Chairperson
Costa Blanca Feral Cat Trust
February 2005
____________________________________________________________________________________
REPORT ON FIRST TRIP TO CALPE, COSTA BLANCA, SPAIN
8 – 15
November 2003
THE TEAM:
|
Angela Spatz |
Veterinary Surgeon |
|
Josaphine Quantrill |
Veterinary Nurse |
|
Trappers |
Terry Firks |
|
|
Ronald Davis |
|
|
Local Groups |
|
Organiser |
Vera Davis |
We moved up the coast on this visit to
Calpe having had
our equipment transferred from Campello in readiness back in the
summer, and with agreement from the Mayor of Calpe to work there. A
party of 6 left Stansted as usual on a morning flight to Alicante, where a people’s carrier
and small car had been ordered in advance. We travelled through to
Calpe where we
were met by a student vet nurse after the toll. We followed Joel
some way on to where the vet and nurse were to operate, and nearby
to where our party of four were to stay in a villa. The vet and
nurse were accommodated in a bungalow about twenty minutes
away.
On arrival at the place of work the vet and
nurse prepared the ‘surgery’ placing the pharmaceuticals transported
by us ready for their work. They were dismayed that after such a
long journey from early morning, a total of l3 ferals were already
waiting to be dealt with. However they agreed to start work
immediately so that the cats were operated on before a number of
cats which were expected the following morning arrived.
There seemed to have been a lot of publicity
prior to our visit, and in Calpe there were large colonies of ferals and
abandoned cats, which were known to the feeders, who were keen to
get them neutered/spayed before fresh arrivals of kittens, and the
cost of food spiralled.
Officials of Calpe Council arrived unexpectedly
to ask for help in town where two new hotels are to be built, with
land between inhabited with ferals. We checked and transported some
back to the vet. All ferals were checked with tie-on labels of their
areas and when ready were taken back to site.
We were told of beach cats, which were being
fed by a few residents, and most of these were caught and seen by
the vet and nurse. Many of these were abandoned and friendly cats,
and now they will not produce, some will be homed.
Also we visited The Rock – Casal de Ifach,
where ferals were collected for treatment and given a clean bill of
health. The harbour area was visited, and ferals were neutered from
here. We understand a local group are concentrating on this
area.
A Spanish vet arrived to watch the vet and
nurse work, and local press took pictures of the work progressing.
Also we understand, a mention of us was made on the air. There was a
‘conveyor belt’ of cats being dealt with, some arriving, others
being taken back to site. It was very busy!
We worked closely with Sociedad Protectora de
Animales Calpe –
Benisa who help both dogs and cats in the area. The principal was a
great help to us, arranging accommodation and the vet’s work area.
This was a large room adjoining the pool, and a further room for the
cats to recover in.
During the week the vet and nurse saw and
treated 175 ferals and abandoned cats.
102 female
73 male
Apart from either neuter/spay, cats were given
multivitamins, worming, penicillin, painkiller injections, and
finally flea spray. Their left ear was tipped.
Many cats had viral ulcers on their eyes, and
were treated with Fucithalmic.
Some had rotten teeth which were removed. Ear
mites were prevalent in many cases.
A couple of kittens were seen but were too
young to spay.
Where an eye had been lost, the socket was
stitched.
An almost blind female with ulcerated tongue
and rotten teeth was euthenased on humane grounds.
There is still much work to do in Calpe, and adjoining Altea,
which has many ferals living on the rocks, we understand being fed,
but many need spaying and neutering. We have been asked if we can make a return
visit in January 2004 before their ‘season’ starts, but this will depend on our
funds. Sadly, the RSPCA International and WSPA World Society for the
Protection of Animals have changed their policy, and no grants are
being given to member-societies for neutering, other than those who
operate in the country where they reside.
We will try to continue with this hands-on
vital work, as results are now being seen by the residents of our
previous visits, resulting in healthier cats, less kittens, more
manageable colonies.
We must thank:
Ellinor for her valuable help with
accommodation and assistance.
Gloria for accommodation for our vet and
nurse
Joel for his knowledge of languages to deal
with on-lookers, and knowing where the colonies were
situated.
