Welcome to the SOS Website
LATEST NEWS – For latest news, click here
SOS is an animal charity, located on the Costa del Sol in southern Spain. The organisation was founded in 1997 and is funded entirely by donations and sponsorship. Our refuge is now home to over 80 animals. We seek to:
- provide a safe and caring environment for our animals
- rehabilitate dogs damaged by their experiences
- find loving homes in Spain and other European countries
- provide veterinary care
- neuter, microchip and vaccinate all our animals
- Click to learn more about us and our work
Every animal that comes through our gates receives the utmost care and affection. Our pledge is to never euthanase our animals unless it is absolutely essential and then only on veterinary advice. We are fortunate in having a sister organisation in Sweden that helps rehouse some of our animals Click to see Swedish Website.
Abandoned dog needs home - can you help?
This poor young dog was finally caught at La Trocha near Coin, after two months of patient efforts by volunteer Ronna. Abandoned and suffering from a badly infected neck caused by embedded string, Rod (now around a year old), is being treated at Cat and Dog World. He really needs a home soon otherwise he'll have to go to SOS for a longer-term stay. Can you help, or do you know anyone else who can? If so, contact Denise at Cat and Dog World Kennels and Cattery, Alhaurin El Grande, on 952112978 for more information. Thanks.
Last of six looking for homes
These two little girls are very affectionate and are looking for loving homes.
They were in a group of six puppies which were dumped outside the gate of an SOS supporter, who has luckily been able to find homes for four.
Now she is hoping that Tiny (top) and Beauty (bottom) will be lucky enough to find new owners too. If you can help please contact Therese on 653 257 875.
Happiness is always just around the corner
There have been some extra wide smiles at SOS recently. Why? Because a no-hoper Sponsor dog who had been at SOS for over 4 years has found a wonderful new home in Sweden.
The dog in question is Binfo (Bynfo). It seemed that he was destined to see out his days at SOS. Of course, we know from living here in Spain, that there are worse places than SOS to live out your life. But it doesn't compare to being with a loving owner in a real home.
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Swedish volunteer Elin, who was helping at SOS Spain, fell in love with him and took him back with her to live in Sweden.
The two pictures of him walking and swimming say it all. We wish Elin and Bynfo lots of luck.
And, yet again, we thank all those dedicated people who work at SOS here in Spain, in Sweden and in the UK. Special thanks also go to those who support the organisations with vital funding and in so many other ways.
GREAT RESULTS FOR 2010
Good news! During 2010, 100 dogs were found loving new homes – 55 to SOS Sweden, 29 to SOS UK, 3 to Switzerland and 13 here locally in Spain. Our grateful thanks to Nina and team in Sweden and to Tania in UK for all their help. We still have 60 dogs needing a home, so if you are thinking about a new four-legged family member, please visit us and see all our lovely dogs.
URGENT NOTICE
We regret that the shelter is currently closed for new admissions until further notice. We have absolutely no available space and are beyond our limit. So please be aware that if you find a dog we will NOT be able to take it into the refuge at this time. Please try other shelters to see if they can help, failing that please foster the animal yourself and keep in touch until we, or another shelter, are in a position to help. We apologise for this and hope you understand that this is not a decision taken lightly. We are happy to offer any guidance we can. (Please refer to our advice on what to do if you find a dog Click Here).
An Uncomfortable Truth
Most people don't know that municipal dog pounds in this part of Spain will only keep stray dogs for about 10 days. After this, they are killed by gassing – a distressing process. Without animal charities like S.O.S, there would be more dead animals on the roads, starving in the streets, or sitting on "death row" in one of these pounds. So, we are working hard to save and re-home as many as we can. See some of our success stories below.
Yet more successes at SOS
Hector the English bulldog was dumped in a ditch near the refuge. He was microchipped – his name was Attila – and he had had a Spanish owner who cared nothing about the dog's welfare. He was very ill when he was discovered by some of our young Swedish volunteers who could not bear to see the state he was in and carried him to SOS. It wasn't a hard job – he weighed so very little.
At SOS we never put a dog to sleep if there is a reasonable chance of recuperation, and in Hector's case the advice from our vet was that, while it would be a slow job, it would be worthwhile. And so it proved to be. It took patience and a lot of love, all fuelled by seeing the stump of Hector's tail wag. Here is a picture of Hector with his Vet Ana who spent so much time with him.
And the result has been fantastic. One of the volunteers fell in love with him, and he was one of several dogs who left the refuge in June 2011 for a new, loving home in Sweden.
And here, finally, is one more photo of Hector – this time three weeks after he had arrived in Sweden. Doesn't he look so happy to be there!
Also along for the ride to Sweden was Gulliver the French Bulldog.
He too was previously microchipped as Goliat, had been sold on twice, and dumped because he had an infected eye that was very painful. We guess his last owner decided it might be cheaper to get a new puppy rather than pay for his treatment at the vets.
We will never know because his microchip was not changed into the last owner's name and contact details. Again he captured the love of one of our young volunteers, who used to "put him on the phone" so her mum in Sweden could hear him! So off he went too! And here he is with new owner Lina.
A Classic SOS Success Story
And now for a story which sums up SOS – its dedication to saving animals and finding them new homes.
Nine months ago one of our volunteers found Kajsa beside the Churriana-Cartama road in March. No longer a young dog, she was in a terrible state and it was touch and go as to whether or not she would live.
She was taken into her home by the volunteer and literally nursed to a stage where she could be safely transferred to the refuge. Even then she needed constant care and many trips to our ever-understanding Vet.
As can be seen by the "before and after" photos, after nine months living at SOS she nearly doubled her body weight and is back to something approaching good health. She has been cured of most of her conditions and no longer needs medication.
And now the best bit of all – Kajsa has now left us to start a new chapter in her life with one of our volunteers in Sweden. Her new Mum set off home for Sweden in her car this week (have you seen the weather forecast?) with Kajsa comfortably positioned in the back. We will all miss her, she is such a character.
Her story is not unique but it is special. Not many people are prepared to adopt such an old dog. Lets hope she has a few years left in her to enjoy some real quality time with her new family.
We have many such success stories – Click here for more.
The Costs of Caring
We try never to turn an animal away, especially if it has been abandoned or is suffering. This is an expensive commitment. We desperately need your help to continue our valuable work.
On arriving at the refuge every dog and puppy costs SOS 200 euros in basic medical costs. This covers neutering, vaccinations (including rabies) blood tests and microchipping. After that each animal costs 240 euros every six months in feeding costs, plus worming and flea treatment. Our long stay sponsor dogs cost 40 euros a month each. This of course does not include subsequent vets bills should we discover a medical condition that needs treatment.
The overall running costs for the refuge depend on the number of animals at any one time, but in the winter months, it costs around 550 Euros a week for rent, food, cleaning materials, electricity and so on. This does not include veterinary bills.
Can you help us in any way? There are many ways to help (not just financial). Click the Donate and Other Help buttons on the main menu to find out more.
And Finally...
Thank you so much for visiting our web site – we hope you have found it interesting. If you would like to find out more about our work please contact us by email, or phone – just click on Contact Us in the main menu.
