Podenco Post

Ode to a beloved pet

Living with a blind dog

A few weeks ago I introduced you to Bo (Bocelli), a blind podenco we recently adopted from life on a chain in Lorca, Spain. Having both had dogs for all our seven decades of life, we have never had a blind dog. So it is a new experience for us. He has now been with us for a couple of months and is settling in very well. He can now find his way out of the kitchen into the garden to the toilet, and back again. Luckily we have a ramp at our back door rather than steps, which is much easier for him. He hasn't so far ventured into the rest of the bungalow but no doubt he will do it one day, in his own time.

He shares his home with Rosely, a sighted podenca, and very often shares his bed with her. She wears a bell on her collar so he always knows where she is. He is at the stage of wanting to play with her in the garden, but after 6 years shut in a shed breeding babies, Rosely doesn't know how to play. Her main interest is her stuffed toys, baby substitutes I suspect.

Spain is still in the dark ages - no help for the hunting dogs

From Galgos en Familia.

WHERE ARE THEIR RIGHTS???

The Andalusian government declares unconditional help and support to the hunters, for what they declare, to be accomplices of torture. They declare to agree with the suffering, mistreatment, abuse and exploitation, which this sector systematically exerts on the dogs of the so-called "hunting breeds"

They also motivate them, through grants and bonuses

And we ask ourselves, where are their rights? The rights of all citizens who do not want to be complicit in this barbarism, of all of us who are not willing to be accomplices or executioners?

And most importantly, where are their rights? where are the rights of those animals that are tortured, slaughtered, killed and abandoned?

DeAnimals - fighting to protect the Spanish hunting dogs

In 2016 I met Raquel, a Spanish lawyer who organised training courses for anyone involved in animal law in Spain. Here's a weblink to their site which explains the work they do.

Galgo's Rescue Almeria - old podenco finds his forever in Italy

From Galgo's Rescue Almeria

4 years ago Lucky, an old podenco, came to us. We followed him for several weeks and tried to gain his trust and on January 18, 2018 he let himself be caught.

What he didn't realize was that his life would change drastically “ from street life to sweet life “.

Lucky was a vagabond, a loner who had probably roamed the streets for most of his life. He had leishmania, a few months later he also got distemper. But Lucky is a survivor with a huge will to stay alive.

December 2020 Lucky left GRA and could spend his retirement in Italy at Casa degli Elfi Rescue OdV - Podencos & Co where he also stole everyone’s heart.

From Spain to Canada - Podenco Friends hounds to their forever homes

From Bev Farmer of Podenco Friends.

Here is a glimpse of behind the scenes and what happened when the dogs land in Canada a few weeks ago.

I am often asked 'are the dogs stressed with the flight', but we prepare them by getting them comfortable with the flight crates. When I take them to vets they always are transported in flight crates and it's safer for them.

The dogs arrived and they were relaxed and calm and even though with people they have never met before they take everything in their stride. It takes an incredible amount of work and preparation both here in Spain and Canada so the dogs can fly. The paper work is complex and we have to double and triple check everything dealing with customs on both sides.

Numerous messages and phone calls and finally they were on their way.

URGENT - email to send to the Spanish Government before end January 2022

HELP THE HUNTING DOGS OF SPAIN

From Scooby. WE NEED YOUR HELP! READ CAREFULLY:

The Ministry of Agriculture proposes to get hunting dogs out of the future Animal Welfare Act. This proposal leaves hunting dogs completely unprotected, denying them all protection and rights.

Until February 2, the National Strategy of Cinegetic Management is out for public consultation, so ALL CITIZENS CAN SEND OUR COMPLAINTS, CHANGE PROPOSALS, OR Suggestions to the following email address:

[email protected]

Suggested content of the email: -

Valencia, Spain - another hell for Spanish podencos

This is a post from my facebook page from a lady appealing for help to publicise a serious case of cruelty to podencos.

'I am sending this message to all animal organizations.

I'm going to expose a situation of helplessness and injustice here, because I don't know where to go.

In an area outskirts of Valencia, there is a hunter who has about 20 dogs in harsh conditions, without hygiene, between corpses, it only gives them sunlight when he takes them out to hunt, tied up with a half meter chain, one of them right now She has the paw broken with a wound of about 50 centimeters that will end up getting infected.

He has been reported, but he has the protection and the support of the area police because they are also hunters, so the complaints are left on wet paper.

He is committing a felony of abuse.

I swear if he reports me for entering his private property to get evidence (photos, videos), he should be a hair fall for violating animal welfare laws. From where I am you can hear the cries of the dogs day and night.

If you could send me a cable to spread the message, I would appreciate it. Let's see if we can get those dogs out of that hell.

Pvt0s Mi€rda hunters.

Akira Dog Sanctuary - podencos hoping for forever homes

What better way to start a new year than adopting a wonderful podenco! Akira Dog Sanctuary in Pedrera, Spain, have some beauties with their Pet Passports, all ready to complete your lives. They are all on the weblinks below. Contact Hayley at Akira Dog Sanctuary if you have room in your home and heart for one.

Bonito - he's lived in a home with cats

Fiona

Charlie

Cookie

Merlin is a special case who needs to be adopted locally to the shelter in Spain

Lolita

Podencos are intelligent active dogs who require more exercise than their Spanish galgo counterparts. They are delightful loyal companions and quite often clownish!

Spain January 16 - blessing of pets fiesta

Saint Francis of Assissi is the patron saint of animals and every year usually on the 3rd Sunday of January, ceremonies are held throughout Spain for the blessing of pets.

Read the story on this weblink