The rebellion of Ricar and his animals against the Belarra law

On February 9, Ricar López Luiña got out of the truck very angry.

He was listening to the approval of the animal welfare bill in Congress on the radio.

"I am going to

a video that is going to go viral," he told Sofi, his wife, when he entered the house.

As he reviewed the animals, he vented his frustration on him.

"People who don't live in nature, are you going to have to tell me how to treat animals? What happens in this country? Do they decide

". Ricar's allegation reached hundreds of WhatsApp groups, was uploaded to YouTube and its trace is lost in various social networks. "That day I was very angry," he says by phone. "I'm talking about the minister of Podemos [Ione Belarra] , but I don't want to be accused of anything politically.

.

This time they have done it wrong.

It has nothing to do with any ideology ", he tries to scare away the voxero label that has fallen on those in the countryside. "To reach some conclusions, no party is needed ".

At the age of 18, Ricar, who works as a transporter, bought four hectares of land in the municipality of Navia, Asturias, "one hour from Gijón and Oviedo and half from Avilés."

For two decades he has transformed the area into a self-sufficient reserve called Cerro del Castán, in which he manages rural accommodation.

The family -lives with one of his two children- lives in balance with the domestic and wild animals that sometimes appear, such as the

(the fox) or the wolf.

Article 24.1 of the law establishes that "all people are obliged to treat animals in accordance with their condition as sentient beings."

Ricar is clear:

.

Why can't you kill a while that enters a house?

Rats are sentient beings.

What are the cereal producers going to do with the plague of mice?

Dogs are in the world so you can put a jacket on them."

To his speech he added some criticisms that come from other sectors.

"They have not counted on the veterinarians. I spoke with one the other day. He told me that they had sent there [to the Ministry of Social Rights and the 2030 Agenda] 270 arguments related to the law. They did not even answer them. It gave me a lot of

" .

"That's not our education"

Every morning, starting at seven, he spends an hour taking care of the animals.

"I have four horses and a filly. A donkey. A 'mountain of the Pyrenees'.

."

The problem, she says, is general.

"With this law they will achieve that there are many more abandoned animals than before. My dog, which I have to protect the other animals from the wolf, how do I consider it? It keeps me company and is a guardian. The important thing is to take care of

. We all know the difference."

The cats have taken over Cerro del Castán.

"They help me keep the birds that peck the chickens' food and the mice at bay. They are the foundation. You can't let the wild animals reclaim their ground. It doesn't make sense. I see it every day in my little world. There must be a balance."

Ricar understands the legislative changes.

"When I was little, my passion was goldfinches. I loved hunting them. Later they prohibited it. When it lasted long enough I understood that there was no point in depriving them of their freedom. Let's see, it's logical."

He also felt some doubts when he sent pigs to slaughter.

"I spent three days without sleeping. I came to the conclusion that I was humanizing them and that's not how it is. That idea cannot be imposed.

It is our education.

We are a long way from the animals."

Ricar considers that there is more abuse in neutering a dog or a cat.

.

But politicians do not think about their way of life.

"A few years ago, a wolf ate

, a pony I had. Many children came to ride

. In the morning he did not appear. The night before I heard the dogs barking. It really pissed me off that he ate my pony, but it wasn't the wolf's fault. The wolf moved to lower lands because of the politicians. They approved the installation of wind farms a month before the wolves were to give birth. They began to dynamit the mountain. How could they not go down to the reserve, where they have easy access to food and protection?

". The animal welfare law insists on gentrifying the countryside. "They just want to divide us."

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