It’s a misty November day, just the sort of day for getting the laptop out and starting off my blog. My main computer is upstairs in the study, so another reason for getting the laptop out is because I’m babysitting.

When I say babysitting, it’s babies of the four-legged variety.

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Why.

I went to the beach today, and ran on the golden sand,

Ran because I wanted to, and because I can.

I leapt into the sea, and splashed all around,

Running this way and that, to see what could be found.

I looked across the sea to where it joins the sky,

And remembered times in a dark smelly kennel, and asked myself why.

Why life couldn’t have always been like this, carefree happy days,

Instead of days in misery, in the most horrid ways.

I was luckier than some, taken from this life of grime,

Where I thought I would stay for the rest of my time.

Now I sleep in a nice soft bed, in a warm safe place,

And I have the freedom to run, in so much space.

To enjoy days out like this, running in the sea and on the sand.

And to receive no more abuse, only the feel of a gentle hand.

And why can’t more Greyhounds like me be found a similar place,

When their lives are considered over, because they can no longer race

I do not think that I will ever know the reason why,

Only man can answer that, and until then sadly, more of my kin will die.

By Sue Stoddart.

(Whilst the poem refers to greyhounds, it applies also to the hunting galgos. BB)

The Pianist – sounds calm and controlled. But think again. It’s what the Spanish call the method by which they hang a galgo (Spanish greyhound) by the neck from a tree branch, its hind toes just touch the ground. It can take a week for a dog to die like this.

WHY do they do it?

Alternatively, they can be burnt alive or mutilated or be left on a motorway.

WHY do they do it?

What is it which makes the Spanish galguerro ( hunter) get rid of these beautiful, affectionate, gentle, loving dogs like this.

WHY do they do it?

Luckily for the galgos there are people who recognise their plight and try and do something positive about it.

What we are about is being a central focal point, newspaper-style, for any stories good and bad in respect of the galgo, be it appeals for help, fundraising events to promote which could be copied in other areas, latest news, happy home stories where galgos have found a loving family, what happens in the refuges in Spain, where the galgos are found and how they end up in a refuge, the tireless work done by the volunteers in Spain to save these beautiful dogs, the work done by the Spanish vets to help these dogs leave Spain for new homes. Email me via the galgonews website with details and we’ll include it.

There links to the individual associations, so readers can connect easily to their sites.

For the adoption pages, I’m looking for dogs already in foster homes in France, or dogs particularly difficult to rehome. Again, for a complete list of dogs available for adoption, the individual association websites are the places for that.

All the organisations who work to help the galgos and petition the Spanish government to ban hunting with these dogs, and ban televising racing competitions, can have a central point to input their latest efforts, news, future plans, fundraising activities, and much more.

So, join in, we’re all on the same wavelength, fighting for the same goals.

FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT FOR A DECENT LIFE FOR THE GALGOS.

We curse you, galguerro. May your last days be spent screaming for death to release you, and may this curse continue down through every generation until your entire race is extinct.

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