Marking a milestone in France

This weekend, L’Europe des Levriers has carried out another urgent rescue of galgos from Spain for rehoming in France, as the number of dogs abandoned by the galguerros intensifies at the end of their hunting season.

This rescue comes only 3 weeks after their last one, which also marked a milestone. For the first time in France, 2 associations which fight for improvement for the life of the Spanish galgos organised a rescue together.

Blandine Nowak, President of L’Appel des Levriers, a new association in Landaise, and Beatrice Monnet, President of L’Europe des Levriers, travelled to Spain with their teams to rescue 25 galgos, marking a turning point in the fight against the barbarism of the Spanish hunters.

The team from L’Appel des Levriers had already arrived in Madrid to take the galgos from the appalling refuge of Mairena in Seville and Cristina da Luna and her team took the galgos from La Camada refuge – which was closing for reconstruction of a much smaller refuge.

Pamela, Brumete, Goldie, Nenufar, Cano and Telma had already been adopted and were going to new homes in France.

The lift also included Narbona, an extremely traumatised young galga, going to stay with a foster family who have the time and experience to help her regain her confidence.

She has probably spent the major part of her life enclosed in a dark room, as is often the case.

Sari was also on this trip, whose history has been recorded on Galgo News, such a brave dog whose injured leg could not be saved but who has been adopted in France where she will learn to enjoy life again.

The surprise of the rescue was the arrival of Miel, an extremely beautiful small podenca from Caudete. She had been abandoned at the refuge, stolen by gypsies, found, some time later, by a volunteer, but was in danger of being stolen again.

It was decided to remove her quickly out of Spain to France where, luckily, she soon found a home where she is cherished and treated like a princess.

During this long rescue, our English friends offered hospitality to both the team and the rescued dogs. Jackie and John Stewart made a barn available for half of the dogs from the trip, and a bed in their chambre d’hote (we can recommend it), Beryl and David near Niort took the other half of the team and rescued dogs, extremely tired by their long voyage.

Jackie was taken with the gentleness of Luca and adopted him there and then! June and Martin, the adoptants of Flora, took the puppy Tana to foster, and fell for her magical character.

Thanks to Isabelle, a member of the team, who recorded the event on her camera.

And thanks to all the other members of the team who help, it was an amazing rescue, here’s to the next one!