Stray dogs animal feed claim

SOME pet foods and cattle feed allegedly contain the remains of stray dogs and sick animals.

Seprona, the Guardia Civil’s environment protection unit, is investigating claims that the animals were incinerated in Pontevedra (Galicia) before being processed at a Salamanca factory.

The unit was called in after a Ponteareas (Pontevedra) court received a number of similar complaints. 

Samples collected by the Health departments of several Spanish regions as well as feed distributors are now being analysed. The results are expected within a matter of days. 

Using stray dogs and sick animals, including those from zoos, puts the food chain at risk, according to molecular biologist Montse Espiñeira.  It could cause a disaster similar to the “Mad Cow” crisis, she warned. 

It is “beyond all logic” to use dead dogs to feed cattle which is eventually eaten by humans, Espiñeira said.

Another of the complaints received by the Ponteareas court came from Olga Costa.  She runs an animal shelter in Cambados.  She claimed contaminated feed has been supplied to dozens of pet and animal food companies, including some outside Spain.

She has since had “threatening phone calls” from a company that incinerates the animals, she added.

Seprona investigated this firm last May and found two warehouses owned by As Neves (Pontevedra) town hall that were being used as clandestine stores.  One contained 15 tons of dead animals.  Similar installations were earlier located in the Val Miñor and Salceda areas, both in Pontevedra.