All the ‘carriers and fetchers’ who saved us a
lot of valuable time including Terry and Ron.
Pauline’s supermarket trips to supply lunches
for us all, with little extras, and her unending task of
fund-raising.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU goes to our vet Angela, and
Jo, our vet nurse, both from the RSPCA Harmsworth Hospital, London,
who gave of their best with their dedication and hard work, to make
this one of the most successful and pleasant visits to
date.
SPECIAL THANKS MUST GO TO:
ALICE NOAKES MEMORIAL CHARITABLE
TRUST
ST. ANDREW ANIMAL FUND
SPANA
without whose financial help, we would possibly
not have been able to make this trip.
November 2003
Vera Davis
Chairperson
____________________________________________________________________________
COSTA BLANCA FERAL CAT TRUST
REPORT ON 6th VISIT TO CAMPELLO 8th – 15th
JANUARY 2003
THE TEAM:
|
Louise Rayment |
VETERINARY SURGEON |
|
Lesley Young |
VETERINARY NURSE |
|
Trappers |
LOCAL GROUP |
|
Organiser |
VERA DAVIS |
Due to funds, and following on so soon on the
heels of our autumn trip, no trustee accompanied the vet and nurse,
so this report cannot be as explicit as usual.
THE WORK
The vet and nurse left the airport late
afternoon Wednesday 8 January.
After locating their luggage at Alicante airport, they were dismayed
to find the pharmaceuticals were nowhere to be found. However, after
a call to us to let us know, and being met by the local group, they
picked up a car at the airport (previously arranged), and made their
way to La Font to a holiday apartment, where it was arranged they
could work for the week using the lounge as a ‘surgery’.
Early the next morning a trustee from the
Society went to the airport to sort out the pharmaceuticals, only to
find they had not been put on the plane. They were however sent on
the next flight to Alicante,
arriving early evening that day. (Oh for a clinic!)
The vet meanwhile had been to a veterinary
hospital and borrowed some necessary instruments and a small supply
of pharmaceuticals, as ferals were being brought in for
sterilisation. However, our goods were picked up from Alicante airport and work was started
in earnest. I must add that this is the first time this has
happened, and indeed I hope the last!
Ferals were seen from:
Jijona
Alkabir
Ameridor
(Market) Campello
San Juan
Coveta fuma
Vall de Sol
Bon Alba
Sella
La Colina
Busot
(Gypsy) Campello
Castalla
Benidorm
Campello
The following Tuesday the vet and nurse went to
the Eurotennis Hotel in Villajoiosa to continue sterilising the
ferals remaining untreated from the November trip. They were
accommodated for the night, and continued with the work the next
day. We understand all the hotel’s ferals, excepting two (which were
impossible to catch)., were sterilised, given multivitamins,
worming, penicillin, painkiller injections, and finally Frontline
flea spray. The left ear was also tipped for future identification.
They all received a clean bill of health The local group will
continue to try and trap and sterilise these two remaining
ferals.
Hopefully now they could become more of an
asset than a liability. We can only hope.
A total of 106 feral and abandoned cats were
seen and treated.
There were no pregnancies.
Sadly, we understand, two ferals were put to
sleep by a local vet, as they were very sick, and we believe they
had aids which had to be confirmed.
A total of 227 ferals were sterilised and
treated as above resulting from the November and January
trips.
Our thanks go to our vet, Louise, and
veterinary nurse, Lesley, for their great job, and coping so well in
difficult circumstances.
We must give special thanks to the Marchig
Animal Welfare Trust for their grant towards this trip, which helped
us to continue with this vital work.
Our thanks as well to everyone who helped in
any way for us to alleviate the distress of so many unfortunate
ferals, who have simply been left behind.
V.Davis
Chairperson
January 2003
REPORT ON 5th VISIT TO CAMPELLO 10th
– 17th NOVEMBER
2002
TEAM:
|
Hilary Fowler |
VETERINARY SURGEON |
|
Lorna Blackburn |
VETERINARY NURSE |
|
Pauline Firks |
TRAPPER/ASSISTANT |
|
Terry Firks |
TRAPPER/DRIVER |
|
Ron Davis |
TRAPPER/DRIVER |
|
Vera Davis |
OGANISER |
A party of six took an early morning flight
from Stansted to Alicante, and
collected a car and van previously booked from the airport. We
followed one of the local group to our destination at La Font, where
four of the party had a holiday flat. The vet and nurse traveled on
to a two bedroom apartment, where they were able later to set up a
surgery in the lounge.
