LA MARINA ANIMAL CHARITY TO CLOSE
Press Release
It is with great sadness and regret that we have to announce the demise of Paws Animal Rescue.
This is due to two reasons:
Firstly, although our small group, operating in La Marina for seven years has never been fully registered, we have enjoyed the tacit acceptance of the Ayuntamiento and the police, because by dint of immaculate book-keeping we have proved regularly that our money was used, fit for purpose, for vet bills and food for our animals.
Not for human expenses! However on December 1st a new law came into place, and our group can no longer function.
Secondly we wish to thank everyone who purchased tickets for the Red and Gold Ball, advertised in our name, and understood by us and our supporters that the proceeds were for Paws. The ball was a 200 persons x 5 euros sell-out.
We received only 450 Euros as a result of the raffle.1000 Euros from the seat sales was withheld by the organizer and entertainers, with no reason given. The venue was free for which we thank Marjal.
We urge all charities to think twice before allowing their name to be used to put bottoms on seats, when they will receive only a small percentage of the total raised! Pleased support your favorite charity by making purchases in their shops, or by direct donation Make your money count!!
Without proper control, it will not be long before many new litters will be born, and the feral cat population on the urbanisation will multiply quickly. For this reason Linda will keep the Paws telephone open. (646 645 035). She is still willing to assist anyone wanting to pay for a feral cat neutering at a reduced rate.
We would like to take the opportunity to thank the following for 7 years support:
Everyone who has purchased from, and donated to us. Linda's network of ladies who feed and monitor cats. Sue and Graham (Gran Alacant) unstinting collections. Banco Sabadell, free use of their forecourt. Hillside, free use of their conservatory. Gilbert & Sullivan Soc.
Finally Nicki (formerly Picassos) reduced price coffee & use of facilities.
Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year to all friends of Paws Animal Rescue.
When we moved here to La Marina the area was full of stray cats, many people who have only been here 4-5 years will not of seen this. If we are not careful within a year it will happen again. So please may I as a resident make a plea to the charities that are left to at least take on board Lynda the cat lady, who over the years has worked at the sharp end getting all the cats muted. If not another person is needed urgently. Or as you drive round it will be back to squashed cats everywhere like it used to be. Not even sure if Lynda would be willing, BUT?????
Really Sad news! We have 3 cats from Paws, and they were vetted, snipped etc...Vet on Alfreado Kraus has done 100's of jobs for them, and the money Paws spent? I am sure they used their own money to help the cats! Linda must have 20+ cats that she keeps, that cannot be housed. They were a true charity! Great shame that red tape puts stop to good work!
Joe, regarding the "Red Tape" that has resulted in the closure of the activities of PAWS, we can all thank our Mayor and British councillor Jeff Wiszniewski for that as they are the ones that have introduced the new local by-law that has just been approved. Councillor Wiszniewski’s Blog states "THIS RULING IS TO PREVENT UNREGISTERED CHARITIES OR ASSOCIATIONS, COLLECTING OR FUND RAISING WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITY.
This council has effectively stopped all non-registered clubs, groups and associations from any fund raising activities, even if it is for funds for their own existence! Previously the council recognised, promoted, and made awards to them, but now they declare them as illegal even though the council and local residents have relied on these charitable groups of people to raise funds and provide much needed services, including life saving equipment that was used by the paramedics in the emergency ambulance!
Beware the following clubs and groups…
THE CARDINAL BELLUGA THEATRE GROUP
THE LA MARINA TAPPERS
FINCA LUCENDUM
FOOD FOR THE NEEDY
SUCCESSFUL SLIMMING CLUB
THE CABALLEROS
DOGS TRUST IN US
TOTALLY DANCE
BADMINTON CLUB
FOOTBALL CLUB
TABS SINGERS
Sue, you missed out " The Town Hall " who I believe are trying to collect illegally to make good the infrasructure in Oasis.
Hi Sue
I think that they never thought it through very well, did they? Bit of Knee Jerk reaction came into play here.
So we have all been told, The Council is not in Favor of well meaning people raising money for Charity, unless you go via all their rigmarole. Really makes one wonder dose it not? They have assumed that we must all be a bunch of Crooks. Thanks for the vote of confidence JEFF.
Could you please explain to me why we must be aware of your listed clubs & groups in La Marina?
Is Jeff so bad?? Not heard anybody say a good thing about him. Went to him (female assistant to be honest, sorry cannot remeber her name) and twice they were very nice and got the problem sorted, where as in San Flu town hall it fell on deaf ears! I understand Douglas the "vote of cofindence" as you say it, and you are right that most people are good. But its the odd bad one that has made our lifes more difficult. If I policeman stops you while driving,
you WILL need to produce documents! So a charity should be vetted! There has been a lot of bum charities, so I guess this is Jeffs way of sorting out the good from the bad??? Having said that, I'm still sad about Paws closing, because legal or not, they were genuine!
Jeff has helped a lot of people that I know of, so
let give him a little priase from the people he helped??
I have been to see Jeff 3 times, what a waste of time. Fed me more bull sh··, on all the 3 times, this guy only looks after what he wants.
