Sandra Baas of Baas Galgo has just sent notice about an article which has appeared in one of Spain's largest newspapers and written by a famous Spanish journalist. Please, dear readers, shout out loud in the comments section - under the photo it says 'Es tu escribo' - click on that to comment.
This is a basic translation.
April 10, 2010
The galgueros are the most humble people of the hunt. A few days ago in Guadalajara, some 300 members held a meeting and asked me to speak out in their defence. I was honoured. I was told there is pressure on them and they are considered unjust. We agreed that it was imperative to end the few, and very few, couple of dozen complaints a year, as there is clearly organised propaganda about cases of abuse and brutality. It must be made clear to those scoundrels, the bench and Justice.
But the greyhound and galgueros need to know the truth. Because the appalling and amazing lie than 50,000 dogs slaughtered every year is one of those whoppers that is based on repeated lies well-meaning and ignorant people.
The real problem with dogs and galgueros today is very different. It's called theft. It is a continual and growing problem. There are thousands each year stolen from their owners and caregivers, attacking their kennels and even their homes. A valuable galgo is well worth a lot of money and stealing and selling has become a business.
Also we get upset when terrible pictures are shown, which upsets our stomach. Because that's the base. The thieves, either because they can not sell the galgo or because they do not serve them are often the perpetrators of these dirty tricks, which then fall like boiling oil on the entire group of hunters. Criminalizing it is an unfair game. Reported as murderers of dogs.
The most humble of people???????? No the galgos are the most humble and gentle of the lot and the galgueros hang and murder these gentle creatures. They need to look in a dictionary to find a much more fitting word to describe themselves. I can think of a few!
Posted by: Tina | 26 April 2010 at 11:37 AM
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Hi Tina
Can you post the other words onto the comments
section below the article!
Amities
Beryl
http://www.thisfrenchlife.com/deuxsevres/
http://www.galgonews.com
Helping to make
a difference
A person who has never known a dogs love has
missed a wonderful part of life. Bob Barker
The dog has no ambition, no self-interest, no
desire for vengeance, no fear other than that of displeasing.
Count of Buffon
Posted by: Beryl Brennan | 26 April 2010 at 01:05 PM
Yes I posted on the article. My friend has also! x
Posted by: Tina | 26 April 2010 at 03:04 PM
Great! Hope loads of others have too.
B xxx
Posted by: Beryl Brennan | 26 April 2010 at 03:27 PM
Ive just checked.... yep they are getting a hammering!
Posted by: Tina | 26 April 2010 at 03:36 PM
You cannot expect this man to write anything against the hunters as he is one himself. Maybe he should refer to his book El Diario del Perro LORD. This book is a tribute to the 16 long and faithful years he spent hunting with his dog, Lord.
see http://www.elcotodecaza.com/noticia/escaparate/antonio-perez-henares-presento-venatoria-diario-perro-lord
Posted by: Joanne - Podenco Rescue | 26 April 2010 at 04:41 PM
He has also written a book called "El Ultimo Cazador"
(the last hunter). There is a comment on a book review sight, Foro de Literatura, that decribes this book as
" The last hunter is the novel that delves into the genetics of violence, domination and power that has haunted man since the dawn of time."
Enough said!!!!!
Posted by: Joanne | 26 April 2010 at 04:50 PM
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Bonjour
Thanks for this all info. In this case, the
sooner my book gets translated into Spanish, the better. It will be out
for sale as an ebook from 1st May, printed version being sourced as I write, and
then I need volunteers to translate a few chapters each into Spanish, so we can
get it out there as soon as possible!
Thanks for commenting,
Beryl
Posted by: Beryl Brennan | 26 April 2010 at 05:02 PM
Posted on the article:
These hunters could for once show us that they truly love and care for the Galgos by joining us in the struggle for better conditions, national rules and registration of Galgos and domestic pets in general in Spain. We want action and thereafter we can talk about mutual respect! The world is watching!