We met up as soon as possible early afternoon,
following the local group to the Eurotennis Hotel, at Villajoyosa.
This was a large modern hotel on the coast. When we arrived we saw a
number of cats, sitting on car bonnets, under cars, and in the
surrounding areas The hotel wanted these cats sterilised, and the
vet and nurse had the sauna in the basement for use as a
“surgery” (the sauna turned off). They set this
up with all equipment, and immediately trappers set to work fetching
and carrying cats in automatic traps. We had no long journeys of
transportation which was a welcome change! The vet and nurse worked
from early afternoon to late evening and it was arranged by the
hotel for them to stay overnight, to enable work to start early the
next morning, which they did.
Many cats were sterilised, and in the case of
kittens, these were weighed, and if correct weight, were sterilised
also. The smaller ones were returned outside. All kittens were given
necessary injections, whether sterilised or not, as most of them had
cat flue, and they all received penicillin, vitamin injections
etc..
After two and a half days work at Eurotennis.
the vet and nurse returned to their apartment.
During the week ferals were seen
from:
Villajoiosa
Paraiso
(Market) Campello
Aigues de Busot
(Alkabir) Campello
Benidorm
Carrrefour (supermarket) San Juan
(Albayna) Campello
(Plalloma) Busot
Vale del Sol
Calpe
(Cala D’or) Campello
Torrevieja
Moraira
(Venta la Nuza) Campello
A young feral female found on a railway track
with severed tail and back leg injury, including a kitten from Hotel
Eurotennis with a broken back leg, were taken to the local group’s
vet, as these were longer jobs (with follow ups etc.,) than our vet
had the time for, and we have agreed to pay the bill. They both had
bad cat flue, and will need to be treated for this before their
operations. The track feral will not be returned to site.
Also 20 feral cats from Calpe are being sterilised
after our return to the U.K.We left a trap and crusher with a local
resident, as our vet was too busy with other site ferals. They will
be taken to a local vet, and we have agreed to pay for this also.
Another female was found to have an infected
womb, and this was removed. Usual abscesses, bites, ear infections,
tooth problems etc., were taken care of by our vet, as well as
sterilisations Each cat was given the usual injections of
antibiotics, wormer, multivitamins, and painkiller. They all had
Frontline flea spray, the left ear being tipped for future
identification.
Ferals
examined………………….125
Spayed……………..63
Sterilised…………………………109
Castrated…………
46
There were no abortions or
euthanasia.
Any pregnant females were taken to the local
group’s vet, as they will be kept in for ten days after
abortion.
All in all it was a very successful trip. We
made many more contacts in all areas whilst working, and relations
were good between residents and ourselves.
We have been asked if we can return earlier
than usual, at the beginning of January to the Hotel Eurotennis, so
that the many kittens who will then be old enough, can be
sterilised. Fortunately, we have just learnt that we shall receive
some financial help from the Marchig Animal Welfare Trust, which
will be used towards this trip, and we are extremely grateful. We
are therefore sending a vet and nurse to Campello for a week, from
8th to l5th January, and the local
group will trap. A report on this visit will be made in
2003.
We would like to thank our vet and nurse,
Hilary and Lorna, who had a caring and compassionate attitude to
their work, and on one occasion worked until midnight!
Also we would like to thank trappers, Pat,
Janice, Anne, Pauline, Terry, Ron and local trappers for their
continued effort throughout the week.
With Special Thanks to:
R.S.P.C.A.
W.S.P.A. (World Soc. For the Protection of
Animals).
The Alice Noakes Charitable Memorial Trust
for their continued financial support in our
effort to help ferals in Spain
A mention must also be made of our own
Treasurer, Mrs. Pauline Firks, who works throughout the year to
support our cause.
