Unfortunately we still have no confirmation from the RIU that the beach has been checked for poison and so we are unable to reassure the many people that have emailed us about it. In fact, still no response from them - why are they so reluctant to tell us that they won't let this happen again? Why do they still say that they were not aware of any institutionalised poisoning when the manager, Giorgio Chiarel has been named by Julio Cabral (the sanitary agent who placed the poison) as the person who phoned him?
Full text of my last correspondence with RIU head office :
I am assuming that you received my previous email, it is more than a week and I have had no reply from you yet.
It is disappointed to all of us that you seem to be unwilling to discuss with us what we and many others believe to be a serious issue which has led to the death of well loved pets and many stray dogs and which endangers people. We believe that all members of the public have a right to use a public beach without fear of poison and there needs to be a full investigation and explanation of what took place and some form of reassurance that people's pets and children will not be subjected to hazards like this in the future.
I stand by everything that I said about our meeting with Giorgio Chiarel and I have verified that what I have said is true with the other three people in the meeting. We went to the meeting in good faith expecting Mr Chiarel to be horrified, as we were, that our dogs had died on the beach outside the Riu. We did not accuse anyone of anything. We expected that he would respond with sympathy and tell us that he would look into it in order to ensure the safety and well-being of the Riu guests, wildlife and people's pets. We thought that he would stand with us and condemn this barbaric way of dealing with stray dogs. We saw it as an opportunity for the Riu hotel group to help to change a barbaric and outdated practice by standing with us and speaking out against it.
Instead we were met with anger and aggression.
Mr Chiarel even refused to speak to Vernon Archer because he did not do business with the Riu. He asked Vernon repeatedly 'do you have a concession with me?' and when Vernon said 'no, I am here because my dog died' he told him that he had no right to even be standing in his office. The meeting ended abruptly when Mr Chiarel shouted repeatedly 'are we finished? are we finished?' and left the room.
To say we were astonished is putting it mildly.
I have no reason to lie about this and I only want you and the other people at head office to understand why we feel upset at the way we have been treated.
I also have several points that I would like to make about the statement that you have issued. (RIU statement is in italics, our responses are in capital letters)
Poisoning of stray dogs in SALTHIS IS MISLEADING SINCE MY DOG, VERNON'S DOG AND ROD AND SHEENA'S DOG WERE CERTAINLY NOT STRAY. IT IS AN INDICATION OF WHY STRAY DOGS CANNOT BE DEALT WITH IN THIS RANDOM MANNER, SINCE OTHER PARTIES BECOME VICTIMS TOO. IN THIS CASE DOGS, BUT THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS THAT IT COULD BE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AS WELL.
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are confronted with several very unpleasant and defaming publications about poisoning of stray dogs in Sal, Cape Verde.
These are the facts:
In the recent past we experienced an increasing number of attacks of wild / stray dogs. Riu clients were attacked while walking at the beach. Employees were bitten while cleaning the beach. Finally the attack on a guest’s child convinced us that the risk for our guests caused by these massive dog attacks was no longer tolerable. IT IS REALLY ODD TO HEAR THE CAPEVERDIAN DOGS THAT WERE SOMETIMES SEEN ON THE BEACH OUTSIDE THE RIU AS WILD. THE DOGS HERE ARE, ON THE WHOLE, QUITE AFFECTIONATE AND TIMID. COMMENTS REGARDING DOGS AT THE RIU HOTEL ON TRIPADVISOR RANGE FROM THE QUITE MILD SUCH AS 'THEY ARE ANNOYING BECAUSE THEY BEG FOR FOOD' TO THE ADORING - WITH GUESTS ADVISING EACH OTHER TO LOOK OUT FOR THEIR FAVOURITE DOGS.
WE HAVE NOT HEARD OF OR SEEN ANY ATTACKS ON ANY PERSON AT THE BEACH. NEAL AND I AND MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM ARE PRESENT ON THE BEACH EVERY DAY. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY PEOPLE WHO WORK ON THE BEACH AND MANY TOURISTS. NOBODY HAS HEARD OF A GUEST'S CHILD BEING BITTEN. CAN YOU PROVIDE ANY MORE INFORMATION? CAN YOU TELL US ON WHAT DAYS THESE ATTACKS TOOK PLACE?
