Blithe Spirit raised money for CAS

The Nerja Players' February production of Blithe Spirit at the Nerja Cultural Centre raised a total of 200€.

The cheque was presented to Wendy Thorne President of CAS who expressed her thanks to everyone involved.


Photo Left to right:
Roger Smeaton, Wendy Thorne (CAS). Joan Tarver, Norma Smeaton.

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CAS Success at the Nerja Residents’ Day

The weather threatened to spoil the 2009 Residents’ Day held in Nerja this month. Undaunted, participants erected the tents, set out their stalls and then flourished in the sunshine.



The CAS tent was popular, not only for the Tombola, but also to look at the photos of dogs looking for homes and the plethora of information provided in 4 languages – Spanish, English, German and Dutch. Folks then satisfied their hunger and thirst at the CAS refreshment tent.

A total of €700 was raised on the day!

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Records always broken by CAS

Good News - record number of dogs and cats homed this past month – as of today it is 11 dogs and 4 cats

Bad News – in addition to the dogs on the website www.casnews.info we have a waiting list of 32 PUPPIES waiting to go on the website and to find homes.

We are desperate to help the people who find the puppies abandoned in a variety of places – rubbish bins, waste grounds, drainage pipes, caves, by the roadside etc. etc. etc.
It is the same story with other animal societies up and down the coast.

We beseech those finding new born puppies or kittens (eyes not open) to take them immediately to the nearest vet. They will be euthanised in a gentle manner. Once the eyes are opened – the vets will not euthanise and the problem just grows and grows.

We need a National Crusade to get owners to neuter their dogs and cats

Vet treatments in the past month include 6 dogs spayed and 4 cats castrated- as well as all the usual worm, tic and flea treatments.

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Scruffs International - 23 May 2009 in Cómpeta

The Costa Animal Society organizes the annual Scruffs International Dog Show on May 23rd at the Pavo Real Bar Restaurant in Cómpeta (MA). Sponsored by: Dynamicbroadband by nerjasolutions.com

There will be Stalls, a Giant Raffle, Bars & BBQ. Plus lots of shaded areas !
Registration at 13:00, Judging at 14:00. 12 classes - 3 trophies & gifts in each class

This year we are proud to announce that the international portrait painter Heather Gail Harman will present the Best in Show Trophy and do a free portrait of the winning dog.
Having exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery, London, Heather has painted winners of Crufts Dog Show in the UK and now brings her talent to Scruffs International

For more information: Jane Kirk - 616 5300 71 - janekirkspain@gmail.com

CLASSES :
1. Pedigree Dog over1 year
2. Pedigree Bitch over 1 year
3. Non-Pedigree Bitch over 1 year
4. Non-Pedigree Dog over 1 year
5. Best Pedigree under 1 year
6. Best Non-Pedigree under 1 year
7. Best 6 legs (dog=4, you=2)
8. Best Rescued Bitch
9. Best Rescued Dog
10. Best Child and Dog
11. Fancy Dress – dog & owner
12. Best Senior Dog or Bitch (over 8 years)

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May Events

An Evening at the Playa Maro Hotel - Wednesday May 6
Buffet with wine. Entertainment with Andy Tine
7.30 for 8.00pm Tickets 22€

CAS Quiz at Burriana Properties, Burriana Beach - Sunday May 10
7 for 7.30pm. Meal with Wine included. Booking essential 9 Euros if booked and prepaid at Cas Office. 12 Euros on the night. To book Tel 952523607

SCRUFFS (Cómpeta) 2009 - Saturday May 23
Our annual Competa dog show at the Pavo Real
Ten Classes. Registration (5€ per dog per class)
Regstration 1.00pm. Judging 2.00pm
Stalls, Barbecue.
A great family day out !

The Cefn Hengoed Ladies Choir - Thursday May 28
concert in Aid of CAS at the Nerja Cultural Centre commencing 8.00pm.
Tickets at 10 Euros are available direct from the Box Office

Cómpeta Quiz at La Roca, Cómpeta - Sunday May 31
7 for 7.30pm. Entrants 3€.
Food available. Raffle & Prizes

CAS SUMMER "PINK" BALL at the Hotel Al Andaluz, Maro - Saturday June 6
Pre-dinner Drinks & Canapes, 3 Course Meal with Wine.
Dancing to Mark Peters of Global Radio.
Tickets 35 Euros.
Make up a table of 10 or more and get 1 place free!
Menu selection in the CAS Office


To book: CAS office (10.00am-1.00pm) on 952 523607.
Out of office hours telephone - Vera on 95 252 9670/630003450 or Sheila on 630003473
All Coach trips pick up at The Monica Hotel, Iranzos, Nerja Club Hotel,
Marinas Hotel Bus Stop and the Torrox Roundabout

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Interested in Sponsoring The Scruffs International Dog Show ?

