Sandy of Galgos Rescue Almeria reports they received a call from a hunter that he had a galgo he was getting rid of, if they’d like to go and get him. Here’s the story of Rayo and his rescue.
Sandy of Galgos Rescue Almeria reports they received a call from a hunter that he had a galgo he was getting rid of, if they’d like to go and get him. Here’s the story of Rayo and his rescue.

From Plataforma NAC
Another little galgo pup at Pepis Refuge Gates. Jane Brian tells his story.
‘5 Jan 2017. Late last night the dogs in the refuge alerted us to a possible abandonment. We spent an hour searching around with the torch…but could not find anything. This morning when we were cleaning, the dogs started again so watching where they were looking barking we saw this little fella standing looking at us from outside the play area, so he could have been the reason for last night bless him. Unusual for just one so we had another search around but found nothing. He is very skinny and obviously scared. He will be visiting the vets this evening for a medical check-up. His name is Solo.
Yet another galgo abandoned in the olive groves by Pepis Dog Refuge. Judging from her grey face and badly scarred body, she has had a very hard life. Galgos in this area are used for racing rather than hunting…makes one wonder how she got all those scars! Now she is safe with Jane and Alan Brian and has been named Savannah. If you can help feed her and the other galgos, donate here.
From Anne Marie Payne. ‘To those of you that don’t know Grace and her story, She is a 10yr old galga who after wandering around in the campo for 3 months was finally caught by Lydia Jay who took her to the hospital for assessment. She was extremely dehydrated, malnourished, covered in tics and fleas. and full of worms. Last Chance Animal Rescue stepped in at this point, took her under their wing and put her in foster with me. Once her blood tests were done which revealed she had Leishmaniosis, and also we were not happy with her breathing we took her down to Curro who did a complete examination, Her teeth were in an awful state and, she had a large ulcer on her gum. But the biggest shock after doing x-rays was that she had lung cancer which had spread to other parts of her body. I couldn’t hold it back and cried.
I recently spent a week at Pepi’s Dog Refuge where I took the money raised from my Fun Dog Show to help pay some of the vet bills. The weather was baking hot, temperatures over 40 degrees, so the dogs spent a lot of time sleeping in the cool of their kennels. The roofing is special material which keeps out the rain but also keeps out the sun, provided by Anpana association in Italy.
On the day I arrived, we visited the vet. A podenco puppy had been found injured on the road in the village and xrays had been taken of his broken leg. The vet asked Pepi’s to take him. His leg was in a splint as in some cases with young bone, the injury can heal itself, new bone can grow. The pup was named Vero, he’s an adorable little chap and no doubt when he has recovered, he will soon find a forever home.
Another young podenca bitch is quite an escape artist and able to climb out of her kennel to spend her days in the corridor run! She too arrived with a broken leg which has healed perfectly.Saturday was an interesting day!
Hunting with podencos starts Saturday evening and finishes Sunday lunchtime. During that time there were several hunters, each with 4 or 5 dogs mostly podencos, hunting rabbit amongst the olive groves. There was great concern on Saturday evening when one walked on land in front of the refuge greatly upsetting the pepi’s dogs. Behind the house he fired off his gun, narrowly missing the corner! Hunting is prohibited within 150 metres of property. When the hunter saw us all he scarpered, leaving behind the dead rabbit. Alan Brian called the Guardia (gamekeeper) who said he would have a word with the hunter. As Alan said, it’s likely the hunter could be a relative of his! Also, as elsewhere in Spain, if they complained to the Guardia Civil, it is very possible they would find their refuge dogs poisoned or stolen. Hunters are very vindictive.
Sunday morning saw another hunter approach the house, 2 dead rabbits hanging from his belt. With him was his Podenco, Braco (brown & white pointer) and a small rough-haired dog of dachshund type. He is the local butcher in Pedrera and told us he had found the little dog and kept it. Sadly later in the day there was a young podenco running around, obviously lost and left behind by his hunter. We left water out for him but he had disappeared the following day.
I also saw a couple of vehicles ‘training’ the galgos …goodness knows how far the poor dogs were being made to run in the searing heat! In the Pedrera area they are used for coursing, not hunting. Jane remarked that no doubt one or two of them at least would be dumped at the refuge gates during the winter.
Sadly when I left on Tuesday morning, Pepi was having trouble breathing and was taken to the vet for oxygen. She was rescued from the piggery opposite the refuge and, even with a heart problem, lived with Brians for 16 years. She will be greatly missed by Jane and Alan but her legacy lives on in all the Pepi’s dogs rescued and rehomed.
Pepi’ Dog Refuge survives solely on donations and fundraisers. Money is currently needed for microchipping and castration of some dogs in preparation for travelling for adoption. If you can help in any way, please do. Without Pepi’s Dog Refuge, the dogs of Pedrera area would face a terrible life.
Introducing Vero and some of the other current Pepi’s incumbents, every one waiting for their forever home.
Galga Riti was rescued from the street so heavily pregnant that she gave birth soon after to two gorgeous puppies. Viddy and Viggy will need forever homes when they are old enough, vaccinations, microchips etc.
Lumi is another galgo pup lucky to have been rescued with his galga mom from poor conditions. You can read the story here and watch the videos of him at play with his sibling.
The only hope of a forever home for these lovelies is outside of Portugal. Please contact Dogs of Portugal if you can help.
My very first galga Karmel was from La Bienvenida refuge in Ciudad Real, 200km south of Madrid. I travelled down with the team of L’Europe des Levriers to collect her, along with a dozen more. I wrote about the trip for the Weekly Telegraph and that was also the birth of Galgo News.
This stunning boy is at La Bienvenida now. He’s Hairo, he was skeletal when rescued but is now looking much better. Here is his story.
Hairo arrivedon 30th Junhe at the shelter, it’s another waste more of the hunt among many so many. What can we say about him or his state that you can’t see in the video?
Needless to say, he’s too thin, you can see the spine and all the ribs, he looks like a sack of bones. He was full of ticks and very dirty, has some wounds but they are not serious. He soon had a nice bath and stayed on good and clean. The poor boy very much appreciated the attention and filled us with kisses. In spite of his state, is a young galgo, very affectionate and happy. He just wanted to eat and lots of cuddling.
Rosario de la Guia tells the story of this rescue – an all too common one about an abandoned galga who gives birth to pups.
Look at what we did to rescue this galga and her pups. In the field in a few bushes hidden. For 3 days carrying food and water 3 times a day. We caught them as we couldn’t leave them to die of a heat stroke. We found an urgent foster placing but we need to welcome them also for adoptions for when they stop suckling. They are in Seville. There is an adoption contract and follow up.
Contact Harris Garcia and Rosario or gmail nochelinda49@gmail.com