Galgo News

Category: Profiles

  • Living in Spain – not for the faint-hearted

    ACTIN viv and girls on patio 400Most people dream of retiring to a life in the sun, many consider running a business. Spain is one of the top destinations and that’s just what Vivienne Wharton decided to do in 2007. As Founder of ACTIN, she recently stepped down as President and had time to chat to me about life in Spain.

    I asked her why she chose the Cartagena area of Murcia, as Spain is such a large country! ‘It was really by accident. My best friend had moved here and whilst I was visiting her I came across Tara Casa, which was perfect for my plans to create a retreat. I hadn’t planned on living in Spain full time but to commute for the retreats. But as often happens, life doesn’t always take the path you plan. The previous owners abandoned their 2 dogs at the house and so the move to Tara Casa became permanent’.

    Like a lot of animal lovers in Spain, it is virtually impossible to turn a blind eye to the abandonment and cruelty which exists on the doorstep, especially dogs and cats but also for horses and donkeys. Living among the beautiful almond groves, Viv had the same problem.

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  • Bracken – A Galgo’s Story

    Bracken head 400I’ve been involved in galgo and podenco rescue and rehoming since 2007 when the plight of the galgos and podencos was little known outside of Spain and the Canary Islands,long before the days of facebook. Vie my blogs Galgo News and Podenco Post I’m proud to have helped set two amazing young English women on the path to becoming two of the best known rescue and rehoming associations through advertising for homing dogs they had rescued before they formed their associations. I’ve fostered many galgos and podencos, indeed I’m a failed foster mother too as 2 of my galgos are in my home forever.

    This video tells the story of one of my ‘failed’ fosters. It’s an old video, as Brac’s story has moved on. Some months after we took him to his ‘forever’ home in the UK, sadly through no fault of either Bracken nor his adoptant, we received an email from them to say that because of serious illnes, they had to return their newly adopted galgo and also a tripod greyhound they had adopted. As soon as my husband read that, he booked a ferry across the Channel, stayed overnight with a very good friend, drove up to meet with Bracken and bring him back to our home in France. He’d really wanted to keep Bracken himself so although sad for the couple who were heartbroken to say goodbye to him, he was pleased to welcome Bracken back into our canine fold.

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  • Meet my current galgo family – with a little podenca squeezed in!

    4 hounds practice 390 7 2016Carmela, Polar, Bracken and tiny Podenca Andaluz Bebe.  I’m off to Pepis Dog Refuge, Pedrera tomorrow for 6 days to catch up with all the hounds there but there will be stories posting whilst I am away.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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  • SPCAI – helping Spanish galgos

    Here is an appeal from SPCAI (which arrived in my mail Inbox) who, amongst supporting animals rescues around the world, are also helping the galgos in Spain. Last year they responded to an appeal from me for a grant for Pepis Dog refuge to pay for a concrete driveway from the lower refuge up to the Galgo centre.  Before that, it was just mud and Jane and Alan had to manually carry or drag all supplies including water to the centre and their home.

    The story here is about a galga rescued by SOS Galgos of Barcelona.  It is also a story about the work SPCAI are doing to help the Spanish galgos.  

    Here are additional stories from SPCAI.

  • Levriers sans Frontieres meets Brigitte Bardot

    Story about a meet-up with a member of the Levriers sans Frontieres team and Brigitte Bardot; Evelyne lives in Frejus and Brigitte Bardot in Saint Tropez.  Under discussion, the plight of the galgos and podencos of Spain.

  • DeAnimals – successful prosecution of cruelty to equines

    Not about galgos but an example of the incredible work done by DeAnimals firm of lawyers in Murcia.  And why they need funding and sponsorship to fight more cases and run more courses to educate lawyers, judges, police, Seprona and volunteers on how to prosecute cases of maltreatment of animals.  Please sponsor them through ACTIN here.  If donating through Paypal, please go through family and friends and mark Donation to DeAnimals

  • Galgos del Sol – video of life in Spain for the hunting dogs

    An excellent video showing the truth about living in Spain with the daily problem of abandoned galgos and podencos.  Galgo News was contacted by Tina when she worked as a volunteer at Los Infiernos refuge where there were galgos needing help…which I publicised for her, and donated to the cost of the kennels at Gaynor’s. We also fostered a couple of her rescued galgos, including Bracken.  He was adopted in the UK but sadly circumstances changed drastically (outside the control of his adoptant family) and David drove back and brought him back to France where he is still with us today.  He is a great character, the Spanish vet did a wonderful job putting his damaged leg back together and it always comes up for attention ‘poor me’!  

  • DeAnimals – fighting the corner for animal cruelty in Spain

    Raquel4 170I’d like to introduce you to Senora Raquel Lopez Teruel, a Lawyer specialising and working solely in animal law (animal rights and welfare). Raquel’s law firm, DEANIMALS (DEFENCE OF ANIMALS) is based in Murcia, but she handles cases in various cities around Spain.

    Raquel’s role involves liaison with the police, welfare associations and animal professionals in general, and she has undergone considerable specialist training for this role, which encompasses all types of legal situations, including:

    • Denuncias against pet owners
    • Defence of animal welfare associations
    • Legal advisor on animal law to owners, animal welfare associations, police, administration, etc.
    • Specialist in Denuncias in respect of abused animals

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  • Scooby galgos – a volunteer’s diary

    Here’s another report from Margie Easter who regularly travels from the US to Spanish refuges to help the hounds. This time she took 5 galgos back to forever homes.

  • Greyhound Molly – the start of my journey

    Molly 250I was going through some old photos (before my time of digital ones!) and found a couple of photos of my first greyhound Molly. Back in 1994 when people didn’t adopt greyhounds and Greyhounds in Need was in its infancy, a stray greyhound turned up at our home in Suffolk, UK. She had a tattoo in one ear and so I contacted the Greyhound Stud Book to see if we could identify her origins.. We were unsuccessful, although they could tell me that from the letter X in the tattoo that she had been born/registered in 1987.

    Molly became a much loved pet, a very popular PAT (Pets as Therapy) dog and as you can see from one photo, she lived happily with our cats – here’s Tabitha stepping out beside her – and we had her for another 7 years before ill health finally took its toll.

    And it’s thanks to Molly that my journey into the world of galgos and podencos began.

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