The refuges and shelters are, as ever, swamped under the sheer volume of abandoned dogs, especially galgos – there’s been no let up all winter. And still the governments and authorities ignore the problem. Here’s another casualty of the galgueros. This is Charlie, 5 months old galgo pup, suffering from a viral infection in the Jerez killing station.
Update 8 01 2011 Sadly today Charlie gave up his fight for life. Thanks to everyone who donated to help the vet try and save him.
I rant against the Spanish galgueros and gitanos for their barbaric treatment towards galgos and podencos. But I will be the first to admit that British people can be just as sick and perpetrate horrendous cruelty to animals. The difference is that there is the RSPCA to follow up complaints of cruelty, far more than Seprona in Spain seems willing to do. And more Brits are likely to report cases of animal cruelty to the RSPCA than Spanish people are to report cruelty cases to Seprona, for fear of reprisals against themselves, their families, their homes, their cars. Intimidation, in other words.
But this sickening story is worrying – are there now sick Brits who emulate the Spanish hunters? Read the story
Thank you to Valarie Woolf who has kindly forwarded this interesting item up for purchase on ebay. If you scroll down the page, there is a translation from the Spanish into English.
This is another sad casualty of hunting in Spain; this blind podenco was dumped in the Jerez perrera in December. It’s bad enough for all the dogs who can see, imagine not being able to see in that environment too. Luckily Silvia of Galgo Connection Spain in Valencia has taken him to give him a chance of a comfortable future life.
Update 05 01 2011 – Alphonso sadly crossed over the rainbow bridge today. At least in his last few days he knew the sound of kind voices and felt the gentle caress of caring hands.
And there is news in today about an injured podenco which has been taken to the vet by Galgos del Sol.
Can You Help?
Do you remember this boy? A rough-haired galgo badly injured in a road accident, taken to Los Infiernos refuge. He was left like this, in pain, for a few days and the owners of the refuge were going to have him euthanaised. Then Tina Solera found him (there’s 200 dogs at the refuge!) and immediately took him to the vet where he was operated on and went into foster care.
In November he travelled with two members of GRIN to the US where he is now in foster care, preparatory to him finding his forever home. He has a problem on his front elbows as a result of lying on concrete floors. They are called ‘hygromas’, and you will see the swellings in the photo.
Not such a happy time for these galgos, chucked aside by the heartless hunters to be killed – even the method of killing will not be kind. Terrified, confused, traumatised………….these gentle affectionate dogs do not deserve the life meted out to them by the hunters. They didn’t ask to be born.
There are more than a dozen galgos still in the Jerez perrera, contact Maribel; others here are in the Alhaurin Malaga perrera, contact Vera, and the ones behind bars are in the Seville perrera, contact Maribel
Introducing Romero. He was born in the wild in Murcia, no one knows what happened to his mother and siblings. Only 4 months old, he appeared one day with a badly injured hind leg, near a house. Food and water were put down for him, which he consumed after dark, when no humans were about. In terror and considerable pain, he survived in this way. One day he collapsed and was taken by Gaynor to her vet, who had to amputate his badly injured and infected hind leg.
Galgos del Sol is a new association in Murcia, founded by Tina Solera and her friend Gaynor. 5 Kennels are currently nearly completed – free labour, donated materials. These kennels will house the galgos which Tina is rescuing – everywhere she drives, there seems to be an abandoned galgo! Funds are desperately needed to pay for microchipping, vaccinating, castrating and feeding these galgos – donations to buy food especially needed at the moment.
Sponsor a Kennel is a scheme set up by Tina to help with running costs. From just 3 euros a month – more if you can afford it – you will get an update on the galgos in your particular kennel, their progress and efforts to rehome. We’re all feeling the pinch in the recession, rescued animals most of all. If you can help, please email Tina direct for information on how to Sponsor a Kennel.
Thank you, everyone, for caring for the galgos and podencos who suffer so much cruelty at the hands of the Spanish hunters.
Here is a Christmas wish sent to me, I am sure you will all concur with the sentiments.
“He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.” – Anonymous
On Christmas morning, I wish…
I refer to previous posts concerning Humane Society International and have now received the following response from their UK branch.
‘Date: Thursday, 23 December, 2010, 16:58
Dear Beryl
Thank you for your email about galgos, and for all you do for the dogs – and good luck with the book!