V. Davis (Mrs)
Chairperson
November 2002
_________________________________________________________________
COSTA BLANCA FERAL CAT TRUST
REPORT ON 4TH VISIT TO CAMPELL0 10th
– 17th January 2002
THE TEAM:
|
Louise Rayment |
VETERINARY SURGEON |
|
Melanie Jordan |
VETERINARY NURSE |
|
Pauline Firks |
TRAPPER/ASSISTANT |
|
Terry Firks |
TRAPPER/DRIVER |
|
Ron Davis |
TRAPPER/DRIVER |
|
Vera Davis |
OGANISER |
A party of 6 left Stansted on an early morning
flight to Alicante, where
a car and van previously booked were waiting to be picked
up.
We were unable to use our previous
“surgery” in the mountains for this trip, so we
made our way back, to pick up our equipment and pharmaceuticals and
these, together with additional pharmaceuticals transported by us,
were taken to J.G. Hotel Residencial in Muchamiel, an animal
supermarket, where dogs were boarded, fish, birds, and other animals
were on sale, together with necessary equipment, and pet food
etc.,
The vet had a small room at the back of this
supermarket with an adjoining room to be used for recovery. The
“surgery” was set up and time was now advancing,
but two cats were sterilised, and taken back to our villa in
Muchamiel, about 5 miles from the surgery, to recover
overnight.
This supermarket had shop hours, and was open
from 9
a.m. till 2 p.m., re-opening after siesta from
5 p.m.till 9 p.m. Sunday it was closed all day. This was
restricting, but any cats dealt with in the later hours, were taken
back to the villa, recovering overnight in the conservatory. They
were checked in the morning and returned to their original site. The
whole day on Sunday the vet worked in the light, bright
conservatory, but of course everything needed had to be transported
there, and back again to the supermarket on Monday.
We found pockets of feral cats, say 5 or 6, in
lots of areas, which were all sterilised, avoiding large colonies in
the future, and these were being fed by local residents.
Whilst the local group continued trapping, we
made our way to Calpe, some 40 miles on, to a resident who had
contacted us prior to our visit, who was feeding a colony of 20
ferals including his own domestic cats. After two trips, we
sterilised nine, and a colleague who will be in Benidorm during
April, will sterilise the rest.
Whilst there, we were told how bad the problem
of ferals was at the port of Calpe. We looked around this area, and
made some enquiries On our return to the u.k., we were given the
name of a councillor who will be contacted before the next visit to
see if we can obtain permission to work there at the
port.
On a trip to a supermarket for our own
supplies, we found a very sick tabby male lying outside a rubbish
bin. We returned with a trap, and the smell of pilchards being too
hard to resist, he was trapped. Due to time factor, he was taken to
a vet known to the local group, to receive extended treatment for
very bad cat flue and a bulging eye. When better, he will be
neutered, and taken to an area where we have worked, to remain with
the other ferals who get fed. We hope he has the chance of a better
future!
A total of 86 feral cats were sterilised
48 female
38 male
9 kittens were aborted (two litters)
No euthanasia
Feral cats were seen and treated from the
following areas
El Campello Port
Pisnella
Amenador
Coveta
Calpe
Campello Town Hall
Busot Miguel
La Font
Bon Sol
Pueblo
Espaniol
El Molino
Rio Park
Torrevieja
Santa Pola
Caveta
Fuyma
Alkibir
Moraeva
Prensa
Campello
Raspeig
Solidad
Planta
Sala
All ferals were sterilised, and given
painkiller, long term penicillin, and worm injections. One male who
was obviously in a lot a pain, had a tooth extracted, and another
with only one eye, had the other socket cleaned out and filled with
penicillin cream. Most of the cats had very dry eyes, and were given
Rymadil eye drops to lubricate them. Ears were checked for mites and
treated, and Frontline spray for fleas was given. The left ear was
tipped, so they could be identified later.
We made other new contacts on this trip which
will be followed up in the future.
Also our Hague Convention document was taken to
a notary solicitor in Alicante to be finalised in
Spain
.
Six ANDA videos and leaflets which are being
translated regarding cat cafés were left with the local group, who
will distribute them to complexes on the beach areas in a effort to
help many large starving colonies of ferals around
hotels.
