Soltalk January 2020 | Page 50

Happy New Year! She has a shy personality but once she gets to know a person she is quite affectionate and gets along well with other dogs and is okay with cats. Marilyn is spayed, vaccinated and in good health and just needs a chance to show her loving side. 2020, imagine that. Another decade begins and the Costa Animal Society (CAS) will soldier on doing the best we can to help the homeless, abandoned and/or abused animals in Nerja and its near environs. Despite a sense of always feeling overwhelmed, progress on the issue of animal rights and welfare has been made in recent years in Spain. Not from the politicians of course (aside from an exemplary few) but primarily from the under-40 Spaniards who appear to have a sense of justice, conscientiousness and compassion, certainly surpassing that of previous generations. Hector is a young medium-sized male dog who is very playful and friendly. He gets along well with other dogs and loves people but would have to be tried with a cat for compatibility. Hector is castrated and about two years old and is waiting in kennels for his forever home. CAS would encourage you to visit the website of the Partido Animalista PACMA (https://pacma.es), the Spanish political party that “works for animal rights, environmental protection and social justice”. Unfortunately, the website is only in Spanish but you can always Google translate. They are at the forefront of the issue of animal rights in Spain and are growing quickly. The only way the issue of animal abuse is going to be solved is if the laws on the books are enforced and new laws enacted and that is what PACMA is all about. If you would like to meet one of the animals under CAS’s care and are looking to adopt or are willing to foster a pet please contact Kurt and Laura at 95 252 1426 or Fiona through the CAS website www.casnerja.webs.com, or Facebook page \casnerja. Happy Tales! Portia was adopted from CAS towards the end of 2008 by a nice retired lady and lived a wonderful life in a home for over ten years. Unfortunately, her owner passed away early last year and her family could not take Portia so she was returned to the care of CAS and placed in kennels. At first, Portia spent much of her time in her bed and considering her advanced age and the sudden change in her surroundings late in life it was thought she might be depressed. CAS arranged a foster home for Portia in the hopes her spirits would rise but her lethargy continued and she began losing her fur. Marilyn Hector Colin and Marjorie The Costa Animal Society would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Marjorie and Colin for all their years of service as both volunteers and committee members. The couple began helping CAS in 2002 and for more than 17 years they have raised funds at the Almuñecar Car Boot Sale, the Trapiche Market and have lent a helping set of hands at numerous Scruffs Dog Shows, Balls and various other events. Not to mention the numerous dogs and cats they have fostered and taken in over the years. We will miss your input and commitment in helping the animals and we hope you enjoy your well deserved retirement. Portia Punta Lara CAS Quiz She was taken to the vet for blood tests and it was discovered she suffered from a thyroid condition. After about six months the foster family decided to keep Portia permanently and now that she is being treated with the correct medicine she has a new lease on life. The Costa Animal Society would like to give a big thanks to Mark and the staff at the Punta Lara Bar, as well as to all the participants in CAS quiz held there each month, for providing a fun atmosphere for the event. Available for adoption! Most of the €230 (on average) raised each month goes towards feeding the street cats in our area. Marilyn is a small to medium-sized female, Alsatian type dog who is about two years old and has lived in kennels most of her life. She was rescued from the campo between Torrox and Cómpeta as a young pup and was placed in kennels because there was no foster home available. The next quiz will be held on January 24 at 7.30pm. Come on up to the Punta Lara Bar for a good evening of trivia. Food and drinks are available at the bar and advanced booking is recommended by calling Mark at 635 369 673. 48