From a post by Jack Leonard on my Save the Galgos page on facebook
‘This coming weekend of January 10 will begin the long awaited Spanish National Championship for the Galgo in the village of Madrigal de las Altas Torres. Thousands upon thousands of galgos have been competing this season all for the foolish dreams of their owners that they will produce the Champion of Spain. The competition is now down to a handful of dogs and the excitement is building.
To Senor Galguero, from Beryl Brennan
I woke up ANGRY this morning. And it’s YOUR fault.
Why?
I’m a writer; I write for newspapers, magazines, websites. I’d like to write more books – I’ve got plenty of ideas, but not the time. I used to get paid for my writing. Now, writing about anything other than galgos and podencos has taken a very back seat, so I lay the drop in my income firmly at your door. Because I don’t earn any money writing about galgos and podencos, I do it because I must, for these innocent souls. That’s for starters.
Danielle Hart, who kindly translated my book into French, has been in correspondence with National Geographic magazine, read world-wide. So let’s help her persuade them to run an article on the plight of the Galgo. Please copy and paste the following letter and email it to rescor@ngs.org and askngs@nationalgeographic.com
This galgo has been on the streets of Huelva for some months, as it was difficult to catch. As you can see, its rear hind paw is injured and it has many woulds on its body, as well as ticks. A woman has been finally able to gain its trust, take it home and treat the ticks, but she cannot keep it there, as she has no room – she has 6 dogs and her son is against it.
It desperately needs getting off the street and the paw and wounds treating. It lives with a mastiff, is submissive, calm but nervous of people. With the woman it now accepts caresses.
Can anyone take this boy – they’ve named him Triston. Please contact Paloma urgently.
Two appeals here for galgo puppies loose, ready for the hunters to grab them! These puppies are at Punta, Huelva. The adults are nearby but frightened but protective of their babies. Contact if anyone can help catch the adults; then the babies. valverdeanimal@valverdeanimal.es or moloquenoveas@hotmail.com
The second appeal – these three beauties are in Badajoz, Extremadura. Residents have complained about them being around (so why don’t they take them in?!)
They are about 2 months old, sociable, playful, loving. We need fosters for them urgently, to get them off the streets. Please contact. ro-cado@hotmail.com firstly o r xana.50@hotmail.es
My galgas Carmela and Sahara (with hubbie David) arriving at the European Parliament. I’m delighted to report that the Manifestation in Strasbourg organised by CREL had tremendous support from groups across Europe – over 1,000 people marching, with their galgos and podencos – and a borzoi and afghan. Just shows the strength of feeling against the Spanish hunters and their barbaric treatment they perpetrate on their hunting dogs, primarily galgos and podencos. Many hounds there bore the scars – where they had been cut up, beaten, burned, injured in road accidents, caught in snares – all walking on behalf of their ‘cousins’ still in Spain and still suffering. They came in family groups too, and one lady brought all 6 of her rescued galgos.
End of April and still the galgos arrive in Mairena killing station. For anyone who can help, contact details below, number of dog on collar. Names are listed where possible, in order of the photos. Contact:
Adoption: adopcionsosas@gmail.com
Foster: acogidasosas@gmail.com
donations: IBAN ES87 0030 1539 1101 6393 4272CUENTA BANESTO: 0030 1539 11 0163934272
PAYPAL: ayudaperrosmairena@hotmail.com
I’ve received this thought-provoking article on a view of life in Spain at the moment.
Spain is a country which is on now its knees. It’s gone from dictatorship, to good presidency and bringing a country up on form and being recognised as a good place to be. From there, the previous government to the current one (voted in December 2011) brought bad practices into its own when they took over. The country became run down, the people suffer, but as always, the politicians walk away with clean hands and a tidy pension until death. To compound the negative results of that government’s actions, Spain was hit with the Global crisis.
Read the full article here
El Galgo Espanol
by Fiona Nicholson (copyright)
Laughter and jeers pursue him
as starvation no longer responds.
His failure can’t be tolerated
in this land
of pleasure and fun.
