Podenco Post

Euthanasia - when is the right time?

Regular readers will know that occasionally I publish links to article in the Whole Dog Journal, when I find the subject matter interesting or thought provoking. Recently a piece came in on the subject of euthanazie - when is the right time and as my galga Carmela has started to suffer from dementia, I read up some more. Links to a couple of articles are below.

It is over 10 years since Carmela came into my life, during one of my many trips into Spain with L'Europe des Levriers to bring back podencos and galgos for homing in France. She had been rescued from a perrera and showed many signs of having been badly treated by her galguero, mostly in mental fear. She gradually gained in confidence living alongside my outgoing very friendly galga Sahara - who sadly was pts when riddled with cancer. No longer living in the shadow of Sahara, Carmela became a lively happy galga, a joy to behold.

Regalgos, Perrigalgos, the outcasts of Spain

'The outcasts of the outcasts in the world of hunting - They call them Regalgos in Andalusia and
Perrigalgos in Castilla.

They are mongrels whose father or mother is a galgo and they are the ones no one notices. Galgos are easy to place, as more and more people realise what wonderful companions they can be in family. Podencos, although still problematic to place, usually have a size that facilitates their adoption.

But what about this new category of mix breeds?

Podenca Mum and babies abandoned at a bus stop in France!!

Over the past 12 years since getting involved with the plight of the podencos and galgos, I have shed many tears over my computer keyboard as I write stories. This is yet another one - feeling for this poor podenca Mom trying to care for her babies.

The story is from Refuge Arpa in dept 47 in France! Thursday, September 12, 2019, this little podenca was abandoned in a cardboard box with her 2 puppies by the road at a bus stop.

Luckily they are now safe in the shelter.

Hell on earth at Podenco Friends - storms raging for days!

I've been off-line for a few days, so just catching up with news. Violent storms have been raging in southern Spain for 3 or 4 days and Bev at Podenco Friends is suffering terribly with flooding. Below are her posts and videos about it. Luckily she is not on her own, coping, stalwart Dawn Richardson from the UK is there helping with everything.

Wednesday 11th September - Aemet has now declared code red for tomorrow (Thursday) in the region of Murcia and Alicante, they have even closed some schools. Today we had some heavy rain and last night spectacular lightning storms. Dawn and I managed to get all the dogs out for a couple of good runs in the paddocks but this evening after the rains they are off limits but have the car park for them to have some time out there. The finca normally stands up well to this weather but they are predicting very severe storms. We went out and did a big shop so stocked up for the dogs and and us and prepared the finca for possible flooding.

El Podencos - treasure or trash?

El Podenco

A national treasure ? or just trash? Bev farmer

What is about Podencos that incite such passion for them..... for me I see beauty nobility intelligence a creature so unique and magical, those who have adopted one will understand how special and sensitive they are. These should be the national treasure of Spain to be held in reverence to be proud of.... such a truly magnificent creature they should be recognized has part of the national heritage of Spain for they date back to 3000 BC.

Yet daily we receive more and reports of Podencos abused, abandoned handed in to Perreras. They are viewed as disposable not animals with feelings but working dogs and when no longer useful, discarded with as much thought as we would throw a soda can into a bin. Many are Podenco crosses but they still should be afforded the same respect as the pure bred for the still have the blood of a podenco coursing in their veins.

Canine Lymphoma Risk Factors

My galga Sahara died riddled with cancer. No external symptoms until her stomach swelled and I took her to the vet. Here's an article on Canine Lymphoma.

Podenca Africa with Podenco Friends in Murcia

Yet another of Bev Farmer's wonderful photos - this is Podenca Africa after a bath. Africa is looking for a forever home, contact Bev.

Take a rescue Podenco into your home and heart

I won this beautiful picture in a recent fb auction raising funds for a needy podenco, and wanted to share it with you.

List of podenco rescue and rehoming associations

Podenco Friends - Special treatment for Carley

From Bev Farmer 29 8 2019

'We have agreed a treatment program for Carley she is going to start on Chemotherapy but this is an oral one that is in the form of a syrup. Its still a strong treatment but not like the one that Midas had and the main side effect she could get cystitis and then we would have to stop until it cleared up. So I have to ensure she drinks one and half litres of water a day to help the kidneys . Eduardo sat down and talked me through and showed me the medical journals explaining why she needs it and how it works basically its to try and stop the bad cells attacking the healthy cells in her body.

So it's not a cure but to try and stop it spreading to other organs and we will do monthly xrays and ultrasounds to check. She may need the chemo for 3/6 months and a specialist pharmacy has made it ready and tailored it for her . We can't estimate how much it will extend her life but looking at the data in the journals and case studies some have lived for months and others years so lets hope for Carley its the latter .. I am comfortable with this and we can always stop if it makes her ill .. I have got to give her a chance and in her favour at the moment she is bright and happy and looking so well.'

Protectora La Bienvenida, Cuidad Real - Podenca Avena looking for a forever home

Back in 2007 my first rescue trip with French association L'Europe des Levriers was to Cuidad Real, 200 km south of Madride and to the Protectora La Bienvenida, where I met my first galga Karmel to bring home. The shelter is still working hard to help the abandoned and maltreated animals of the area - especially it is not a good area for galgos. And they have some podencos, here is one of them waiting for her forever home. I have translated the first paragraph from Spanish, if you wish to read more, copy and paste into a Spanish to English translator, which is what I do.

'Avena and Muesli are two ultra nice podenquitas. Probably, Avena became pregnant in the first heat and Muesli is the result of it. It is rare that only a puppy has arrived which makes us think that the rest have been distributed and for them, nobody asked or there was no more space for what they were thrown into the street.'

You will find some more podencos as you scross through the rest of the pages.