This is a story of truth, mystery, accusations,lies, assassination…
In order to carry out further research for my current book, I recently visited Murcia to meet some of the people involved in animal rescue there. It’s an area to which many British people have moved, attracted by the good weather amongst other things. What many of them did not realise was the extent of animal cruelty and abandonment there, behind the glitz of the beaches and hotels.
Some could not turn a blind and eye and have become very involved in rescuing the abandoned and maltreated dogs and cats – and sometimes horses and donkeys – caring for them, finding forever homes for them – often outside of Spain. Others concentrate more on educating people that animal cruelty in any form is unacceptable and looking at legal ways to protect animals. Hence the reason for my visit there.
I don’t know the area atall. We flew into Alicante once many years ago and drove straight out down to Mojacar where we stayed with friends. So outside the airport I relied on friends who live in Murcia who had kindly offered to drive me about. I hadn’t realised the distance between the two friends with whom I was to stay, so when I moved from one to the other a pick-up point was organised roughly midway so I could be ‘handed over’, so to speak. To me it was all a blur of traffic and concrete buildings as I absorbed the sprawl of the city of Alicante. ‘All this was fields when we first moved here’, one of my chauffeurs told me.
So you can appreciate that when we diverted to call into a supermarket to pick up provisions, I was still unaware of the area we were passing through. Add to that it’s not the area my friend usually shops in either. We passed through a large commercial zone and I did what I usually do, looked around at the shops and offices and advertising hoardings…one of which I recognised from a photo on the Internet I had seen a year or two before – which I had published on Galgo News. I was surprised because I thought it had been reported stolen. (I have subsequently learnt that it could have been San Javier, of which I have advised the association if they want to go and look.)
I stopped off in the UK en route back to France, spending a couple of quiet days writing up my research notes whilst everything was fresh in my mind. Returning home, I wrote about my visit and also gave a mention to having seen the advertising hoarding – billboard as I am now told it is called – and thought no more about it. Little did I know of the can of serpents I was about to open!
I’m always informed when a comment has been posted on Galgo News and Podenco Post so I was surprised to read one advising me I could not possibly have seen this billboard! Now, they’re pretty big things and this one had few words and a picture of a galgo – so the picture stayed in my mind. Add to that, two of us had seen it, at the same time. But no, more comments came in that I could not possibly have seen it.
I like to hear from my readers, many of their comments contain extra information to add to the post. But I do not tolerate comments which personally attack someone – whoever they are directed at – in this case me. On the very rare occasions this has happened, I unpublish the post as I did with this one. I don’t take kindly to being called a liar.
So far we have now covered truth and mystery – the association claims the billboard could not possibly have been there. So, as two of us saw it, the question which should be asked is – who put the billboard there? Possible copyright issues? A natural progression by the association, one would think. Not my problem.
As I always do, I moved on – too many appeals for help coming in, some rehoming stories to prepare to publish, the court case of the hung galgos in Toledo to follow.
My next surprise came when Paypal advised me of the receipt into my account of a sum of large money. Many years ago I had donated the same amount towards the construction of some kennels to be used for rescued galgos. As I had not requested the return of this money – it had been put to the use for which it was sent – I returned it. It was, after all, for the dogs.
I was further surprised when friends advised me that I was then being accused – on the facebook page of the association – of demanding the return of the money and trying to close the association down! I thought ‘All this because I said I saw a billboard?’
So now we have the accusations and the lies.
This is the second time this year this association has attacked me in this way – I call it Beryl bashing’. I’ve reported it to facebook as many of the comments are defamatory by people who do not know me and have not visited my weblogs to read the material there. Blinkered people who fire the bullets after the gun has been pointed.
So now we reach the assassination – character assassination – mine.
I am unable to defend myself because I am blocked from so doing. Yet, do I really want to? These people will follow blindly wherever the gun is pointing. It’s already been turned on someone else…
I’ve received many lovely messages from friends, some of whom have suffered the same abuse in the past from the same source. I question of the association what all this has to do with the plight of the galgos and podencos in Spain? I also question if this is not also because I did not visit the association whilst in Murcia? But then, there’s only so many people you can visit in 4 days!
And I also question the money sent to me which I returned in total. This is money donated by people for the care and rehoming of rescued galgos and podencos. Would you donate, knowing the money is not necessarily used as you intend? Is this a case of misappropriation of funds?
