Costa Blanca Dog Rescue Charity Pleads For Expat Adopters As Shelter Lost

Homes for 20 rescued dogs are desperately needed after a Costa Blanca charity loses its premises.

The APAH pet charity in Pilar de Horadada was founded in the year 2000 by British expat Yvonne Colbyn and her friend, and has cared for abandoned and stray dogs ever since, rehoming as many as 2,000 dogs and cats. The cash to keep the shelter going is raised both by donations, fund-raising events and by two charity shops in Pilar and San Miguel de Salinas, and the shelter is also home to its two founders.

For the past four years, the charity has been in a legal battle with Spanish banks and the premise’s owner as regards the title of the property, with the issue arising after the owner stopped paying his mortgage and bank repossession took place. Due to the cost of legal advice, the property hasn’t been maintained, and it’s now considered unfit for the dogs. Colbyn and her friend made an offer to buy the entire premises, valued at €80,000, but the Spanish bank wouldn’t take less than €197,000.

The court has now ruled the charity has to leave the premises, with the founders desperately urging anyone who could take one of the 20 remaining dogs to contact them as a matter of urgency. A number of the dogs are still puppies, and if homes can’t be found for them they will have to be taken to the local dog pound, where it’s likely they’ll be euthanised. All the dogs have been vaccinated, micro-chipped and, if old enough, neutered or sterilised, and have received veterinary attention if and when needed.