How Long?

To reach the airport only to be told that there will be a four & a half hour delay is daunting enough but – when one has a puppy destined for a new home in The Netherlands – it is almost catastrophic!

The number of phone calls being flung between Cómpeta Malaga airport and Holland brought smiles to Movistar and Orange.
The cabin bag, into which dogs must fit for an air trip, measures 55x40x20 cms.
Dulce measured quite a bit more than that, so we knew we would have to “fold” her into the bag for check-in and the duration on the flight.
As Dulce is only a young puppy, she was growing at quite a rate…… and that four hour delay gave her even more opportunity to increase her stature ;)
Just as all good things come to an end, so do bad ones, and, at long last, Dulce was welcomed aboard.

Of course that welcome was nothing compared with the welcome awaiting them at the Dutch airport ! Dulcie met her new Mum and was finally able to stretch her legs, have food and drink and make a start on the rest of her life.

The CAS organiser was left thoroughly anxious – she’s taking FIVE dogs to the airport next weekend!

Click on picture to enlarge.


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To God from the dog

TO: GOD
FROM: THE DOG

Dear God: Is it on purpose our names are the same, only reversed?

Dear God: Why do humans smell the flowers, but seldom, if ever, smell one another?

Dear God: When we get to heaven, can we sit on your couch? Or is it still the same old story?

Dear God: Why are there cars named after the jaguar, the cougar, the mustang, the colt, the stingray, and the rabbit, but not ONE named for a Dog? How often do you see a cougar riding around? We do love a nice ride! Would it be so hard to rename the 'Chrysler Eagle' the 'Chrysler Beagle'?

Dear God: If a Dog barks his head off in the forest and no human hears him, is he still a bad Dog?

Dear God: We Dogs can understand human verbal instructions, hand signals, whistles, horns, clickers, beepers, scent ID's, electromagnetic energy fields, and Frisbee flight paths. What do humans understand?

Dear God: More meatballs, less spaghetti, please.

Dear God: Are there mailmen in Heaven? If there are, will I have to apologize?

Dear God: Thank you for your list of just some of the things I must remember to be a good Dog.

1. I will not eat the cats' food before they eat it or after they throw it up.
2. I will not roll on dead seagulls, fish, crabs, etc., just because I like the way they smell.
3. The Litter Box is not a cookie jar.
4. The sofa is not a 'face towel'.
5. The garbage collector is not stealing our stuff.
6. I will not play tug-of-war with Dad's underwear when he's on the toilet.
7. Sticking my nose into someone's crotch is an unacceptable way of saying 'hello'.
8. I don't need to suddenly stand straight up when I'm under the coffee table
9. I must shake the rainwater out of my fur before entering the house - not after.
10. I will not come in from outside and immediately drag my butt.
11. I will not sit in the middle of the living room and lick my crotch.
12. The cat is not a 'squeaky toy' so when I play with him and he makes that noise, it's usually not a good thing.

And finally, when I get to Heaven can I please have my testicles back?

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July Events

Saturday July 4th - Independence Day Barbecue
At Seacrest Kennels, Nerja. 7 for 7.30pm.
Barbecue with Wine included. Entertainment with Bobby Mac.
Tickets 18€, booking necessary at CAS Office

Sunday 26th July - Competa Quiz
At La Roca, Competa. 7 for 7.30pm.
Entrants 3€. Food available. Raffle & Prizes


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Nerja Club renewed sponsorship

CAS are pleased to announce that The Nerja Club Hotel have renewed their sponsorship of our Monthly Events publication and presented the President, Wendy Thorne, with a cheque for 300 Euros.


Left to right: Karen O'Brien, Antonio (Nerja Club Hotel) Wendy Thorne (President) and Mike O'Brien (CAS Fund Raiser)


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Odd Couple

If you happen to have an elephant in your garden, then make him happy by giving him a friend.
Adopt a dog from The Costa Animal Society. And everyone will be happy !




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Only a Dog (poem)

Only a Dog (author unknown)
Do you remember thinking it was time that the kids learned some responsibility & scanning the newspaper ads for a cheap dog for sale?


Do you remember bringing home this little ball of shivering fur & putting her out in the yard on a chain that was too heavy, on a night that was too cold?
Of course you don’t remember this
After all, she is only a dog.

Do you remember this baby crying because she was afraid & alone?
Do you remember screaming at her to be quiet & finally going out there to kick her & drive home the lesson?
Of course you don’t remember this
After all, she is only a dog.

