After an initial public meeting in January 2008, PAPAs was formed in April 2008. It is now an officially registered and legal association in the Generalitat Valenciana, Alicante. PAPA's is also registered with the Pinoso Ayuntamiento.

PAPA's was formed after hearing of the appalling fate of lost or abandoned animals was to set up as a viable alternative to the current state of affairs. The options available, at that time, was for such animals to be lucky enough to be fostered in one of the very limited places offered by animal charities or, more likely, to be taken to the dog pound run by CERECO where they were euthanased after just 10 days, having been kept in appalling conditions with no veterinary treatment . Their only other option was to die of starvation or disease in the Campo, or on the streets of Pinoso.

Thus the of opening the PAPA's Charity Shop to help raise much needed funds. This PAPA's Charity Shop was initially setup in the cafe bar 'A Taste of Home' but when it was put up for sale in September 2008  new premises needed to be found. The HQ, charity shop and tearoom/cafe is now based in Calle Cura Garcia 12, in Pinoso ( just off the market square) and opened in June of 2009.

PAPA's mission originally was to build and run a sanctuary in Pinoso by working with the local community, the town hall and all other relevant bodies. Due to the current economic crisis the long term plan had to be modified to meet the rising tide of abandoned animals.

Therefore, PAPAs identified, on behalf of the Pinoso Ayuntamiento a sanctuary which had the  required  philosophy, commitment, veterinary and alimentary standards and, most importantly had a policy of non-euthanasia and re-homing, that PAPAs were happy to work with.

Through the public consultation of 'Agenda 21' we were sucessful in convincing the Pinoso Ayuntamiento to terminate the contract with CERECO (the organisation who were responsible for the collection and euthanisation of abandoned animals).

On 1st May 2009 the Sanctuary that PAPAs had identified, Protectora Villena, took over the contract on the understanding that PAPAs would play a substantial role in supporting them in their work through collection and re-homing of abandoned animals in Pinoso. In addition to this PAPAs will continue to help other abandoned animals outside of the Pinoso area whenever possible.

There is a Europe wide campaign to close CERECO. If you wish to know more about the terrible conditions there, please go to the following sites:


www.eyeonspain.com  - search for CERECO

www.brighteyes.dk   - search for CERECO, click on dog pounds then scroll down to Murcia/Almeria/Alicante

www.petsinspain.info – click on left side link CERECO