Before leaving, we made a final trip to
Campello port and saw some of the cats we had sterilsed lying in the
sun, cleaning themselves, and looking really content. It was a good
feeling to know they should now become an asset and not a
liability.
The restaurant owners like and
feed the cats, and were pleased they had been
sterilised.
We would like to thank our vet and nurse,
Louise and Mel for their hard work and team spirit, Pat for her
assistance and help, Pauline and Ron for their work, both before and
after this trip, Terry a brilliant trapper, the local trappers, and
the Association with whom we worked closely. All pharmaceuticals and
equipment were left with this Association, and funds permitting we
will return later this year.
We are pleased to report that during last year
we became Associated with the RSPCA International, and also became a
Member Society of WSPA (World Society for the Protection of
Animals).
We would like to give special thanks to both
the RSPCA. International and WSPA (World Society for the Protection
of Animals), together with the Alice Noakes Memorial Charitable
Trust for financial help, without which we would find it hard to
continue with this vital work.
Chairperson
January 2002
_________________________________________________________________
4th Visit to the mountainous area of Campello
due this November 2001
Costa Blanca Feral Cat Trust regrets being
unable to make its planned visit to the mountainous area of Campello
this November, due to circumstances beyond our control.
However, we have permission for a sterilisation
programme for ferals to go ahead in Campello town, and this visit
will take place in January 2002.
You can read our report on this visit in due
course.
V.Davis
Chairperson
Regd.Charity No 1074492 - in Assn.with the
R.S.P.C.A
-
Member Society of W.S.P.A.
(World
Society for the Protection of Animals)
November 2001
REPORT ON 3rd VISIT TO THE MOUNTAINOUS AREA OF
CAMPELLO
27 February – 6 March
2001.
THE TEAM:
FRED NIND
VETERINARY SURGEON
JULIE CARR VETERINARY
NURSE
PAULINE FIRKS
TRAPPER/DRIVER
TERRY FIRKS
TRAPPER/DRIVER
VERA DAVIS
ORGANISER
A party of 3 left Gatwick with drugs to meet up
with the vet at Alicante airport
late afternoon. The vet flew from Edinburgh, but due to snow had a
delayed flight. On his arrival they were delighted to find he had
brought an autoclave, which he kindly donated to our
Society.
A van was hired at Alicante airport to carry four and
transport cats to and from the surgery. The party made their way to
the pension this time situated in Busot,
which only had a brief visit in November due to time factor. We
discovered that there were many colonies in Busot and outlying
villages.
The following morning the surgery was set up by
the vet and nurse and work commenced on four cats already waiting.
Before our arrival adverts were placed in Spanish, English, German
and French papers, which proved to be very successful judging by the
numbers of cats arriving at the surgery. There was more help this
time by these residents, mainly German and English, in fetching and
returning the ferals after sterilisation. The work spread out on
this visit, as the locals were keen to make use of us, and pointed
out other colonies in much need of help.
Ferals were seen from the following
areas:
Pisnella
Pla Lloma
Coveta Fuma
Vero Caril
Hoya de los Patos
Venta la Nuza
Busot
Muchamiel
Allona
Alkabir
Pettrer
Venta la Hoya
Campello Harbour
A total of 100 cats were sterilised, given a
painkiller, antibiotic, multi-vitamin, de-worm, ear and throat
check, and Frontline flea spray. Also the left ear was tipped for
future identification.
Of these there were..........................42
male
.........................58 female
.........................There were 27 abortions
.........................No euthanasia.
Sadly three died. Post mortems were carried out
and the conclusion was that this was due to their possibly having
aids or leukaemia and not being able to accept the
anaesthetic.
We feel that due to the abortions made, it
would be better to make an earlier visit if possible in 2002 during
the month of January to spay before their 'season'
starts.
This was definitely the most successful trip to
date, due to word spreading amongst the villagers, and their seeing
the results of our previous visits, resulting in fewer numbers of
kittens.
