Galgo News

Asociacion Baas Galgo - denouncing the hunters - how you can help

Sandra Baas of Asociacion Baas Galgo is not afraid of taking on the hunters through the Spanish courts. Each case of animal cruelty is recorded when she and her team make a denuncia in the area where it happens. This is the latest case, in the hellhole of Toledo, and Sandra is appealing to everyone to get in touch with her with similar examples of the hunters' cruelty, to enable her to build a solid file.

Dog-Walking in Spain - Spanish law explained

A couple of days ago I asked the question - what is the law in Spain on exercising galgos, if they are companion dogs. Andrew Hurrell, a founder of Noahs Arc in Mazarron, has personal experience of the problem; he shares it here with you.

'Fury from Camposol ex pats regarding hunting fine of 300 Euros

My partner and I worked tirelessly with a dog rescue for three years in the Murcia area, and fostered and rescued numerous Greyhound types (called Galgos in Spain) which were cast off by hunters at the end of each season; you can imagine that hunters are not the most well thought of individuals amongst the dog rescue fraternity in Murcia.

Spanish Legal Expert needed - law on galgos running free

This is a question for the legal experts to answer. A couple in Palencia found two starving galgos in a ditch a couple of years ago. They adopted them and walk them in the fields in a morning, letting them run free. As they are so well fed, they don't tend to catch anything!

The couple have now been told - by a man with two (unleashed) hunting dogs - that they are breaking the law by having the galgos run free in the campo, that they spoil the hunting. If he sees them running free again, he will file a report with the Guardia Civil.

TARA Gran Canaria - neutering programme a great success

TARA is an animal rescue association on Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands; in September they arranged a neutering programme for dogs and cats with a team of Danish vets and medical staff and this is what Brian, a volunteer with TARA, says about its success.

'Dog & Cat Neutering Program A Success. The dog and cat neutering project in Mogan county from 14 to 21 September proved a big hit for all concerned.

Cesar Millan on Spanish TV, Friday, 2nd December 2011

As some of you may know, Cesar Millan adopted a galgo from Galgos 112. At the same time, he worked on a series of television programmes to highlight the plight of abandoned dogs in Spain. This is the link to see the article, and below is a translation.

The famous trainer of dogs César Millán, known in Spain for his dog programmes, will return next Friday (2 December 2011) to the prime time on Channel 4 with the release of the Leader of the Pack.

SARA Protectora, Lanzarote - costs involved in adopting a cat or dog

This is ZP, a 9 month old Podenco Canario. He's in the SARA Protectora refuge on Lanzarote, Canary Islands. Unless adopted on mainland Europe, he is destined to spend the rest of his life in the shelter. Read on.

SARA Protectora is the refuge on Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. They take in dogs and cats - and the difficulty is rehoming them - very limited on the islands. Here is a guide as to the costs involved in rescuing a dog or cat.

Major boost for welfare of dogs and cats in the EU

Greyhounds Rescue Holland have sent the following information.

'Just after 12 o’clock on 13/10/2011, GRH received a call from the Liotard team that the Written Declaration on Dog Population Management has been supported by more than half of the Members of the European Parliament. Many volunteers across Europe, amongst whom GRH, have lobbied with their MEP’s to get their support.

This Written Declaration asks for Members States to adopt comprehensive dog population management strategies and anti-cruelty laws, with the aim to harmonise animal welfare standards across the European Union. This marks a significant shift to developing EU legislation in this matter.'

Read more here.

Greyhounds In Need - Educating the Young

One of the most important tools to use in the fight against animal cruelty in Spain - and everywhere else, of course - is educating the younger generations. Many individual associations have their own programmes for doing this - talks in schools and youth centres, visits to refuges, hands-on caring for dogs in 'out-of-school' time. Greyhounds In Need have been working on an Education Programme which will shortly be available to associations. Read about it here - wait till the scroll box reaches the heading 'Our Work In Spain'.

Leishmaniasis - from negative tests to positive tests - be aware

Those of you who have read my book will have been introduced to Lucho, an amazing survivor of the Spanish holocaust, adopted by Chris in the US from Scooby Medina. He developed leptospirosis and Chris kindly wrote a case history about her experiences with Lucho and beating the disease.

Earlier this year, Lucho developed Leishmania. Even though he tested negative before leaving Spain, the disease can lie dormant and poor Lucho succumbed. Chris shares her experience here.

Rabid puppy imported into France from Morocco

In August 2011, a case of canine rabies was notified to the French Veterinary Services. A French family from the Vendee travelled to Morocco on holiday, and whilst there, they 'adopted' a stray 3-month old puppy, which they illegally imported to France.

The puppy presented behavioural changes on 1 August and was admitted to a veterinary clinic on 6 August. It died the following day and the body was shortly sent to the national reference centre where rabies was laboratory-confirmed on 11 August. Contact tracing and post-exposure treatment were initiated immediately

Read the full story here and a further article discussing the need for anti-rabies injections.