Costa Blanca

The work of ONCE guide dogs is explained to the people of Benidorm

The public was shown how these animals are utilised to become essential components of blind people’s safety and autonomy during an exhibition hosted by the ONCE Guide Dog Foundation (FOPG) in Benidorm yesterday, Thursday 27th March.

Under the theme “Much more than a dog,” the nearly 1,000 participants, who came from various Benidorm educational institutions and the general public, watched as these animals performed a variety of obedience and focus exercises alongside mobility instructors Rafael Almansa and Eloy Aranda. They were accompanied by Tibor, a black Labrador, and Dior, a sable-coloured German Shepherd.

Guide dog users from Alicante, María Luz Menéndez and Moisés Moreno, described their everyday lives with ORI and ODRI, respectively, and both demonstrated on a circuit how the training process works so that the dogs can overcome obstacles, go up or down stairs, cross zebra crossings, look for doors, or stay in a cafe or in any kind of transportation at the feet of a blind person.

Antonio Pérez, the mayor of Benidorm and president of the Alicante Provincial Council; Enrique Llin, the president of the ONCE Territorial Council in the Valencian Community; Estela Medina, the director of ONCE in Alicante; and Francisco José Muñoz, the councillor for Public Space, Public Works, Accessibility, and Mobility of Benidorm, who wore an eye mask and experienced firsthand what it’s like to move without seeing, along with an ONCE guide dog.

The proper way to act around a guide dog

In addition to reviewing some guidelines for how to act around a guide dog, attendees had the chance to learn about the various phases a dog goes through to become the eyes of a blind person, including rearing, socialisation, training, everyday life, and retirement.

The first of them is that dogs should not be given any food since they may have a food intolerance, which could lead to digestive issues that could impair their health and well-being and interfere with their ability to help the blind person they are with on a regular basis.

They also reminded everyone that when walking with a blind person, which they are happy to do, it is crucial to avoid diverting the dog’s attention. This demands their focus to keep them safe.

Another piece of public advice is that people who own companion dogs should always keep them under control by their side and not let them go if a guiding dog is around.

Though it’s crucial to respect their work when guiding and save play and greetings for when they’re not wearing a harness, guide dogs also enjoy lots of downtime and leisure time.

Additionally, keep in mind that you should never tug on the dog’s leash or harness when giving instructions to a blind person. Just move away from the dog and approach them, ideally from their right side.

The legal right of guide dog owners to enter any locations, spaces, businesses, and public transportation in Spain with their dog was also recalled; this is a fact that occasionally creates issues because of public ignorance.

Over 3,700 canines have been given by the ONCE Guide Dog Foundation in its nearly 35-year history, and almost 1,000 of those dogs are currently strolling through our nation’s streets and villages with an equal number of blind people. Thirty of the 84 guide dogs in the Valencian Community—the eyes of the blind and visually impaired—live in Alicante. Every year, about 140 animals are supplied.

Strolling Together

The integration of blind persons into society is one of ONCE’s top concerns. This work is founded on three pillars: employment, social and cultural interactions, and personal autonomy.

In order to address this, she established the ONCE Guide Dog Foundation (FOPG), following the lead of North American and European guide dog schools. Its current facilities, which are located in Boadilla del Monte (Madrid), provide all services, including canine training and instruction, boarding, breeding, and puppy care, as well as a veterinary clinic, a shelter for retired dogs, and a training user housing.

The most popular breeds are German Shepherds and Labrador Retrievers, which are hypoallergenic crosses between Golden Retrievers and Giant Poodles. Like all of the services that ONCE provides to its users, this one is free. Depending on the animal’s developmental stage, training lasts 18 to 20 months before the animal is delivered to the user. In addition to dog trainers and teachers, foster families offer to socialise the puppies during the training process.

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Related Topics:Alicante Benidorm Community Council Health Housing Madrid Mayor Mobility People Public Social Spain

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Elche companies swindle a million euros in subsidies

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The investigators became suspicious when the companies promptly dismissed the contracted workers, voluntarily resigned, or ceased operations.

