Galgos in Jaen Rescued!

Galgos in Jaen Rescued! It starts the same way each time, a plea from a rescue group in Spain for dogs on death row. 
Charlotte del Rio, GRIN rep in Malaga Spain, sent out this plea for the rescue group, ABYDA Associacion Bienestar y Defensa Animal a group in Jaen Spain.

�I know everyone is completely saturated at the moment, but not only galgos other dogs are being put to sleep everywhere.  But these 4, if there was just a temporary space, or adoption it would save their lives!!  PLEASE FWD if you cannot help, you may just know someone who can.�

The pictures tell the story, they do not have long to live.  We can�t shake the images.  The plea goes out for other rescue friends to take a look, and possibly help.  This time the plea could be acted upon.  GRIN will help finance the rescue of two of the galgos through Silvia Bordetas in Valencia Spain.  The dogs will be saved, moved out of the killing station and into foster care.  Also, Vera Thorenaar Reddering living in Malaga who works with Greyhound Rescue in Holland will be fostering the most timid looking tiger galga in the picture, the one in the corner.  She is up to the challenge and is waiting anxiously for Monday Jan 4th to receive her into her home.  Once Quia (her new name) has adjusted, and it may take months, a home will be found for her through her group in Holland, www.greyhoundsrescue.nl.  These poor galgos are terrorized by their experiences and need time and patience, of which Vera has had experience to handle.  Thank You Vera and thank you to all involved in this life saving rescue.

We will keep our readers posted on their journey to a new life!  Thanks to everyone for their help.

Thank you from Vera

I would like to add that THANKS to GRIN from so far away, this message got to the right people and from there to more or less the whole of Spain and Holland aswell.  Great job!! Will let you know how Quia goes on....

Kind Regards,
Vera

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UPDATE: Tornado Hits San Anton Shelter

San Anton Shelter prepares to rebuildUPDATE: from Saskia at San Anton Shelter in response to GRIN sending our EAF (Emergency Assistance Fund) to help them rebuild the shelter. We are so thankful for those who have stepped forward to help.  -- Mil Gracias!!

G.R.I.N.

12/28/2009:  It's still foul weather in Acogida Anton, but we are aglow with love by all sympathy and help from abroad.  The whirlwind works like a hurricane for our future!

12/29/2009:  I am as excited as you are.  Together we can built up the shelter like before.  I do hope that the dogs feel soon "home" again to in a comfortable shelter.  Muchisimos gracias.

Saludos,
Saskia Rinia van Nauta

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Tornado Hits San Anton Shelter in Villa Martin Spain

Surveying the damage from the tornadoOn the morning of Dec. 24th the San Anton Shelter was a victim of a tornado that caused damage to this shelter, knocking out electric and water supply for the dogs.  Saskia and her rotating volunteers from Holland had been slowly repairing the already run down shelter over the last few years and now this.  Their surveillance cameras that were brought from Holland to curb the theft of their precious galgos was finally installed this year and as you can see it was dismantled by this disaster.  We hope they can salvage the equipment.  �The dogs are cold, wet and there is no water� she says and we know how disheartened the volunteers at San Anton must feel.

San Anton Galgos were ready for the holidays in their Christmas finery before the disaster.  Help them to get home for the New Year! Your donations will help them stay safe until adopted.

Please, if you would like to donate to their cause, please PayPal a donation to GRIN for the Shelter Relief for San Anton.  Thank You.

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Fiesta de Los Galgos 2009?

Fiesta de Los Galgos 2009?Following article written by Vera Thorenaar Reddering who lives in Malaga Spain.  Vera collaborates with many smaller shelters in Spain to help Galgos through a group called Greyhounds Rescue Holland.  Charlotte del Rio also of Malaga helped organize the Fiesta again this year and it was enjoyed by approximately 200 people who attended!  Thanks for the update Vera!

It was a bright and sunny day, the 6st of December.  On this day Charlotte, who collaborates with GRIN, had organised a galgo event for the 3rd year in �el Refugio del Burrito� in order to promote the galgos as a family dog and to protest against their terrible mistreatment by many hunters and gypsies.

�El refugio del Burrito� is in a small village called Fuente de Piedra(Sevilla).  This village is specially known because there is a lake where thousands of flamenco birds come every spring to bread.  This year there were around 30,000.

�El refugio del Burrito� is a shelter for mishandled donkeys.  It is a huge piece of land with lots of space for the donkeys.  They are rescued from all around Europe: Italy, Greece, Turkey, Bosnia and, of course, Spain.  They have their shelters to hide from heath and cold and more then enough space to walk around.  It is really worthwhile a visit (www.elrefugiodelburrito.com)

The owner has 7 galgos and is very involved in all what's done to protect them.  We came from Malaga and picked up Aurora from DEGalgos Barcelona from the airport.  We almost didn�t get there because our car broke down!  Three people and 1 galgo!  Anyhow, we finally got there and there were already quite a lot of people and many galgos and other dog types. They all looked happy and exited.

