Category: Advice

  • The threats that Spanish volunteers live with

    this Scooby story illustrates the problem for volunteers in Spain who want to denounce animal cruelty. I’ve highlighted it in my books on the plight of the galgo and the plight of the podenco…mob rule rules! And Salamanca is a hellhole for all animals, even Scooby have problems getting help for saving animals! Remember, this is a so-called civilised Western European country!!!!!

  • Portable dog enclosures

    I’m looking at portable dog enclosures with a view next year to going away sometimes with our caravan and taking our dogs – 5 at the moment but I don’t think we will have the old boy next year…13 and a good age for a dog his size, to find some fun dog shows. (There aren’t many in France – they are all agility/pedigree showing shows!) I found this link, bearing in mind I need something which can be pegged into the ground! I don’t want to use cages for my galgos. Anyone have any other suggestions/experiences to share?

  • Diagnosing Leishmaniasis in Dogs

    Might your dog have undiagnosed leishmania? How can you tell? Anne O’Connor explains in a fact-filled article on Podenco Post.

  • Pet Official Status in France

    Finally the official status of animals in France has been upgraded. The Civil Code from the reign of Napoleon (most laws in France stem from Napoleon) states that pets were classified as personal property, which is the same status as furniture.

    Now pets have officially been amended to sentient status (creatures with feelings).

    When is Spain going to take this step?

  • ACTIN, Murcia – another success in beating Spanish bureaucracy

    Not a galgo nor a podenco, but a deserving dog in Spain. ACTIN have done tremendous work on this case and now it can be published. Please read and donate towards their legal bills. And their outstanding vet bill is over 2,500 euros!

  • Scooby Residencia Valladolid – working for the hounds

    Scooby Valladolid 1 250Here are a couple of photos taken by Cobie of the Residencia Valladolid which she runs for Scooby. The block of kennels on the left is for the rescued galgos and the block to the right is the kennels for dogs for people who work during the week and have their dog home for weekends, or when they go on holiday. In the distance is the city of Valladolid. Several of the galgos in the Residencia have left this week for forever homes in Europe. Please support Scooby.

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  • Adopt a rescue dog – reasons not to buy from a pet shop

    One of the things I hate about living in France is the number of animals sold in pet shops – from lizards and young snakes to cats, rabbits, puppies. The only thing about the puppies and cats is that they are pedigree and usually priced from 300 euros upwards. So hopefully not a ‘spur of the moment’ purchase. Here’s an interesting article on the subject.

  • Djimba in France and the story of blind galgo Maik

    Djimba Maik blind galgo 250 1 2 2014This is the story of Maik, a blind galgo who arrived at Djimba, Betty’s sanctuary Djimba in France. Here she tells his story as far as is known.

    ‘We think he has been used as a hunting dog till he got problems with his eyes. He was dumped on the streets, but somehow managed to survive till some brave ladies caught him (the video is here).

    He went into a fosterhome and they went to a vet for his eyes. On one eye he is completely blind, on the other he has 10% “sight” (shadows), he needs special care 4x a day to treat his eyes. (They make no tears) eventually he will loose sight in this eye too.

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  • Greyhounds/Galgos and anaesthetic – what every vet should know

    Devastating news this week about a beautiful galgo puppy called Picasso, who was rescued and fostered by Bev Farmer (Podenco Friends). He was adopted by a couple in the UK who already have greyhounds so they are experienced sighthound owners.

    Mischievous Picasso did what puppies frequently do, he swallowed something he shouldn’t have and was taken to the vet. The adoptants mentioned to the vet about the potential problem of greyhounds and anaesthetic – because of their slow heartbeat and lack of body fat, they should have minimal anaesthetic for as short a time as possible.

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  • ACTIN – more on their work against bad perreras

    Another good article by ACTIN – please donate to their lawyer’s fees to pay for the case they are currently working on.