Felipe, Melendi, Picasso, Berny and Pajarita, the five horses that have served in the cavalry of the Local Police of Marbella, will be auctioned in the coming weeks. A group of residents has launched a campaign to raise €6,000 to bid and provide them with a dignified retirement.
The association Marbella Activa has initiated a fundraising campaign on the platform migranodearena.org to prevent the five horses that were part of the cavalry of the Local Police of Marbella from ending up in unknown hands. The horses, named Felipe, Melendi, Picasso, Berny and Pajarita, have been retired due to age and health issues, and the Town Hall has decided to auction them to the highest bidder.
A Race Against Time to Raise €6,000
The mobilised residents need to gather around €6,000 to be able to bid in the auction, cover the transportation of the animals, and meet their initial veterinary and feeding needs. In just one week, they have raised nearly €1,000 thanks to about twenty donations ranging from €50 to €200.
“They did not choose to serve. They did not choose to age. They cannot choose their fate. We can help them,” the association states in a statement. The organisation claims it has already made a “significant offer” in the bidding and hopes to acquire the animals before they end up in the hands of “inappropriate or ill-intentioned people.”
A Future in Sanctuaries or Therapy Centres
If they manage to acquire the horses, the residents intend to transfer them to equine sanctuaries or therapy centres with children, where they can enjoy a peaceful retirement and, in some cases, continue to help people. If they do not succeed in the auction, the funds will be used to rescue the animals directly and transfer them to charitable organisations.
“The horses need someone to speak for them. We seek help so that, after a lifetime of work, they can have a retirement with honours,” insist those from Marbella Activa. The initiative has sparked solidarity among many residents, who see these animals as a symbol of public service and dedication.
A Precedent for Citizen Mobilisation
This is not the first time that the citizens of Marbella have organised to protect animals that have served. In the past, similar groups managed to rehome retired police dogs in foster homes. Now, with the horses, the campaign has gained momentum on social media and already has the support of several animal protection organisations.
The auction is scheduled for the coming weeks, and time is running out. Those wishing to contribute can do so through the migranodearena.org platform, where the association has set up a donation page. Every contribution, no matter how small, brings these five veterans closer to a happy ending.
“Because after a lifetime of service, they deserve to rest in peace, surrounded by care and not uncertainty,” concludes the residents' appeal. Meanwhile, Felipe, Melendi, Picasso, Berny and Pajarita wait, unknowingly, for their fate not to be that of just another lot in an auction.
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