As you know, during the autumn and winter I mention how much the associations and refuges in Spain need dog coats for the thin-coated galgos to survive the severe winter night-time temperatures.
For anyone considering sending dog coats to Spain, please be careful to use a courrier service or a galgo rescue association outside of Spain to ensure safe delivery of the parcel.
Spain is often described to me by those who live there as a Third World Country; this is an example of the corruption and red tape existing in the postal service.
A package containing desperately needed dog coats, collars and leads was sent airmail post to an association in Spain. It should have been obvious to the staff at the post collection point that the parcel was intended for an animal rescue association, established for many years in the area.
The post office wanted –
payment for the customs office;
payment for transport of the package (payment had already been paid by the sender);
declaration of the value of the contents so they could be taxed;
an inspection of the contents of the parcel by a vet;
completion of the Ministry of Finance forms so yet more taxes could be requested –
the fact that this was a donation was completely irrelevant
Sadly, in the end, the association just could not deal with all this hassle and cost, and could not accept the parcel. Both the sender and the association are extremely upset about all this, as you can imagine.
Don’t ask where the parcel is now.
We just pray it is returned to the sender and they can use a courrier service in future.
The more I learn about Spain, the more I am astounded at the absolute and utter corruption which exists.