Galgo News

  • Saving galgos – Noah’s Arc at full stretch!

    Noah's Arc pic 0709 280Gail is a volunteer with Noah’s Arc association in Murcia. She recently became involved in saving several galgos which had been taken to a dog pound in Mairena to be put down. This is her story about saving the dogs.

    ‘I received an email from Lisbeth Monsted Larsen from Greyhound Action Denmark on Saturday 13th June 2009 showing an appeal to save Spanish Greyhounds – due to be put down. Of course once I had seen the photos of these beautiful dogs I felt I needed to see if we could do something. So I emailed Karmela to find out where they were and she said Mairena. I looked to see where that was in Spain and found there was a Mairena near to Granada and asked if that was where she was but she didn’t tell me where it was, just that she needed our help if possible and then how much it would cost to get them out of the pound.

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  • Protecting Galgos and Podencos – another petition to sign with Pro-Galgo

    Sign the Pro-Galgo Petition

  • The correct paperwork – identification of a Spanish dog

    Mo Swatek is founder and president of Pro-Galgo. She lives and works in Spain and has considerable experience of the plight of the galgos, as well as all the other abandoned dogs there. Her association has rehomed many of their rescued dogs abroad, including the UK where the DEFRA requirements of taking a dog into the UK are very strict.

    She has written an explanation (in Spanish and German) on her website of the procedures to be followed by the shelters and refuges in Spain with regard to the microchipping and vaccination of all and any dogs which are intended to be taken out of Spain for rehoming, including their transportation, and it is up to the different rescue associations to make sure that, for every dog they take, its EU canine passport and paperwork are correct.

    She says ‘ I work only and exclusively with people that are members of PRO-GALGO INTERNATIONAL and can be trusted. I was fed up of being cheated by rescue groups, not paid, not receiving any adoption fees and not having any information about the whereabouts of our ex dogs… and finding out that no home checks had been done etc etc’.

    Everyone is concerned to help the galgos and podencos escape their lives of hell in Spain, but it is vital that all of us who take one of these deserving and loving dogs check as far as we possibly can that their paperwork is in order, including the passport carrying a photo of the dog.

  • Law to stop importing Spanish dogs into Belgium – an explanation

    Re the proposed Belgian law due to put into effect October 2009 – I have a received a copy in both Spanish and French but unfortunately it is over 30 pages long and I haven’t been able to get it translated into English yet! However, this is a basic explanation of the reason behind the law.

    Hundreds of dogs from refuges in Spain have been rehomed in Belgium. However, not all the refuges and shelters in Spain adhere to the strict regulations for preparing the EU passport and paperwork before the dogs leave the refuge. Many illegalities have taken place such as faked passports (vaccination dates, for eg), importation of sick dogs carrying distemper or parvovirosis, inaccuracies about the age of dogs, even some occasions where dogs have been imported with passports which did not match the chip number. Some of these rescuers have been reported to the Belgian authorities and this has prompted the introduction of the ban.

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  • Galgos France – appeal for donations to create a Spanish refuge

    Galgos France, together with the association Cuencanimal, are appealing for donations to help them buy a piece of land on which to build a refuge for abandoned dogs, which will include hundreds of galgos every year. They need to raise nearly 26,000 euros to buy the land (they have already raised some funds and paid part of the sum), but they will also need funds to construct the refuge too, which they intend to be a model for future refuges. To view the land, and to make a donation, click here.

  • RSPCA comment on Voting to protect Greyhounds

    RSPCA report on the vote by 22nd July.

    Thank you so much for responding to the government consultation on the welfare of racing greyhounds.

    We wanted to let you know that the government received over 10,000 responses to the consultation from RSPCA supporters in just under two weeks. This is a great achievement!

    We really appreciate you taking action on this important issue.

    We want to see effective regulations brought in to cover the welfare of all racing greyhounds from cradle to grave, not just whilst they’re at the racetrack. All aspects of welfare within the greyhound industry, from breeding to kennelling, racing, transportation, management and retirement need to be comprehensively improved.

    We hope the mass response to the government consultation influences the range of welfare issues that are addressed within the regulations. We shall keep you informed of the outcome of this consultation.

    Thanks again for your support on this campaign.

    The RSPCA Campaigns Team

  • Rap Song for Galgos – view on Pro-Galgo

    Click on the link to listen to a Rap song for the Galgos, on the Pro-Galgo website. There is an interesting video which illustrates what life is like for the galgos in Spain, and also for the volunteers to see at source the terrible struggle for these beautiful dogs.

  • Galga Paca – an incredible survivor – safe at last in France

    Paca on the bed 0709 300You may remember the story of Paca, a poor brindle galga who had been dreadfully injured by being dragged behind a car. I joined L’Europe des Levriers on their trip into Spain in March 2009, and Paca was one of the lucky galgos we brought out to new homes in France.

    I am happy to report that she has now been in her forever home for 4 months, eats lots, has gained weight, and her wounds are healing well. She is still, understandably, terrified of men, adores children, is very playful, especially with her other galgo companions. She walks freely in the garden, comes on recal, loves beds and is very affectionate. Her suffering is ended.

  • Bad News for the surviving ‘Trafic Galgos’ of Cordoba?

    Trafic GalgosLast November we were all delighted with the news that nearly 200 galgos had been siezed by SEPRONA police who were trying to stop a ‘trade’ in galgos. The dogs were moved to a compound and the case proceeded through the legal system. As the months have gone by, word has come out of Spain that all was not well with these galgos. Some became ill, some died…………….and the last word was that the judge sitting in the case finally decided that, as the galgos were originally stolen, those which survived should be returned to their original owners! On my visit to Cordoba at the beginning of June, there remained only 2 galgos which were available for adoption.

    This is the story of what has happened to the galgos, known as the ‘trafic galgos’, as explained to a member of a French rescue association by the owner of one of the refuges where some of the remaining galgos were taken after being removed from the original compound.

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  • Homeless, Starving, Frightened – life is hard on the streets of Cadiz

    Starving Cadiz galgo 0709 250For 3 months this poor galgo has been wandering the streets. He has suffered attacks by other dogs, he is now too weak to defend himself, and he is terrified of people. The only thing which will tempt him is if he is offered some food. He is suffering a slow and painful death from starvation.

    There must be someone in the area who can catch this poor dog and find a space for him in a shelter. If you can help, contact helenamalia89@gmail.com // helenyeu@hotmail.com or
    mara4849@hotmail.com