For the past five years ARCH and other animal charities have tried to put as stop to the activities of a notorious dealer in La Linea, Campo de Gibraltar. In 2021 ARCH took in seven horses confiscated by SEPRONA as part of a massive rescue operation. The dealer went to court and was banned from keeping animals. The following year we took in another eight. SEPRONA had discovered that the dealer was active again and flouting the law by putting the animals in other people’s names. He appeared in Court again but the judge refused to punish him with the jail sentence. This week the local Police in La Linea got involved after The Animal Collective (an animal charity in Campo de Gibraltar) discovered a starving group of horses behind a supermarket. We joined in denouncing him together with animal rights lawyer Aritz Toribio and this time the dealer was brought before a different judge, one who knew and was sympathetic to animal rights. The dealer was put in prison and subsequently received a three-year sentence. Not before time!
ARCH has taken in ten equines as a result of the action. The majority are in very poor condition and will require long-term rehabiitation. The Rescue Centre is stretched to its limits for space and resources and is appealing for donations to help them give these poor animals a chance of a future.
