Author: Beryl Brennan

  • Galgo Podenco Platform – what they do

    Galgo Podenco Lobby
    Many years ago the Dutch Galgo Lobby worked to publicise the plight of the galgos and podencos in Spain. The Galgo Podenco Platform is now doing the same. Here’s an extract from their website.

    ‘Galgo Podenco Platform

    The galgolobby is a developed lobby in Europe, where these dogs are much exploited for their specific characteristics as sight hounds, including their speed and hunting abilities. Galgos are traditionally used for hare coursing on the countryside and sometimes on enclosed tracks.

    A very important development is that the galgo-lobby also represents the podenco: The Great Forgotten. Podencos are mostly used and abused in the Rehalas and Monterias: the driven hunt. The number of podencos greatly exceeds the number of galgos in Spain. These dogs live mostly hidden in dark and filthy barns on one meter chains.’

    You can read more about their work on this link.

  • What to consider when adopting a dog – Protectora Scooby

    Protectora Scooby 1 dog 400
    From Protectora Scooby

    ‘All dogs are wonderful beings and amazing life partners but as much as we like animals, not everyone has to square up with our character and lifestyle, so it is best to be informed about the characteristics and necessities of the animal race/breed (if we know which one it is) before adopting him and above all, it is very important to be advised by the people who care and know them before taking the final step to expand your family with a four-legged companion.

    Many times people adopt dogs or cats because of how beautiful they are physically or because they follow a fashion, regardless of the character and needs of the chosen animal and that adoption generally ends in failure.

    This is said, to all of you who are thinking of sharing your lives with a dog or cat we encourage you to do so, but always responsibly and after meditating on it a lot.

    There are lots of animals in Scooby waiting for someone to give them a chance.

    adopciones@scoobymedina.org

    www.scoobymedina.org

  • All Rescue Dogs are Different

    Podenco in the mountains 400
    FROM Rebecca Hanlon – Canine Behaviour Practioner

    Adopting a dog is a wonderful feeling for us. Full of excitement and the idea of saving a life. But the experience is not the same for them.

    I often see posters stating the 3-3-3 rule. For the first 3 days they are totally overwhelmed but will then start feeling a little calmer. After 3wks they start to feel safer and more at home and then after 3months they have properly settled in.
    This idea, at least, makes people realise that moving to a new home is a massive, life changing event for dogs and that they need time to settle in.

    However, I find it a little too prescriptive and can set everyoneup for disappointment.

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  • Galgos 112 – saving 70 abandoned dogs in Jaen

    Galgos 112 1 400
    From Galgos 112

    ‘We aren’t very good at posting numbers of our rescuers but for once, we’re going to do it at least in partial mode.

    From January 1 to March 8, 2022 there are 70 dogs picked up from the street alone in the Jaén delegation. Dogs that were abandoned, many with fractures and mostly sick, some in gravity. Of these 70 dogs one is a mastin, the other is a pointer, 3 are galgo crosses, 6 are podencos and the remaining 59 are galgos. 2 have passed away, 24 have been adopted and the rest some are still recovering and others waiting for adoption.

    We don’t lie when we ask for financial help or foster homes, nor when we say we can’t anymore and that we need adoptions. I wish it wasn’t necessary, but the situation of Galgos in Spain is what it is. Numbers sing though many deny it and want to shut us up.

    Donate by Paypal through this weblink

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  • Tiny galgo puppies dumped in the perrera – thank goodness for Protectora Scooby

    Scooby galgo puppies 1 400 4 2022
    Can you believe these tiny babies were dumped, without their mother, in a perrera?!

    ‘6 baby galguitos that were dumped at the Valladolid provincial kennel and the ones we took care of along with other adult galguitos. The poor things came full of internal parasites, but we have already given them their pills and in a few days they will start with the vaccination route.

    They are all super cute and are going to need new homes to grow and live happily for the rest of their lives.

