Jo Chipchase explores the problem of lost dogs (or stolen) that recurs annually, with no obvious solution, upsetting many owners…
WITHOUT DOUBT, it is every owner’s worst scenario: lost dogs. In March 2023, Freddie – a white, deaf bully-type dog and beloved family pet – went missing suddenly, without trace, in a small Alpujarran village. This happened in a matter of seconds while the author turned around to unload a camera from her van. She had been taking photos of almond blossom on the Contraviesa – with Freddie on the happy trip. A beautiful day turned into an unforgettable nightmare. The exact date and time remain ingrained in memory.
Initially, Freddie was thought to be in a particular location on the mountain, which delayed a proper search and reporting on social media. When it was clear that he was truly absent, it was immediately reported to the Guardia Civil. Lost dog notices appeared in the Olive Press and the local Spanish newspaper, Ideal. However, there were zero sightings, which seemed strange at the time. In the village, on that particular evening, there had only been mums taking their daughters to the gym and some good-hearted locals beside the bar.
However, there is a logical and unpalatable reason for zero sightings. One that most owners don’t want to contemplate but it needs to come out of the dark…
Not an isolated case – many lost dogs!
When someone loses a dog, quite feasibly, your pet might have gone into a stranger’s car, found new ‘friends’, a family giving tasty treats, or a ‘mate’ to run with. Or, more negatively, wandered off and fallen down a hole, into a ‘deposito’, become trapped behind a door of an abandoned building, run over by a vehicle, gored by a jabali, attacked by larger dogs, bitten by a snake. Or not. The pain is in not knowing.
Freddie’s case was (probably, but not definitely) part of a broader problem. Spain records approximately 300,000 lost or stolen dogs each year, with Andalusia a particular hotspot. In rural Granada and neighbouring provinces, a spate of similar disappearances – usually in spring (anecdotally), for some reason – has raised concerns about organised dog theft rings, perhaps connected to illegal dog fighting.
Guardia Civil operations have previously uncovered such rings, rescuing hundreds of abused animals.
El Fargue, Granada…. Almería?
In Febuary 2025, the Guardia Civil resuced 23 dogs – mainly bully breeds, used for fighting – from disgusting conditons in El Fargue, Granada. The same neighbourhood was associated with an earlier case, in July 2023, involving the rescue of 23 hunting-type dogs. In ths ‘barrio’, there is a third reported case with a man arrested for shooting a dog in 2020. Is El Fargue the hiding ground some of our missing dogs?
Rumours abound, also, about connections with Almería. There is a clear route (A-348) between Almería and Órgiva. And towns such as Torvizcón. If you look for a pattern…
If you talk to certain people, there is also anecdotal evidence of dogs being rounded up occasionally, and sold to certain types. Stories about a man wandering with several dogs on strings (2023, mountain village). People walking with their dog near a main road then suddenly… no dog. La Alpujarra is seemingly a place to steal dogs – or abandon them. One person (verified, cannot be named) managed to retrieve their bully dog from Almería, but that is a rare outcome that most people cannot achieve.
A void that never ends
As with many lost or stolen pets, the bond between Freddie and his owner was strong. As a deaf dog, the two communicated silently, sometimes with a kind of sign language. Freddie was more than a random pet: he was a companion. Losing him without closure left a lingering grief that many people cannot comprehend. “It’s only a dog!”. Some apportioned blame because “he wasn’t on a lead and tended to escape”, or just wanted to shut down the conversation. Oh no! The mad ‘guiri’! OK, so it’s not the best after dinner conversation topic, following a few ‘vinos’, when people are trying to have fun without the “neggy vibes”.
Three days after Freddie vanished, his owner experienced a vivid early morning dream, in which he appeared, bathed in a ray of light. While most people dismiss such experiences as nonsense or sentimental tosh, or the sort of vision that occurs at a weird “medicine” retreats, it seemed real at the time. It’s something you won’t forget in a hurry.
Almond blossom now holds unfortunate memories, as do those Facebook “on this day” reminders. It’s easy (and totally unproductive) to torture yourself, going through moments you could (not) have changed. “If I had parked in a different spot,” “turned round quicker”, “not gone out that day”. Ultimately, it serves for nothing. It’s better to remember the good times you enjoyed with your pet (whether a cat or dog) and not fixate on what (potentially) happened next. Maybe it didn’t.
The point is that, now – today – other owners are going through exactly the same situation, with a spate of dog losses in the area. Bully breeds, podencos, puppies. Torvizcon, Órgiva. The list (and the lost dog notices) is increasing. Where did they all go?