Costa Animal Society

Scruffs International
Dog Show
May 23rd 2009. Registration 13:00. Judging 14:00
Pavo Real Bar-Restaurant, Torrox-Cómpeta Road Km 9.5

We need Sponsors for each of the 12 Classes to be judged.
€70 per trophy class ( 3 trophies)

An un-missable chance for not only massive publicity but also to be connected with our charity and to help the animals.

Sponsors are invited to present their trophies and are free to use the photographs for their own publicity purposes.

Our photographs will be published on the CAS Website and Blog, as well as in the local press – newspapers and magazines.

Believe me - the words “Sponsor of the Scruffs International Dog Show” bring so much good will in this region !
For a chance to sponsor one of the trophies listed below contact me today!
(Jane Kirk 616 5300 71 & janekirkspain@gmail.com )

A limited number of stalls are available at a cost of €20
It is also possible to sponsor doggie gifts, doggie neckerchiefs, the rosettes, and the programme.

Especially in difficult economic times Scruffs International offers amazing publicity opportunities. English, Spanish, German and Dutch

Call Jane 616 5300 71, or email janekirkspain@gmail.com

Serious problem prompts slight change to arrangements for fosterers

Jane maintains the website that we use to find homes for abandoned dogs, puppies, cats & kittens. ( www.casnews.info )
Without the support of people like you, we couldn’t help the animals at all.
So a very big Thank You !

As you may know, we find homes for lots of dogs in The Netherlands and Germany.
98% of the time things go like clockwork and the dogs get loving homes.
It’s that 2% that is worrying us today...

Recently, a Dutch lady agreed to foster a dog here in Spain until I could home it.
It took about 6 weeks, during which time she asked us a couple of times to try harder !
The dog was seen by a Dutch person and a visit to that person’s home in Holland was made by the volunteers of the Dutch charity, HzH.
The woman here in Spain was kept aware of all the arrangements day by day.
The Dutch people signed a contract with the charity, paid the expenses and celebrated with their two children!
Someone was booked to fly to Málaga and back to Holland with this dog and 2 others.
It was time to get the “flying” dogs micro-chipped in the name of HzH.

Clockwork – as usual!

But not this time.......

The woman chose this time to say that she would not release the dog to its new owners!
Nothing we could say would change her mind. The President of the Dutch charity wrote to her explaining the legal implications of her refusal and further explaining that her refusal put in jeopardy the continued partnership of CAS & HzH.

It has been a very difficult few weeks for all of us.

As a result, I must ask each fosterer to send me an email that gives me & CAS a guarantee that, should we find a home for the dog, it will be released to us when requested.
Please ensure that the name(s) of your fostered dog(s) appear in the Subject Line of the email.

Of course – if you manage to find a home for the dog yourself – let me know immediately and we’ll celebrate with you … and the dog !

Just My Dog (poem)

He's just my dog. He is my other eyes that can see above the clouds; my other ears that hear above the winds.
He has told me more than a thousand times over that I am his reason for being -- by the way he rests against my leg, by the way he thumps his tail at my smallest smile, by the way he shows his hurt when I leave without taking him. (I think it makes him sick with worry when he is not along to care for me).

When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive.

When I am angry he clowns to make me smile.

When I am happy, he is joy unbounded.

When I am a fool, he ignores it. When I succeed, he brags. Without him, I am only another person. With him, I am all powerful.

He has taught me the meaning of devotion is loyalty itself. With him, I know the secret comfort and a private peace. He has brought me understanding where before I was ignorant. His head on my knee can heal my human hurts. His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things.

He has promised to wait for me ... whenever ... wherever ... in case I need him, and I expect I will, as I always have.

Who is he? -- He's just MY DOG!

- Author Unknown

Webpage Gallery is a Hit!

As most will know, our financial position has meant that only a very few, urgent dogs can be placed in kennels - the rest are fostered by a band of over 40 wonderful, wonderful people.

The task of telling others about each dog and remembering with whom each animal is fostered is extremely time consuming and complex.
Accordingly, I entered the slightly scary Webpage World !

At the time of writing there are 66 dogs and several cats on the Gallery website.
We have been extremely busy answering enquiries and have homed an ever increasing number of dogs.

Take a look – you never know – your next dog could be waiting there...

Remember that muzzle

We recently took four more dogs to the airport so they could fly to new homes in The Netherlands. One of the dogs was a German Shepherd and guess who forgot to take a muzzle for him...