TO HEAR ABOUT THESE ATTACKS SURPRISES US BECAUSE THERE WAS NO MENTION OF ANY PROBLEM WITH STRAY DOGS DURING OUR MEETING ON THE 9TH OCTOBER WITH GIORGIO CHIAREL.
We informed the authorities of the country and asked them to take care of the safety of our common clients and other people. WHY THEN DID MR CHIAREL TELL US THAT HE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT ANY ACTION TO CONTROL THE DOGS ON THE BEACH?
I REITERATE THAT FOUR PEOPLE HEARD MR CHIAREL STATE THAT IF ANYTHING HAD HAPPENED ON THE BEACH IT WOULD BE SOMETHING ORGANISED BY THE CAMARA MUNICIPAL AS IT IS A PUBLIC BEACH AND THEY CONTROL WHAT HAPPENS THERE.
ALSO, IN WHAT WAY IS PLACING POISON ON THE BEACH OUTSIDE THE HOTEL AND MAYBE EVEN INSIDE THE HOTEL 'TAKING CARE OF THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMON CLIENTS AND OTHER PEOPLE;?
We owe this to our guests and employees. At the same time we do respect and act conforming the rules and regulations of the country.WE UNDERSTAND THAT AS PART OF THE OFFICIAL ENQUIRY MR JULIO CABRAL, A SANITARY AGENT, HAS STATED THAT HE UNDERTOOK THIS ILLEGAL ACTION AT THE REQUEST OF MR GIORGIO CHIAREL.
FURTHERMORE THE PRESIDENT'S ASSISTANT HAS TOLD US THAT THE DELEGATION OF HEALTH HAVE STATED THAT THIS WAS A PRIVATE ARRANGEMENT SINCE ANY OFFICIAL ACTION SUCH AS THIS NEEDS TO HAVE THE DELEGATION OF HEALTH AND THE CAMARA MUNICIPAL DO SAL'S COOPERATION. THE CAMARA MUNICIPAL HAVE STATED THAT NO SUCH COOPERATION EXISTED.
Our decision to inform the authorities was appropriate. We would have done it in any other country too. STATEMENT:
We are not aware of any organized poisoning nor did we blame any institution of doing so. RIU has clearly defined values. Respectful treatment of animals belongs to them. No need to record that we are neither interested in killing animals nor to expose our clients to animal cadavers on the beach where they are supposed to enjoy their best holidays ever.IF THE ENQUIRY VERIFIES THAT MR CHIAREL REQUESTED THIS ACTION, WE HAVE TO WONDER WHAT WAS THE EXPECTED OUTCOME?
ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN IN CABO VERDE FOR A SHORT TIME IS AWARE THAT POISONING OF DOGS HAS BEEN THE WAY THE AUTHORITIES WAY DEAL WITH STRAY DOGS.
WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT MR JULIO CABRAL IS THE SANITARY AGENT ON THEIR TEAM WHO HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR PLACING POISON IN THE PAST.
CAN YOU TELL US WHAT ACTION IT WAS THAT THE HOTEL WAS EXPECTING THE AUTHORITIES TO UNDERTAKE?
WE HAVE TWO EMAILS FROM GUESTS AT THE RIU HOTEL WHO WITNESSED AND REPORTED DYING DOGS INSIDE THE HOTEL GROUNDS, ONE ON THE 29TH SEPTEMBER AND ONE ON THE 6TH OCTOBER. NOW ANOTHER HAS COME TO LIGHT FROM BACK IN MARCH 2008. CLIENTS WERE INDEED, EXPOSED TO ANIMAL CADAVERS, NOT ONLY ON THE BEACH, BUT INSIDE THE HOTEL AS WELL.
