ARPA Founder Jaume Vilamajó Steps Down as President
Longtime dog rescue leader Jaume Vilamajó resigns for personal reasons including age and workload, handing over to interim vice president Laura López.
Key Points
- Vilamajó, 58, resigns citing work accumulation, age, and his dog Thor's retirement after 300 rescues.
- He completed ~700 rescues over 13 years in Andorra, Alt Urgell, and Cerdanya.
- No internal disputes; will continue as volunteer in supporting role.
- Vice president Laura López leads interim until October assembly and potential elections.
Jaume Vilamajó, the longtime founder of the Associació de Rescatistes i Protectors d’Animals (ARPA), has stepped down as president of the dog rescue group for personal reasons.
The resignation took effect on Thursday, following days of announcements from Vilamajó. In a brief statement, he cited an accumulation of work, the altruistic nature of rescues, and his advancing age—along with that of his dog Thor—as key factors. Speaking to *Altaveu*, the 58-year-old rescuer said he and Thor, now eight, are slowing down. "Thor has done about 300 rescues, and I've managed around 700 over the past 13 years, all across Andorra, Alt Urgell, and Cerdanya," he noted. "The mountains are tough, and rescues can last unpredictable hours. We're retiring from that."
Vilamajó denied any internal disputes, insisting the move was purely personal. He plans to remain active as a volunteer, assisting with rescues when possible from a supporting role.
ARPA, formally established four years ago this October, will now be led by vice president Laura López on an interim basis. Sources close to the group say she will serve at least until the entity's assembly in October, which could include elections to appoint a permanent successor.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: