Nell and Navarre - Podenco Andaluz find forever together

With all the appeals for help for podencos, it's great to have a lovely rehoming story. Robin and Ros Grover share theirs with you.

Our Podenco Story

We have had dogs over many years and mostly 2 at any time. In January 2013we had 1 mixed breed dog called Honey,and we were considering a second dog. At that point we had never even heard of a Podenco. We started casually searching dog rescues on the internet, and amongst that found some of the Podenco related rescue organisations. We had never imagined that you could have a rescue dog brought over from Spain and weren’t aware of the quarantine laws being changed. We could see the difference between the rescue dog situation in this country and the awful conditions in the Perreras and the terrible short life expectancies in those. We were horrified by the attitudes of the galgueros, and the medieval views on animal rights held by many in Spain. We knew we had to have a Poddy.

We contacted SOS Animals UK having decided on a 6 month old Podenco pup called Nell who was in foster with an English couple in Murcia. Nell had been dumped in their garden as a very young pup, and they kindly looked after her. The procedures from application to travelling took a while as Tania Coates and her team are thorough when finding suitable placements, and organising homechecks etc.

Nell and Honey hit it off straight away, and have since done everything together, although Nell can wear Honey out. She has incredible energy, and loves to run. Even when she is tired out, she can restore her energy levels on a fairly short rest. This dog has unusual, noises – whistles and squeaks, and she can bounce around with her toes skittering like an Irish dancer. She is loving, cuddly, very pretty, and just so funny. Rob can regularly be heard to mutter “idiot dog” at some of her antics. Ros has spent the last year laughing daily at Nell and Honey together. We knew we would love more of that and recently decided to go where we never have before and have 3 dogs.

We found a magnificent looking 15 week old boy Podenco called Navarre, with Bev and Warren at Beverly Farmer Podencos. He is part of a litter bottle fed by them from days old, when their mother had been injured defending them from a wild Boar. Jade green eyes and amazing ears. He is due to arrive with us in the next 2 weeks. Life is going to get hectic, but we can’t wait.

Any dog of any breed has its own factors affecting its character. However, we believe Podencos generally are something special, and have unique characters that can adapt readily to situations, and are very likely to induce a smile.

There are the rescue organisations that are helping the Podencos, fighting a tide of cruelty and neglect. Absolute respect to them for all they do for these dogs, the terrible sights they see, and the untiring kindness they dispense. They have the power to change lives. Thank you.

Comments

[jenny]

what a fantastick story so pleased that this couple addopted a podenco and went for the second one aswell as their other dog so nice to hear some good news sometimes i does ring a bell the mother of navarre and the wild boar bless her oh navarre you are going to be so happy over the moon for you have lots of fun with your new play mates brilliant news good on you both for helping the podencos they must have the highest % in breeding so so many of these beutiful souls dont make it its heart breaking

[jenny]

another amazing story

[Kathryn]

These pods are beautiful and it's great that they have found a lovely home. The Spanish dogs need all the help they can get. I love/have loved my beautiful Spanish dogs. Unfortunately the situation in the UK is getting grimmer for dogs here. 126,00 abandoned a year, approx 300 every day and 150 dogs put to sleep every week, also known as the death row dogs. The council pounds are grim and who knows if the dogs are put to sleep humanely? It's a dire situation. The treatment of the ex racing greyhounds just gets worse too - and we are supposed to be a nation of animal lovers?! It's awful and if it continues we could soon be in the same league as Spain with the dreadful abandonment and mistreatment of dogs. It is good to read about the lucky dogs who have found loving homes, just wish it could be the same happy ending for all of them.