Podenco Post

11 November - remembering all the animals lost in war and service

A piece I wrote for 11th November - Remembrance Day

'Remembrance

They had no choice – no ‘Your Country Needs You’ posters because animals can’t read. Since time immemorial horses have been used in battle, probably pulling chariots followed from around 900 BC by warriors on horseback. Asian warriors were among the first mounted archers and fighters. In the Middle Ages, knights and horses wore weighty steel armour, hence the breeding of the heavy horses - Clydesdale, Shire, Percheron and Friesan horses.

By the time of the First World War, horses, donkeys and mules were needed to move supplies, equipment, guns and ammunition. Over 16 million animals in all, including mounted camels in desert campaigns, dogs and pigeons to carry messages, canaries to detect poisonous gas, cats and dogs to hunt rats in trenches. Unbelievably even monkeys, bears and lions were kept as mascots to raise morale.

Podenco Tangu in Cordoba - hoping for a forever home

From Salvando Corazones Peludo

Tangu has no past, only a future.

Tangu is full of tenderness that treasures in his soul, transcends his skin, and when you pat him your arms embrace so much love. It melts and you melt. He doesn't feel the cold anymore, only the beat of a single heart, yours melted with his and takes your breath away....

And you look at him and he looks at you, and you kiss him and he kisses you, and you talk to him and he answers you... with the look, with the ears, with the soul of podenco, with the rescue heart that only knows gratitude. He has an ocean of joy and affection to share, to spend without scars with you, your human and dog family, every single day for many years.

Tangu, joy, tenderness, affection and loyalty wrapped up in some of that shyness that disappears at a kind gesture.. you can't ask for more from a creature of just 10 kilos and 10 months, but if you ask for the moon he will bring it to you!!!.

Saving a dog's life with CPR

Tiny Podenco Timon with Adoptalife in Salamanca, Spain

From Adoptalife in Salamanca.

'Funny, tiny, loving, like a leprechaun....

This is how we might define our little TIMON. Sadly it's another hunters plunder. He's only a year old and a lifetime ahead of him, where he will surely be and make the family that adopts him happy. He weighs about 6-7 kgs.

Is in Salamanca but would be able to travel. Gets along with other dogs and loves children and adults.

Contact for adoption: [email protected]

Podenco Friends - update on podenca Bimba

More from Bev Farmer of Podenco Friends about the new arrival, podenca puppy Bimba.

'She keeps me on my toes and is into everything, I spend much of my day picking up after her, but she is just curious and its all normal puppy behaviour.

On the plus side she does sleep through the night either on a bed at the side of mine of if she can find a space gets on my bed.. She is joy to take out for walks so attentive, listens and is looking for direction from me all the time.. She really is just a happy pup ..

Video

Blind Podenco Bocelli finds his feet at the dog park

It's now 10 months since we adopted blind Podenco Bocelli from Blind Dogs UK, and rescued by volunteers working in Spain with Ibizan Hound Rescue. The vet thinks his blindness was caused by an untreated eye infection when he was tethered and starved on the end of a chain in the Lorca region of southern Spain. He can see shadows, but his sense of direction is governed by his acute hearing and amazing nose!

Trained to walk up a ramp into the back of our car, each Sunday morning we take him and his housemate Rosely to a local private dog park where Bo enjoys wandering freely and confidently, in his own little world. Once a month he goes to the local Dog Cafe where he finds his way around the tables and chairs and he's also been to the coast and paddled in the sea - always on lead there!

So for anyone who has a dog losing its sight, don't be concerned, they adapt amazingly well to life. And if you are thinking of adopting a dog, why not one from Blind Dogs UK - they deserve a forever home too.

2 new arrivals at Podenco Friends in Murcia

From Bev Farmer - as ever, always there for the podencos.

Rory .. new arrival this week. A big Podenco Ibicenco that is pitifully thin and very frightened. He’s been in a perrera since
22nd September and the volunteers have managed to get him out for walks and spend some time with him.

He is about 2 years old and this photo does not reflect what poor condition he is in. Give him a couple of days to get over the transport then take him to our vets for tests health checks etc.

You see… there are people who claim Podencos don’t get abused … I say - look at this beautiful soul, what did he do so wrong to be treated so badly .. it will take months to get him back to good health.'

Also new to the shelter this week is Bimba...