Galgo News

Mairena Killing Station - Karmela replies

The subject of 'killing stations' is sickening, and what is more sickening is what happens to the dogs in them. I am still waiting for someone to tell me how each dog is actually killed - I've been told lethal injection, poison, 100 dogs a week, vet comes on Wednesdays......

Karmela, the amazing lady who is bringing the killing station of Mairena to our notice, here explains what the costs are which she has to pay out to save a dog from Mairena.

Help Silvia - rescuing galgos from the killing stations

This is a plea from Telma Shaw, in the USA, who does a tremendous amount for Galgos.

'Hi Friends, Here are the pictures of Berto. He was rescued from one of the worse areas of Spain for hunting with galgos called Extremadura. He was in a killing station and Silvia our good friend in Valencia informed us of his fate, the next day, death.

Paula of Forever Home Greyhounds in NY will be bringing this sweet boy into her group along with possibly three others in the Spring. Anyway I just thought I would let you know as we now have a wonderful way to help Silvia Bordetas with the vetting and housing of the dogs she is rescuing before they have their chance of a lifetime. If you would like to help her, please do, every little bit helps! She so appreciates the help for the dogs. She is a lone rescuer with a huge heart and does everything in her power to help a few lucky ones.

Notelets & Greetings Cards to buy - help the galgos

With the help of some beautiful rescued galgos and podencos, and some podencos who still need forever homes, Galgo News now has a selection of blank greetings cards and blank notelets for sale, to raise funds for supplies for refuges in Spain.

This is Gaspar, a rough-haired podenco, found living wild on the campo with his brothers and sisters.

Caught by volunteers and now waiting for his forever home at PAWS shelter, Almeria.

And Mogaza, one of four puppies found in a cardboard box inside a rubbish bin. They were only a few days old as they still had their umbilical cords.

Rushed into SARA, put into a small transport container with a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel (our makeshift incubator!!).

Tiny and needing food every couple of hours. They went into foster care but the tiniest one lost its battle for life.

The remaining three puppies stayed in foster until they were six weeks old, initially being bottle fed every two hours, even through the night, then weaned onto puppy food.

Now available for adoption through SARA Lanzarote

Why should this dog die? Treated like Trash! Spain, you should be ashamed!

This dog will die in 21 days. Why should it? What is its crime? It was born a galgo in Spain! Some bastard galguerro took it to the Mairena perrera, paid perhaps a few euros, and left it there, to be starved for 21 days before killing it. And there are dozens of them arriving every day, and it is not yet near the end of the hunting season!

I have some more figures for getting a dog out of Mairena killing station. 45 euros per dog. They then go to a kennel where the vet microchips and vaccinates them and prepares their passport. Then there is the bloodtest for Leishmania etc., plus tick and flea treatment.

Galgotrans - rescuing galgos from the hell of Mairena

On my rescue trip with L'Europe des Levriers to Cordoba in June 2009, we visited a shelter from which we collected some dogs to bring back for adoption in France. The shelter was run by an amazing Dutch lady, Cobie. She has a lot of knowledge of the perreras in the area, and you can read more about them on this link

It is always great to read about the work of other galgo rescue associations in Europe. She has commented on the article about the killing stations and it is great to learn from her that Galgotrans are heading off for Mairena to rescue some of these poor galgos. I'll watch out for the story about the trip and keep you informed.

Good Luck Cobie and Galgotrans!

Shelters in Spain - see some of the good ones for yourself

For those of you who have not yet visited Spain and any refuges, but probably watch YouTube videos (which I don't - computer literacy and all that!) please watch the videos on this page on Greyhounds in Need UK. It will give you an idea of what the amazing volunteers who work in the shelters cope with every day. Please lend your support to the associations who do so much for the galgos and other abandoned dogs of Spain.

Greyhounds In Need - everyone needs to join their campaign for the Galgos

I have just read this article on Greyhounds In Need UK. Encouraging that there could be a co-ordinated movement on Spain shortly in respect of the galgo situation. Please contact GIN and ask them to include ALL the associations involved in the plight of the galgo, not just their European partners. More strength in numbers or, as we say in the UK, more power to the elbow!

Cristal in her forever home - a happy ending

Cristal and her new friend Amiga - a happy ending for her.

Ideas for Christmas Presents - Sponsor a Dog

If you want to give a very worthwhile gift for Christmas, why not give a 'Sponsor Dog' as a present.

Pro-Galgo have pictures and information about sponsor dogs. £10 a month, that's all. Some are even ready for the UK.

Baas Galgo offer galgo sponsorship

PAWS in Almeria, who work with Ibizan Hound Rescue, also offer dog sponsorship

Greyhounds in Need need sponsors for their galgos in Spain

Mairena, Seville - What is a Killing Station? Pro-Galgo explains.

There are emails circulating around at the moment about all the galgos arriving at the Mairena killing staton, in southern Spain near Seville. I have not been sure what a killing station is exactly - except the obvious - it's a place where they kill dogs! Is it the same as a perrera?

Mo Swatek, President of Pro-Galgo, has so much experience of the plight of the galgo in Spain, and this is her explanation of how a killing station operates.

'A perrera is a killing station but either run by a private person who offers its services to the cities and villages or by a business, often the companies who remove the rubbish/trash also manage the perreras.