Dogs stolen during lockdown

I recently read a BBC News article about puppies being stolen during lockdown and, as occurs many times recently, I became so very sad. It’s happening here in Spain, not just theUK and not just puppies, and it’s happened to me. 

 My husband and I retired to Spain and recently moved to Calasparra, the area famous for producing paella rice.  We have a single storey villa with a large garden, totally enclosed with a wire mesh fence the base buried into the ground, several places set into concrete.  Absolutely secure to allow my two Maltese dogs to run around and enjoy themselves without a worry they could escape. Maddie is seven years old and after having several litters I adopted her from her previous owner. Not long afterwards Maddie’s two year old daughter became available and, of course, she was adopted as well. These two adorable little girls were my life, every decision made included Maddie and Nikki. 

April 18. A Saturday, and  as usual, I let the dogs out for a run around while I prepared their evening meal. It was time to call them in but only one dog arrived for her supper. Maddie was nowhere to be found. We searched absolutely everywhere in case she was trapped. Maddie does not bark and I was worried she was hurt and could not let me know where she was. The villa was searched, the garden and outbuildings, I even opened locked doors I was so desperate to find her. I was hysterical, I could not find Maddie and could see no way she could have escaped into the lane outside the property. A detailed search around the perimeter gave the answer. Someone had discovered a corner of the garden unseen from the villa andthey scraped away the fence from the ground in order to steal my darling Maddie. 

The Policia and Guardia were notified, I made up posters and took these to local vets and neighbours. I knocked on doors and stopped cars. Looking back I must have appeared a frightening sight crying, hardly able to speak and begging someone to tell me where I could find Maddie. Maddie is chipped and one day she will need to see a vet, she is a Maltese and would also need to be groomed. I emailed the poster to every vet, groomer and dog rescue in Murcia, including a few in Alicante. I joined lots of forums and social media groups, anything and everything to find Maddie. I even tried, with terrible Spanish, local radio.  

It has been seven months since Maddie was stolen and every day I think of her. The tears have not stopped completely but the absolute distress is with me every single day and night. I am still distraught and often feel depressed. I have to believe she is being well cared for, it’s the only way to get through this dreadful experience. One day I will get that phone call telling me Maddie is safe and I can collect her.  No matter where she is, one day she will come home.