Do you remember the many times you noticed her water bowl empty & her food bowl was covered with mould & thinking it was the kids’ job to take care of her?
Do you remember seeing that her coat was dull & lifeless &, in many places, chewed away down to the skin because of the parasites no one took the time to rid her of?
Of course you don’t remember this
After all, she is only a dog.

Do you remember her first heat & the neighbour’s male visiting her night after night? Do you remember thinking that letting her have the puppies would be a good experience for the kids?
Do you remember that every one of those pup died because their mother was no more than a pup herself ?
Of course you don’t remember this
After all, she is only a dog.

I know you remember the animal control officer coming to the house, accusing you of animal cruelty & taking her away because you couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about.
After all, she is only a dog.

I thought you might be interested in how this girl is doing today.
You see, once she found a home that gave her love, attention & proper care, she blossomed into a beautiful, loyal companion.
To these people, she is much more than only a dog.

She became a Therapy Dog & now goes to nursing homes & hospices, where she brightens the lives of the infirm & dying.
To some of these people she has given hope. To others she’s given a reason to keep living. To even others, she’s given them the will to die peacefully, with a smile on their lips. To these people, she is much more than only a dog

Why did that filthy, flea-ridden animal, chained in your back garden, suddenly become so important to so many? Because she never gave up on her trust in people & she never once thought “After all, he is only a human”


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Some Facts about Cats

Did you know...

It has been scientifically proven that owning cats is good for our health and can decrease the occurrence of high blood pressure and other illnesses.

Stroking a cat can help to relieve stress, and the feel of a purring cat on your lap conveys a strong sense of security and comfort.
The ancient Egyptians were the first civilisation to realise the cat's potential as a vermin hunter and tamed cats to protect the corn supplies on which their lives depended.
Sir Isaac Newton is not only credited with the laws of gravity but is also credited with inventing the cat flap.
A cat has more bones than a human being; humans have 206 and the cat has 230 bones.
A cat's hearing is much more sensitive than humans and dogs.
The cat's tail is used to maintain balance.
Cats see six times better in the dark and at night than humans.
Cats eat grass to aid their digestion and to help them get rid of any fur in their stomachs.
A healthy cat has a temperature between 38 and 39 degrees Celcius.
Cats have the largest eyes of any mammal.
The female cat reaches sexual maturity at around 6 to 10 months and the male cat between 9 and 12 months.
A female cat will be pregnant for approximately 9 weeks or between 62 and 65 days from conception to delivery.
The average litter of kittens is between 2 - 6 kittens.
Ailurophile is the word cat lovers are officially called.
Purring does not always indicate that a cat is happy. Cats will also purr loudly when they are distressed or in pain.
All cats need taurine in their diet to avoid blindness. Cats must also have fat in their diet as they are unable to produce it on their own.
In households in the UK and USA, there are more cats kept as pets than dogs. At least 35% of households with cats have 2 or more cats.
When a cats rubs up against you, the cat is marking you with it's scent claiming ownership.
About 37% of American homes today have at least 1 cat.
Milk can give some cats diarrhea.
The average lifespan of an outdoor-only cat is about 3 to 5 years while an indoor-only cat can live 16 years or much longer.
On average, a cat will sleep for 16 hours a day.
A domestic cat can run at speeds of 30 mph.
The life expectancy of cats has nearly doubled over the last fifty years.
Blue-eyed, white cats are often prone to deafness.
The cat's front paw has 5 toes and the back paws have 4. Cats born with 6 or 7 front toes and extra back toes are called polydactl.
An adult cat has 30 teeth, 16 on the top and 14 on the bottom.
There are approximately 60,000 hairs per square inch on the back of a cat and about 120,000 per square inch on its underside.
Cats and kittens should be acquired in pairs whenever possible as cat families interact best in pairs.
In multi-cat households, cats of the opposite sex usually get along better.
The first official cat show in the UK was organised at Crystal Palace in 1871.


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The Grape Harvest can be hard on dogs

The grape harvest begins this month in our area.
Those of us who walk our dogs in “the campo” need to be aware of the danger that grapes pose to some dogs.

Dogs can suffer renal failure after eating grapes (or raisins ). There is some mystery about the precise component of grapes, but studies indicate that the toxic element is in the flesh of the grape.
Some dog foods contain “grape pomace” which is the dried & extracted grape skin and seed. It is rich in anti-oxidants and support the immune system. Very healthy!

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This is why we do it all…

This stray dog, a German Shepherd, turns up at a friend's campo house, Torrox. They reluctantly keep him and his health improves, he becomes a great chap, they call him Caesar.
The couple's health meant they couldn't offer him the exercise he needed and so CAS agreed to try to home him.
He is renamed Boaz, and living in the Netherlands with another German Shepherd in the home of someone who trains dogs for Agility Competitions.
THIS is why we do it all!!

