CENTRO CANINO STAND-OFF

PALMA
THE police were called to the Centro Canino in Es Pillarí yesterday as the already sour relations between staff and supporters of the animal refuge and local residents took a turn for the worse.

Events began shortly after 11am when a small group of sympathisers were making their way to the Centro Canino for a planned show of solidarity.
A few hundred metres from the entrance to the Centro Canino a group of local residents told them that they were on a private land and could not go any further.

When they remonstrated with the residents, they were threatened with violence, according to the Vice President of the Centro Canino, Julie Ford.
At this stage one of the Centro Canino supporters rang the police. According to Ford, who didn't hear the conversation between the two groups, those who came to support the Centro Canino were “well-behaved” and “peaceful”. “There was no trouble on our behalf,” she added.
The President of the Centro Canino, Juan Gil, and a number of supporters yesterday filed a complaint against two of the local residents.
Meanwhile, the Centro Canino has distanced itself from the proposed boycott of businesses in Palma by a group of British sympathisers.
To this end the Centro Canino has released a statement to the Bulletin, published above.
Ford said that many in the city had provided help and assistance. “We have an awful lot of Majorcan supporters.” “There are a lot of shops and businesses that have supported us over the years.” She said she didn't want people to think that the Centro Canino was responsible for the boycott threats. “We just hope the situation will be resolved amicably,” she said. “A lot of things have got out of hand and are not in our control.” The Centro Canino and Palma Council are awaiting a legal ruling on the order to close the animal refuge down.
On Sunday, a number of animal welfare groups will hold a demonstration in the Borne in Palma demanding more stringent animal protection legislation.