At the end of the Spanish hunting season in January, hundreds of galgos are abandoned every year, and many of them resort to living on their wits to survive.
It can take weeks, sometimes months, of patient work by volunteers before a dog is finally caught and taken to a refuge.
Not all of these dogs cope with the change in situation, and if they then travel to another country and are put in a domestic environment, it can be even more traumatic, and their first instinct is to escape again.
One such dog recently arrived in France.
Continue reading "Return to the Wild - catching an escapee" »
There are always appeals for foster homes for dogs, but many people are hesitant to volunteer because they are afraid of becoming too attached to the foster dog, and not being able to let it go to a new home.
Certainly there are risks involved, not least of which are the tugs at the heartstrings! But it is really extremely worthwhile and rewarding, and it gives a dog more of a chance of getting a permanent home, whereas it is less likely to happen in a refuge.
One of the main advantages is that it enables the foster dog to be assessed.
What is its attitude to other dogs? Can it live with cats? How does it cope with boisterous children? Can it be toilet-trained? Could it live as the only pet, or does it need another canine companion? What sort of things frighten it?
Continue reading "Fostering a Dog" »
There seem to be many misconceptions about dogs with leishmaniosis, and living with a dog who has tested positive with the disease.
Flora's adoptant, June, took the galga on knowing she has tested very positive. Here she explains what is involved in looking after Flora.
By the way, to see Flora, one would not know she had any disease! She is an absolute picture of good health!
Continue reading "Living with Leishmaniosis" »
You will almost certainly be asked to complete questionnaires about your home circumstances, you life style, your other animals, your family etc.
Please don't consider this intrusive...the organisations who ask for this are just doing their job to ensure that the rescued galgo is not being taken from the frying pan and thrown into the fire.
Equally, if someone comes to visit you, please don't feel insulted. It is standard practice.
Joanna Simm explains why.
Continue reading "Adopting a galgo - Part IV - questionnaires and visits" »
The fees requested for the adoption of a galgo or podenco are another area that can cause discontent among would be adopters.
People may feel, quite justifiably at first, that they are offering to take in an animal who is unwanted who needs a home, who may have problems, medical or psychological, and feel a little 'miffed' that they are also asked to pay a fairly large sum of money.
There are several reasons for the fees that are charged for an adoption.
Continue reading "Adopting a galgo - Part III - Fees" »
Almost all rescue organisations will ask that the galgo or galga you adopt be neutered if it has not already been done prior to the adoption. There is a reason for this, and a very good one too.
The problem in Spain that causes these poor dogs to be so abused and abandoned is caused by over population, over breeding. certain areas of Spain are literally so full of galgos that there is no chance of homes for them.
Why neuter?
Continue reading "Adopting a galgo - part II - neutering" »
For many of us who have heard of the terrible plight of the beautiful Galgo dogs in Spain, adoption is an idea that we have embraced as something we can actually do to help.
Most of us do not have a massive disposable income, so donating significant amounts of money is not possible, and we look for other ways to help.
So, can we offer a home to a galgo? Some questions to consider.
Continue reading "Adopting a galgo - questions to ask yourself" »
Spanish galgos, like greyhounds, can make wonderful pets and dozens of galgos are rehomed by rescue associations. The associations have to rely on the volunteers working in the Spanish refuges to assess the dog’s character, test it with other dogs, cats, etc. Sometimes they get it wrong.
Whether or not a dog is suitable for rehoming depends to a large extent on the treatment of the dog before it arrived at the refuge. Most of them are rehomed without problems, apart from having to be toilet trained! But some of them need rehabilitation before being suitable for a forever home.
Continue reading "Adopt a dog - but are they all suitable for home life?" »
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