The ones among you who are following the Scooby history for a long
time already will for sure remember her, Maria-Jos , who has been
working for Scooby for many years. A big animal lover, a hard
worker, a good person. She was the kind of woman who could work like
a horse but always took her time for a gentle stroke, a tender word
to the dogs who needed it. Now she died from cancer, far too young
at the age of 53 what makes all of us who knew her very sad. Below
you can read an interview with her from 2007 in memorian of her.
Maria-Jos , we will never forget you and all that you have done for
Scooby and its animals.
Interview with MARÍA JOSÉ
If any one of you has come to the refuge at any time, there is a sure
chance you will have met María José, a woman who is very much involved in the
spanish media, who knows about all that is happening in the refuge and now
(also) is working as a secretary in the new office. She speaks perfect French
(she lived in Paris for a lot of years) and gets along very well with the English
speaking visitors. She comes in from Valladolid every day to come to Scooby.
For those of you that have not come to the refuge,, you will know her
from the stories she has put on our webpage.
She has even begun to write her own version of the stories that are
happening here, so the visitors of the website feel they are closer to all that
is happening here..
In any case, we have asked her some questions so you can get to know her
better:
Refuge: How long have you been working
here?
María José: .. don’t know, let me think.. I think about 6 years. I used to be a
volunteer during the weekends, I got to know Scooby while I was working in an
animal refuge in Valladolid.. (Working in a refuge is certainly a calling in
her case.. ) and that refuge closed. A few dogs ended up here, and I followed
them!
R: And then
they contracted you?
M.J: well yes, the possibility came up when they needed someone to work for
them.
R : What is your
task here?
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R: What hours do
you work?
M.J: From 9h30/10h00 when I come in, untill I leave
which is always a surprise, it depends on the kind of day but if all goes well
around 18h00.
R: Between us: do you like your job?
M.J: Yes (honestly)… it is true it is
a lot of work but I like it .
R: What kind of
people are coming here?
M.J: Difficult ones, of the kind that go:
I want to have a dog but don’t know what kind.. no not that one, can you
show me another., people that bring a dog. It is funny to see that some are
looking for an excuse, at this moment being allergic is a popular one they use,
but also the kids. The galgueros however don’t need an excuse, they think that
a “it doesn’t serve my purpose anymore” is enough. Also we have people coming in that have found
a dog somewhere.
R: Are there a
lot of volunteers?
M.J: A lot of people call and some really do arrive, but in the end they
don;t want to come. A lot of them do not want to clean up shit or really be
with the dogs. I don’t really understand why they make the offer. The spanish
volunteers are complicated and don’t tend to compromiso. The thruth is when you
clean up their shit, you observe the dogs and learn from their behaviour. At
the moment we only have two Spanish volunteers, one of them is Eva and she
tends to the cats.
R: How come you
are so dedicated to the animals?
M.J. I have always liked animals. We have always had dogs in the house. I am
from Oviedo but we went to live in France when I was young, and later on we
moved to Valladolid. When I got here I had no idea of the amount of abandonment
and abuse of animals here. I got to know about the refuge where I worked before
when I went to pick up a cat. Then I got
hooked, first as a member and later on as a volunteer..
R: Were you ever sorry you took that decision?
M.J. To be honest, yes. The truth is it is sometimes hard but even when I am on holidays, I do think
about my dogs
R: your dedication is high and your salary low I suppose…
M.J: It is not high no, but however small it is, it
always gives me the feeling I am taking it from the dogs!
R: What is your relationship with the galgueros?
M.J: Nowadays I don’t get into arguments with them
anymore. I have learned to interact with
them so now they treat me like any other gualgera. In the beginning I
got very upset by what they said or did. I notice they seem to be a bit more
“civilized”. The dogs are a little bit better, but they are still brutal with
them ..
