Amour des Galgos ASBL is a new association formed this year in Belgium, working with Amigos de los Galgos and the Pedro Munoz refuge in Cuidad Real.

One of their recent arrivals was Sol. He was a victim of fighting dogs – illegal in Spain. It’s common knowledge that galgos are used as bait in dog fights, as aggression is not in their nature and they don’t know how to defend themselves.

Luckily Sol was saved and treated for his wounds, and is now safely rehomed in Belgium. He was not the first galgo they brought out. Their first trip was in April.

(more…)

This is the story of Kamal, an incredible survivor.. He is 14 years old, and spent 11 years of his life in a 2 x 2m cage in a refuge, lost in the middle of Spain. A refuge which is more of a prison for the dogs which end up there.

(more…)

The focus of the galgo problem is twofold: the uncontrolled breeding of Galgos, and their massive abandoning at the end of the hunting season.

The facts

An investigation by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) in 2001 and 2002 proved that tens of thousands of Galgos are bred annually in Spain in the hope of producing the national coursing champion. Medina del Campo is the focal point for those with a coursing interest in Spain.

Many galgueros (breeders and owners of Galgos) live in Medina del Campo and its environs.

Prior to 2001 it was an annual tradition for the galgueros to kill their Galgos by hanging them en masse in the pine forests in and around Medina del Campo at the end of the coursing season (January/February).

Fermín Pérez of Scooby Medina and WSPA captured vast photographic evidence and WSPA compiled a report about the treatment of Galgos in Spain.

Has anything really changed? Has any positive progress been made? What do you think?

(more…)

Matilda is now in the safe hands of Greyhounds Rescue Holland

What did she do wrong to be abandoned in this condition – apart from being born a galga in Spain.

http://www.greyhoundsrescue.nl/nGRH/verhalen/Matilda/matilda.php

(more…)

Kindly forwarded by Pat Getz of the Greyhound Protection League USA

I’m sure those involved in galgo and podenco rescue will identify with the feelings expressed here.

‘I want to quit!

My health is bad. There are days I feel so terrible that I can barely move. My phone bills are outrageous, and I could have replaced my van with the funds I have spent these last 3 years—on animals that were not my own.’

(more…)

We just received news about a young galgo caught in a hunting trap who Pro-Galgo have agreed to take in and help pay for surgery on the leg.

The vet estimates this will cost around 600 Euros / £500, which as always we simply don’t have.

A vet has offered to give us a big discount for the operation, providing that we find a foster home for the dog in its period of recovery.

(more…)

This galga has just given birth in this dirty place, a house, derelict about to fall down. It will soon fall down! The worst, is that JUST a few metres away from her litter of pups is a well, a well with an incredible amount of depth.

(more…)

Charl del Rio reports on the lastest atrocities in Spain: Yesterday this case reached me from a friend in assoc ciudad animal, yet again the galgos suffer and the help comes too late. In Mota del Cuervo – Cuenca, Castilla la Mancha, a friend of mine was called since the police had been notified regarding robberies – what they found in the derelict building was horrific.

Galgos hung, cans of fuel, and the galgos eventually fallen from their horrific death to the floor to rot. They were approximately a year old, and male.

(more…)

On behalf of the San Anton Refuge.

Donations can be sent to the treasurer:
Fam. E.H. van Poelwijck
De Aalscholver 4
7702 AE Dedemsvaart
The Netherlands

Website: Spaansehonden.com/

Association Galgos was founded in June 2007.

It’s a Danish organisation, and they are passionate about helping the galgos and podencos of Spain, in whatever way they can.

Pia Ogilvie says ‘Our goal is to inform about the poor situation for the galgos and podencos in Spain, to support the shelters in Spain and provide homes for galgos and podencos. We can’t promise that we’ll arrange a lot of adoptions, but we can promise, that we’ll do our very best in trying.’