The fictitious contracts were identified as a result of a complaint submitted by the Valencian Employment and Training Service (LABORA) to the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office regarding potential irregularities.

Public aid was exploited by structured fraud to facilitate the employment of qualified personnel and vulnerable individuals. Despite the initial formalisation of employment contracts, they frequently failed to satisfy regulatory mandates.

The Urban and Economic Crimes Team of the Organic Judicial Police Unit of the Guardia Civil of Alicante has been conducting an analysis of the traceability of the money received for nearly a year. The team has identified transfers between bank accounts associated with the individuals involved and diversions to personal expenditures.

In April of last year, a search of the group leader’s private residence in Elche, as well as certain offices that are still in use in the city’s technology park, turned up €9,000 in cash, a high-end vehicle, and various pertinent documents. The authorities also seized properties and accounts.

The court presented the four detainees and released them after taking precautionary measures against the alleged leader.

They face accusations of money laundering, contract execution failure, membership in a criminal organisation, and subsidy fraud.

The Civil Guard has emphasised the institutional collaboration necessary to combat this type of fraud, stating that “the investigation was conducted under the direction of the Prosecutor’s Office against Corruption and Organised Crime of the Alicante Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, with the collaboration of LABORA.”

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Elche renews the five blue flags on its beaches

The five Blue Flags at Arenales del Sol, Carabassí, El Altet, La Marina, and Les Pesqueres-El Rebollo have been renewed by the Elche City Council.

Tourism Councillor Irene Ruiz expressed her enthusiasm for the awards’ renewal, emphasising that “Elche’s beaches are the stars once again this year.” She also emphasised that this distinction underscores the quality, management, services, and safety that all of the beaches provide.

Annually, the Association for Environmental and Consumer Education (ADEAC) awards blue flags as one of the quality and environmental certification distinctions. This designation is based on a variety of criteria, including environmental management, water quality, swimmer safety, beach services, and environmental information and education.

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Costa Blanca

The towns with the highest crime rate in Alicante province

Although the Ministry of the Interior’s most recent data indicates a slight decrease in crime in Spain during 2024, the Crime Report also documents an increase in certain serious crimes, including intentional homicides and completed murders, which have increased by 4.5%, and sexual assaults with penetration, which have increased by 6.7%.

In comparison to the conventional crime rate, this amounts to 41.0 crimes per thousand inhabitants. Additionally, the report offers a detailed analysis of the various offences and the number of reported cases in each municipality. Statistics in the province of Alicante set it apart.

In 2024, the city of Alicante in the Valencian Community province was the municipality with the highest crime rate, with a total of 20,577 cases recorded. Following it are Torrevieja with 8,337, Elche with 8,132, and Benidorm with 5,167. Nevertheless, it is crucial to bear in mind that the provincial capital has a significantly higher population than the remainder of the municipality.

Kidnapping is one of the most egregious crimes in this region. In the province of Alicante, there were 8 of the 13 cases that occurred throughout the Valencian Community. Alicante reported three cases, Benidorm reported one, Calp reported one, Pilar de la Horadada reported one, Crevillent reported one, and Torrevieja reported one.

The province reported a total of 1,145 cases of narcotic trafficking. Last year, Benidorm reported 171 cases of this form of crime, making it the second most notable town after Alicante, which reported 352 cases. There are also villages and cities where fewer than 10 cases have been reported, including Calp (2), Ibi (3), Sant Joan d’Alacant (4), Novelda (4), Villajoyosa (6), Almoradí (7), Mutxamel (7), Alcoy (8 cases), Petrer (8), and San Vicente del Raspeig (9).

The province has a total of 1,008 transgressions against sexual freedom, as listed in the Interior Ministry report. This category encompasses sexual assault and abuse that involves penetration, with a total of 222 cases reported last year. Villena, Petrer, and Ibi are among the municipalities that have not recorded any cases. However, Alicante, Elche, and Benidorm have higher numbers: 52, 30, and 19 cases, respectively.