Galgo News

Dog attacks - what is the cause and how to deal with one.

We are lucky in that we have never owned an aggressive dog. However, we have owned three who have been the victims of dog attacks. 2 of my galgos, Carmela and Bracken were both victims of the same dog - but at different times - when we lived in France. Luckily neither of them were seriously injured but it certainly scared the life out of us! Our blind podenco Bo bears the scars and marks from being attacked, over his face and pieces missing from his ears. As he spent his first years on the end of a chain it's not hard to guess when the attack(s) happened.

This PDSA article discusses the subject of dog attacks.

Coping with a dog with disabilities

We adopted a blind dog. He is amazing. He uses his nose and ears to find his way around, uses a ramp to get into the car (he's a bit heavy to lift). During my years with a French rescue association, we brought back to France for homing several tripod galgos and podencos. They never ceased to surprise me how they coped with three legs.

So this weblink takes you to an article about coping with a dog with disabilities.

Is the lump on your dog cancerous?

Not all lumps and skin lesions on your dog are cancerous. Unfortunately the ones on our blind podenco were and he now has inoperable stomach cancer. So we are just making the most of the time we have left with him before we have to make the ultimate decision.

Read this article on the subject.

UK Vet Fees - petition to sign and share

This petition is demanding the setting up of an independent regulatory authority to curb the diabolical vet fees in the UK. You need a UK postcode to sign and share.

Petition weblink

Last year the Competition and Markets Authority undertook a look at vet clinics not being upfront about charges etc. This weblink give extensive details of their report, last March. Not that it will do anything to stop vets selling out to speculative companies which demand their share of vet charges.

Nystagmus in senior dogs

Read the full article here.

Rescue dogs aren't broken - they just experience a lot of bad things...

Stomach cancer in dogs

Living with a stomach tumour

Not a galgo but our blind podenco Bo (Bocelli) who we adopted in 2022. In 2023 he had a small tumour removed from his stomach. We were warned it could return. He is the third of our Spanish hounds to suffer from stomach cancer. Galga Sahara had an inoperable one many years ago and galgo Bracken had one in 2021, not long after our return to the UK after living in France for 19 years.

In February 2025, 2 years later after diagnosis. Bo's stomach started to swell again. A scan at the vets confirmed our worst fears - the tumour had returned and this time it was judged inoperable, as it could be attached to either the spleen or the liver.

In himself, Bo was his usual happy cheeky self, eating normally, playing with our other podenco. But as his stomach swelled, he hadn't the energy to go on the long walks of previous years.

Electric shock collars to be banned in England February 2026 - too late, why not now?!

From Bev Farmer of Podenco Friends.

The Use of E-Collars on Podencos: what are your thoughts about using them ?

On the attached photo a question was put to a advocate of e-collars .. Why would you use E.Collar on a podenco that has been abused ? The answer was disturbing please read the reply on the photo.

E-Collars and Podencos: Why We Must Push for the UK Ban

The Reality of Rescue: Healing the Broken

Every Podenco that enters rescue has a story—often one of neglect, fear, and survival. We spend months rehabilitating them, earning their trust, and helping them recover both physically and emotionally. These dogs, already so fragile, should never be subjected to training methods that rely on pain and fear.

E-collars on dogs should be banned worldwide

PACMA - protestng about the Royal Decree 666/2023

PACMA - we want to tell you that on 5th March 2025 we have presented a proposal for an urgent modification of the terrible Royal Decree 666/2023 of the Government, which has generated enormous discomfort among veterinarians and animal guardians. There are many inconsistencies to correct.

Why is this decree a problem?

It requires notification of each veterinary prescription through the PRESVET system, including animals considered companion animals, when the European Regulation excludes them.

It requires pathogen identification tests for certain antibiotics, which delays treatments and is costing animal lives.

It imposes mandatory identification of animals for the administration of medications, making it difficult to treat community cats and abandoned animals. Such as where cats in a feral community are caught, neutered and returned to their community.