    To adopt or ask for more information, email adoptions@scoobymedina.org

    If you can’t foster or adopt, but you want to help us continue saving lives, you can do it in the following ways:

    Join teaming for €1/month: http://bit.ly/2teaming

    Become a sponsor (from €3 per month): https://bit.ly/2lyMhBi

    Donations:

    PayPal – Edwin@scoobymedina.org

    Bank: ES8400495219542216459780

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  • Galgos Rescue Almeria – always there for the abandoned souls

    GRA Bella  crop 400 1 4 2022
    From Sandy at Galgos Rescue Almeria.

    ‘This is Bella in the campo. Months ago, this girl was wandering around looking for food. When she was caught, it was very clear that Bella had given birth to puppies not long before. The volunteers searched for days but unfortunately, no little ones were found.

    Two weeks ago, in the same place where Bella was seen found months ago, a white growing up galgo was spotted. This white pearl is safe, she’s very similar like Bella so this girl is probably a puppy of her. Once she was rescued it was clear this girl was in very bad shape, full of fleas / ticks / malnourished. (See pix below)

    She received the first care, blood test and her first vaccinations.

    Many thanks Carol and Maria for saving her.

    Teaming — https://www.teaming.net/group/list?q=galgos%20rescue%20almeria

    PayPal: Galgosrescuealmeria@gmail.com

    website: https://galgosrescuealmeria.com/

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  • Dealing with fear in rescued dogs

    Beryl David 400 03 04 2011
    Many years ago on one of my many trips into Spain with French association L’Europe des Levriers we were asked to take a fearful galga who had been in foster in Southern France and was not improving. So Carmela came into my life and home. At 4 years old she had found herself dumped in a perrera, rescued by the association’s vice president in Spain, passported and blood tested and into foster in France.

    At the time we had a French lurcher, 2 other galgos and a small podenca. So plenty of company for Carmela to give her confidence. She was fearful of my husband – not surprising as most Spanish rescued hunting dogs are fearful of men – whatever do the hunters inflict on them?! She would exit the farmhouse into the enclosed courtyard following the other dogs but coming back inside was a different matter. All the doors had to be open and we humans had to hide out of sight. Eventually she would rush in like a tornado. Frequent shaking if my husband appeared, even though he doesn’t look Spanish, only eating food if we were out of sight.

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  • Dogs are better than people?

    Dogs are better than people 400
    Dogs are better than people well, not quite. We can’t include the volunteers, rescuers, shelter workers, fosterers, adopters, vets, people who donate to their care and everyone who supports the rescue and rehoming of dogs. Have I missed anyone out?!

  • Research into the health of Spanish galgos – survey form to complete

    Hello, my name is Mathéo Casa and I am a final year veterinary student. I am doing my final project on all the peculiarities of Spanish greyhounds. I am passionate about this breed and I want to improve the life of Spanish greyhounds through this work and I want to know more about the health of this breed. I need you to fill out a survey to help me get information. Please, if you have more than one Spanish greyhound, fill out a survey per dog. Once my work is finished, it will be published through Scooby’s social networks so you can see how special Spanish greyhounds are!! Thank you very much !!! Matheo Casa

    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScZofSxST_p8fzW3QkGuZ4MH6EJvYoZStl3_hE-XaoeOsQSJA/viewform?usp=sf_link

  • Galgo Drack at death’s door – safe with Animal Rescue Spain

    Animal Rescue Spain Drack 400 4 2022
    From Animal Rescue Spain

    ‘He walked along the road, without strength, bleeding from his legs from spending days walking on the asphalt, desperately looking for food, with his skin stuck to his bones and about to die of starvation. We have called him Drack. We are healing his wounds, his physical and soul wounds, even though he only thinks about eating. This galgo is synonymous with strength and struggle, abandonment and indifference. He is already in Animal Rescue Spain, cared for, protected, resting. He doesn’t know it, but he will never suffer again.

    Since his arrival he has already gained 2 kilos, but is still very thin. His infectious disease tests came back negative and that broke our hearts even more, because that’s how we know Drack got to this state – because of lack of food, they tried to starve him to death, and they surely threw him in the bones into the street. He walked for days and days down the road, where his legs were smashed and his pads were left raw, full of wounds and with a voracious hunger. Drack is now reborn at Animal Rescue Spain and reminds us that dogs are strong and grateful. Every caress, every can, every cure, every sausage, every treat, returns a look of gratitude on their part and that is our greatest reward.

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