Milord was left in a field to die

Cristina Pascual lives in Palencia, in northern Spain. She rescues many abandoned dogs in that area, and saves lives. There is a municipal dog pound that receives government funding, but the conditions in that pound are deplorable, and the people in charge are under investigation for questionalble mistreatment of the animals.

The following is the story of Milord, a German Shepard who was left in a field to die. Cristina put out a desparate plea for help, and her message reached animal lovers in several different countries.

"Dear Isabel,

You don't know me, but I have heard of you and of the work that you do. I, too, rescue abandoned animals, rehabilitae them, and then find homes for them. First I will give you a few preliminary facts. I live in Palencia, and we have an animal shelter here where I used to volunteer for 3 years.

I don't think we will get anywhere with this, but I feel that I must try. The problem we have is that we can not take abandoned animals to that shelter because they will be euthanised.

I was informed that in a local village in this area, out in a field, there was a dog who had been very badly beaten two month previously, and was beaten so badly that his hind legs were so injured that he could only drag them behind him. We went to rescue him, and after having x-rays taken we found that he has no broken bones.

After treating him with cortisone for 15 days, he recovered and was able to stand, and could walk but would stumble when doing so. The Altarriba foundation told me that they would help me to find him a home. The immediate problem is that we have him boarded at a dog kennel which is costing us 7 euros per day, plus the expense of medicine, the microchip, rabies vaccine, deworming, parasite treatment, etc.

The house that I rent is filled with dogs and cats that I've rescued, and I am paying 180 euros per month to the kennel to board 3 other dogs that I also rescued.

His injury is a herniated spine, and it is clear that his back is not broken because he is able to stand. Here in Palencia they do not perform this type of surgical operation. We would need to take him to Leon, but cannot afford to do so, as we are out of money. We could not afford to continue to pay for the kennel, as we are still paying for the other 3 dogs to stay there. And if we were abel to find the money for the operation, he would need round the clock care. And if he were left paralysed, who would want him?

He has such a strong desiere to live, and he is very affectionate.

My name is Cristina, and I must make a decision soon, but I know that my conscience will haunt me afterwards. I don't know of any place that could care for this dog after his operation. He would need to be immobile, I just don't know. I am sending you another email with photos of him, one in the field where we found him so that you can see how he drags his hind legs, and the other at the kennel after he had recovered. Now he is back to the way he was at the beginning. His name is Milord, but we call him "Perrin". He is about one year old.

Cristina"

(Translated by Michael Rodrigue)

There was an outpour of help, and it was heart warming to see how many people pitched in to help Cristina save the life of this dog. He required a number of opeations at a veterinary clinic that was more than a 2 hour drive from where Cristina lives.

Milord had his surgery, and Cristina was offered the help that she needed to nurse him back to health. The word reached so many people that before long Milord had his new forever family waiting to adopt him.

Today Milord lives in Barcelona with his forever family, Angel and Chantal. He would have died in that field if it had not been for Cristina, and her tireless efforts to find help for him. Her dedication is truly commendable.

Since then, Cristina has formed an organsation called "Asociación de Socorro Animal Amigos de Milord". She and a group of volunteers are extremely devoted to the cause of helping the homeless and abandoned animals of Palencia, where the situation is critical. They use their own money, and that of donations. They have made several visits to the municipal dogpound and have filed formal complaints against the pound for its mistreatment of the animals. Cristina and her associates have now been banned from entering the premises.

It is time for the Spanish government to come into the 21st century and change its outdated laws regarding animals. There is a need for humane education campaigns throughout the country, as well as for a spay/neuter campaign. The government will not subsidise any "no kill" organisation. Consequently, the municipal dog pounds receive the funding, and the conditions are frightful in most of them.

Thanks to people like Cristina, there are thousands of animals being saved every year in Spain.

Story by Michael Rodrigue