Galgo News

Category: Regulations

  • Protectora Scooby – summer newsletter – Dogs bred for fighting

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    Dogs Bred For Fighting – The Tragedy

    It pains me every day when I Iook at our incarcerated dogs bred traditionally for fighting, the ‘dangerous’ dogs, the so-called ‘bullies’. There are no formally banned dog breeds in Spain. There are restrictions on owning some of these breed types in Spain (muzzles and on-leash in public places are mandatory). We have more than 60 of these dogs in the Scooby shelter, including around 9 Belgian Malinois who can be very dangerous in inexperienced hands. We cannot home these 60, even if there were a demand for them. We have investigated the possibility of transferring them to fit and proper owners in countries where they can be lawfully kept and exempt from euthanasia if they don’t pose any risk to public safety.

    However, this is a strategy thwarted with problems and risks, and would add to the rescue crisis overseas. This is not our intention. Under our animal laws here in Spain, we cannot consider a kind course of action for these dogs to find them peace because euthanasia of dogs without a veterinary second opinion is illegal. These dogs would not meet the permissible legislative standard.

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  • Protectora Scooby – summer newsletter – Declining Adoptions, Rescues & Donations

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    From Fermin.

    ‘We collaborate with 10 – 15 partners internationally who help us fromtime to time to home our rescued dogs and cats in their countries. This is much needed because it is impossible for us to home dogs and cats in significant number in Spain. Shelters like ours cannot operate without international adoptions.

    We, like our adoption artners and fellow shelters around the globe, are witnessing a decline in home offers. We have noticed this trend over the years since 2019/20 and attributed it to the many pets homed during the COVID period. But it is a continuing trajectory and we suspect there may be more to it than a simple glut. It is now so acute that we cannot rescue as many dogs and cats as in prior years or indeed those now in adversity because our refuge is at capacity. It is simple if we don’t move dogs and cats to families, we will not have accommodation space for those in need of rescue.

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  • Protectora Scooby – summer newsletter – A Bad Law

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    A Bad Law

    We continue to operate our rescue in the context of the very bad legislative amendment enacted in 2023. A new and very ambitious update to the animal welfare law in Spain was passed in January 2022. The law itself includes training for dog owners, penalties for animal cruelty, prohibition of puppy farming and sales of pets in pet shops. All of this is totally laudable and
    necessary. However, the PSOE Party (Spanish Socialist Workers), the senior partner in the coalition government, subsequently proposed an amendment to the law to exclude hunting, working and guarding dogs. The amendment was approved in 2023. Commentators say the PSOE initiated the amendment fearing reactions from rural voters.

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  • e-collars being used on rescued hunting dogs in England!

    On 29th June I published an article on e-collars and why they should be banned in the UK – they are already banned in Europe. It has come to the notice of a Spanish rescue association in Valencia that an adopter in England is using an e-collar on a young rescued podenco to curb its prey drive! This is on the advice of an ‘animal behaviourist’! Of course the Podenco fraternity are up in arms and doing all they can to assist the rescue association to get the poor podenco away from these 2 women.

    This is the weblink to the story.

  • e-collars – the strong case against their use – they should be banned in every country

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    Bev Farmer of Podenco Friends wrote this article with particular reference to Podencos but I am posting it here as it is believed by many organisations that there should be a blanket ban on their use on dogs.

    THE CASE AGAINST USING E-COLLARS ON PODENCOS !!

    In the last few days its has come to our attention within the podenco community of a trainer in the UK that claims it’s important to investigate responsible e-collar inclusion, to help protect all animals concerned whilst still letting the dog be what he is! that even a vet in the Canary Islands recommend this to the owner .

    This is the first of a couple of posts in which I will write addressing the issue of using “Electrical Training Aids ” something I would never do..

    UNDERSTANDING THE PODENCO

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  • PACMA – friends in Spain, please vote for this man on 9th June – this is why

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    From Pacma Animalista

    ‘Don’t you think it’s unfair to have to pay 21% VAT for a service that is of primary necessity, such as the health of your animals? U.S. too. Going to the vet cannot be a luxury, and therefore, this week we have presented a series of fiscal measures to the Government that we think you will like.

    Reduction of veterinary VAT from the current 21% to 4%: Our proposal seeks to reduce this tax to the super-reduced rate of 4%, or eliminate it completely, to make veterinary services more accessible.

    10% deduction in the income tax return: We propose that families can deduct up to 10% of veterinary expenses in their income tax return, with a maximum saving of €500 per year.

    What do we get with this?

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  • Vets in the UK – taken over by hedge funds and insurance companies result in exorbitant fees!

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    Vet groups in the UK have been taken over by hedge funds, insurance companies and other groups concerned only with making a profit. This results in fees which many pet owners cannot afford. For people on their own or elderly, a dog or cat is their only companion and the situation is such now that they cannot afford to have a dog or cat because they can’t afford the diabolical vet fees. As wth most things in the UK – it’s yet again RIP OFF BRITAIN! Whatever happened to the caring society?

    My experience recently was that my Podenca Rosie had bad diarhorrea and starvation for 3 days did not sort it. Wouldn’t you know it, it was a bank holiday in the UK! So I telephoned my vet surgery which was closed and was referred to another surgery. Usual consultation – check heart, pulse, temperature, gums – prescribed a probiotic paste. Consultation fee – £288 inc vat – total bill £341. I’ve paid it, of course, but that is a huge amount when I’m long retired and living on pensions.

    Below is a letter posted on facebook by a vet which says it all.

    From David Thomson

    My letter to the RCVS (Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons)

    I am dictating this letter so my spelling and grammar may be incorrect for that I apologise.

    It is with a heavy heart and a lot of depressive soul searching that I am sending this email to a governing body that I used to hold in great esteem.

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  • Why you should microchip your pet

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    It is an EU law that dogs,cats, equines and ferrets (yes, even ferrets!) are microchipped. It doesn’t cost a lot, but it does mean that if your pet is lost or stolen, it is easier to trace. And one should remember that when adopting an animal from an EU country, you should register the microchip in the country in which you live. Again, it’s not difficult. All my Spanish dogs at our French farm were registered with the French microchip database through our vet. Our Spanish dogs with us now in England have their microchips registered with the UK microchip company, such as Pet Log.

    This weblink gives you all the reasons you should microchip your pet.

  • 10 Canine Commandments

    Weblink

  • URGENT – please action and share before14th March

    From Protectora Scooby

    ANIMAL LOVERS, PLEASE CONTRIBUTE European Commission: WELFARE AND TRACE OF DOGS AND CATS (new rules)
    Deadline for submitting comments

    Deadline: March 14, 2024 (midnight, Brussels time)
    )
    The Commission wants to know what you think. This adopted act is open to comment for 8 week(s). The European Commission will summarise all comments received and forward them to the European Parliament and the Council to fuel the legislative debate. Comments received will be posted on this website and therefore should be consistent with the rules.

    To be able to contribute, you’ll need to register or log in through your social media account. https://ec.europa.eu/…/14061-Bienestar-y-trazabilidad

    NB I’ve asked Scooby what we should put in the boxes for organisation, number of employees and registration number – as individuals the form won’t accept n/a in the registation number box.

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