10 years ago Jane and Alan Brian moved to Spain to open a caravan site. Instead they found a hung galgo in the olive groves and started their journey with Pepis Dog Refuge, saving hundreds of abandoned dogs, including galgos and podencos. Alan has written some amusing and poignant verse and I have collated these into a book, interspersed with a selection of stories of Pepis rescued dogs by their adoptants. The book is Print on Demand, which means it is only printed when ordered and paid for. (Allow 2 weeks delivery) Order now in time for Xmas delivery. A delightful gift for dog lovers.
Tag: flights to Seville
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It’s a Dog’s Life – Tails from Pepis Refuge
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Seville – hunters on the march
50,000 hunters marched in Seville recently to save their ‘sport’ in the name of tradition. Do you think they are getting worried about the ANTI feeling/movement towards them throughout the world?
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Bristol Half Marathon Sunday 21st September 2014 – fundraising for Pepis Dog Refuge
If you haven’t already sponsored Mike, please do so, every little helps. Mike’s running on Sunday in Bristol, go and cheer him on if you are in the area. The 80+ dogs at Pepis are looking to you to help pay their food bill (600 euros/month) and vet bills, (currently 3,000 euros). Every little helps. Sponsor him here.
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Galgo Tico in Seville – beating the galguero who abandoned him to die
Regular readers will remember the story of Tico, the galgo badly injured and left for dead in a ditch in Seville Province. Luckily he was found and taken to the vet where the incredible team, together with dedicated round-the-clock care from Sandra Campos Cuevas, brought him back to life and put his poor injured body back together. Over the months it was thought he would never walk, never be without nappies because he was incontinent…Spanish vets more than any others work tirelessly to save these dogs…where certainly in the UK and here in France they would be pts.
I’ve just watched THE most amazing video – sadly only on facebook so I can’t share it with you – of Tico, no nappies, running and playing with two canine friends. Simply incredible. Sandra reports Tico is very happy. The bad news is that once again he has urine infection. It appears that the use of diapers, this problem will always end up appearing. So he needs some antibiotics again. This time at least, it has been 12 days without bleeding. It’s nothing serious … I think it’s an everyday thing for us.
Here’s a photo of Sandra with Tico. And I stick 2 fingers up at you, bastard galguero, who couldn’t take care of your hound and prevent his suffering! -
Galgo puppy Polar’s diary – update June 2014
I’ve been asked how Polar is progressing. Where do I start?! He’s been with me a year now and he continues to collect asbos (anti social behaviour orders) – a ball of white knitting wool was unravelled around the courtyard today! He’s digging up my plants, scattering soil all over the terrasse; a paperback book stolen and chewed, the hose for the outlet on my tumble dryer squashed…and he’s STILL only 16 months old! The caption for this photo is ‘I’m knackered with all this being naughty!’
He is thoroughly enjoying dog obedience classes where he is a popular personality. He is good with his response to commands – sit, down, stay, heel – his recall is also excellent – except the exercise where he is supposed to sit and stay whilst I walk a distance away. I only need to take two or three strides and he’s already straining at the lead to follow me!
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Planning a holiday? Why not volunteer at a shelter in Spain
Spring will soon be with us and thoughts turn to getting away from the miserable wet winter. Why not go to Spain and help in an animal shelter. Accommodation is provided and your help will be greatly appreciated. Here’s some suggestions.
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Galgo puppy Polar’s diary – update
Polar continues to behave like a naughty teenager! 1 year old this month and still collecting asbos every day and showing no evidence of any feeling of pain in his damaged hind leg.
Thank you to everyone who has contacted me with information about their experiences with handicapped dogs and with specialist orthopaedic veterinary practices, a couple of whom I have followed up.
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Seville – more problems for the galgos and rescuers
And another poor galgo needing help, with another small shelter in Seville.
This young galga has been named “REGALO” (gift in spanish), she was found with a badly broken jaw and a severe infection. She has been taken in by the shelter La Candela Hogar Refugio near Seville and is in Malaga at a vet hospital with strong antiinflamatories and antibiotics.
‘Ariel Sarabria, our veterinary expert in trauma has operated on Regalo. He managed to implant the prosthesis and nails to knit the bone to return it to function and enable Regalo to open and close her mouth, to give her the most normal life possible.
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Prodeanse, Seville – Galgo puppy saved and needing help
This poor galga has been named Paula, a baby of about 3 months old, taken from a gypsy by Prodeanse, Seville, one of the shelters I visited in 2012. She had vomiting, diarrhea – from which she was dehydrated – and a broken leg. It’s not the first dog that they have taken from this man, who cares very little about his animals.
Prodeanse are asking for your help to pay the vet fees for Paula. The operation to repair her leg will be between 600-700 euros and there is all the medication for her too. Here’s a Bing translation of their appeal.
Loli says, ‘This is what we have to part the operation that will be more than 600 euros and we don’t have the money to pay for it yet. We need your help, it will invoice.
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Galgo Tico takes a bath – update on beating those who abandoned and injured him
Tico’s bathtime! Here are words from Sandra.
Tico walked by, panicking, dark road of abandonment and distress, carried away by the swing of steps without any sense, direct to certain death. Suddenly, through the darkness, a light blinded him for a moment, “finally someone coming to my rescue,” he thought. But that illusion vanished, remained a wrenching pain that not only broke bones, but the soul. Suddenly HE shot hundreds of feet and HIS body joined the cold and rough asphalt.