There we have it, folks. To repeat myself, ‘This is a story of truth, mystery, accusations,lies, assassination’
As I have said before, those of you who do not have a facebook page nor wish to have one, you are very wise. I only use my facebook pages to share information and appeals about the galgos and podencos. In the wrong hands it is evil – as illustrated by the bullying against vulnerable teenagers, some of who are driven to commit suicide – and to destroy reputations.
I’m at an age now where I pity people who act in this way, that they do not have a better purpose in their lives. I’m having a good chuckle at the latest brickbat to be thrown at me – mild in comparison with that which has gone before. ‘That crazy woman’, a mantle I’m happy to don if it means helping continue making a difference to the lives of the galgos and podencos of Spain.
Give me dogs any day!
Comments
27 responses to “That crazy woman writes…!”
here here dogs rule said it for a long time now
Incredible pettiness… Those people are so immature, it’s unbelievable. You’d think this is happening in a kindergarten… It seems to me that there are far better things to do with time and money than throw mud at someone who has always dedicated herself to saving the galgos and podencos. But you know what? Karma’s a bitch… Rise above it all with grace as you always do and concentrate on the important things in life!
I don’t really understand what has gone on and I am not on facebook but I am sorry that you have been called unpleasant names. I think you do a great job in highlighting the plight of the galgos and pods, so not sure what this is all about. Unfortunately this seems to be one of the downsides of the internet. Hope you are OK and not too upset about this.
Hello Beryl,
You do not need to defend yourself ,your site promotes so much to aid animals in need.I just don’t understand anyone that wants to BASH something that is doing good for desperate animals in need of help.
They are SICK and should be ashamed of themselves.
You have a friend in me ,Elaine
I know who my friends are – thank you all who have commented here – to me the Beryl Bashers are dirt beneath my shoes. But it shouldnt be necessary for anyone to defend themselves against those who point the gun and fire the bullets.
I can give, as well as I get,so not a lot really bothers me, what does bother me + + nothing makes me more angry than those who for some reason, known only to them, have to start a war with others who are doing the same kind of things, ie in this case, helping the animals in need, surely that’s far more important than your own personal grievances taken out on others for no apparent reason, other than to be as spiteful as possible…please do realise how this is making you look, whoever you maybe…, so always remember….Don’t mess with ‘ol farts, Age + treachery will always overcome, youth + skill….Bullshit + Brilliance only come with age + experience, + here I think we win!!!!!
Keep on Keeping on Beryl….don’t let the buggers get you down….xx
Theres always two sides to a story – and I definately dont believe yours.
Not when the other side tells lies. And there are a lot of people who know they do.
Of course you would say that, Louise. We all know who you are.
Don’t you think it’s a little odd that Beryl would lie about such a mundane thing? It’s a billboard for God’s sakes! What on Earth would be the point of saying she saw it if she didn’t??? Obviously, you don’t know Beryl. She’s a no nonsense kinda gal. She’s down to earth and honest. Read any of her posts on any site or her book and you will discover the true Beryl: a woman who has dedicated her life to the galgos and pods and who has always acted with grace and integrity.
Why doesn´t the association drive over there themselves where you saw the “stolen” billboard to see if it’s there or not before they start accusing you from lying? Or is that too easy and simple…!
me thinks that could maybe be a bit to easy, + if there’s always 2 sides to every story….how come, you L. are also saying there’s only one whose telling the truth..that’s a one sided story…surely…..or is my maths worse than I thought….I’ll tell you what, just go + have a look, the suspense of this is getting just to much…??? Then we will all know, is it there or not??Simple….+ all for the sake of a bill board….as long as no poor dogs tied onto it, it would not bother me one way or another…dear dear me….
Beryl wheres your proof of All your accusatios? Cause I have for sure seen proof of what You Are capable of.
Two – as in 2 – of us saw it….
I am not sure what you mean by this or what you are trying to imply. I have been reading Beryl’s blog for over a year now and I am really impressed with all of the information and appeals that are on here. It has opened my eyes to the terrible situation for the galgos and pods. I knew some of this already but not the extent of the problem and I didn’t know about all the charities trying to help. I am now more aware, donate to different appeals and charities and spread the word as much as I can. In fact, I hadn’t heard of Podencos until I started reading the blog. This has opened my eyes to the plight of the Podencos and I have responded to many appeals to help them, appeals I would only hear of on this blog, as I am not on facebook.
