Maribel Jerez does a marvellous job of circulating appeals on behalf of dogs on death row in Spain's perreras, chiefly in Jerez and Gesser in Cadiz. One recent one which circulated was a photo of a sad galga, no one came forward to take her, so Charl of 112carlotagalgos stepped in to save her. The perrera has now decided to spay dogs before they can leave, so Ginny, as she has been named, was spayed. It was only when she was collected from the perrera that it became obvious that Ginny was not in the best of health. Here's her story.
'Its a sad existence when a galguero keeps a galga and dumps her when no longer useful, But when she is sick, crumbling inside, her body aching and having to keep up with what the day break delivers, no words can express her pain, her ache, her tiredness. For she can't say a word to a galguero who isn't bothered and a perrera which won't listen, for she sweet Ginny, is a number. A number with her time up, and a number about to be crossed out.
My heart bled for Ginny when arrived at home, when I saw her, when I saw the analysis of her blood report knowing only too well what was now in my hands. If left in the perrera, a dying galga already for sure.
Ginny had new tests. We opted for tests via our lab again, she not only has "microfilaria, " (baby heart worms) she has full Filaria, thus presenting adults. She also has a high count of Leishmania. Treatment is complicated, Jerez perrera only allow dogs to be taken out now which are sterilised. They only needed to look at Ginny to know she has Leishmania. I asked for analysis independantly however, they sterilised her in order to release her. A dog in this condition, it takes a brave vet to do such a thing, platelets low, they don't care. For its a number... who cares if she dies? To them, she is a dog, a nothingness, the number which doesn't need passing to the death row. But one they could have killed all the same.
Ginny needs complete and utter rest because of the filaria. Tests how show she has erhlichia too! Treatment is planned. she will need xrays, scans, and months of treatment. Also working out how much her body can stand under two sets of treatment for 2 diseases which are killers if let alone. In a month's time, in her condition with the galguero, she would have been dead. Did her galguero use her until she could go no more, for she has carried these diseases sometime now?
She looked at me in the clinic with eyes of, will you save me.. dark eyes of tiredness and just the need of love.
Ginny, Sweet Ginny, we will do all we can to save you, to heal you and keep you well. Ginnny's medical care is going to soar, the treatment for her medication already is plus 300 euros, and that's minus medical attention, more tests to find out about her internal organs.
My heart bleeds for her, bleeds for those out there wandering the streets the plight of the Spanish Galgo.. a dog in danger. Yet, carrying all this illness within her, she is a happy galga, full of love, happy to be receiving care. So we have to fight for her.
This is a raw case, Ginny is delicate and we will do all we can so one day she will finally be recovered and in peace. To a perrera.. operating a galga in this condition because it is the RULE in order for a quick buck! No attention to detail.. no assesment of the condition of the dog.. how scary and what vet has such lack of morals, they cannot put the animal first?
Ginny needs peace, recouperation and treatment. I always say, all galgos and pods are welcome at the stables, it never matters to me how long their stay is for I know one day their forever home will come, they can stay as long as it takes.. Ginny can stay as long as it takes and it will take time. A long time. I pray we win.
Her needs are special, she needs peace, love, long term medication, a quiet stable, constant visits to the vets, tests, more tests, xrays, scans..
Ginny needs you, I need you for without you we cannot make it, we cannot achieve a forever for Ginny.
You might question - should we not spend our limited funds on healthy galgos, but Ginny came to us and we won't turn our back on her. Naturally the odds are against her in that she is limited to a forever home.. She will be on treatment the rest of her life. I know how many we can save with what it costs to treat ginny, but she s here and she needs treating. If it was always healthy dogs then everything would be so much easier.
It's an unusual one off to find a galgo with these 3 illness together. But she is doing exceptionally well. If she behaved in a sick manner, my thoughts would turn to pts her. But she is ok. Treatment has started. Aspirin stomach protectors and erlichea to begin, then she a few days later she started treatment for filaria and leishmania but will be hospitalised in my vet clinic - for one week, two weeks... I know costs will soar, and I'd lie if I'm saying Im not scared of that... But this is the situation we have found ourselves in and we have to deal with it.
We owe Ginny a life, and if she can win this battle then it's a job well done. We have to try. This is what we do. Malaga where we live isn't an area which has filaria, so as a precuation we are injecting all our dogs. There's no reason to think that anything could happen, but we as a vet team and me feel this is correct. It can only pass via a mosquito, and we don't have that here. But its the right thing to do.
As always this is a long process and my vet's working on special prices .. I don't know what I'm aiming at other than saving her life. I can only accept the situation we are in, and deal with it as strongly as I can.
I have no words to understand the cruelty inflicted on these serene souls, but my heart is heavy in an appeal for help for Ginny. We need to show a better way so that the children of tomorrow know how to help and how to make change. In this we make our stand all of us together.
"Sr.Galguero, you have blood on your hands!"
While you wander the fields with your shotgun loaded, your box on wheels filled with sorrowful eyes and empty bellies, your motorbike to which you tie galgos to train... for me there is no rest, while I hold in my arms the warmth of a galgo, shaking in fear, eyes of pain, I will never let go of their rights, you may not hear them... but in time, you will hear us all.
To ask for help, is something I don't find easy, but I know that without, you dear galgo friends, this would be so much harder. YIf you would like to help us help Ginny, I would be so very grateful. She has the odds stacked against her, .. but we believe in her.. she's fought for life this long, and now she has a reason to live. Love!
In galgo affection, always'
Please donate to the vet fees for Ginny, here's the link.
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