For 10 years Michala lived in the south of Spain, and it was in fact the horses, that took up most of her spare time.
Almost daily she went riding in the mountains, but on her way she passed through many farms and could not help noticing all the dogs running around or being kept under poor conditions, locked up in old ruins or hidden from daylight in workmen’s huts.
Years later, whilst visiting old friends in Spain, she was given her first galgo – Tessa – at that time only 5 weeks old. Michala was at this time a veterinary student in Denmark.
Tessa’s mother was so sick and famished, that she did not have milk for her puppies, so for Tessa, the choice was living with Michala or dying from hunger, luckily the result was “living with Michala” – and this turned out to be the beginning of the whole galgo-project in Denmark.Because of Tessa, Michala started researching into what really happened to the dogs in Spain.
Coincidentally one day she got a call from Cristina Garcia Moreno from Galgos sin Fronteras, asking for help in her fight against the galgo-problem in Spain.
Michala had by now graduated from the university as a Doctor in Veterinary Medicine and decided to dedicate her life and spirit to this project.
Together with her mother, Susanne, and some good friends, she started The Danish Association for Galgos in Need the 12th of July 2004.
Since then she has worked tirelessly to find homes for the galgos in distress and to help put international pressure on the Spanish authorities to act upon the existing problems, as well as to improve the legislations, so that it will be possible to put an end to the cruelties committed against the Galgos in Spain
If you ask Michala, why she chose to help the galgos, she answers; “It is because I feel I am able to make a difference exactly here.”
INFO:
– The Danish Association has found homes for a little over 100 galgos in DK
– At the time, when the first Galgos came to DK, there were no others in the country
– Due to her work in the medical industry, Michala has had to withdraw from the board of directors, but she still helps out, especially concerning questions within the “veterinary area”
– Susanne took over as chairman for some years, but has now dedicated her efforts to maintaining the Association Home Page and helping in translating from Spanish to Danish
– The new chairman of the Association is Tanya Suszkiewicz, who – together with a very active board of directors, works hard to continue Michala’s work
Galgos in Need, Denmark
Founder – Michala Bandier
Written by Sandra Baas