gypsy report - SOS Algarve Animals

Sterilization Project
Gypsy Camp in Loule, Algarve
March 2012-May 2012
SOS Algarve Animals
With many thanks to: Maria, Monica, Nena,
dr Carlos Campos
And a special thanks to Catharina, the gypsy
lady who has initiated this sterilization campaign
among the camp inhabitants’dogs!
And to Peta, for collecting all the clothes, shoes
and toys!
It is mid February 2012 when SOS Algarve Animals is made
aware that the gypsies in Loule are looking to have their
female dogs sterilized. This urgent appeal was already made in
January, unfortunately no organization and/or individual
reacted to this appeal.
Upon notification mid February, SOS Algarve Animals more
than happily and immediately offered to fund the sterilization
of all the female dogs at the gypsy camp mid February. Maria,
who has been visiting the gypsies at this camp regularly, is
getting it all organized with the gypsies. And in the course of a
couple of weeks the first females arrive at the vet clinic for
sterilization. The animals look in fairly good shape, well fed.
One immediately escapes from the clinic, and runs back to the
gypsy camp, where she was found a couple of hours later. She
came back to the clinic and was subsequently spayed. Some of
the dogs appear to have skin problems, and SOS Algarve
Animals decides to help the gypsy dogs, and offer to pay for
skin treatment, if our veterinary is allowed to visit the camp.
This date is set for 31 March 2012, when our veterinary will
visit the gypsies and their animals, together with Maria, Nena
and a volunteer from SOS Algarve Animals. The welcome is
very friendly, and the gypsies seem very keen to have their
animals in good condition. With the help of the children, all the
dogs are being seen, checked and treated.
One lady asked for different help, she could no longer look
after her dog, and her puppy, and asked if we could take care
of both of them. This is Kika and her puppy Kiki.
On 21 April 2012, the gypsy camp was visited again, together
with Maria, Nena, Monica, the veterinary and our volunteer.
The welcome was even more welcoming than the first time. We
took some of the females who were spayed this week back,
and returned them to their families, these dogs and people
were so happy to see each other again! That was really great
to witness. We encountered more animals, we were allowed to
take photos, we brought clothing and shoes, and toys for the
gypsies.
On 28 April 2012, we paid them another visit at their request,
the veterinary and our volunteer. And once again, the
atmosphere was welcoming again. This time the main objective
was to microchip, log and photograph their horses. On this day
however, we also met four new dogs, one female and her
puppy, the female they asked for it to be sterilized, and we
took it to the clinic, with the promise to return it the following
Saturday. Due to the heavy rain, it was impossible to
microchip, and log all the horses, so we will return once again
in the very near future..happily needless to say!
Visit to the gypsy camp,
31 March 2012
Today, we encountered 34 dogs,
of which 4 could not be found, and
1 could not be caught, so we saw
29 dogs.
There were 11 females present,
incuding the mum Kika and her
puppy which are now at the clinic,
three of the 11 have already been
sterilized, 5 will hopefully come in,
the Gypsies all gave confirmation
that they wanted help
There are 16 families living there,
and most of their 'houses' seem
pretty neat and tidy...others are
less inviting. Quite some gypsies
live here permanently and have a
car, or mobile phones...Not every
family was here today, some
packed up for Easter to visit
family/friends elsewhere, they all
took their dogs/pups with them,
there seemed to be about 5-6
dogs missing because of this.
There are more children than
dogs. The vast majority of the
dogs run free, we only saw three
tied up on chains...not ideal, but
they look well and are friendly and
social. Saw three horses, well fed
and well kept, and friendly, a little
head shy, but nothing bad.
All the dogs have names, they all belong to their own
family:
1. Nina, female, we sterilized already
2. Dartacan, female, not sterilized, they do not
want to sterilize
3. Bubuia, male
4. Kizana, female, not yet sterilized, will come in
hopefully, today they said yes to sterilizing.
5. Nina, black female, we already sterilized
6. Diane, female, we already sterilized
7. Black & Tan, female, will come in for sterilization
8. Black & Tan, male, puppy, 6/7 months old
9. Jadiego, male
10. Nodie, male
11. Buga
12. Juana, female, will come in for sterilizing
13. Collie mix, could not find the dog all the time we
were there
14. Morango, male
15. Nicky, could not find the dog all the time we
were there
16. Pagalogo, could not find the dog all the time we
were there
17. Bobby, could not find the dog all the time we
were there
18. Bobino, male
19. Diegodos, male
20. Courlite, male
21. Kika, mother of Kiki
22. Kiki, puppy of Kika
23. Nino, male
24. Boneco, male
25. Pequinina, female, will come in for sterilizing
26. Bolina, male
27. Dique, male
28. Esker, female, pregnant, want to keep male
puppy of the litter, then the female can be
sterilized
29. Max, male
30. Scruffie, male, don’t know whose dog this is, dog
ran off
31. 32, 33, 34 – four puppies
Visit to the Gypsy Camp,
21 April 2012
Today, 21 April 2012, there were many more
people, many more children and many more
animals (horses and dogs) present on the
camp. Families who returned after Easter. New
families, visiting the gypsies here in Loule,
arrived. The atmosphere was very welcoming
and very friendly. Again and still, all the
animals present look in good condition, the
most skinny horse noted, was a white horse
one of the boys was riding. Overall it is quite
impressive how well their animals look, are
treated, and how well behaved they are. Of
course when one sees a dog being picked up
by the neck/back and or dragged by its front
legs towards the veterinary, it breaks your
heart. But then again, when one witnesses the
return of a sterilized female, running up to her
family so happily, and the family equally as
happy, there is not a lot one can actually say.