HERE IS AN EXTRACT OF THE LATEST REPORT FROM A HOTEL GUEST WRITTEN AFTER THEIR HOLIDAY FROM 20TH OCTOBER TO 4 NOVEMBER:
"The most distressing part of our holiday was on the last evening of our holiday, we were sitting in the reception area near the grass and a large dog started fitting right in front of us. I went straight to the representitive who was at the desk and told him. Although he reported it to reception nothing was done and it took me three attempts to get anyone to come. I was distraught and by the time they arrived it was too late. We helplessly had to just watch the poor dog die an agonising death in front of us, they eventually took it away. The staff were then out in force in their green trucks and seemed to be checking for more dead dogs, but they didn't wash the grass area down where the dog was sick and died. Within minutes a cat wandered over to the same area and also died. This confirmed our suspicion of poisoning. (fortunately no children were around at the time!). No one come to apologise to us for the distressing scene we had witnessed and nothing was done to disinfect the area. Would I stay in this Hotel again - NO"
THEREFORE, WE STRUGGLE TO ACCEPT THE ABOVE STATEMENT THAT NOBODY AT THE RIU WAS AWARE THAT POISONING TAKES PLACE HERE SINCE BOTH GUESTS REPORTED THE DYING DOGS (AND ONE MENTIONED THAT IT WAS LEFT LYING WHERE EVERYONE COULD SEE IT).
THIS ACTION IS CLEARLY NOT RESPECTFUL OF ANIMALS.
We deeply regret the tragic death of Rasher, Mrs Costello’s dog. There is every sympathy with the emptiness and sadness she must feel after losing a lifetime friend especially in this awful way.
Every loss of a beloved is tragic and hurts. At the same time it doesn´t justify to damage the reputation of others. The General Manager of our hotel, Mr. Chiarel, was several times related directly and indirectly to the poisoning by Mrs. Costello.
IN OUR INITIAL MEETING MY AIM, THEN AS NOW, WAS SIMPLY TO GET TO THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER. I WAS SHOCKED AND HORRIFIED WHEN I WAS INFORMED THAT MR CHIAREL HAD BEEN NAMED IN A DOCUMENT FROM THE HEAD OF THE DELEGATION OF HEALTH. DESPITE EVERYTHING I ACTUALLY WANTED TO BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS A TERRIBLE, TRAGIC ACCIDENT AND NOT A DELIBERATE CRUEL ACTION.
AS I STATED ABOVE I STAND BY WHAT I SAID REGARDING OUR MEETING AND THE THINGS THAT MR CHIAREL SAID DURING THAT MEETING.
I DO NOT THINK THAT YOU CAN POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND THE DEVASTATION THAT THIS HAS CAUSED NOT ONLY TO US BUT TO MANY, MANY PEOPLE WHO KNEW RASHER, FOXY AND CROSS AND WHO ALSO MOURN THE UNKNOWN, UNNAMED DOGS WHO SUFFERED UNNECESSARILY, BUT I THANK YOU FOR THIS SENTIMENT AT LEAST.
I REQUEST THAT YOU DO NOT REFER TO ME AS MRS COSTELLO. MY SURNAME IS COZENS.
This is not adequate.
Mr. Chiarel is one of our most expert team members. He works with an absolute dedication towards the country he lives in and for its people. He acts professionally in accordance to the rules and regulations of his host country.
Mr. Chiarel for example fights without any compromise for the safety of cats that live in the hotel area. The amount he spends for cat’s food and the local veterinary is huge. Furthermore he regularly is giving a helping hand to SOS Tartarugas to save turtles and their natural environment.
He has our total confidence. CONCLUSION:
RIU is always working closely together with the local authorities to find solutions when problems occur. We will continue this way and investigate and analyse in collaboration with the authorities how to solve this stray dog’s problem.I and other interested parties have been given the document from the Delegation of Health and are being kept informed of the progress of the enquiry, which I assume you are also. If you have any response to the remarks that I have made above, please tell me, I will publish them alongside anything that we write so that the information is freely available to all.
We welcome an honest, open discussion with the objective of stopping this cruel action and finding a better way to deal with the problems of neglected dogs and cats.
We wish to discover the truth about what happened and we welcome your assurance that the beach is now poison free and will remain so and that Riu Hotels do not support this ILLEGAL, disgusting and pointless practice.
I write with great sadness for everyone involved in this terrible event and for all the innocent dogs that died.
I look forward to your response.
Yours sincerely
