Podenco Post

The Podencos of Lanzarote by Val Patterson

Since starting my galgo and podenco blogs 10 years ago, I have continuously appealed for help for the Canary Islands podencos. In the last three or 4 years, many more people have now responded to their plight, helped a great deal by publicity on facebook (one of the plus side of facebook). Val Patterson has now put together this lovely video and song. Please share and publicise the plight of the podencos in the Canary Islands.

List of podenco rehoming associations by country.

Saved from death - Spain's volunteers on the frontline again

4 weeks ago I received an appeal for help on my Help The Podencos facebook page, from a young woman who had found two 15-day old podenco puppies abandoned, no sign of mother, she could have been stolen or killed. We appealed for someone to take them in - they would need regular bottle feeds to save them - and Jacky Hazeleger of Tanamera Rescue stepped in.

Here's the update from Jacky. She works tirelessly to save, foster and rehome many of Spain's unwanted podencos, so if you can spare a little towards the cost of vaccinations etc for these two boys, she will be very grateful. Paypal address below.

'Just letting you all know that Russell and Pablo, rescued from Canals 4 weeks ago are doing great. We had a bit of a struggle, but both are now healthy and happy. In two weeks they will need their first jabs, and more after ofcourse. Any little help for these fighters by paypal would be highly appreciated xxx paypal: tanamerajavea@gmail.com

Thanks, Jacky from Tanamera Rescue'

Seville and Almeria - podencos needing help

Life is hard for Spain's hunting dogs...and there's no let-up. The hunters take no responsibility for the suffering they cause. Here are two sad cases.

First of all, this small Podenca is giving birth in the streets in Lugo, a village in Seville. None of them will last long, the pups could die of cold, the bitch needs to find food...the young women who are appealing for help for her have no room.

CONTACT Spain 0034 (0)635130813

The second story is about Merlin, only 1 year old, rescued but the other dogs in the shelter have attacked him and he's been hurt in the neck. He's too submissive and noble. He can't defend himself. He needs a foster home urgently. Help SOS Almeria. Contact Carmen Maria Montes Rubio and Antonia on Spain 0034 (0)626944339

Where and when to walk a dog off leash.

I was horrified by a report on UK TV Countryfile giving the statistics for the number of incidents every week when sheep and cattle suffer dog attacks, largely caused by people walking on paths alongside grazing animals, through fields of grazing animals...with their dogs off leash! It's totally unacceptable and irresponsible of the owner. I have no problem about a farmer shooting a dog which is worrying his grazing livestock.

Everyone should remember that their dog, whatever breed or mix, is basically a domesticated wolf and as such will always have hunting instincts. This is much stronger in some dogs than others, of course, but nevertheless, no one should walk their dog off leash near grazing animals.

Here's an article about training your dog to walk off leash

Rescuing dogs....

90 podencos living in hell in Mogan, Gran Canaria

Here is an update - the latest news I have.

90 Podencos De Mogan - 4 years they have lived in hell

On 9th October 2017 court proceeding began to determine the fate of the 90 Podencos de Mogan…. Podencos that have been held in the most horrible of conditions for the last four years. Despite many petitions, marches, denuncias to the local authorities pressure from the media these dogs have been left to live this.

A previous hearing the Judge ruled the owner had to give better access to water for the dogs, otherwise he saw no issue with the conditions. A change of political parties after elections saw the case stall and yet these dogs are left to live like this with reports of cannibalism.

Thoughts about the Spanish hunters...

What I'd like to do to all Spanish hunters...even those who look after their dogs, because they close their eyes to the horrendous maltreatment and abuse and do nothing to prevent it.

From Happy dog to Abandoned dog

Video here

Hotel Management Notice

What's it like to be a hunting dog in Spain?

Below are a selection of videos illustrating the lives of Spanish hunting dogs and their care. Whilst in a couple of the videos the dogs appear happy with wagging tails, the conditions they suffer, both packed in trailers and in a rehala where the dogs can be hired for hunting, are abhorrent.

Video 1

Video 2

Video 3

Video 4

Video 5