A video and books in Spanish produced by ADDA
on the advantages of sterilisation and the setting up of cat cafes
were left with a vital resident, who promised to take copies of the
video and make good use of them. This resident is also a trustee of
a local group spaying/neutering etc., who worked closely with us on
this visit.
Before we returned home, a trap and crusher
were left with this Society (who do have a few traps) but wanted to
extend their work. Remaining drugs etc., were left at the surgery,
and funds permitting a fourth visit will take place this coming
November to continue this much needed work.
We would like to thank the following
people:
Vet Fred Nind, and vet nurse Julie Carr for
their thoughtful and caring work.
Pauline, Terry, Pat and Angelica, for driving,
ferrying and trapping in particular, and residents who were willing
to get involved.
The ANDA representative for use of the
surgery.
Many thanks to the residents who donated
towards treatment of their ferals.
SPECIAL THANKS to: World Society for the
Protection of Animals (WSPA), and the R.S.P.C.A. for grants towards
the cost of drugs.
V.Davis
Chairperson
__________________________________________________________________
PREVIOUS REPORTS
REPORT ON 2ND VISIT TO THE MOUNTAINOUS AREA OF
CAMPELLO
4th to 11th November
2000.
A party of four left Gatwick together with
drugs and recovery boxes, arriving Alicante late afternoon. The vet and
nurse flew from Bournemouth and arrived early evening. A van and
car were hired and picked up at the airport to transport cats to and
from the surgery. We all met up with the Anda representative in
Campello town, had a meal and discussed the coming week, as it was
considered too late to go to the surgery, which is a precarious area
in the dark.
An early start was made on Sunday morning
with the vet and nurse setting up the surgery. We were disappointed
to find that the locals had'nt brought any cats in as before. This
being the case, we made our way back to the areas worked last time,
to find other cats had joined the previous colonies. The cats in
these areas already treated were all looking very well, and one or
two had found a more permanent home!
This time we travelled further into the other
villages, and outlying areas, i.e. Busot, Forve de Vivre, Latorre,
Pla Lloma, And Petrer, El Pla, and managed to trap some cats,
although these areas were difficult to work in. We managed to locate
some locals, who led us to other outlying areas, and we did our best
here as well.
In most cases we found the villagers helpful,
although one Greek woman who had an army of ferals refused to have
females spayed, and said we would have to return for the males the
next day, when we were returning home! Unfortunately, we could offer
no help. We returned to the old town of Aigues where we continued to
trap.
We returned 6 cats and a dog, which we had
spayed and neutered to a Circus Rehabilitation Centre, many miles
away in Valle de Guadalest. They care for lions, pumas, tigers etc.
The Centre spokesman (a Dutchman) asked if we could help the ferals
in that area, as they are treated like rubbish, and many kittens are
thrown over the mountain.
A total of 6l animals were seen and treated. 33
females - 28 males. Of these there were 3 dogs - 2 already castrated
were treated with antibiotics and anti-inflamatories, and one was
castrated. Also l rabbit was castrated.
There were no abortions, but sadly one male cat
died on the operating table. It was discovered after a post mortem
that he had been in an accident, as all his intestines had been
pushed upwards into his diaphram, and therefore he was unable to
accept the anaesthetic.
All in all it was quite a successful visit with
us making new contacts who all wanted help in the future, but
travelling long distances was of course more time
consuming.
All drugs and equipment were left at the
surgery, and funds permitting we hope to return again early in
February to continue our work.
We would like to thank the Anda representative
for use of the surgery, and our vet and nurse for their caring and
thoughtful work.
Also a mention must be made of our Treasurer,
Mrs. Firks for the promotion and sale of her book "Wisdom Teachings"
every penny of which goes directly to the ferals of Costa Blanca.
Terry Firks proved his worth as a brilliant
trapper!
With special thanks to the RSPCA International
for their help with finance towards the cost of drugs, and the World
Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) for their continued
support, for without the help of both Societies we would be unable
to continue these visits.
Finally a thankyou to all concerned who helped
to make the lives of some ferals a little easier.
V.Davis
Chairperson
__________________________________________________________________
The following is a report on our visit
(11th - 18th November 1999) to the village of Aigues in
the mountainous area of Campello, Costa Blanca.
