Live Arico – El Refugio de Animales – The Future

Our Charter – 2010

Live Arico now has the opportunity to create the dream of Eugenio de Mommio.  Our duty and pledge throughout 2010, is to commit to improving life, conditions and care for the dogs and any animal rescued by Live Arico.  Whether they are with us for a short time or long term, we will endeavour to provide the best of care, love and commitment that we can provide with the resources at our disposal until a permanent home is found.

• To provide a safe and secure environment, food, care and love.

• To provide a home with us for as long as it takes before a permanent home is found by adoption.

• To provide veterinary care when necessary.

• To only prescribe euthanasia when deemed necessary by a veterinarian.  No healthy animal in our care will be euthanised.

• To actively find permanent, for life homes for all animals or to foster when necessary.

• To responsibly adopt to permanent homes.  Checks made on homes, backgrounds and match the dog to the home and lifestyle.

• To provide after adoption support and advice.

• To responsibly foster, as above.

• To rehabilitate dogs/animals who are either physically or mentally scarred to improve their chance of adoption.

• The dogs will be provided with a kennel, in which the maximum number will be 4.

• Certain long term dogs will be kept in the outside enclosure as that is what they are adapted to and are comfortable with.

• In the kennels and outside enclosure they will have bedding, bowls for food, fresh water bowl/container.

• Each kennel fronts onto a passage where they are able to mix with other dogs within this area enabling socialisation and play within separated groups so preventing isolated kennel depression.

• These passages then lead to the entrance to the kennels which in turn leads to the play area.  Groups which have been picked as suitable to mix will then be able to be free to run and play and socialise in a vast area of approx 1,000 sq m.

• In time we plan to add a dedicated, purpose built Agility Area.  This will be used not only for the dogs in our care but be available for anyone to come and use with a resident dog trainer, Shelley.  This will be a great addition, in particular for, the working breeds such as Alsatians and Spaniels who need mental stimulation as well as exercise.

• IN EVEN MORE TIME! To install a canine hydrotherapy pool for those dogs needing physiotherapy for joint problems or for those that just love to swim!

• To have a welcome centre and office in the existing building where the public may come to meet and play with the dogs / animals in the hope of adoption or fostering.

• To open to the public 7 days a week for at least 3 hours a day for adoption, fostering and helping with refuge needs, i.e. walking dogs, helping in the refuge for general upkeep, any other activities.

• To have a small petting farm for children.

• To have a veterinary room where our vets, Hospivet Sur, Vets Playa Paraiso and Valle San Lorenzo Vets will attend twice a week to administer vet care.

• To have a separate kennel section for older dogs. (and softer beds!)

• To have a separate section for dogs with behavioural problems.  The naughty block (!) until such dog is rehabilitated to be able to be re socialised.

• To educate and reform the public with regard to animal welfare and the responsibility of owning a pet.

• To work with councils to advise social responsibility with regard to pet owners and their impact on the social structure.  There are some councils who have better animal responsibility charters but we need to lobby to have ALL councils and Government to adopt same and better.

• To hold public events with councils to educate and reform attitude towards animal care, the importance of chip ID’s, neutering and preservation of public places by cleaning up after the dog.

• To lobby the Government to change the laws regarding cruelty to animals.  To impose massive fines and or imprisonment for same.

• To lobby to force a law regarding irresponsible, unregulated breeding.

• To lobby to make illegal the sale of puppies, dogs, cats and kittens in pet shops, markets, boot sales and any public place.

• To make law that all dogs and cats are chipped for identification.

• To work with the schools to educate children to understand the needs and care of animals.  To provide a school holiday camp where children can come to work with the dogs and learn from same the joy of pet ownership yet at the same time understand the responsibility by such activities.