Mishandling of Animals

The mishandling of animals is unfortunately, still on the daily agenda.  Daily I get reports and complaints about pets or farm animals not being properly cared for, ie. tied and bound animals without enough water and food, weak and/or sick cats that have been stoned, beaten mules and goats that have been poisoned.  They will never again see the light of day.

And what are we doing?  None of us is willing to talk to our neighbors about stopping the mistreatment, most likely because we are afraid, or don't wish to cause a problem or just are not interested.  Therefore, there are laws that are being ignored (not enforced).  Why are they being ignored?  Isn't abandonment, mistreatment and poisoning of animals against the law?  Does it make a coward proud to hurt defenseless animals?  If the government won't do anything about it the we will!

Here we are all living directly and/or indirectly from Tourism and from the good name of the Island.  We want La Gomera to remain the beautiful and loved place that it is and that people remember it's beauty and surroundings.  We want those visitors to come again next year and spend their saved money here such that they can tell all of their friends how nice it is on La Gomera.

Somehow, I am convinced that the picture of how some animals live is not the best memory that a tourist can have.  

We are doing something!  Whether it's because of sympathy, or the law to be enforced, or just to do something worthwhile, or because we are interested, we will look after these animals.

Dominique Lecroc