This is the tale of an incredible operation between Greyhoundsrescue Holland, Mieke, a volunteer, a unit of Spanish police, and an injured galgo. It’s also a tale of the search for a stolen galgo, entering the bleak, vicious world of the gypsies.
It’s a tale of bravery, compassion, co-operation, understanding across borders, and an example of what can be achieved when the Spanish police actually work with the volunteers rather than ignoring them.
It’s August, and hunting with galgos in Spain begins at the beginning of September. After having dumped galgos in their tens of thousands at the beginning of this year, the gypsies and galguerros are now stealing the rescued galgos from the refuges where the dogs had found sanctuary.
Three dogs have already been stolen from Buen Amigo, including poor Africa. All three galgos were still receiving medical treatment. The chances of finding them is small. These poor vulnerable dogs have already experienced so much misery and pain, and now it will return. What a cowardly, cruel and meaningless act.
In the middle of August, a large search operation was made in the gypsy district of Seville. With 2 police cars and a number of volunteers, we went in search of Africa. Photos and chip numbers of Africa and the other 2 stolen galgos have been passed on to all police stations in the region. THIS IS UNIQUE! For the first time, serious attention is being given to the plight of the galgos in this area, and the police have been very involved.
We in Greyhounds Rescue Holland are very angry that all this is going on, and we will take action. If so many people disappeared, Europe would take notice, but tyhey do not because it is dogs which disappear.
So, we have developed a plan with Remco and Ana. Ana knows a commissioner of police in Seville. She has approached him and told him the tale. He gave permission for some police men to accompany her to search for Africa in the gypsy district. We needed to take a chip reader to identify him, which was loaned by an animal aid clinic nearby.
We met 4 policemen at the police station at 8.30pm on 19th August and explained our plan. This could not have happened without the authorisation of the Chief Commissioner of Police.
There were 3 of us, Encarni (because she will recognise Africa immediately) and Ana and me on behalf of Greyhounds Rescue Holland. We travelled in the police force jeep, followed by the ‘arrest station wagon’. Four grey police buses each with 2 armed agents followed.
We drove to a district just outside Seville. Immediately we saw children running with a young galga. The children stopped and we got the chance to check the galga for a chip. Within 10 seconds we were surrounded by unfriendly types, who sent the children inside the house. The galga was terrified. The policewoman asked the price of the galga, but the gypsies said she was not for sale. An old man said the galga would not hunt, even though she was already 2 years old. He released her and quickly the agents lifted her into the police car. She was safe.
We moved further into the gypsy district. Everywhere galgos were chained by their collars to the walls. They stood in their own excrement, 24 hours a day. Many had brandmarks on their thighs. One black galgo had a microchip.
Many had holes in their necks where the chips had been dug out. Children threatened us and shouted at us. The police showed the photos of the 3 stolen galgos. Two children said they were further in the enclave, but it was too dangerous to enter.
This is the horrendous dark world in which the galgos exist and suffer.
Unfortunately we have not found Africa. But the participating policemen have promised their collaboration to help the volunteers in the refuges and shelters. Private phone numbers and email addresses have been exchanged.
And we thought that was the end of an impressive evening – the police helping us search for galgos.. How wrong we were.
A report came in that a galgo had been seriously injured on the motorway to Malaga.
The police did not hesitate. They jumped into their vehicle and by means of radio telephone we were directed to where the galgo lay. With sirens screaming and lights flashing we drove at high speed along the motorway to Malaga from Seville. This was the first time I had experienced this, just for a galgo!
We arrived at the scene of the accident and were amazed to see vans parked to screen the injured galgo from moving vehicles.
There he lay; 2 large wounds above his eye, his rear end lying at a strange angle; blood everywhere; his breathing weak. Wounds all over his body. We need to move him to the clinic urgently. Ana rang the clinic and arranged for us to take him in. It is 11.30pm and 8 policemen are with us! We place the injured galgo in the luggage space of the jeep. He has raw flesh wounds, his ear is black, and he is very thin, terribly thin. There he lies, hardly breathing – will he survive to the clinic.
