Saving the Italian Jewels

25 Spinoni have been rescued from a very sad situation of neglect.

These dogs were originally from a breeder who could not care for them due to his age. Sadly, the man he asked to to look after them was not competent to care for them: he underfed and neglected them until finally an intervention led to their removal. Details in the article translated below.

The Spinoni are now with a rescue association in Italy. We are looking to re-home all these beautiful dogs.

Q & A

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Q. What will the money raised be used for?

A. The main part will be used to cover their transport to the UK and for vet's fees involved in their preparation - neutering, passport etc. Some dogs may need extra medical attention or specific food due to their very bad condition. Funds may also help cover petrol costs for volunteers carrying out home checks.


Q. Why can't the dogs find homes in Italy?

A. Possibly some of them will. However, with such a high number of dogs, the Italian rescue organisation has asked for help. Because of their history, they need experienced homes, with outdoor space. These are not so easy to find in quantity locally. Also, in Italy, Spinoni tend to be thought of more as working, hunting dogs. Because of their past, these won't be re-homed to hunters, cutting down their options still further.

The dogs have have a much better chance of finding loving homes fast and getting out of the kennel, by spreading the net wider. The UK has an active network of Spinone lovers and we already have many offers of homes.

Q. What will happen next for the dogs with home offers in the UK?

A. The dogs are currently being assessed by a behaviourist to determine their needs and personalities. Each one will then be matched with a suitable home, which will be checked by experienced volunteers.

There will be some procedural issues with their registration and they will need to be neutered and recover fully before transport. The best and most efficient way to transport them is overland with a dog transport van. We already have a quote from a very kind and experienced operator and are looking to arrange transport for all adopted dogs together in March or April. There would be rendezvous points across the UK and possibly the EU.

Q. I am interested in offering a dog a home - who should I contact?

A. Please contact the organiser Sarah-Jane Newton via this page. Unfortunately we cannot rehome to the US as the cost is prohibitive but donations are hugely appreciated.


Q. When would they be transported to the UK?

A. We are looking at late March or possibly April to bring them over. They all have to have their jabs and then it is at least 21 days until they can travel.

They have to be neutered and recover ready to travel...and fitting in all those dogs for their ops is going to take a while.

Plus the paperwork has to be completed, homes confirmed and transport and pickup points arranged - though hopefully a lot of these things can be done while we wait for the jabs etc.

Q. Where can I see more details on the individual dogs?

A. We hope to have behavioural assessments and images with full information and more photos by the first week of February. We'll post them here as an update. Until then, please share the fundraiser only, not individual dogs, as details of their characters and home requirements must be collated before we share individual dogs. Thank you!

Q. Are they all pure Spinone or are some mixed?

A. It is almost certain that they are all pure Spinone. It appears that they are from an Italian working line, probably all from the same original breeder. This is not yet confirmed and the investigation in Italy is ongoing so we will update the page when we have more details . At a later point, we may be able to obtain their pedigrees by checking their chip numbers with the Italian breed club.

There is a Spinone mix at the shelter, Bambolo, who we are trying to rehome at the same time, but his origin is completely separate.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

• Translation of the Italian news article:

ABUSIVE KENNEL, 27 HUNTING DOGS RESCUED.

27 underfed hunting dogs, closed in an abusive kennel.

That’s what the vets found out in a house in Castelfranco. 27 Italian Spinoni, both adult males and bitches, were found in acceptable sanitary conditions but lacking of food.

The kennel was managed by a seventy-year-old man who couldn’t explain in whose name he held the dogs, before in Vedelago and then in Castelfranco.

The dogs were rescued 20 days ago after the warning of some volunteers of ENPA (the National Animals Protection Authority), who had found a dying dog of the same breed. The vets concluded that the dog had died because of a car accident. It had been helped but died anyway. A long investigation started, which brought to the 27 dogs.

They stayed in some boxes behind the house and it was immediately clear they suffered from malnutrition. The man was given a fine of 600 euro and was asked to respect the rules. Two weeks later the situation was unchanged and the vets, verified he couldn’t take care of them, seized the dogs. They were brought to the sanitary kennel in Ponzano and they will be soon moved to the ENPA shelter and adopted.

It was revealed that the man had no titles to hold such a high number of dogs. After five dogs, you must be a breeder. Police is considering how to proceed towards him, as he was very co-operative. It doesn’t seem there was any trade of animals, which would be illegal. Since 2012 the volunteers of OIPA in Treviso have been pointing out this case.