Temperatures in northern Spain in winter are below freezing. Many of the animal refuges and shelters do not have even basic kennels - it's just a compound within a breeze block wall, with shelter provided by a motley assortment of pallets, tin sheets, donated bedding - anything!
Thin-coated dogs such as galgos are most at risk of freezing to death, but so are the puppies, born in the autumn to pregnant bitches abandoned earlier in the year at the end of hunting. However hard the fantastic volunteers try, they can't always cope, and some puppies have already frozen to death
Twelve galgo puppies, just 5 months old, were recently brought out of Spain by L'Europe des Levriers. This is the story of one of the lucky ones.
Jane Dron, who adopted Tiza, tells her story.
'It was late one Saturday evening when this warm silky bundle, a five month old galgo puppy called Tiza, was placed in my arms. She was all long legs and long satiny ears and she snuggled into my warmth, licked my hand and I was smitten!
My husband and I had waited with some impatience for our galgo puppy to arrive from Spain. She had been rescued with many other puppies and adult dogs by l'Europe Des Lévriers.
We drove home in the small hours of the morning and I sat with her in the back of the car for comfort and security as we were strangers to her. Surprisingly, we all slept well that night and woke in the morning to a bundle of fun, demanding breakfast and attention.
We re-christened her Tallis after the 16th century English composer Thomas Tallis, as she had been brought into a musical family.
Since then we’ve gone from strength to strength, establishing a routine and just enjoying being together. I tried to encourage her to use puppy pads to start the house-training, but she decided for herself to be clean and dry, doing all her jobs in the garden – what a star!
She enjoys her walks very much, though is not too certain about the car as yet. She loves affection and her playtime and is very responsive, learning house rules and commands very fast. Being a sight hound she doesn’t miss a trick and keeps us on our toes.
We’d lost our beloved lurcher Finzi a few weeks previously, but this little girl coming into our lives has filled that void and more. We’d like to say a big thank you to Béatrice Monnet, Francoise Marchesini (and her family!) and all the people at l'Europe Des Lévriers for all the wonderful work they do in rescuing galgos.'
How we wish all galgos were born into such a warm welcoming world, away from the horrors which confront them in Spain at the hands of the galguerros.
And the end of the hunting season is just a month away.
New Year Message from Tallis.
Hello everyone!
This is me - Tallis, wishing you all a Happy New Year 2009 and to say a very big thank you for finding me my new home. I am really happy - and warm - no more cold nights! I've got a woolly jumper which I can wear at night to keep me cosy, a waterproof coat and Mum has knitted me another coat and two scarves for when it is really cold
I go on lots of walks to different places and I even took a flying leap into the canal which was cold, but not too bad. Luckily my new Mum and Dad hauled me out. I think they were a bit concerned, but I was soon warm and dry again - I think I quite like the water!!!
I've met a lot of new people and walked in the snow with Dad - very exciting! I have lots of toys and things to chew. Mum says I'm full of mischief and get over-excited, but that I'll calm down as I get older - whatever that means! I just know I'm a very lucky little Galga puppy.
I'm off to the kitchen now to see if there is any food left around I can help them to eat!
Love from Tallis, David and Jane and the cat(!)
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