Javea Grapevine Issue 180 - LARGE FONT EDITION | Page 20
The First National Animal Welfare
Conference Speakers in Summary
Amalia Melendreras Montesinos from the Veterinary College stressed
the need to get accurate veterinary reports to ensure prosecution in
animal abuse cases. Amalia is responsible for the SIAMU Microchip
Database in Murcia (http://www.siamu.org/iframes/quees.asp) which
links to the Europetnet Microchip Database operated by Dr Michel
Schoffeniels, a qualified vet working in Belgium and the founder of
Europetnet Microchip Database.
Michel explained to the group how the whole system works; see more on
the PAES website: www.proteccionanimales.es.
Mandy Marshall from SAS (San Animal Santuario in Aguilas) spoke
about the group’s experience of Trap-Neuter-Return to keep down cat
colonies and poignantly, Jill Sylvester spoke about keeping yourself
safe when you are working in animal welfare. It’s easy to get involved
and put yourself in danger, physical and emotional. Jill explained how to
avoid this.
Raquel López Teruel of DeAnimals, is one of only three specialists
lawyers in Spain specialising in animal welfare. Raquel explained the
complications of the law process in cases of animal abuse and stressed
how essential it is to do things right to ensure a prosecution. She has
great success with some horrendous cases and wants to encourage
more lawyers to specialise and make a difference.
Vivienne Wharton, President of ACTIN and joint promoter of the
National Animal Welfare Conference, expresses her thanks to Raquel
for what she has done on some difficult cases this past 12 months.
“Without Raquel, her professionalism and her extremely hard work, we
would never have got as far we have. She helped us secure rescues we
would not have accomplished alone; I cannot thank her enough”.