- Time of past OR future Camino
- All that we are is the result of what we have thought.
Neo, first dog with xacobea credential
Mari Carmen Astirraga talks about the difficulties she encountered to make the Camino with a pet
XOAN A. SOLER
P. CALVEIRO
SANTIAGO / LA VOZ 03/24/2018 05:00 H
Neo, a 5-year-old border collie, will go down in history as the first animal to obtain the xacobea credential for pilgrim dogs. He achieved this achievement with his owner, Mari Carmen Astigarraga, a Gipuzkoa with whom he has lived for three and a half years since he adopted him. They undertook the Camino on Monday, following the French route, from Sarria. And yesterday they arrived in Compostela, where the Protective Association of Animais do Camiño (Apaca), gave him the document that accredited Neo that, although it has no official nature, responds to the growing demand from people with pets who decide to share with them this experience.
"I had already done the Camino before, about seven times, although always alone or as a family," says the 52-year-old Basque. The idea of going with Neo, he says, is because "we always do all the activities with him. I looked at last year how to do the last stretch together and I found many complications, starting with accommodation and infrastructure, but it had to be achieved in some way, "he says. Coincidences of life, Mari Carmen Astigarraga, who in addition to being a Doctor of Philosophy is an animal therapist and communicator, came into contact with Apaca. "It was the signal that it had to be done," he says.
The Camino with a pet has nothing to do with doing it alone, he says. «You have to be much more attentive. There are many animals in the loose villages and they came out behind us. There is no veterinary assistance, so I had to come with a kit for Neo. This means more weight in the backpack. The accommodation becomes more expensive and it is difficult to find it, it is almost always in the larger towns, at the end of the stage. You have to accommodate what they put you, because there is usually only one that accepts animals. Of course, in those who have been have been very good, "he says.
Path of dogs
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They found problems in Arzúa, for example, "where I could not go anywhere," he laments. «The Way with a dog is subject to being let in or to be on the terrace dead of cold. It is much more complicated, but very rewarding on a personal level, "says Astigarraga.
Neo is used to walking, although to travel so many miles in a row without stopping he received special care. Her owner applied a special cream to her pads every day, for example, and then the tiredness made her fall exhausted in the boarding house until the next morning.
«I wanted to go with him into the churches, but they would not let us, and the third day, when we arrived in Arzúa, the sacristan let us through. In the end, Neo managed to seal his credential in three, they gave him cookies and they even threw blessed water to both of us in Melide, "he says.
Explain that in the Basque Country and begin to ask to follow in their footsteps. «My idea is to recommend it and that so many people start to come that they have to enable, yes or yes, a zone for dogs in public shelters, I do not say they are with everyone. When they see that economically they can obtain benefits they will begin to see it, as always, "he adds.
Animals have an important role in their lives, recognizes Astigarraga while Neo barks at the garbage truck. «It has happened very close. It is a shepherd dog and, before the movements, they react, "he says. The father of the Guipuzcoa was a hunter and this was a reason for discussion at home, "but he looked after his dogs very well, although he saw them as work". «I was clear that I did not want to have that same treatment when I had animals. In fact, Neo could be a dog for perfect therapies, but his function is not that, it is being my pet and accompanying me and he already has enough with that, "he says.
Today the Basque will try to get the official compostela for Neo. "After all, dogs are creatures of God," he lets loose with a cheerful voice. And his next challenge, he says, "is to continue raising awareness and doing work in schools, because children still have that intrinsic ability to communicate with animals."
Alternative therapies. The Basque applies therapies based on floral essences, acupuncture and other stimuli for animal welfare that complement the veterinary.
Animal communication The "heart to heart" technique helps to know what the animal feels and helps them assimilate sudden changes such as moving or duels.
Mari Carmen Astirraga talks about the difficulties she encountered to make the Camino with a pet
XOAN A. SOLER
P. CALVEIRO
SANTIAGO / LA VOZ 03/24/2018 05:00 H
Neo, a 5-year-old border collie, will go down in history as the first animal to obtain the xacobea credential for pilgrim dogs. He achieved this achievement with his owner, Mari Carmen Astigarraga, a Gipuzkoa with whom he has lived for three and a half years since he adopted him. They undertook the Camino on Monday, following the French route, from Sarria. And yesterday they arrived in Compostela, where the Protective Association of Animais do Camiño (Apaca), gave him the document that accredited Neo that, although it has no official nature, responds to the growing demand from people with pets who decide to share with them this experience.
"I had already done the Camino before, about seven times, although always alone or as a family," says the 52-year-old Basque. The idea of going with Neo, he says, is because "we always do all the activities with him. I looked at last year how to do the last stretch together and I found many complications, starting with accommodation and infrastructure, but it had to be achieved in some way, "he says. Coincidences of life, Mari Carmen Astigarraga, who in addition to being a Doctor of Philosophy is an animal therapist and communicator, came into contact with Apaca. "It was the signal that it had to be done," he says.
The Camino with a pet has nothing to do with doing it alone, he says. «You have to be much more attentive. There are many animals in the loose villages and they came out behind us. There is no veterinary assistance, so I had to come with a kit for Neo. This means more weight in the backpack. The accommodation becomes more expensive and it is difficult to find it, it is almost always in the larger towns, at the end of the stage. You have to accommodate what they put you, because there is usually only one that accepts animals. Of course, in those who have been have been very good, "he says.
Path of dogs
ADVERTISING
inRead invented by Teads
They found problems in Arzúa, for example, "where I could not go anywhere," he laments. «The Way with a dog is subject to being let in or to be on the terrace dead of cold. It is much more complicated, but very rewarding on a personal level, "says Astigarraga.
Neo is used to walking, although to travel so many miles in a row without stopping he received special care. Her owner applied a special cream to her pads every day, for example, and then the tiredness made her fall exhausted in the boarding house until the next morning.
«I wanted to go with him into the churches, but they would not let us, and the third day, when we arrived in Arzúa, the sacristan let us through. In the end, Neo managed to seal his credential in three, they gave him cookies and they even threw blessed water to both of us in Melide, "he says.
Explain that in the Basque Country and begin to ask to follow in their footsteps. «My idea is to recommend it and that so many people start to come that they have to enable, yes or yes, a zone for dogs in public shelters, I do not say they are with everyone. When they see that economically they can obtain benefits they will begin to see it, as always, "he adds.
Animals have an important role in their lives, recognizes Astigarraga while Neo barks at the garbage truck. «It has happened very close. It is a shepherd dog and, before the movements, they react, "he says. The father of the Guipuzcoa was a hunter and this was a reason for discussion at home, "but he looked after his dogs very well, although he saw them as work". «I was clear that I did not want to have that same treatment when I had animals. In fact, Neo could be a dog for perfect therapies, but his function is not that, it is being my pet and accompanying me and he already has enough with that, "he says.
Today the Basque will try to get the official compostela for Neo. "After all, dogs are creatures of God," he lets loose with a cheerful voice. And his next challenge, he says, "is to continue raising awareness and doing work in schools, because children still have that intrinsic ability to communicate with animals."
Alternative therapies. The Basque applies therapies based on floral essences, acupuncture and other stimuli for animal welfare that complement the veterinary.
Animal communication The "heart to heart" technique helps to know what the animal feels and helps them assimilate sudden changes such as moving or duels.
