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On 3 November, 2001, shelter workers at the Tarragona shelter discovered 15 dogs who had been removed from the shelter and mutilated. (Click here to read about it.) To honor these dogs and to raise awareness that more needs to be done for the homeless dogs and cats like them, a memorial service was held on 2 November 2002. Many people and a few of their pets attended. Luis Luque, Director of The Altaribba Foundation gave a speech. The Fundación Altarriba is an organization created exclusively with the purpose of contributing to the protection of animals. It also seeks to influence the Spanish society to improve attitudes towards animals. Local government representatives also spoke. The tragic event of last year has brought many people together to work for the animals in Spain and has had the effect of bringing animal welfare issues to the fore. Many newspapers, radio and TV reports covered the event and later, subsequent issues and pending legislation. The lives of these 15 dogs who were so cruelly treated has been the basis of a groundswell of events, support and media coverage to help all animals throughout Spain.
Children playing with some of the puppies at the shelter.
Attendees of the Memorial Service. The main shelter building is in the back, in white. This is the building that was broken into last year.
Workers from city hall, in green, look on.
Attendees of the Memorial Service.
A Memorial flower arrangement presented on benalf of the Altaribba Foundation by its Director, Luis Luque.
Luis Luque speaking with an official from the local government.
A shelter dog tied to the olive tree where the dogs were tortured last year. After sniffing the flowers, he promptly marked them as his own.
There are also lots of cats at the shelter in a separate building with an open, fenced area for them.
Attendees listening to Mr. Luque's speech.
Many of the shelter dogs were roaming around the surrounding area. Several media representatives were on hand to take pictures and video and conduct interviews. Anna and Nancy were pictured in the Barcelona paper the next day along with an article on the event.
The olive tree that was used to tie the dogs to before mutilating them.
A shelter dog.
The shelter has many "rooms" in which dogs are kept based on their size. These are some of the larger dogs.
A very sad little dog who seems to have lost all hope.
More of the littlest dogs at the shelter.
The main shelter building for the dogs. Note the new sign announcing an alarm system near the top, right of the door.
One of the cats looking for some attention and a new home.
The small dogs running loose were very popular with the kids.
One of the dogs who is loving the attention and belly scratches.
Sara, the galga (now in America!), Anna Clements of SOS Galgos and Nancy Korman of AEGA under the olive tree.
In the old city of Tarragona two boys under a painted horse and an old Art Nouveau (Moderniste) storefront.
Anna and Sara choosing flowers to bring to the Memorial Service.
The Cathedral in the old city.
Nancy and Sara near a fountain.
Anna and Sara near the old city walls. |
