Only a few weeks ago we reported that we were experiencing ‘the worst pressure we have ever been under in the 11 years we have been up and running’. Despite the fact that many people responded kindly with offers of help by volunteering and donating we desperately need more as – yes – the situation has deteriorated!

Sue reported previously that we owed €20,000 for forage above the €2,000 or so that we have to pay every couple of weeks for a new delivery of hay. We had started to reduce this amount and had got it down to €17,200 with donations we have been receiving but then the bomb fell earlier in the week!

The suppliers of the forage have asked us to pay the remaining money we owe now, we totally understand but are completely devastated as we just don’t have this type of money. The huge forage bill is not a normal occurrence and is due to the devastation caused by last September’s horrific storm which destroyed local crops and we now have to order the supplies from further afield and the cost is double.

Many people rallied around to help and support the Centre back in September but believe it or not due to dishonest people and the Government we have not received some of this help to date.

One example of this generosity came from Austria, where a very kind person heard our cries for help and he encouraged many farmers to donate hay from across Austria and Germany and a local Golf Society with the help of some others, generously paid for the transport which totalled €3,150. The money was paid to the transport company OTS-OBERLAUSITZER TRANSPORTSERVIC in Germany back in October. EHCRC have been fobbed off with excuse after excuse as to why we haven’t received this delivery. As the hay delivery was not forthcoming we asked the company to return the money and at least we could put that to good use but the company are not responding to letters or phone calls. The Golf Society has now got lawyers involved to try to deal with this despicable transport company.

A second case of fantastic support had come from Norway, where a wonderful man organised for not one but several loads of hay to be transported from there to the Centre with a much needed tractor and water pump too. All of these things being so generously donated in response to the critical situation the Centre was in but…….. yes yet another stumbling block! This time the Spanish Government have said that 21% IVA (tax) must be paid on this donated food for the animals and the pump and the tractor as it is not classed as ‘a crisis situation or humanitarian need’. The Norwegian Charity who are involved and their lawyers are arguing the case and are saying they should not have to pay tax on the donated goods which are being given as a direct result of the ‘crisis situation’ but equally they cannot afford to pay this tax on top.

As mentioned previously too the Charity Shops have been a vital source of funds which have kept the Centre going but the IVA tax on all the donated items that are sold is adversely affecting the takings and literally taking essential resources from the ‘horse’s mouth’.

So basically all of this is adding even more pressure to Sue and Rod. This hasn’t come about through bad management, it is through a series of extreme circumstances beyond the Centre’s control but ultimately the ones who will suffer if we cannot get out of this dire situation are the animals. EHCRC are not only rescuing animals from desperate situations but are continually striving to influence the local and national authorities and law makers of the country to try to make changes to animal welfare in Spain. The 120 so very deserving horses, ponies and donkeys and the other rescued animals too need your help and support so please give as generously as you can.

– Written by Diane O’Neill, photographs by Elaine Warnock.