Posted by: Manuela | 26 April 2010 at 06:38 PM
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Bonjour
What you say is so true. The galgueros just
do not get the message that the way they treat their hunting dogs is a blight on
Spain and the world thinks less of them and their country for it. Hope you
have supported my campaign of letter writing to the hunting federations.
Please tell all your family and friends to join in.
Thanks for reading GN and posting.
Amities
Beryl
http://www.thisfrenchlife.com/deuxsevres/
http://www.galgonews.com
Helping to make
a difference
A person who has never known a dogs love has
missed a wonderful part of life. Bob Barker
The dog has no ambition, no self-interest, no
desire for vengeance, no fear other than that of displeasing.
Count of Buffon
Posted by: Beryl Brennan | 27 April 2010 at 05:58 AM
I have lived in spain for 4 years and seen for myself how these poor dogs are treated, my boyfriend and I are moving back to the uk as soon as our dogs have passports because it is just too upseting to see every day. The plight of the galgos is very real indeed and I will be doing my best to spread the word to as many people as possible.
Posted by: shellski | 27 April 2010 at 12:09 PM
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Bonjour
Thank you for your comment. It is absolutely
what the brave volunteers deal with day in and day out, and those of us who do
not live in Spain cannot begin to imagine the horror, all the time. Its
bad enough for me to see the results of the cruelty when I visit the shelters
with the rescue team.
Please spread the word far and wide when you get
back to the UK - and please keep reading GN for the latest information,
campaigns, and announcements. Tell all your friends and family what GN is
trying to do, to publicise as much as possible the hidden horror of
Spain.
Thanks for posting and good luck. Keep
reading and commenting.
Beryl
Posted by: Beryl Brennan | 27 April 2010 at 04:20 PM
Obviously the ongoing publicity against hunting with galgos and podencos is hitting a sore spot with these people or they would not be trying to defend themselves. We must keep the pressure on in Spain to change the laws to protect these dogs and to end this suffering for the sake of a "sport".
Telma Shaw
Posted by: Telma Shaw | 03 May 2010 at 04:21 PM
Bonjour
Thanks for your comment; hopefully there will be lots of emails and letters flying to the hunting federations as a result of the campaign on Galgo News to which you have so kindly put a link on your US website.
We have to keep up the pressure, Im sure it will all make a difference in the end. We have to believe and hope.
Regards
Beryl
Posted by: Beryl Brennan | 03 May 2010 at 04:48 PM
I recently found an abandoned Podenco on waste ground while walking my other 2 rescue dogs. It was a virtual skeleton when it came running over to us crying. We took him home and then to the vet to have him checked over. We have had him (Joey) for only 3 days now but we can see he has put on a little weight. He is a very loving adorable little thing and he gets on well with our other 2 dogs. (a pointer and an American Staffordshire Bull Terrier)If I had the chance I would rescue every Podenco and Galgo I could find.
Posted by: Peter Wilson | 25 June 2010 at 09:48 AM
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Bonjour
What a wonderful story, and what a lucky
podenco. It would be great to see a picture of him, especially a before
now and an after in a couple of weeks when he is more settled and looks
better.
Thank you for caring, thank you for saving him, and
thank you for comenting.
Amities
Beryl
http://www.galgonews.com
Helping to make
a difference
A person who has never known a dogs love has
missed a wonderful part of life. Bob Barker
The dog has no ambition, no self-interest, no
desire for vengeance, no fear other than that of displeasing.
Count of Buffon
http://www.thisfrenchlife.com/deuxsevres/
Read
about life in Deux-Sevres
Posted by: Beryl Brennan | 25 June 2010 at 10:08 AM
I would like to keep a few of these 'hunters' in the same conditions as they keep their dogs and see how long it takes them to complain. Then I would put them out of their misery. The article is complete b....cks. Having rescued a Podenco with one eye (the other gauged out by its owner) from Spain I know they are beautiful friendly dogs. It never fails to amaze me the ability that dogs have to offer friendship after such cruel treatment. Keep rescuing these splendid dogs.
Posted by: Peter | 11 August 2011 at 10:38 AM