The British have a reputation as animal lovers – considering the number of cruelty cases the RSPCA deal with, that statement is often questioned. But there is no doubt that when Brits move abroad to live, they find it difficult to ignore the plight of abandoned animals – dog, cats, horses, donkeys – and are drawn into helping these innocent abused souls.
This is the story of one such Brit who moved many years ago to live in Spain.
This is another post for the people who won’t donate to appeals because they don’t get a ‘thank you’. Today a dog was taken from its rescuer. En route to a foster home, the people stopped for a pee break – not necessary, considering the short journey – I’ve driven further with a car load of dogs. And they lost the dog!!!!
So, now everyone is out searching for the dog. These people don’t have time to write ‘thank you’s to donations. In the meantime, pray that the dog is recovered. On your knees!
Is anyone counting how many galgos have been saved by Scooby? Thee are over 600 animals at their centre in Medina del Campo, plus dozens more at the kennels in Valladolid. And now the Scooby team have been helping Pilar at Cuenca – too many galgos for the space there – read the amazing story of the saving of over 40 galgos and a podenco.
Please remember Scooby this Christmas – the team won’t have a day off – the dogs need cleaning and feeding and exercising, medication etc. And if you are kind enough to donate to them, please don’t be upset if you don’t get a personal ‘thank you’. Read here. Because the staff are just too busy seeing to the animals! Huh?
Further to the article on treatment for Leishmania, Portugal Dog Rescue (Estrela and the galgos) share their experience of different treatments for one of their galgas, Joy. Always good to be able to share information.
I have to admit to being somewhat upset. Not for myself, I hasten to add, but on behalf of my friends in Spain and elsewhere in Europe. I’m talking about the amazing animal rescue volunteers, rehomers, fosterers – everyone involved in helping abandoned and injured animals in Spain. Regular readers will know how often I praise these people – they work tirelessly against terrible odds, risking their health, their relationships, threats to themselves, their families, their homes. I’ve visited them in Spain over the past few years and seen what they do, every day, every week, every year – no letup.
This is a report from the Pro-Galgo Spanish website, of a case which occurred in October 2012 in Catalunya, where a hunter was fined 19,000 euros and banned from keeping animals for 5 years for mistreating his dogs. It happened at a farm in Montcada i Reixac. Altarriba Foundays says it is the highest penalty imposed in Catalunya for this type of crime.
Fine of 19,000 euros for a hunter who mistreated his dogs on a farm of Montcada i Reixac. He has also been banned from keeping animals for five years.
Altarriba Foundation says it is and the highest penalty imposed in Catalunya for a similar case
Prodeanse was one of the small shelters in Seville which I visited in September. It’s in a terrible area for abandonment of dogs – and horses and mules on tethers day after day, no shelter from the weather – hot or cold. Here are two more souls now in the care of the Prodeanse team.
“MARY and PANDORA”
It hurts so much that we’d shout and scream, if thus we find peace and relief that we have never found because of many unfortunates… Mary and Pandora since they were born know first-hand the so-called “sack man” which is none other than a Hunter, galguero, rather bad guy, bastard, unfortunate… Although I would prefer to use another vocabulary!
This morning I had the most wonderful news! Do you remember the story of the Portugal galgas, producing puppies, owned by an alcoholic with a druggy wife? Teresa and Ines were desperately trying to save the galgas and puppies – the owner was busy drowning the puppies! You were all marvellous at donating to Teresa to purchase special food and milk for these hounds, whilst she worked patiently to get the dogs away from this living hell.
Here’s Ines’ news – 8th December 2012!
‘Estrela was allowed to leave her hell-hole today, Teresa has just literally been to pick her up. I’ve attached a few pics taken 3 hours ago, tonight Estrela will have her first taste of freedom, will get more pics tomorrow when is light again.
I recently received an email from a researcher at the Royal Veterinary College in London on the subject of leishmaniosis in stray dogs in Spain and Portugal. This is Mo Swatek’s galga Recu, who was treated for the disease, and she writes with information on the leishmaniosis treatment prescribed by the Pro-Galgo vet.
‘We have in our group of 23 rescue dogs, 7 positive with canine leishmaniasis.
All of them receive 100mg allopurinol per 10kg of body weight 2 times a day. some have received the new LEISGUARD treatment, others the injections of glucantime if the liver and kidney allows it.
Four young galgos due to be killed on 20 December in Badajoz perrera Contact sosperrerabadajoz2gamil.com (You need to keep emailing, as they don’t always respond!)
