Virginia Labat of Passion Levriers is spending this week in Spain with friends. This is her report on the situation there.
I am in SPAIN, but no time to write a lot now so I will do it when back to France.
It is very hard, a lot of dogs everywhere and no place for them in the shelters so we feed them by night by the roads where they live.
We try to catch the puppies but the mothers always change the place where she keeps them so we wait in the rain. I cry a lot but my friends help me a lot too.
Night temperatures in Spain have now dropped, and galgos are freezing to death. Waterproof dog coats are desperately needed by the refuges and rescue associations.
Use this link on the Greyhounds In Need website to learn how to make coats.
Also click on this link for details of how volunteer Sandi Leach makes coats for galgos.
As a follow-up to the discovery of yet another hung galgo, please write a letter of protest.
The letter is both in English, and in Spanish.
More lucky galgos, whose veterinary care in Albacete has been funded by GIN, have started their new lives in Italy thanks to Elisa, Chiara and all at GACI.
Check the pix on Greyhounds in Need
The following message from Badajoz,Spain,came into my mailbox this morning, and I share it with you.
‘Shame on this one called country Spain. Damn the hunters who hide behind the word robbery, they rob this one country of 50,000 galgos, dying every year in this country. Anyone who can do this is not Spanish, the hunters and the gypsies, destroying the lives of these beautiful dogs. Hunting has only just begun, and yet here we find 15 hung galgos.
Rise up, everyone, for a law against such barbarism, end hunting with galgos, and bull-fighting – jail to everyone who perpetuates these crimes. The Seprona must investigate, and take action.
Damn you,both the hunters and the government which supports.’
Talavera,Badajoz)
Coral was rescued along with her three children (Aladin, Selena and Afrodita) from a marginal neighbourhood in Chiclana. She was tied to a street light on a highway with her three little ones at her side, the four of them in continuous danger.
They were rescued by volunteers from the Kimba Refuge. Coral has been rehomed in France through Le Bulletin Des Levriers, but one son and two daughters are still with Kimba. We hope they will soon be able to leave the country that is the disgrace of Europe in its treatment of animals.
Contact Refugio Kimba direct on the above link, if you want to adopt one of Coral’s babies.
It never ceases to amaze me just how much maltreatment can be meted out on dogs, and yet they survive. And, once rescued from the horrors of their daily life, they can still offer love to the hand which saves them.
This is the story of Welo, an podenco, or Ibizan Hound. Virginie Labat, a volunteer with Passion Levriers, tells his story.
About the middle of August 2008 I received an email from Spain about Welo, a 14 year old Andaluz podenco. He was dying in the perrera (dogpound) of Los Barrios, Algeciras. He had been abandoned by his owner because of his age, too old to be wanted any more.
Los Barrios is one of the hundreds of perreras in Spain, they feed the dogs when they remember; and no vaccinations, no vets, nothing, they just leave them to die!
Welo is a very old podenco, no rescue association was interested in him, too weak, too ugly, too ill …
There was galgo racing in Extramadura on 18th October. Lali was running. During a race she broke her femur, so her galguero left her in a refuge because he said ‘I will not need her anymore, she is dead for racing’.
The vet said she is in good health and, with a simple 3 hour operation, she would be able to walk the day after. The surgery will cost 500 euros. Every day that goes by without the operation is dangerous for Lali, as her leg would have to be amputated because she could die from septicemia.
Virginie Labat of Passion Levriers has appealed for funds for the operation.
She can vouch for the truth of this appeal as Lali is with one of Virginie’s personal friends -even 5 euros could help.
BANQUE : LA CAIXA IBAN NBR IS ES53 2100 5763 8601 0009 3529BIC
NBR IS CAIXESBBXXX
Name of account – Mrs Fatima Munoz Lopez
Through Amigos de Los Galgos we want to launch this call for help from our friend Rosa of Badajoz, who is an intermediary of ours in the rescue and rehoming of galgos. Maria Luisa, the president of Las Nieves, one of the largest refuges in Spain has also spoken to us on this subject.
Rosa works tirelessly for the dogs in the dogpound at Olivenza, which is the only one serving the rural area around Badajoz. She works non-stop to save as many dogs as possible, with little financial help, and often the animals are found injured and in pour condition.
The horrors about which she talks are infinite and it is for this reason that her call for help is made.
In the current economic crisis, charities are likely to suffer extensively, as people jettison their pets, and stop donating. G.R.I.N in the USA have been affected by the increased cost in fuel, checking dogs, and excess luggage charges.
They have appealed for help.
Read more here
