Further to my piece about running galgos by motorised vehicles, here’s another sad example of a galgo dragged by a car driven by a galguero, along with other galgos. Horrendous mental and physical injuries. Luckily this one, Otro, is safe with Fepaex in Badajoz, Extremadura. But it needn’t have happened! It’s against the law!
Olivenza – the biggest private killing station in Badajoz. ‘Thursday is a good day for killing’ says the owner!
We’ve been following the story of galgos in Portugal – horrendous conditions in which they survive – and the team of faithful volunteers who work tirelessly to make the lives of these dogs better, against insurmountable odds.
Ines explains the situation more fully.
‘I must clarify some details on this shelter, it is not a registered charity, it is simply Teresa, an animal lover that happens to help every stray dog she finds. She treats, neuters and vaccinates them and finds them good homes. Teresa has a brilliant record, this year alone she rehomed over 60 dogs by herself into loving families, so I and another 2 women volunteered to help her fundraise and look after the dogs.
I’ve received the following from Mieke van Erp, to share with you. Many rescue associations are already up in arms about it.
‘This is where the money goes from The EU! There is checked in Spain and it is true but there are very few schools who want to learn the children how to hunt. So the money goes to the galgueros! I am copying some recent news about the other Spanish mafia (the other being the bullfighting one), the hunting fraternity, which will shock you I´m sure. This comes again from the unspeakable Junta de Castilla y Léon where they hold, among many other horrors, the Toro de la Vega and where the PSOE (political party from the left, not that it makes any difference) wants to subsidize all blood fiestas, this when people in Spain are going hungry and losing their homes in a fast downward economic spiral to hell.
Running galgos alongside a motorised vehicle – motorbike, car, van, quad bike, is illegal in Spain – except that Andalucia Junta have just passed a law to rescind this – and make it legal again. I have participated in a rescue from Spain which included a galga which had been very badly injured in this way – she went down and was dragged….photos of her are in my book. Paco luckily had great medical, physical and mental care – swimming physio, massage etc. and is now happily in a forever home in France.
This photo was taken in Murcia last week – October 2012. The man is breaking the law. The person who took the photo is a neighbour and frightened of making a denuncia because she and her family would suffer repurcussions from the hunting fraternity. Seprona won’t do anything – they are hunters too.
Here are some of the comments from the Galgos del Sol Facebook page.
This beautiful boy is in the area of a gas station in El Fantasma, next to the toll of the Cabezas de San Juan and de Lebrija on the motorway Seville-Cadiz. The petrol station people say he’s been there about a month but he’s really nervous, won’t let anyone near him. Time is running out because he is going to get injured. Is there anyone in the area who could go and feed him each day, gain his trust to be able to catch him?
Contact urgently paulolamedina@gmail.com or
Image of Cordoba – not the one the tourists see. This is the pain behind the glitter.
Galga Mom, her other babies shot, this baby has a bad leg too or because it is malnourished. Desperately needing to get a foster home for them where they can get the attention they need. Contact alita@otmail.com (in Spanish) https://www.facebook.com/groups/10589151361/permalink/10151049149901362/
This is just one of the hundreds of poor souls who are already wandering, abandoned, in the countryside – dumped by the galgueros.
You will all be thrilled to know the latest news about Miel/Honey – the galgo left for dead at the side of the road.
(22/10 2012) Start a new week, let’s do it with energy, for it is greetings from our beloved galgito Honey, which stands alone, go smoothly, still standing all the time, he wants and has regained urinary control. All a champion still has to recover, then remember that came with tetraplajia, but the evolution of this noble animal is superb, and their resilience infinity. Honey thank you very much, for showing every day of what you are able, and help us not to give up on the bad times.
This young galgo is only 6 months old and already knows the bloody brutality of man. A call was received that a young dog was crying hysterically in some shrubs, obviously hurt. The volunteers went along and managed to lift it out, and immediately took it to the vet, where its injured leg was x-rayed. The verdit of the vet – the injury was not the result of an accident or a fall, but the bone was broken as a result of brutal kicking or beating with a stick or stone.
He has now been operated on and his leg bones pinned together.
Another galga and babies who had a tough time, these are in Alcala del Rio, Seville. Luckily someone spotted the mom living in a tunnel with her 9 babies, and contacted Prodeanse, who got on with the rescue. The volunteer needed to crawl into the tunnel to get the babies, which she brought out in a shopping bag. They are all safe now, but foster homes are desperately needed, and eventual adoption homes. Contact Prodeanse. (English spoken)
Portuguese galga – Ines updates 21/10/2012. ‘Today has been a good day.
Estrela’s owner handed over another pup, a girl this time (24’s sister), because she was too small for his liking; she is being hand-reared by a volunteer and is doing fine (pics below). Thanks to your appeal in the galgo page, and generous donations, we have managed to buy the mum a 15Kg bag of Royal canin special lactating mother feed, which she desperately needed. Some people have offered to send milk as well, so that will be very helpful.