There were several stands with many nice things to buy, all dedicated to the galgos, and the children were running around trying to fill in a paper with a picture of a donkey on which they had to put all the parts of the body (about 42!).  Apart from that Charlotte organized a walk parade with galgos wearing coats made by Sandra Baas.  Very sweet to see them walking proudly showing their coats!

Babeth from GreyhoundsRescueHolland had come from Holland to assist.  For us it was the first time that we assisted but I was told that the first year (2007) there was only 1 stand, this year there were more and I hope that next year there will be even more.  The money collected from the sales is divided under the assisting shelters and I saw that there were good sales!  All together it was a very interesting day and the public was from all sort of ages, so not only youngsters! That promises!

I have to say that galgos are adopted every time more by Spanish families, specially in the north part of the country. So the message is getting there, slowly but steadily....  If you think that last year 50,000 (!) galgos were abandoned, there is still a very long way to go, but we will get there with all the help all you beautifull people give us!

Thanks for participating, GRIN!

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UPDATE ON CANUTO :

Raji in his new homeWe are happy to share this picture of Raji in his new home.  Raji once known as Canuto in Spain is one of the Podencos that GRIN Board Members brought from Spain in November.  He had been rescued from the hands of a hunter who had kept him tied to a wall most of his life.  Thanks to the rescue by a veterinarian in Valencia and the follow up care by Silvia Bordetas Gil in Valencia, Raji has completed his journey.  Foreverhome Greyhounds in New York founder Paula LaPorte has fostered this little guy since he arrived and is thrilled as we all are that he has found the perfect forever home with a nice pack of similar doggies, even another Podenco!  The second Galgo that was brought over, Illusion, has also been placed in a loving home with another Greyhound by Paula of Foreverhome as well.  Both will have a warm and happy Holiday season out of their dreams.  Thanks to everyone involved!!

p.s. Raji is the white and red Podenco.

Click here to read original story...

Bubby and Canuto

Canuto going to Foreverhome Greyhounds in NYUpdate from Spain: Two beautiful hounds, Bubby a Galgo and Canuto a small Podenco are making their way from Valencia Spain 11/6 to Madrid airport by 11/9 to be met by Abby Christman and Chris Plaskett of GRIN for the final leg of their voyage to Foreverhome Greyhounds in NY.  

Buby who will now be known as Illusion had been rescued from a killing station by Silvia Bordetas Gil and placed in a safe boarding facility along with Canuto.  Canuto had a hard life with a hunter in the south of Spain. Both will be welcomed to the U.S. to start their new life as treasured companions!  

Updates to follow, stay posted! For information on either hound, contact Paula at www.foreverhomegreyhounds.com

G.R.I.N. 2010 Wall and Desk Calendars!

G.R.I.N. 2010 Wall and Desk Calendars!Hello GRIN supporters! We are very proud to announce the release of our 2010 Wall and Desk Calendars! Our theme this year is "For the Love of Galgos" and the calendars feature 13 photos of stunning galgo beauties at Scooby waiting for their loving forever homes.

GRIN Wall Calendars:

  • 11X17 inches and featuring an 11X8.5 inch full color photo each month
  • $20 each + shipping and handling

    • Desk Calendars:

  • 4X8 inches and have the same photos as the Wall Calendars, but are conveniently formatted to free-stand on your desk or cabinet.
  • $12 each plus shipping and handling

    • Click here to order your G.R.I.N. 2010 Calendars now!

    We also ask that you please consider making a financial donation to GRIN so that we can continue our very important work to aid the galgos of Spain. A donation of $25 fulfills your annual membership contribution; donors who contribute $50 or more will receive a free 2010 desk calendar (through January, while supplies last), and donors of $100 or more will receive both a desk calendar and a Galgo Aid pin. You have our sincere gratitude for your efforts and contributions � you truly make it all possible.

    May you have a warm and happy holiday season, and a spectacular 2010. Thank you so much, and happy holidays!

    G.R.I.N. 2010 Wall and Desk Calendars!

Perico... a Great Addition to Our Family

Chris Mosey with (from left) JuneBug, Perico and LuchoHere is another great story from a G.R.I.N. member...

"I�ve been involved in American racing greyhound rescue and adoption for over a decade, adopting three and fostering dozens more.  I had heard and read about the plight of the galgos of Spain and their sad, short lives, so last year a friend and I traveled to Medina del Campos, Spain, to Scooby Rescue to volunteer and help where we were able.

Galgo Rescue International Network (G.R.I.N.) asked if we were willing to take 200 pounds of medical supplies with us to be delivered to several shelters.  We were, and we did, as well as numerous suitcases filled with collars, leashes, dog coats, and blankets.  We also agreed to bring back one dog that had a home waiting for him.  We took two large travel kennels as well.  The two of us were quite a sight at the airport!

The Scooby experience was incredible!  There were nearly 500 dogs to care for and as many animals of other species as well.  We shoveled, scooped, hosed, squeegee, and watered hour after hour� and did it all again the next day.  It was joyous to be covered in dogs when entering a paddock.  Every one of them was friendly and in need of some serious cuddling, shoving each other so as to get closer to us.