Different attitudes re lost dogs
One thing that we dog-loving (maybe obsessed!) ‘guiris’ quickly see is that cultural attitudes in rural Spain towards companion animals don’t always match our own. Dogs are frequently seen as working animals or property, rather than family members, affecting how disappearances are viewed. And dogs do disappear on the ‘campo’ of their own accord – there are a lot of predators. Fact.
However, some locals dismiss such losses in a rather abrupt manner. Who really wants (real-life) comments like: “such-and-such ate him” (charming!), “one less mouth to feed!”, “it was your own fault”, “you have other animals – forget it!” and (on a local forum, minutes before the member was banned!), “dogs run away because they hate their owners”. If you have nothing constructive to say, perhaps consider not saying it!
As for the official approach… Spain’s animal protection laws, including reforms dating to 2023, were not only “kicked down the line” but faced widespread criticism. Aimed, arguably, at owners in plain sight, based in ‘pisos’ or town houses, they included bureaucratic (some could say stupid) measures – such as mandatory online exams for dog owners. Can you imagine all those old ‘campesinos’, who don’t use the internet, but have owned dogs for 50 years, doing an online exam about “remeber to feed your dogs, give water, and remove ticks”. Who was going to oversee that? These laws overlooked serious problems, such as hunting dogs (exempt after lobbying from the sector, and the most abused!), farm dogs, chained-up dogs on private ‘campos’, dog theft. Instead, it would be an excuse to denounce your neighbour because your dog peed on their pot plants and you hate animals (or your neighbour!). Or want some insurance money. Dogs over nine-years-old or with Leish could not be insured!
Feelings of frustration
It can be easy for an upset owner, with a lost dog, to feel that investigations into rural dog theft are under-resourced, or not taken seriously. Despite the fact that (unofficially), two Guardia Civiles told the reporter that it’s particularly important for owners to file all dog losses, or theft, as standard, what do they really do? What can they do, realistically.
In an area where dogs are frequently seen as working animals, or abused, grief over a lost dog can be seen as a bit of a joke by some less-enlightened people. “Look at the stupid guiri carrying on again over Fido!”. You cannot be sure that your traditional neighbour wants to hear how you miss walkies and snuggling in bed with your quadruped. (“Let’s lock him in a shed -. Bah! Shut up!”)
However, feeling devastated is valid – especially if you raised your dog from a puppy and s/he accompanied you daily. Seeking support from non-boorish people is a constructive step, and there should be no shame in acknowledging your feelings. For many, the loss of a dog can cause depression, especially for single people who maybe live alone.
Awareness is needed
With a fresh spate of dogs missing from La Alpujarra in April and May 2025, there is clearly a need for better awareness of “where do they go” and “how do we stop it”. Or do we just turn a blind eye and think they all fell down holes? Surely someone knows something about something!
In the case of Freddie, he was once, years ago, stolen by someone at 1,700m on the mountain on ‘acequia’ cleaning day. He was, subsequently, abandoned at a gas station near Málaga Airport. That time, he was found – by a kind vet with a microchip reader. Attitudes need to change. That’s someone’s pet – maybe there are young children you are upsetting! Leave other people’s pets alone!
What to do about (or to avoid) a lost dog
if your dog goes missing, the following steps are recommended:
- Make sure your dog is microchipped! A name tag is also a good idea, with your phone number. Admittedly, ‘campo’ dogs diving over rough terrain do tend to lose tags.
- Consider buying a tracker, so you can see where he was last located.
- If your dog has disappeared, first conduct a thorough search. Don’t just assume that the dog is in a place he usually visits (such as your rural ‘cortijo’ he knows well). This is a mistake that you will regret later.
- Put a piece of your clothing with your scent in a place you last saw the dog, if he disappeared away from home.
- Report the loss to Guardia Civil. Don’t wait days to do it! Take them a photo of the dog.
- Join lost dog forums on social media, including in neighbouring provinces. Monitor these daily.
- Call IDEAL for a free announcement.
- Share clear photos and detailed descriptions widely. Don’t give every single detail (special markings, etc.) in case you attract fraudsters trying to extract money by saying they have found your dog and need funds to “rescue him from criminals”. Yes, this happens frequently.
- Offer a cash reward for the return of your dog. He is worth it!
- Check regularly with veterinary clinics, animal shelters, and rescue organisations.
- Keep records of any sightings and do investigate them if they could be valid.
- Don’t beat yourself up. It’s not your fault, even if rude people say it is!
- Good luck!