A series of horrific animal abuse cases have put the spotlight on Alicante for all the wrong reasons.
It began last month when a woman was arrested for throwing two Yorkshire terrier pups from her eighth-floor window, sparking outrage among locals and expats.
The 53-year-old told detectives who arrived at the scene on Calle Sol Naciente de Alicante, in Albufereta, that she was ‘just fed-up of walking them’.
She later claimed she was so high on ‘pills and booze’ that she did not remember carrying out the act. She is facing serious animal abuse charges.
Then on April 1, a group of young people in Sax (Alicante) allegedly battered a ‘friendly’ siamese cat to death using a wooden slab, sparking outrage.
The Sax Animal Protection and Collection Association (Aprasax) said the incident occurred on Calle San Pascual at around 11pm, adding that the feline was ‘known for his affectionate nature and good relationship with local residents.’
The animal activists said the group of youths ‘ran away laughing’ after carrying out the killing.
It said: ‘In addition to outrage, we feel ashamed to belong to a society in which a defenseless and innocent being is murdered just for fun.’
The Sax City Council strongly condemned the incident, calling it an ‘act of animal cruelty.’ Guardia Civil are investigating.
In the latest incident, a dead horse has been found ‘dumped’ in a ravine along the Rambla de Puca.
Police discovered the animal was not wearing a chip, suggesting it was illegally owned. The corpse was removed by the authorities.
The Department of the Environment has taken over the handling of the incident, while Petrer town hall condemned all forms of animal abuse.
Spain has one of the worst reputations for animal mistreatment in Europe.
In 2023, the PSOE government updated the Animal Welfare Law in a bid to crackdown on animal abuse.
Among the measures were tougher sentences for abusers, including severe fines of up to €200,000 for abandoning or mistreating animals.