In total we have seen 45 dogs on
these two occasions.
Out of these 45 dogs, two have been
handed over for further care and rehoming (Kika and her puppy Kiki)
At this moment, there is one
unspayed female awaiting
sterilization. She appears currently
pregnant, and the family would like
to keep one male puppy of the
possible litter, after this litter, she
will definitely be spayed. One woman
does not want their female spayed.
A visiting family, with all their
animals, would love to have their
female sterilized next time they are
here, which will be done for them.
There was however dog nr. 46, a
black collie mix, belonging to a
cousin of one the families,
unfortunately the cousin was not
there, and without his
consent/approval, we did not treat
the animal.
21 April 2012
Update on the dogs
treated/checked/sterilized
4. Kezana, female, not yet sterilized, will come in
for sterilizing, 18/4 sterilized
7. Black & Tan female, will come in for sterilizing,
18/4 sterilized
12. Juana, female, will hopefully come in for
sterilizing, 18/4 sterilized
13. Boneco, collie mix, male, could not find the
dog all the time we were there. 18/4 came into
the clinic, 21/4 was treated
15. Nicky, could not find the dog all the time we
were there, 21/4 was found, checked and
treated
16. Pogalogo, could not find the dog all the time
we were there, 21/4 was found, checked and
treated
17. Bobby, could not find the dog all the time we
were there, 21/4 was found, checked and
treated
25. Pequinina, femle, will come in for sterilizing,
18/4 sterilized
28 Esker, female, appears pregnant, they want to
keep a male puppy of the litter, then the female
will be sterilized. 21/4 no puppies born yet
30. Male scruffie, ran off, 21/4 no sight of the
dog
31, 32, 33, 34 – four puppies, 21/4 none of
these puppies were shown/in sight
New dogs:
35. Minivaca, puppy, female
36. Puppy male, sone of Juana, 1 month old
37. Pirolito, male, could not catch, nothing
done
38. Bobby, chocolate male
39. Drogado, male
40. Badia, small scruffy puppy, female
41. Jack, male, braco alemao
42. Nina, female mum of 40, 43, and 45 will
be sterilized next time she is here.
43. VanDamme, male puppy
44. Bufino, scruffy male
45. Puppy Ligeira, black female
Horses at the gypsy camp,
21 April 2012
Horses, there were quite a few.
There was one in the field, next to
the Chief’s residence. This mare
seemed pregnant. There were the
brown and the white horse, both
grazing further along. Somewhere
else there were the three happily
grazing in a field, one is a beautiful
Palomino. There is the mare with
one eye, she is a little skittish, but in
overall good condition, and she was
being well handled. The mule was
being tacked up to go out. A boy
was riding the white horse, which
looked most skinny of them all, but
still not in a really bad state. The
gypsies do not seem to use a bit
when they ride/tack their horses,
which is very pleasant to witness.
One could only wish more people to
refrain from using the bit when
riding their horse, it is so much
gentler on the animal.
At the request of the gypsies, the
veterinary will microchip
approximately 10 of their horses in
the near future!
The people involved!
Group photo, including Chief
and daughter Catharina
Handed over by the gypsies for
further care and re-homing
Maria
Maria and Nena
SOS Algarve Animals have
been given the following
animals for further care and rehoming by the gypsies:
1. Kika – mother of Kiki, female, is
reserved and will travel to
Germany
2. Kiki – puppy of Kika, female, is
reserved and will travel to
Germany
3. Nino – smalle black and tan
male, which was hit by a car, is
currently still with us for further
care
4. Cato – small, white and brown
male puppy, is reserved and will
travel to Germany
5. Lotus – white male puppy, is
reserved and will travel to
Germany
6. Camelia – black, small female,
is still at the clinic for care, will
come to us soon for further care.
Gypsy Dogs – at the vet clinic for
sterilization
March 2012 – May 2012
28 April 2012
Visit to Gypsy camp
And some new,
unknown dogs
appeared as well. All
were checked and
treated for skin
condition, and the
female is currently at
the clinic for
sterilizing. She will be
returned to the
gypsies on our next
visit.