Plus a few pictures of other happy CAS dogs from their new homes. Lucero (now Nelson), Fito and Tinky.




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Rat Poison

There are quite a few rats and tree rats around now, especially in the Campo areas.
They can be controlled by using humane traps and releasing it kilometers away from your house (or anyone else’s please) OR killer traps (job done!)
OR the very, very careful use of rat poison.
BUT...

PLEASE…… if you use the poison method, remember that you could inadvertently kill cats, dogs and other creatures in the area UNLESS you place the poison in a place that is inaccessible to those animals. The best way is in a long section drainpipe (3” wide) down which a rat can get but not a domestic pet. Place the pipe on the ground, along a wall.
Don’t ruin your perfect Spanish summer by unintentionally killing someone’s pet.

And please, don’t go all softy on me……when a rat builds its nest in the engine compartment of you car and eats away the wiring etc. etc., causing 850€ of damage….. you will soon accept that they were not meant to share your property!

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Not a record that we wanted

Not a CAS Record that we wanted……

At 1pm, Friday, June 12th, the 83rd dog was put onto the CAS Website!

Yes, 83 !

There are dogs and puppies of all ages, sizes, breeds and colours.
There HAS to be one…. Or two…… that are PERFECT for YOU.

Visit www.casnews.info – TODAY


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Heat Stroke

Most people are aware of the risk to dogs left in cars on sunny days. Many vets have directly encountered cases of dogs dying in hot cars. One case occurred where an owner found herself caught in a traffic jam on a hot summer's day, with two dogs in the back of her car. When she reached her destination, she was worried about the two dogs, and rightly so. Both animals died.

However, cars are not the only dangerous places. There are potential problems whenever a dog is left in an enclosed space with no shade or no water on a sunny day. Additionally, when the dog is excited or very active e.g. at a dog show or after heavy exercise, the internal heat produced by muscular effort has an additive effect to the high environmental temperature, and heat stroke commonly results.

Dogs do have sweat glands in the pads of their feet but the most important heat-losing process is panting. The breathing becomes rapid and short (up to 400 breaths per minute), the mouth is opened and the tongue becomes enlarged as its blood supply is increased. The movement of air causes evaporation of water from the surface of the tongue, which carries with it excess heat from the body.
Panting is an extremely effective process of heat loss, but it uses large amounts of water, which is why it's essential that dogs have access to plenty of fresh water in hot weather.

It's important to be aware of the symptoms of heat stroke, so that affected animals can be identified and treated as soon as possible. You'd think it would be obvious, but if an owner doesn't link the situation with the risk of overheating, people can be fooled. An example is when dogs are exercised in the sun. If the animal becomes unwell, owners are often slow to realise that simple overheating is the cause.
The most obvious signs are panting and an increased pulse rate. Affected dogs stand still, looking anxious, panting rapidly, and unable to do anything else. They feel hot to the touch and the body temperature may be over 104'F, and up to 109'F. If a dog is not treated, the body temperature will continue to rise until the dog collapses. Vomiting and diarrhoea may occur, the dog enters a coma, and will often die.

This is a situation where first aid can be life saving. Obviously, the first thing is to remove the dog from the overheated situation - get into the shade and out of the sun. The dog should then be immediately immersed in a bath of cold water. If this is not possible, soak the dog with cold water either from a hose or using a bucket. The skin should be massaged vigorously, and the legs flexed and extended, to maximise the blood flow to skin and limbs.
The owners should rush the dog to the vet as soon as possible after a 10 minute cold bath. The vet will be able to give other treatment to bring the temperature back to normal.

Ten rules for dogs in hot weather.
1. Never leave a dog alone in a car – it is illegal in Spain!
2. Be aware of keeping your dog cool when on car journeys together e.g. leave a window open for fresh air and stop regularly to check your animal properly
3. Always ensure a plentiful supply of drinking water.
4. Never leave a dog in a sunny place with no shade.
5. Give long haired dogs a short clip.
6. Exercise the dog out of the heat i.e. morning or evening.
7. Take your dog for a cool swim rather than a walk.
8. Give your dog 10% less food than normal.
9. Give the meals at cooler times of the day e.g. morning and evening.
10. Carry water with you when out on hot days, and give your dog frequent small amounts.

More excellent advice available from http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/peter_wedderburn

Click on picture to enlarge


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Extraordinary Mothers

Some animals help us by fostering other animals, with no strings attached.

Unfortunately, there are not enough of these, so we need people like you to help us until we find a home for a dog or a cat.