Galgo News

Galgo Marko - Pepis Refuge, Animals in Distress and Arca Noah to the rescue

Joe Safont-Ruiz of Animals in Distress tells the story of this poor boy.

'A Galgo (Greyhound) was left tied up outside Pepis Refugio - The dogs were barking as normal but Alan and Jane knew the different barks and this meant a new arrival. Alan walked down to the gate with a small torch only to see two green glows at the gate; yes it was Marko (his new name).

When Alan reached the gate he saw Marko lying on the frosty ground, a beautiful boy, but something told him not to grab him up, which was what he wanted to do. He saw a thin metal wire around his neck tied in a slip knot. If he panicked the wire would have tightened and cut into his neck so Alan sat on the ground and talked to Marko until he thought Marko was happy with him. This was a sight he will never ever forget, Marko looked at Alan his eyes as if to say 'Sorry but it's not my fault that I am here' that hurt him even more. He then felt confident to pick him up; Marko was ready to be helped.

Alan took the wire noose from his neck and cuddled him up, telling him nobody will hurt him again, His pelvis looked dislocated and he was unable to walk properly, but Alan had no idea what the extent of the problem was. Marko's hip was very bad, the ball joint had risen high up his hip and was wearing out part of the bone, as you can see in the x-ray. Also the injury was old and tissues and other things had started to develope around the ball joint and the hip cavity.

Pepis Refuge are very short of funds and the refuge was not the ideal place for Marko in his condition. So my wife (Janice from A.I.D), went to the refuge, which is in Pedrera, Seville, to collect him, along with another Galgo and a Mastin pup which had also been abandoned, as they stood a better chance of finding a home if they came down here. We had no room at the time, so our friends at Arca Noah took them in.

Arca Noah will look after Marko so that he can put some weight on before the operation, as he is skin and bones, the poor thing, and hopefully by then enough funds will be raised by us at A.I.D., the Galgo Rescue in Belgium and Arca Noah to pay for the operation and after treatment, which will be about 2500 Euros.

Please donate and help us to help Marko. Any amount large of small will be so gratefully received. Lets all pull together. Every Euro counts so please donate towards his operation and recovery (Click on the link to donate)

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.

Floods in Cordoba pt 2 - please help the L'Europe des Levriers galgos there

Some of the galgos in the Villa del Rio are under the care and control of L'Europe des Levriers, the French association with whom I work closely and from whom I have adopted my 3 galgas, plus them helping me get my little Podenca Andaluz Bebe from Seville.

Some of their puppies in one bed died, but there are others - Noche, Jade, Scarlette, Pucca - Cristina, Vice President of EDL, went from Madrid down to Cordoba and brought back some of the dogs, who are now in kennels which need paying for.

Spanish Galgos injured, abandoned, mistreated, the Galgueros perpetrate the horror

I don't know how the volunteers and associations in Spain keep their stamina and emotions, I am getting more emails in this year than ever since Galgo News started in 2007 and I am sickened by the sheer volume of galgos in perreras, abandoned in the street, hung from trees, kicked and stoned, abandoned to be injured on motorways........it is simply unbelievable that the authorities in Spain remain blinkered about how this affects the international perception of Spain.

Here are some more stories..........help if you can.

Venancio, galgo rescued in Spain, adopted in Norway - can you help him?

Venancio is a galgo rescued in Spain, rehomed in Norway. Unfortunately he arrived with a problem which is going to be extremely costly to put right. Monette tells his story.

I´m writing you with an appeal on behalf of a newly adopted galgo from Spain and his loving family. Venancio arrived Norway december 2010, where a young couple have adopted him. Unfortunately, it appears now that the damage Venancio suffered just before his departure from Spain is so bad, that the vet in Norway has given the family only two choices, either to put Venancio to sleep or to have him operated, - an operation which there is no way the family can effort!

-Ken - latest news on this amazing survivor

Video update on Ken, severely injured in a road accident, saved by Galgos del Sol, now with Silvia of Galgo Connection Spain for his rehabilitation. Silvia is also looking after Draco, another black seriously ill galgo.

GalgoConnectionSpain - help save Draco, a Jerez killing station survivor

Jerez has two perreras, one municipal and one privately owned. This winter it has been difficult to keep up with the numbers of dogs in these places, especially galgos and some podencos. I haven't been able to post them all on GN, but suffice to say that a few dozen have been taken out by rescue associations, before being killed. They range in age from a 5 month old podenca (Angela) to 1 and 2 year olds up to the mama breeding machines, 7 years upwards. Some of them are negative to diseases, others develope them after rescue and some are at the stage of simply wanting to give up on life.

Draco is one poor boy, thin, sick and with a body covered in scars.

Galgo Ken, surviving and fighting his way back to health - thanks Galgos del Sol

Yesterday I linked to an update on Nicholas, a great galgo survivor. Today I give you an update on Ken, another brave soul fighting to regain his health after being hit from behind by a vehicle. He has now been operated on and the vet is happy that there is now feeling in Ken's back legs, and he is not in pain. Galgos del Sol continue to work closely with the vet and Ken - but it's costly both in time, emotion and vet fees. If you can help with vet fees, donate by credit card to UK bank or Paypal to tinasolera@hotmail.co.uk.

Galgo Nicholas - a brave survivor with the help of Baas Galgo

Remember the story of Nicholas, a galgo dying at the side of the road; rescued by volunteers with Baas Galgo. Here's the latest news on this brave survivor.

Left to die by Spanish hunters - look at them now, thanks to Baas Galgo

Updates on a couple of galgos we've featured, left for dead by heartless huntersMarisol and Lady Carla. Lady Carla and her friend Canela will be rehomed in Belgium. And look at little pup Marisol now! Marvellous work by Baas Galgo and the team.