A DOG-TRAINING course to teach pets not to be scared of fireworks will be free of charge to all owners, says the local council organising these pioneering workshops.
Vegas del Genil (Granada province), has teamed up with the DeSilva dog obedience school and the Animal and Plant Protection Society, a pet shelter in the Alhambra city, to offer a series of courses to any owners resident in the village who have trouble calming their four-legged friends during fiestas.
Pets living in villages and small towns will inevitably suffer several times a year for days or weeks at a time whenever fiestas are held if the noise produced by fireworks upsets them, and many animal-lovers across Spain have urged town halls to let up on the bangers and rockets because it is distressing for dogs, cats and, especially, smaller animals such as rabbits, ferrets and guinea pigs.
But as a big part of festival culture, fireworks cannot be avoided together – except by living out of town – so Vegas del Genil's public safety councillor Alejandro Martín has announced a ground-breaking solution.
He said the course is in response to popular demand – especially from residents who were delighted with the results of the free council-run course on teaching dogs not to bark indiscriminately – and, although places are limited, it is likely the local authority will fund future ones to cater for anyone who ends up on a waiting list.
These workshops, when successful, improve life for dogs, and also for residents – owners or non-owners – since 'well-trained dogs always make for a better collective life for people, too', Martín argues.
Pedro Cantos, instructor from DeSilva dog obedience school, says a well-trained pet 'should not be a privilege, but a necessity'.
The first workshop will be held in Purchil town hall meeting room, or Salón de Plenos, on Thursday, September 13, and the next two will take place at the El Ventorrillo dog park.
Although only open to residents in Vegas del Genil, anyone else who is interested in the idea and wants to know more about it can contact the town hall at participacion@vegasdelgenil.es, which is also the contact for those who want to put their names down.
Details of their dogs should also be given when owners in the village want to take part.
