Sad end for Palomares Mule
Sometimes we are lost for words when trying to express the helplessness we feel following the outcome of some cases, in spite of all the hard work and enthusiasm we put in. Such is the case of a mule we recently tried to rescue in a village near Seville in spite of our prompt response.
These are the details of the case:
As soon as we learnt about it, we took matters into our hands and spoke to the authorities, SEPRONA on this occasion, so they could come with us to where the animal was, as we hit the road, losing no time at all. It was a case that could not wait. We even took the trailer, hoping the authorities would relinquish the poor mule to us, which would have been sensible.
As soon as we saw the pictures we knew we had seen this mule before at El Rocío, where he was already quite thin, and we had reported his owner, who was using him and other mules and horses to be rented out at the festival. The authorities also pressed charges against him, that's probably why he ended up selling the mule straight after the festival to a family in Palomares del Río. They had called a vet, and he said the mule was almost 40 years old and he had pointy teeth, that was the reason why the animal had stopped eating altogether.
After more than ten hours of work, travel and research later, we were completely broken-hearted to learn that the animal was no longer there, and what's worse, he had been taken to a slaughter house the night before. We cannot describe how we felt. The family that had bought him thought this as the best solution, and sad as it is, there is nothing illegal about them taking the mule there; there was nothing else we could do.
El Refugio del Burrito wishes to thank everyone for their support over the social media. We guarantee you our commitment is to and for the animals. We have to keep on working. For him, and all the ones out there in need and distress.