One thin, sad, white galgo caught my attention.  The other dogs in his paddock wouldn�t let him eat.  They attacked when he tried to get a mouthful of the kibble that had been poured in a long line across the ground.  He hung his head and kept to himself, often lying in a large hole.  It wasn�t reasonable to move him to another paddock as he would again be at the bottom of the �pecking order� and the other dogs would fight amongst themselves to reestablish their positions within the pack.  I told him then that if there were anyway possible that I could take him home, I would do it.

Well, we ended up bringing seven dogs back to the United States, including my skinny Perico.  He's been a great addition to our family which, at that time, included a twelve and a half year old greyhound and a 3 year old pit-bull.  Perico is happy and robust now.  A year after we adopted him I learned that some volunteers from G.R.I.N as well as from Forever Home Greyhounds were going to Scooby and planned to bring back  another galgo who had a leg amputated several months prior.  I saw his picture and read his story on Scooby's website and decided that we wanted to give him a home.  He was a stray and he appeared to have been hit by a car, his left rear leg and hip shattered, hence the need for amputation.  His name is Lucho and he looks a lot like Perico.

So now we have two galgos and the little pittie.  Like the greyhounds we were used to, the galgos are gentle and loving and enjoy the finer things in life� like a soft bed, toys, and bellyrubs.

Although vaccinated against leptospirosis at Scooby, Lucho was recently diagnosed with the disease.  He is currently being treated with large doses of antibiotics.  We hope for a complete recovery as he is part of our family� that means forever� no matter how long that is, and we can�t bear to lose him.

Consider adding a galgo to your clan.  They are wonderful dogs and certainly deserve better than most of them get in life."

A Story from Malaga by Vera Thorenaar

Freedom - Story from MalagaGRINers, Vera first contacted G.R.I.N. in 2008 asking for help for ARCA Sevilla.  She works with many different shelters and we asked her if she would like to write a story for GRIN's website.  I think it is very good as it adds light to how things work in Spain for this group, Greyhounds Rescue Holland.  Here is her story...

"My name is Vera and I live in Malaga, Spain since 26 years. I am an animal lover and have lived in countries like Ivory Coast, Brasil and Uruguay.  If in Spain things are bad, imagine in those countries!  I have always been involved in saving animals and colaborations with animal protectors.

Since Febuary 2008 I am a member of Greyhounds Rescue Holland (I was born in Holland) (www.greyhoundsrescue.nl).  This organization is based in Holland and looks for adoption families in Holland and Belgium for galgos/greyhounds. It is a very serious organisation.  They first do the home visits once a family is interested in adopting a galgo.   They try to find the best caracter and circumstance between adoptants and galgo.  Once decided which galgo the family will adopt they contact the shelter and organise the transport, normally with volunteers flying from Spain to Holland.  Once the dog is united with his new family the organization does a follow up during 6 months.  There is a total guarantee in rare cases that if the dog does not fit in his new family, they will take the dog and bring it to a foster family until a new adoption comes up.  This happens in very rare ocasions.

I started helping out at the airport when a passenger takes one or two dogs under their responsibility to fly the dog(s) to Holland.  I worked at the airport for 25 years so I know the howabouts.  Quite quickly I started taking galgos at home the day or two before their flight to Holland.  Those dogs are send to my home by MRW, a transport company.  This avoids the volunteers to bring them themselve from Seville or Cadiz, a journey of 2 and 3 hours respective.  I have them here for a day or two and take them to the airport.  It is quite an adventure because most of them are very scared and nervous.  We have 4 other dogs so it is always a job to get everything working in peace.  From there we have now started to foster a galgo.  I always felt very frustrated having a galgo at home for only 1 or 2 days.  I started to love them very much and missed the satisfaction to make them feel confident and show them the love people can give them.

So our Freedom is our first try.  He is with us since two months now and What a change.  He seems to be another dog.  We had lots of problems with him when he came because he was (still is a bit) very scared, especially with men.  I dedicated two days to show him that we would not hurt him, and he took me as his protector.  In a week he was much better with my husband although he is still scared sometimes if my husband makes an unexpected movement.  Poor Freedom.  He must have been mishandled very much.  He did not get on well with our dogs either and bit them quite a few times.  Fortunately my dogs ( 3 females and 1 male, Freedom is a male) are very very sweet and have accepted him well.  Once Freedom noticed that they would not fight him, he is now totally relaxed and plays the whole day, running like mad and having great fun.  In the beginning I had problems with feeding them together because Freedom wanted to be the only one to have the food out of the 5 recipients!  So he bit the others.  Now they all eat toghether, changing from one recipient to the other.  He now knows that there will always be enough food for him.  He was found wondering around on the street, very thin and eating from rubish.

We are already suffering thinking of the day he will have to go to his adoptants.  We love him and will miss him very much, but that is the system.  Instead of him staying in a shelter with many dogs in the same cage, he is having a wonderfull life at home.  When he will be adopted he will be looked after and cared for in the same way we do and then we have place for another one who is staying at a shelter.

I hope we will have the strenght to let him go..."

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