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This is Chico, he was a well known
resident of La Marina, many of you will recognise him
as he has been wandering around the
urbanisation for many years. People have tried to home him
but he could never settle, he always escaped to roam
the streets, sometimes jumping over high walls and gates to be
free. Even so, he has been fed and looked after by a
number of caring people over a period of 14 years or more, he
was regarded by many as the La Marina mascot. In recent
years he could be seen on the pavement near the gate where
his dog pal lives, with a Spanish lady owner, in Avenida San
Fulgencio, La Marina. When she came out with her dog to take it
for a walk Chico always got excited, played with the dog,
accompanied them into the pine forest and back again, and settled
down again outside the gate. This lady fed and looked
after Chico for years.
Subsequently, Bernard and Dorothy
Lewis were taking their dog for a
walk along the forest road and were just about to go into
the pine forest on their usual treck. They knew Chico as he
was usually in the area. When they got near to the
spanish lady that cared for Chico they could see that she
and her friend were concerned about something. Using
his best 'Spanglish' Bernard understood that there was
something wrong with Chico. He and his wife decided
to walk their dog the usual route and at the same
time search for Chico. After about half a
kilometer they came across Chico laid on his
side in the pine forest. Bernard could see that he
was conscious but looked very ill, he
immediatelly went back to fetch his car. He told the two
spanish ladies about his discovery and they were very
upset. One of them, Chico's guardian for many years, was
too distressed to accompany him, the other spanish lady
decided to go with Bernard. He brought his car back to the
spot and placed Chico in the back, this in itself was very unusual
for Chico as he would never allow himself to be touched
or petted by any person in the past, now he allowed
Bernard to lift him into the car. They took
Chico to the San Anton vets in Guardamar. After an
examination they were told that the
dog was old and very ill with heartworm
disease, and, that he would not recover from this. Chico
was put to sleep.
Bernard &
Dorothy Lewis paid for Chicos final treatment and we
are grateful to them for their concern and assistance
in making sure that Chico's suffering was not
prolonged. The two spanish ladies offered to pay towards Chicos
treatment, Bernard and Dorothy informed them that this was not
necessary.
The day before he was found in the pine
forest Liz and Yvonne Lewis (no relation to Bernard and Dorothy)
were sat at a table outside Dos Mas cafeteria having
a coffee. They have known Chico for many years and, like
many others, have helped to care for him. On
this occasion, unusually, he came close to them and almost
demanded attention. They fed and watered him and he even took food
from Yvonne's hand. Yvonne then took the photo of Chico that you can
see on this page with her phone/camera. They are both convinced that
he was saying goodbye to them.
If you knew Chico and have some information or a
story to tell about him please send an email to lamarina@lamarina.info and tell us about it, or phone (0034) 966 797
570.
EMAIL RECEIVED FROM
CANADA:
Hopefully this email will reach
you. My niece who lives in La Marina sent me a photocopy of the sad
article about Chico, and the print is quite faded. So I do
hope that I have the correct email address.The story brought tears
to my eyes. Anyway We live in Canada, but because of having
family in Spain we have travelled there on 3 occasions. Each time me
looking out for Chico. Of course I never found out his name
until now. We would always either drive or walk around that way
so that we could see him. The first time I was quite upset as I
thought he had been abandoned, as he was there no
matter what time of day in the tremendous heat. I would often stop
to talk to him, but realised that he wanted me to stay my
distance, I began to take him a treat, which he would not take
from me, so I left it on the sidewalk for him. As we
walked away I kept looking back, he made no attempt to eat the
treat, But I took comfort in the fact that he was waiting until we
were out of sight. I used to become quite concerned if he was
not at "His Post" but on occasion we would be in the village having
a snack, funnily enough at Dos Mas as our niece's husband
Serafin works there, and all of a sudden I would look up and
there was Chico slowly plodding behind a lady, that I presumed
was the person that was leaving water out for him. My sister-in-law
Joan used to tell me when I expressed my concern, that he was
quite well fed and watered, that a lot of people looked out for him.
I was so sorry to read that he had been put to sleep, but it was
obviously the humane thing to do. They are very pro heartworm
medication here in Canada, and thankfully we can put our
own dog on the medication. If only that had been available for
him. Thank goodness for people like the
ones mentioned in your article, at least Chico was looked
after at the end.
I will miss seeing him on our
next visit to La Marina. After reading the story, I went looking
through my photos of our trip and in the album was a photo of Chico.
I am sure he knew that he tugged at my heartstrings. I remember our
last night in Spain, Richard our brother-in-law was driving us to
Alicante airport, It was pouring down.and pitch black, my eyes were
peeled as we rounded the bend,for one last glimpse of him
hoping that he would not be outside in that weather, I could not see
him, I would like to believe that he was getting shelter
somewhere.
Thank-you
Vanessa Richardson
SON OF
CHICO
Son of Chico (Mario) was one of the twelve
dogs that was taken from the street to a spanish dog pound
where all the dogs are in cages on a concrete floor,
sometimes ten in one cage, with no sanitation and no
execise. If a dog becomes ill there is no treatment
and sometimes just left to die.We rescued him from there and he
was welcomed at Finca Lucendum by Ralf and Gisela.
 UPDATE... MARIO WAS KILLED
IN A TRAGIC ACCIDENT SHORTLY AFTER MEETING HIS NEW OWNERS IN
GERMANY, HE WAS HIT BY A CAR. WE ARE ALL DEVASTATED BY
THIS NEWS.
Can you give a donation to help pay for
one or more dogs to be rescued and transferred to an animal hotel
where they will be properly cared for until re-homed? Please click here or telephone
Mark on 654 027 748 or email k9club@lamarina.info
You can help us to save and re-home
others by making a donation. Please click
here
Please remember that dogs have been
domesticated by us, they have been
bred over thousands of years to depend on people. They
are not wild animals and cannot survive in the wild.
We are responsible for their well being or there demise. Many other
abandoned pets are out there wandering
around looking for someone who cares enough to take
the time to stop and help. The local animal
welfare volunteers in this area are out there every day
rescueing abandoned lost dogs and cats. These volunteer groups
are are self funding, they rely purely on donations
and fund raising through market stalls etc. (all animals rescued
must receive veterinary treatment and care to assist in their
recovery before they can be advertised and
re-homed). They give up their own time and at times their
money to help abandoned and helpless animals. If you would like
to volunteer by becoming a fosterer, or by helping to collect brick
a brack for sale on the stalls please let us
know.
Telephone: 654 027
748.
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