The airport security staff soon reminded me and all we could do at the time was to put him into his travel cage and keep him there until we had booked him.
Coming home this was on the wonderful BBC: click here

BEWARE of people who say they work for CAS

In the past, CAS has been compelled to warn people that individuals are purporting to be part of CAS and able to arrange cheaper veterinary treatment. Some have even taken money from people prior to organising “fake” appointments.

We have recently had a situation where someone said she wished to open a charity shop in the area of Viñuela & raise funds to support the work CAS does in the area.
However, she was not willing to obtain permission to operate in our name from the CAS Executive or the President.

CAS adheres rigidly to the procedures laid down by law for Societies such as ours. We are particularly stringent in our observation of the accounting and auditing rules. Every centimo we raise goes into the bank and every centimo we spend is accounted for.

Raising money to support the working of rescuing animals is a highly worthwhile endeavour and we would always offer our good wishes! What we cannot offer is access to the name of our Society nor our registration information – unless we are exercise total control over fund raising activities

There’s only one way to be certain that people are acting in our name – ask the President, Wendy Thorne (95 203 7095)or Jane Kirk 616 5300 71

Tax, Hannibal, Angel & Sai arrive in The Netherlands

Tax (was Taz), Hannibal (was Hamish) and Angel & Sai (was Ella & Oscar) have arrived safely in their new homes in The Netherlands.
Click on the picture to enlarge





P.S. Why would someone name a dog "Tax"?? Unless he/she works for the IRS of course...

Indian Buffet Night with Entertainment on April 24

We are having a wonderful sumptuous Indian buffet night, with entertainment by three fabulous local singers, Jacqui Silk, Bobby Mac, and Mel (solo).
April 24th at The Havelli, Nerja at 7.30pm. Tickets only 24 Euros.
To book: Call in to the CAS office or call Mike on 952526312 or 699948993.

More dogs homed

Happy times have arrived for Ella & Oscar, Goliat, Husky, Laddie, Scotti and Twiggy. They all have found new homes in Spain, Germany and Holland in the last few weeks. Click on the picture to enlarge.



Help us help more animals !

Foster Drama

Fostering a dog for CAS is a pleasure for most people and for the foster dog of course.
This is true for people that already have a dog, see here.

Fostering seems so easy, but it does not always go as planned.
Ocassionally, the fosterers decide that they want to keep the dog,instead of CAS looking for a new home. This is very understandable because most foster dogs make wonderful friends

BUT it is important to understand that you cannot keep the dog AFTER it has been reserved by CAS for the new adoption family. From that moment on, the dog needs to go to its new home.

Last week we had such a drama.

A dog was on the CAS website for 4-5 weeks. During that time, the fosterer continued to say she did not want to keep the dog and even asked a few times if there was news about the adoption as the dog could not stay.

After the 5th week, the Dutch partner, HzH, found a new home in The Netherlands for the dog. However - when the fosterer was told, she suddenly decided that she did want to keep him!

That is great news for the dog, you might think! But we'll explain why this is really NOT a good idea !!
The new family with 2 young children had seen the dog on the website and by the time they decided to adopt it, it was "their dog". Now someone has to tell them that CAS & HzH cannot do what they promised. It goes without saying that the family was very upset, the children were crying and the volunteers from HzH were very discouraged about all the time they spend on it - in vain.
A further result is that the good names of HzH and CAS are endangered, because they are seen as unreliable. If you are dependent on word of mouth, the worst thing that can happen is to get a bad reputation.

So this has to be avoided. The foster family is asked to revise their opinion, and release the dog. In most cases the foster family understands the argument, but unfortunately, in this case the fosterer did not think about the consequences but chose for herself.

So what can CAS do about it? The "rules" for fostering are very clear. If you foster a dog, you are welcome to keep the dog. BUT when the dog is reserved for adoption, the point of no return has been reached and the dog needs to go.

Would a signed contract make a difference? I don't think it will. A contract only helps if you want to enforce it legally. Which means to spend time, money and energy in going to court.

Summarised: CAS is very, very happy if you foster a dog. You have to understand that you cannot keep it after it has been promised to someone else, however hard that sometimes might be.

In our communication with foster families, we try to make very clear that if we are successful in finding a new home for the animal, we consider that there is a binding agreement with you to release the dog from your care and allow us to complete the re-homing process. Accordingly, we will require a statement to appear in an email from you to the effect that you will release the dog when asked to do so.
If, at any time BEFORE a Reservation is made, you manage to home the stray, or if someone is coming to visit the dog with a view to homing it, you MUST tell us immediately.