The Galguero and his hounds – the story of of two galgos

Another piece of emotive writing from Charl del Rio of 112carlotagalgos, this time about two new arrivals at the shelter in December.

‘The count down is done and the galgos are free, chasing the chase of the hare who runs free. Whoever said that this was a sport, for a sport is something that two should play, who asked the hare if he wanted to die today?

It’s here that these galgueros walk back empty handed, not all but some who have decided that their galgos just don’t make the grade. Some having traded out, thinking others have beter dogs. A galgo is flesh at the end of the day to these galgueros, not a living creature who has feelings, a concept which only they have as consolation to such cruelty.

To attend this hunt and release a galgo at the end of it, surplus to requirements, in their masses… is abuse…is negligence, but in Spain to prove this remains to be seen!

It’s here that Linda rescued these 2 souls Clio and Eli.

Elvira (cream) .. shows signs of a pellet hitting her on her quarters. Who would know, for she cannot tell, but a guess would be she was running and got in the way of a shot aimed at a hare and well “whoops” the galguero got her. In her fear,she could have run off, and become abandoned. For had she been called in, what would a galguero do with her wounded?

Thin, skeletal, she found her way onto the road and was rescued by Linda. Video here.

Clio (black) comes from the same place, abandoned to his own luck, left to his devices to make it in life, or not. Sweet and timid, he came to us, and his luck has just changed although he doesn’t know it yet.

Eli has more bodily damage, she shows the signs of disgrace at being herself, the scars she wears she will carry for life, her tail a mass of bald knots and thin bones.

Little by little these two new souls will heal, we will attend their needs, heal their wounds, and show them a better way. That life has turned and they are safe, and one day soon their family will come, to love them, cherish them, let them be just who they are, and love them the same.

So many fall by the way side, lost, unable to be caught, untouchable due to a galguero’s cruelhand, the mass abuse in their tens and tens of thousands goes unnoticed by those who should see it. A terror which threatens the lives of such serene dogs and incredible hearts of gold. For when you allow a galgo into your heart, they show you grace and love. There is truly nothing like it. When you know this love, you can do nothing else but love them back.

This little village is one of hundreds in Spain, overrun with galgueros who go out in their masses.

For those galgos who are not saved, who walk the streets alone at night, I shed a tear, my heart breaks just that little bit more and my soul aches for them all.

For those in our care, I rejoice that in time, we will see them run, play and find their forever families. That they will have made it. They haven’t even made it all the way home, yet they are safe for the first time ever.

In the meantime, we will endeavour to bring change in their lives, and those of the children to come, those who will in turn be adults and not close their eyes to this cruelty, for they will be the ones to step up to the mark and say No, no to abuse and mass abandonment. No to hanging galgos, no to dropping them in wells, and no to negligence.

Alone, we cannot achieve much, all of us together can do so much more. It’s so important to feed a galgo well, to help their stomachs adjust to food, to slowly recover from their treatment of starvation and being disgraced.

If you can help us in any way to help these two new arrivals, I can only say we would be extremely grateful. They need us, you, a new life and new forevers. The promise of a future they never knew existed. In that I honour my word and will do all I can to help them grow in love and affection. To find themselves, and allow them to “just be, simply because for once – they can be!”

“sr.Galguero you have blood on your hands!”

Donate by Paypal or credit card here.

NB 112carlotagalgos is now taking Jade, badly injured in a road accident in Huelva, and a male galgo Erbu with similar injuries. Vet bills will be very high as they will need specialist osteo vets to operate and put their broken bones back together.

Charlotte & Ambo Ambasadog! www.112carlotagalgos.com http://112carlotagalgos.blogspot.com