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I have mentioned before that in Spain there is a fable which tells of some dogs born under a star and other unfortunates who have to be guided by their own fate. For Toby there was most certainly a star shining for him.
Toby was found in one of the worst conditions I have seen in the time I have worked with the Animal Protectora. He had a large gaping wound in his side, badly infected and maggot infested because it was several weeks old, he was emancipated through lack of food, severley dehydrated and had just acquired a more recent injury of a broken paw which hung disentended from his leg caused by an entanglement with a motor vehicle.
He laid by the dusty roadside in the dirt and gravel, his large soulful eyes appealing for help whilst people avoided and tried to ignore his plight and endeavoured to step around him. Not everyone was able to walk by, fortunately for Toby one of our SPAMA volunteers saw him and after caring for him overnight brought him into the Protectora’s care. The severity of his condition prompted an immediate journey to our veterinary clinic for his wounds and injuries to be treated urgently.
One of our first most basic procedures when an animal is brought into our care is to scan for a microchip, a microchip reveals a unique number and by checking with the central register the owner’s name, address and telephone number can be identified. Toby was microchipped and whilst our vets set about treating his injuries his owners were telephoned and within 30 minutes were out our Alqueria clinic.
It transpired that this little fella had been on his way with his owners to a grooming parlour in the centre of Gandia, was startled, slipped his harness and then frightened and anxious by the noise, ran off and quickly disappeared.
For six weeks he remained lost, each day becoming more distressed and confused with the added problem of not being used to providing food for himself he quickly lost weight and weakened. Each day dawning brought with it more unknown terrors.
He was found some 20 kms from where he disappeared, how he got there no-one will ever know. But what is known is that now he safely back with his loving owners who had searched unrelentlessly for him, visiting our Gandia Kennels on four occasions in the six weeks he disappeared
It is a legal requirement in Spain to have your dog microchipped. As a registered charity all our dogs must be microchipped on release. Responsible dog owners act legally and get their dogs microchipped immediately, remember not all abandoned and lost animals are collected by charities, some ajuntamientos contract private agencies to collect the animals, sending them off to a certain death.
Microchipping will save the animals life and ensures the return to their owner. The moral of this story is having your Dog or Cat Microchipped it works ask Toby…….
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