Plain clothed police storm Centro Canino, seize dogs

Yesterday afternoon, the centre was still trying to take stock of what happened but Jenny Botsford, the daughter of the late Jane Reynolds, was an eye witness to the storming of the shelter. “I live in London, so it was only the second time I've been to the new wonderful site. I was taking some items for them to sell to raise funds. As I arrived I noticed all these men hanging around down the road, at least half a dozen and then one of the council's Animal Protection vans arrived. “As I began unloading the items, one of the men approached me, identified himself as a member of the police and asked what I was doing, so I explained, and that appeared to be that. “I asked another man if he was from the police, and he said yes while the rest circled the shelter looking over the fence and all that. “When the van arrived, the bolt cutters came out and the police cut the chains on the gates and went in with the council animal squad carrying big cages. “I followed the police in and watched them load one of the dogs up before being asked to go and then forced to leave,” Botsford explained yesterday. “I've been monitoring events over the past four years, all I can say is that I hope the new Mayor is an animal lover. I remember when my mother was still alive, there were quite often more young Spaniards helping at the home than Britons, so the Spanish obviously love their animals so hopefully, the new council will listen to the community,” she added.

Vice-president Julie Ford was in a state of flux yesterday. She was not there when the police arrived and she was pretty sure that the centre had received no advanced notification that the council was planning another raid. “I can't explain what's going on anymore, we had quite a lot of puppies, some from the controversial Husky breeder in Llucmajor. “It's so traumatic for the dogs, one has been moved in and out at least five times. We can find homes for puppies and young dogs, they don't need to be forcefully removed and taken to Son Reus, which is already full to bursting. “We're bogged down in so many court cases with the city hall and they're dragging on for so long, I fear the centre will die by the time they're resolved. “We've tried to comply with the council every step of the way but we just don't get a break and it's the animals which suffer,” she said.