The Live Arico Animal refuge has been closed and the dogs being homed there moved, that is a fact.
There are videos circulating the internet showing alleged cruelty by, now former, charity workers and rumours of mismanagement of funds. But as always with such an emotive issue as animal welfare there are at least two sides to every story.
Two press releases follow , one from the Granadilla Local authority and the other from Linda Smethurst and Siobhan Ferguson, representatives of the charity.
The Municipality of Granadilla de Abona (Tenerife) has closed the kennels located in Atogo. The site has been cleared and about 10,000 kilos of rubbish have been removed.
The pound was managed by the Live Arico charity, whose members helped move the dogs along with council and Tenerife Cabildo staff. The animals have been transferred to a facility in Fasnia.
On July 16 Granadilla City Council agreed to initiate disciplinary proceedings for;
alleged infringement of the law on protection of animals, to whit, keeping animals in improper installation, from the standpoint of health and hygiene, being inadequate for giving proper care and attention.
As a precautionary measure, the City proceeded with the removal of the animals since there was evidence of infringement to the corresponding disciplinary resolution.
The animals are already in the Fasnia facilty, which will be managed by the Canarian Federation of Associations of Protectors of Animals and Plants (Fedcap).
Meanwhile disciplinary proceedings initiated by the local Council against Live Arico are ongoing and should be resolved in the coming months.
Live Arico Press Release.
The last few months have been very difficult for everyone. The refuge at Atogo was closed due to the lack of proper licenses and failing various assessments, and this has meant a new home for the dogs in Fasnia.
Live Arico founder member and primary carer of the dogs Eugenio Da Mommio has resigned, following alleged issues at the refuge, and we cannot comment further at this time.
Linda Smethhurst (arranging flight for dogs travelling abroad) and myself, Siobhan Ferguson (working in the charity shop), were not on the committee at the time of the alleged incident. We have taken on the running of the Association at present. A new committee is in the process of being formed. Many people have asked why we have not closed the Association down, which would have been the easiest thing to do, however there are a few reasons.
Live Arico has, over the years accumulated debts, owed predominately to two small local businesses; we will endeavour to clear this debt as a matter of decency and moral obligation.
We understand the massive challenge that now faces Refugio Fasnia in financing the new shelter. The City Council has designated the FECAPAP to manage the refuge, they will be responsible for the daily care and medical needs, adoptions and neutering. If you would like to donate or give practical help, please contact the centre directly. We wish Adriana Naranjo and the team of old and new volunteers every success with Refugio Fasnia. For all adoptions, please call Heidi on 682 517045. The priority, as always is to get the dogs a permanent loving home. Heidi speaks Spanish, English and German and awaits your call. We will continue to fund-raise for all animal welfare organisations as an independent association, and, with continued support, shall be donating funds on a regular basis. The information of what we have donated to the various groups will be posted on the Facebook wall, the local forums and in the local press.
Since July 23rd Live Arico has donated 400€ in cash, and paid 200€ on 26th July for food, 300€ on 30th July for food and 300€ on 6th August for food to the Fasnia Refuge.
We would like to thank the volunteers in the shops who have shown great commitment to the welfare of the dogs and continued to raise money, despite the controversy surrounding them.
The association in the past has re-homed many hundreds of dogs, but big changes are under way and part of this is a change of aims and objectives. Live Arico will no longer accept stray or abandoned dogs. The new committee’s aim is to ‘provide economic and non economic help and assistance to animal welfare groups in Tenerife’. This will take various forms including financial assistance as stated above, neutering programmes and vaccination programmes. Further details will be released soon.
We take this opportunity of thanking the many supporters and friends who over the years have enabled thousands of dogs to be re-homed.
Special thanks to Sue Havenhand, who has resigned as President to take a well earned rest. Her energy and commitment over her years of fund-raising has helped to raise hundreds of thousands of euros for the abandoned dogs of this island. Our thanks will never be enough.
Now we look forward to the future, which may soon mean a new name, and with your help and continued support, we hope we can make a real difference. Don’t forget if you have any unwanted goods we would love you to donate them to any of the shops so we can continue to assist the various organisations here in Tenerife.
Linda Smethurst/ Siobhan Ferguson
Have Your Say