BACKGROUND
We originally intended to work in
Benidorm, but an offer of a villa for a surgery fell through. Whilst
speaking to a representative from ANDA of our disappointment, she
asked whether we could go to the village of Aigues high
up in the mountains. There are a group of four villages all with cat
colonies, but we concentrated mostly on Aigues.
The representative arranged for a disused
stables to be tiled both floor and walls for use as a surgery. This
was part of a private boarding kennels and the vet and nurses had
full access, including the kitchen, where some meals were taken by
them when they worked late into the evening.
ARRIVALThere were six in the party altogether, but
four of us arrived late evening on Thursday and picked up a hire car
from Alicante airport
from where we made our way to an arranged meeting point in the town
of Campello. We met
up with the representative and followed her up into the mountainous
region of Aigues and to the pension where we were to stay. As our
vet was not due to arrive until late Friday evening from Berlin, we
acquainted ourselves with the general layout of the village during
the day, spotting many cats on waste ground and generally setting up
the surgery with drugs etc., which had previously been obtained by a
Spanish vet known to ANDA. We could not trap as equipment sent by
the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) through a UK
carrier had failed to arrive ahead of us, although two veterinary
kits sent under separate cover had been picked up.The vet was duly
picked up from Alicante airport on Friday evening and we all had a
welcome drink in the taberna situated opposite the pension which was
to become our meeting place on and off during our stay also for some
of our meals.On Saturday morning one remaining nurse arrived early
at Alicante and we were then all in place.
THE WORKWSPA were contacted on Friday regarding the
situation of non-arrival of traps and crushers and immediately
another urgent order was placed by them with the carrier. Up to the
time of their arrival however, we were only able to use one
automatic trap lent by a Spanish vet.We worked in the first instance
in the same street as the pension, with most of the villagers being
made aware of our visit by the representative before our arrival and
they were willing to have their feral cats spayed/neutered. In fact,
six cats had been brought to the surgery in readiness for the vet to
start work early Saturday morning. We managed with one trap until
Monday, when two traps arrived followed by two more on Tuesday. No
crushers though. We worked behind the local Church where there are
many ferals, being fed by a Spanish resident. All cats seemed to be
in reasonably good condition, but there were kittens who had cat
flu. We managed to catch some of the kittens, who were taken back,
treated and remained in isolation, being looked after by the
representative with more medication until they were well enough to
be returned to site, after our return to the UK. On receiving our traps,
these were placed in a garage opposite the Church and we had some
success here. l6 cats of one colony were treated from Sella being
brought in in stages.We managed also to spay/neuter all but one of a
colony behind an orchard. He had appeared to go to ground. Bearing
in mind we only had use of the full number of traps for two days,
together with cats brought in we managed to spay/neuter a total of
6l cats broken down as follows:-
58
cats -
33 female, 25 male 3 kittens - 1 female, 2 male (These
were old enough to be spayed/neutered). There were no abortions or
euthanasia. One small dog had been in a fight and had a puncture to
the muscle of the left flank. The muscle was repaired with stitches
and he was kept in care until fully recovered and returned to
owners. Cats were seen from:
Aigues
Campello
Sella
Los Arlos
La
Font
San Juan
Torre Mansanas
All equipment, veterinary kits and remainder of
drugs were left at the surgery and we understand a Spanish vet and
nurse, known to the ANDA representative will be giving some free
time to continue with the work.I understand since our visit
enquiries have been made at the Town Hall about our return, and
requesting their village be included for help in the future. It
would be a good thing if all four villages were cleaned up and then
if permission granted, work extended into Campello itself, where
there appears to be many colonies in need of help. This could then
extend in time along the coast to Calpe. All in all it was a successful visit,
with goodwill amongst most villagers and ourselves. Funds
permitting, we hope to make a return visit the first week in
November. spaying/neutering the many kittens now having grown and
re-producing.
With special thanks to:
World Society for the Protection of Animals
(WSPA) for the supply of all equipment and veterinary kits.
R.S.P.C.A. for help towards the cost of
drugs.
Thanks also to all concerned who gave
their time and energy to help some of the very many feral
cats. |