Yes we hear of LOTS of things that Jeff has done to help people. In many ways he is a diamond. But this action is sadly a very very Bad one. Needs a real rethink Jeff. Its like tarring us all with the same brush just in case we were naughty. NEEDS SORTING GUYS!!!!!!! AND SOON.
What an absolute shame. You did such amazing work. I had one of my 5 cats from you 3 years ago and I have always supported your cause whenever possible.
Shame to the organisers of the ball who totally mis led you and made a good profit out of the poor needy animals. Makes my blood boil that people can basically "rob" a charity and feel no guilt. Well they will get theres.
You deserve a huge pat on the back for all your hard work and all the animals you have given better lives to. xx
It is very easy to sit back an criticise people for what they are trying to do. Surely Jeff is only following orders from Alicante and Valencia. Why is it always the person caught in the middle that gets the flack. Being on the council, be it voluntary or paid, is the most thankless job I have ever had in my life. I would not go down that road again for love nor money. People are always ready to criticise, rarely do you get any thanks. I cannot see any local councils in England looking after the needy at Christmas, let alone any other time. Samantha, her mum, her two children and several helpers have worked hard to co-ordinate the amount of food and toys donated to them, for the needy, this Christmas. Jeffs office looked more like a distribution centre than an office these last weeks. The number of people queuing up for their boxes of food and toys on thursday lunchtime, shows how much this help was needed. Before anyone comments, no it did not come out of Jeffs or the councils pockets but, without them making this appeal it would not have happened. So for once give credit where it is due. They have done a good job.
Well said. I have also been on many unpaid committees you just cannot please everyone. There is alway some one who you cannot make happy. They council are doing a good job in certain areas. Their bigggest challange and promise they have to forfill is the roads in the El Oasis area of La Marina which are disgrace. I know times are hard and money is tight but we are not a third world country.
SMUDGE, if you think the roads are bad on Oasis then you need to drive round the Urbanisation, they are just as bad. I lve on Bilbao and were Bilbao turns up to pass Marina Del Mar they have repaired the road repeatedly and after about 3 weeks since the last time it needs doing again.
Let the council practice and if and when they know how to repair roads then you might be lucky to get yours done.
So that's where all our Tarmac is going, spread it around a bit, lets have some please, pretty please.
Today a article appeared in a local paper regarding PAWS animal rescue.
We would like to clarify this, as of the 1st of Jan 2013 Linda will be carrying on the neutering program on the Urb, under Impact Charity.
The charity will be working with San Anton vet Sonia ( the same vet PAWS used for the neutering program ) Linda will be doing exactly the same as before regarding feral cats on the Urb.
It is of great importance to carry on this program, many of you will know, 5-6 years ago the feral cat population was out of control. PAWS done a great job in bring the population down and under control.
This has already had a response, a lady went to the vets the other day asking for help for a cat that had 5 kittens in her garden. She spoke to Sonia asking for assistance. There were two female kittens the lady could only afford to pay for one to be spayed and the charity covered the cost of the other female, so the program is on-going and if anyone is worried regarding feral cats please contact Linda. There is a notice up in the vets with the relevant numbers to call.
That is very good news indeed. It would of been a shame to of gone back to how it was years ago. Lynda has put so much effort into it in the past. Plus well done to Inpact Charity. Its a shame that more areas are not as well organised.
Jaytee
It is not difficult to register a charity. What is difficult is the founder members sitting down, agreeing a constitution that is compatible with Spanish law. Once that is in place the founder members then all have to agree on statues, rules, regulations and all this has to be sent off to the relevant department of the municipality you wish to set the charity up in.
Also a big miss conception is that just because you are a registered charity you still have to apply for a CIF number regarding taxes. So you could be a registered charity and have a official registration number but not have a tax number, hence most charities will have a Reg number and a CIF number.
It costs absolutely nothing to do all the paperwork it's just the leg work and of drawing up a constitution and sending it off to the correct department and waiting anything up to 6 months, even longer in some cases.
It does not cost thousands of euros, you may occur notary / solicitor fees but that is it.
Trying to get three founder members to sit down to agree on a complete constitution is probably the hardest thing. All you need is, a president, secretary and treasurer then you can form the charity and put in to place the relevant constitution and take it from there.
Hope that helps Jaytee
Thank you Impact Charity. That makes it seem that the people running PAWS could not agree with each other. What a sad way to close a good meaning organisation.
We are pleased to hear that Linda is now carrying on her good work with the cats with the support of Impact Charity. Before Christmas we went to a red and gold ball in aid of Paws, and I was told that the money was never paid to them as Paws ceased to exist. That being the case, in my opinion the money which was raised by that event should now go to the Impact Charity.
Sorry to hear the news ot the closure of this charity.
I am sure all the volunteers involved,will be gutted as will a lot of their supporters.
I hope all of you enjoy whatever you choose to do in the future (undoubtably,it will be helping others)
Perhaps this will put in perspective,and people will perhaps leave bickering about charities,and perhaps do something to try and help them