Nobody says much, we are silent and look at each other.
With sirens wailing and lights flashing, the police jeep and police force car heads back to Seville. Motorists get out of the way, we drive on pavements, grass verges, and at last we arrive at the clinic. But the vet is not yet there! The poor galgo is hardly breathing, he is becoming weaker. Please do not die, please do not die!
It is nearly midnight, but Seville does not sleep – everywhere it is busy.
And then the vet arrives – and we gently lift the injured galgo into the clinic and onto the operating table. The vet immediately links him up to a saline drip because the poor dog is dehydrating. He screams with pain when his hind leg is touched, which is obviously broken. The vet gives him a sedative so he can inspect the wound to his head, he fears his skull is cracked. The poor dog wets himself and we grab a box of tissues to clean him up.
Why does this have to happen. It is shocking. I am ashamed to be a Spaniard. Why are galgos hated in Spain?
We comfort each other, it is a bizarre evening, but also an evening in which the police force and volunteers have at last been able to work together. It is now no longer Spain or the Netherlands. There are no borders here, but simply a group which no longer tolerates how galgos are treated. Co-operation is the way forward to change things. European co-operation is vital to improve the life of the galgos.
The vet now has the results of his examination; hind leg broken, wound to the head which will heal naturally. The most serious is the possibility of a cracked skull. Furthermore, the galgo has a chip and the number is passed on directly to head office to find his owner.
We have named the galgo Pole- as in Po-o-licia!
It is now 2am and quiet in the suburb of Sevilla West; everyone sleeps. Teresa calls to say she is now ready at the clinic where Pole will spend the night. There are papers to be filled in. What is the name of the dog, who will stand guarantor for the veterinary costs. Where will he go if he survives. It’s simple. He’s called Pole as in Po-o-licia! Greyhoundsrescue Holland will bear the costs. He will remain at the clinic in Sevilla West where Teresa will look after him.
Very carefully he is laid in the jeep. The back seat is down so that his head can be supported during the ride. I hold the drip. Pole is restless, he wants to scratch. He is gently stroked along his thin body. And the jeep drives to the clinic in Sevilla with the siren screaming! When we arrive, Pole is laid carefully on his bed and Teresa will stay with him. He is exhausted, he sleeps where he is laid down. Tomorrow his head will be x-rayed.
It is now 0330 and we are incredibly hungry! We all find somewhere to eat and to discuss this incredible evening. We get a call to say the chip number for Pole is false. Something for the police force to look into, they already have an idea about it. They also want to know about Greyhoundsrescue Holland. Who are the people behind the association; why do they give an unconditional financial guarantee to stand the costs of the veterinary treatment of Pole. They are astonished that the association will put so much money into a galgo – why – how is it possible?
We explain about the association, donations, adoptions, animal clinics to which GRH donates veterinary products, all the people who help as volunteers. The agents are speechless. They know from experience that any dog such as Pole, injured in an accident, is left to die slowly because nobody cares about these dogs. So it gave us an incredibly good feeling on behalf of everyone to say ‘We, Greyhoundsrescue Holland, take responsibility for Pole. If he gets better, then we will help him.’ On behalf of everyone involved in GRH, we toasted you all and toasted Pole. We bid each other farewell.
Next day Pole was examined by a traumatism surgeon. No skull lesion, blood tests good, compound fracture to his hind leg. Cost – 520 euros – in advance as an operation is necessary. The money was sent immediately and Pole was operated on 25th August.
The latest update is that for the first 5 days after his operation and in spite of the morphine, Pole was in great pain. Because he will not eat, he is even thinner. However, he has now started eating sausages in which medicines are hidden. He is a lovely character, he is an angel, but a frightened angel. Hopefully one day he will dare to trust people and experience what life is like to be loved.
The search for Africa continues.
This is an English translation of the story, which appears on the Greyhoundsrescue Holland website. To see all the photos, click on this link and this one.