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Le Journal de la
Réserve Naturelle
Nationale de
Saint-Martin N°26
Octobre 2016
Actions de
police
Police
Activity
16
Galion shelter
finds itself in court
The case concerning the Galion animal shel-
ter came before the court on June 27.
The
trouble started in September 2014, when the
lead agent of the Réserve informed the pres-
ident of the association, Pawsitive, that the shel-
ter she was running is located on land classified
as a nature reserve. The shelter, which at that
time housed seven adult dogs and four puppies,
was asked to move from the premises. In Octo-
ber of the same year, the Réserve sent a formal
notice prohibiting the shelter from doing work on
the site, and in November, a second notice was
sent, this time requesting that work in progress
be stopped, and by that time there was a total
of 24 dogs. On December 15, 2014, the veteri-
nary service attempted a control, but since the
president of Pawsitive was opposed, she was
informed there would be legal consequences.
Called before the judge to clarify the situation,
the director of the Réserve Naturelle attested
that the land in question was classified as a na-
ture reserve, and that the role of the Réserve in
this case was to have the law respected. «
Ms.
Morel’s activity is commendable and legitimate,
but she is opposed to the regulations. The ma-
nagement of stray dogs is the responsibility of
the Collectivité, not the Réserve Naturelle.
»
The public prosecutor referred to the decree
that created the Réserve Naturelle, issued by
the Prime Minister at the time, which clearly
specified that lot AW39 is part of the Réserve
Naturelle. «
The violation is clear and the consi-
derations are unrealistic. When Mme Morel set
up the shelter, she was told to stop, and in spite
of official notices, she continued in violation of
the law
.» A dialogue with the veterinary service
was ignored, and once again the shelter was
warned: «
it cannot continue in Galion on land
classified as Réserve Naturelle.
» The prosecu-
tor has requested a fine of 750€, and that the
site be returned to its original condition within
a period of six months. The president of Paw
Sitive was sentenced to two months in prison
with a suspended sentence, a 500 euro fine,
and required to demolish the refuge within the
next six months.
Le refuge du Galion
The Galion shelter