We have the same thing over here with some of the Greyhound rescue groups in our area – so much bitching and back stabbing, I think they let their egos get in the way of what we’re all here to do – save lives!!! Associations should attacking the people who are trying to help these dogs and divert that energy to fighting the real criminals that are blatantly abusing and murdering the Galgos and Podencos. Obviously I don’t know the full story behind all these accusations – but it’s just a billboard, as Barbara said, so long as no dogs were abandoned there, who cares? And if there’s a copyright case to answer – then good on Beryl for making those concerned aware.
Beryl, welcome to the club. I think I told you my story with that Canadian cat rescue… that was racist bullying I got only because I wanted to meet the prospective adoptive family of my foster cat to discuss FIV and FeLV testing with them as this rescue does NOT test the cats for these diseases before giving them to adoptive families and I am afraid they do not even mention this disease at all to prospective adopters. Many of the Toronto based cat rescues simply ignore these diseases and the whole topic for good – my personal experience.
I absolutely disagree with this practice as one of the main death causes of cat deaths in North America are retrovirus infections.
But again, I got really bullied by people who contribute to the spreading of these diseases and call themselves pretty arrogantly animal rescue profis. At the end I only wondered IF they are really rescuers at all… or rather a special kind of pet shop that makes business with the pity and with the kind hearts of animal lovers.
I had had enough then and so had my whole family.
Because of this, I would NEVER EVER work for or cooperate with ANY rescue I do not know VERY well and I do not trust 100%. I adopted my next (and last) Canadian cat directly from the street and I made sure that no so called animal rescuers had any rights on the animal. End of story.
Of course there are many DECENT rescues who are correct but again, there are many totally crazy Rambo-“rescue” groups that bully people without asking a single question.
The rescues are basically unregulated as far as I know.
And when you tell your story and the name of the rescue then they threaten with suing you.
Bullying is common in the rescue world, especially by rescue groups. Bad for the animals.
And, dear Louise, where’s YOUR proof that she is lying? It seems to be a one-way street with you…
This crazy club includes some wonderful people, Im going to really enjoy being a member! Its sad when people lose sight of the main reason for animal rescue and rehoming – its about the animals – not about personalities and egos.
The asso claim is that these billboards are getting the message across to the galgueros. But considering the cost of them, the consensus is that theyd be better using the money to pay vet bills and instead writing and talking to the hunting federation in the area – especially the galgueros who DO look after their dogs properly, to gain their help in working with the bad galgueros. And as you say, its only a billboard, for goodness sake! No dogs were involved atall!
I totally agree, Beryl! As I said we get some people in the greyhound rescues with huge egos who just want people to give them a massive pat on the back and tell them how wonderful they are! In the meantime they claim all kinds of expenses through the charity and do very well thankyou!! We have never made any claims for expenses and give all our time totally free including funding the van we use, so the money we raise goes to pay vets bills and buy much needed equipment for the homing. We don’t spend huge amounts on advertising but will take what we can get free! We are here for the dogs, and that’s how it should be. Their lives’ depend on all of us – standing together we are an amazing force; divided we are on the road to losing the battle.
The asso claim is that these billboards are getting the message across to the galgueros. But considering the cost of them, the consensus is that theyd be better using the money to pay vet bills and instead writing and talking to the hunting federation in the area – especially the galgueros who DO look after their dogs properly, to gain their help in working with the bad galgueros. And as you say, its only a billboard, for goodness sake! No dogs were involved
atall!
Beryl, envidous, frustrated and bored people always have a “reason” to f… with other people. they just say ones: xyz is a dog traffiker and xyz can’t do a thing, he will be accuesed for it for life… no proof, no evidences, but lots of hate and envy… i’m afraid, but that is also typpicaly spanish and not only in the animal rescue world.
i have met the most wonderfull people in the rescue groups in spain but the worst pieces of sh.. i also met in the same circle.
just look forward, go ahead and continue what you want to do!
Here’s an article on the Scooby English blog, by Fermin, which describes one of the people accusing me of lying.
http://scoobymedina.blogspot.fr/. I think he may have met her!
An extension of the Beryl bashing by the association is that they now claim they have been asked to take stolen microchipped galgos from a friend of mine. It is a lie and my friend is taking legal advice.
Just read the link Beryl, it is interesting, an eye opener. I am going to make a donation to Scooby when I get paid next week. They are doing brilliant work.