Mo Swatek – Things have to Change in Spain

Mo Swatek founded the organisation Pro-Galgo in 1999 and, with the help of her colleagues, has placed in the last 10 years more than 1,300 greyhounds and podencos in Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria and elsewhere. But very few dogs are adopted in Spain.

She was born in Switzerland and has lived a little more than 50 years next to a greyhound or galgo or other sighthound. She wanted to help the galgos after hearing about them being hung and persuaded her Spanish husband to move to Spain so she could work to help the hounds.

Sandra Baas of Baas Galgo spoke to her:

Mo Swatek, Pro-Galgo. Written by Sandra Baas, 07.07.2008

I give speeches at schools and so on and I had to slow down a little the rescue of more dogs to work in the field of information and politics. I live with 10 sighthounds, 2 mixes and a cat in a vineyard in the Penedes Tarragona.

Often they ask me:”How did you get the idea of launching the project PRO – Galgo?”

I was raised next to a sighthound. A Greyhound (Irish greyhound) followed me throughout my childhood and was the best friend during my teenage years. My family always found that the Greyhounds are the most wonderful dogs in the world. When a Spanish friend told me about the hanging of the Spanish galgos , at first I cried for almost 2 days and then decided to publish it on a website.

Thus began www.dogs-in-spain.com to denounce this horrible abuse and within one month after release it had 30’000 clicks.

10 years ago I came to Spain to do something more for the poor dogs, from Switzerland it seemed impossible and I felt I had to be here to do really something.

The situation of the Greyhounds before they started the movement to help, was terrible, many dogs were slaughtered in kennels for being considered “inadoptables” or remained in shelters until death. Most of them have died hanged, abandoned, run over and so on.

The current situation has changed somewhat, now there are not so many hangings but still a lot of neglect and abandonment. Everyone talks about the death of the dogs but, unfortunately, his life is nothing better. These noble animals are forced to live in holes underground, in blocks without light and without food, forgotten by its owner.

If they eat, they are fed on bread and water and often brutally beaten up …… Surely there will be some who care for their dogs well but in general it is quite the opposite

Spain is the only EU country where the Greyhounds are used and abused for hunting, but in the U.S. and Ireland sighthounds also suffer. They are used for racing and live in very narrow cages without any affection and no future.

Pro-Galgo International are now 4 international associations ,registered in the UK, Germany, France and Switzerland and we are planning to open one in Holand.

At this moment we are the only Spanish organisation with official cedes in other countries and the web under the same roof on www.pro-galgo.com in German, Spanish, French and English “

The solution for the Greyhounds no longer to suffer is based on control of the hunters.

1. Prohibit “domestic” breeding as do the majority of galgueros
2. There is a law in Spain saying you need a special permit if you want to keep 5 dogs or more. That law does not count for greyhounds, but it should!
3. Registration in the municipalities of all dogs ( domestic and hunting dogs), combined with an annual fee per dog and registration of death and new dogs.
4. Substantial penalties for anyone who does not meet the standards.

The steps we take as soon as the existence of a Greyhound in distress is reported, are as follows:
I try to collect some of them, the worst cases can recover on my sofa. The shelters with whom we collaborate, we help them to find adoptions for their galgos and podencos in other countries for a better life.

If you know about a case of mistreatment you need to direct SEPRONA or the nearest shelter. Almost all shelters know how to find help for them to search for a family.

Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Netherlands, in all these countries the sighthound is considered a noble animal and dog kings, not as in Spain, where he is considered the gypsy’s dog with poaching and palette.

In other countries they want to adopt “our dogs” but they can not save all of them. Not everyone can or wants to have a greyhound and what is most important: Things have to change here in Spain!

Mo Swatek
Founder
PRO-GALGO INTERNATIONAL
www.pro-galgo.com
www.dogs-in-spain.com