Meet Helena Paukku, who founded Kdittomat Espanjan Koirat
Hello to everybody.
My name is Helena and I am from Finland.
I was visiting Spain two years ago with my friend and after that my life has changed.
We decided to do something for the Spanish stray dogs.
We founded an organization Kdittomat Espanjan Koirat and now after two years we have found homes for over 700 dogs!
For 10 years Michala lived in the south of Spain, and it was in fact the horses, that took up most of her spare time.
Almost daily she went riding in the mountains, but on her way she passed through many farms and could not help noticing all the dogs running around or being kept under poor conditions, locked up in old ruins or hidden from daylight in workmen’s huts.
Sandra Baas, of Baas Galgo, recently interviewed Cristina Garcia Moreno, President of Galgos Sin Fronteras, who has been involved in helping the galgos of Spain for more than 10 years.
This is her story.
My name is Cristina García Moreno. I am president of the association Galgos Sin Fronteras. For more than 10 years I have noticed the hell in which galgos live who were so unlucky to be born in Spain. I have seen the most terrible and unjust situations that one can imagine, against one of the most wonderful races, the galgo.
Marisa’s Story: I’m a volunteer with Sofía El Refugio Escuela, in Seville. Since I was a little child I have had a special love for animals.
Since the moment I’ve been able to help them actively, I started helping at a temporary dogs home and after that I found Sofía, and so I help also as a volunteer in the refuge.
I am always overwhelmed by the generosity of of some of the readers of Galgo News.
A while ago I wrote about Caridad, a Spanish volunteer who looks after over 30 dogs on her own, in one of the poorest of refuges.
Whilst researching the Internet for information about galgos in Spain, I came across the website of this amazing lady. She’s British, married to a Spaniard, with 3 children and adopted animals, all living in a bi-lingual home.
Here’s her story, in her words.
Well what can I say, my name is Charlotte, I write and publish as Carlota, I’m 34 married to Dioni a Spanish man, and I have 3 children, Sofia 5 Sebastian 12 and Neizan 2. We live in a bilingual home, and we have 2 dogs, one a galgo adolescant, one an 8 year old little dog, and 2 cats a bengal and a burmilla. All adopted.
I have always been animal orientated and as a child very aware of the dangers animals faced at the hands of man. At 11 I can remember my Dad always telling me “Charlotte, anything important should be written on paper!” So, thats where I began.
Gemma works with Sonia and Caridad, helping save galgos and podencos and find them permanent homes abroad. This is her story.
Gemma spent the first 27 years of her life being afraid of dogs, until her sister bought a cocker spaniel. So to find her heavily involved with galgo rescue nowadays is a far cry from her youth.
About 5 years ago, at the same time as she adopted her first street puppy, Gordi, she went on the Internet and discovered other people wanting to help the Spanish galgos, refuges and shelters desperately needing help, and rescue associations prepared to transport galgos and podencos out of Spain to permanent homes elsewhere.
Sonia is a volunteer at the Albergue refuge. Her family did not really care about animals, but Sonia always tried to help the street dogs, feeding them.
She discovered the refuge by accident and began helping there. She also discovered, on the Internet, websites of other refuges and realised she was not alone.
When I see pictures like this, I reflect on the dog rescue centres in the UK. I feel very humble when I think what Caridad copes with every day. What do I have to complain about?
I pray that, especially over the Christmas period when people are celebrating, eating too much, and giving presents other people don’t want, someone will give Caridad a gift for her shelter.
This is Villarobledo refuge, northern Spain. Once there were 104 dogs living here! Now there are 32. The cages are not safe, as you can see.
When I joined a galgo rescue mission earlier this year, I met Cristina, an amazing lady and one of the incredible people who work ‘on the ground floor’ in Spain, to try and help galgos. Here is her story.
I don’t think those of us living outside Spain can imagine the work Cristina does and the situations she copes with.
Born in Madrid, of German/Spanish, she qualified with a degree in Marketing and Commercial Management. She works in the import of pharmaceutical raw materials, and her passion is her horses, dogs and cats. She grew up with cats rather than dogs, so used to ‘borrow’ the neighbours’ dogs to walk them.
As time went by, she got to know the ‘underworld’ of the galguerros, and the sad life and mistreatment of their galgos.
