SEPTEMBER 2024

Hello, dear and loyal newsletter readers. 

Every month I write to you about the stories and events of the rescued animals that have found refuge with us at Finca Noah. More and more animal-loving people share our enthusiasm and are with us, with our animals, in their thoughts when we introduce you to an animal and tell you its story.

In animal welfare you experience beautiful, but also sad and shocking moments.
And then something unbelievable happens that makes you feel like you're losing the ground beneath your feet......

The Animal Police Team fights tirelessly against animal suffering on the Spanish island of Mallorca. For almost 5 years we have been fighting for abandoned, mistreated, injured, unloved, homeless and neglected animals. Animals that have been rescued from the streets, rescued at the last minute from being killed, reported or brought to us because of mistreatment, and often simply dumped in public rubbish bins at the side of the road. We make no distinction whether it is a horse or a small rabbit. Whether it's a dog, cat, bird, goose, sheep, etc. Whether the animal needs immediate medical attention or "just" a place to live in a species-appropriate environment. We take in just about any animal. We offer the animal a sheltered, warm place, regular food and veterinary care and, if necessary, medication. But above all, we make the animals feel loved and needed. We socialise the animals and look for the best and most loving home. Sustainable animal welfare is extremely important to us, as this is the only way we can save the many animals that urgently need help. An animal also has needs, and needs a human being, a friend at its side alongside its fellow animals. As the Animal Police team, we try to fulfil all of these needs every day. Caring for animals is only one part of our work in animal welfare. Organising everything around them and maintaining the enclosures is just as important. Only in a clean place can an animal become healthy.

Our 15 different animal species all have their own habitat. Lovingly designed enclosures, with plenty of space, a cosy, warm place to rest and a shelter in the form of a wooden house, can be found all over the Finca Noah property along the well-maintained path that resembles a path through the grounds.

These wooden huts serve to protect the animals from wind and weather. The European Animal Welfare Act stipulates that every farm animal must be provided with a roof over its head. And that is exactly what we have done. We have provided the animals with a modern, cosy shelter that can be dismantled at any time. The farm animals such as horses, donkeys, sheep, chickens, rabbits etc. are officially registered. When we registered, we asked what we were allowed to build for the animals. The municipality told us that the wooden houses are not officially allowed, but are tolerated as long as there is no complainant. We have a licence for these animals, and therefore we have to act in accordance with animal welfare laws. Unfortunately, the law on buildings says otherwise. A plot of land like that of Finca Noah, called Suelo Rustico, may only be built on 1.5 per cent of the area. And this permitted area is usually exhausted with the main house. This means that the wooden houses are illegal according to the law for buildings, but a must for the animal protection law. The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. A confusion that makes species-appropriate animal protection almost impossible here on Mallorca.

There are people who cannot be described in words. They harbour so much hatred, malice, dissatisfaction and envy. These people have reported us. Reported us for illegally building wooden houses. Now we are being threatened with demolition. They are threatening to take the animals away from us and take them to Natura Park to be killed, and have fined us heavily. The inspectors visited Finca Noah several times to document everything. We felt like serious criminals. They treated us as if we were animal abusers instead of animal rights activists. The Seprona animal welfare police also came to inspect us. The gentleman from Seprona inspected everything in detail for almost 4 hours. The chip and passport numbers of the animals were checked and documented (everything was handwritten down). At the end he apologised profusely. He apologised for giving us the feeling that we had done something wrong with the work he had to do. The gentleman is more than enthusiastic about Finca Noah. He has never seen such a beautiful and perfect place for the animals on the whole island. And as the animal welfare police, he has already seen a lot. Seprona could not find any violation of the animal protection law, only the lack of a licence for pets such as dogs and cats. We applied for the Núcleo Zoológico document with the help of our vet in December 2022, after the number of rescued pets kept increasing, and are still waiting for the licence today.

A lady from the municipality/town hall approached us. We invited her to visit us at Finca Noah. Almost speechless, the lady looked round Finca Noah and had everything explained to her. Afterwards, she apologised to us and our animals profusely and gave us huge praise. She too had never seen such a beautiful, lovingly built and clean animal sanctuary. She is infinitely sorry for what is happening to us and deeply regrets that she did not visit us much earlier to see for herself.

Due to the advert, the landlord will unfortunately not extend the rental contract. We have to leave the property with over 200 animals by the end of October. All stables and enclosures, which have been lovingly built with a lot of passion and ambition for almost a year, have to be dismantled/demolished.
After all the unbelievable events, we felt like we had been knocked on the head, devastated, with nerves at the end of our tether and simply so emotionally moved that we couldn't find a moment's peace at night. We had to find a plan B, which is really not easy to find under this enormous time pressure. Nevertheless, after a long search, we found a farm that we could buy for the animals at Finca Noah and for the many other animals that still need help. As a Swiss animal welfare organisation, we do not have the financial means to buy this farm. But this is the only possibility to offer the animals a safe home with all the necessary licences.

We need your help. We need the support of our fans, our friends, family and animal rights activists.

The whole Animal Police team would like to say a huge thank you and praise to some very special people.

Salto is organising a charity gala in aid of Animal Police. The event will take place on 27 November 2024 in Kloten/Zurich. The gala premiere will focus on animals the whole evening. Such a great gesture and opportunity, we don't know how to ever thank you for this chance we now have to save our animals. We would like to thank the Salto family, Anja Walder and her whole team, who are now working flat out to ensure that we all have an unforgettable evening on 27 November and achieve great things.

Get a ticket and help us to buy the animals the home they urgently need and deserve.

Dank dem großen Netzwerk von Farah de Tomi konnten wir viele Prominente und Persönlichkeiten dazu bewegen uns zu unterstützen. Patricia Kelly wird mit ihrer wunderschönen Stimme das Grand Opening eröffnen. Sven Epiney begleitet und führt uns durch den Abend mit seiner Moderation, Brigitte Oertli, Urs Althaus wird euch persönlich im Empfang nehmen und begrüßen. Freut euch auf viele Prominete mehr die mit uns gemeinsam den Abend verbringen werden.

We need to achieve a wide reach so that we are seen and heard everywhere. We need all the support we can get. Help us to save the animals from Finca Noah and many other animals on Mallorca. Your help can be a donation or by spreading our calls for help and posting on social media. Please share our posts, tell everyone you know about us. And please, ask any of your friends to donate.

You can support our animals with a donation 

Or by buying a ticket for the Grand Opening Show of Salto on 27 November in Kloten/Zurich.

We thank you on behalf of the animals for reading and for your support.

Nadine and the whole Animal Police team.