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”.