We have been spending nearly 10 years struggling on behalf of Greyhounds and those brief moments when we can relax or enjoy all the success we have had are scarce. It is the same feeling that you have when inviting your friends for barbecue and during the whole time you are cooking, waiting on your guests, trying to make sure that all goes smoothly and several hours later you become aware that you have hardly had

time to talk to your friends or even to taste the food!

Maybe this is due to the fact that we are reaching our limit, where it is difficult to find generous families or maybe there is such a big number of Galgoss with special needs, but we have the feeling that too many people care more about the colour of the Galgo, its age, the problems the dog may cause instead of how much it has suffered; they do not consider the fact that many of them have never been hugged, neither do they see the fullfilment of giving a home to an animal that has never had the chance to learn to play or to enjoy feeling clean after a bath. There are so many Greyhounds that have been abandoned and that are easy to choose - the most affectionate, the calmest, the most sociable, beautiful and young ones, and so on. - but the fact is that shelters all over Spain are continuously asking us to help those Galgos that nobody takes any notice of. Our volunteers can't look the other way when involved in the rescue of a Galgo that is suffering a terribly unfair situation and they don't just put them in a cage because only Galgos without defects will find a home.

It's true that throughout all these years we have met incredibly generous families and we could tell hundreds of happy stories, and instead of organizing barbecues enjoy our results, but we are aware that there are thousands of Galgos, beautiful or full of scars, healthy or ill, waiting for an opportunity which in many cases may never come along.

For this reason we will continue with our work, which does not only consist of rescuing Galgos, but also to inform, educate and bring in legal actions that may allow that one day all this effort will no longer be needed. We always try to select the most suitable Galgo for each family and that is why we ask everybody interested in adopting a Greyhound to send us the filled-in adoption application form so that we can help match the most suitable Galgo that in our opinion would be ideal for each family. We'll obviously not propose a Galgo that does not accept cats to a household with cats. Neither will we suggest a very outgoing galgo that craves affection to somebody who wants it to live in a garden. Or a Galgo with a high energy-level for life in an appartment or with somebody who will leave for work every morning and not return until late night. When fulfilling these obvious requisits, we notice that there are too many families that do not have the patience or the generosity to give the Galgo the necessary time to allow him to adapt to a new family life and accept daily routines. There are many families that will not accept advice and want to choose a Galgo simply from a photo, who do not understand that sometimes a situation cannot be forced and if an adoption doesn't work out, the best thing to do is to reconsider the situation and help another Galgo, as sometimes it is the very Galgo himself who lets us know where he wants to be. We're reminded of the case of Dantxa, a very easy going Galga who didn't fit in an excellent family because the family cat didn't accept her and would show agression towards her while Dantxa shyed away from her.

Foster homes are very scarce, although they are the best option to a smooth transitional process to family life and to assess the character of each Galgo while looking for the most suitable family for him. This, however, requires a maximum level of generosity, because it is not easy to say goodbye to dozens of Galgos that have lived in your house in return for the simple but huge satisfaction of knowing that they will live for the rest of their lives with a family that will give them the same or even more love than the one they received from us. Problems arise when the foster period goes on a long time due to the fact that we rescue difficult cases. Frequently these cases are Galgos that are afraid of being alone, although the simple company of another dog solves this problem immediately. In other cases, patience is required in order to gain the trust of a Galgo that has been traumatized and is afraid of any new situation, or to accept that the Galgo needs chronic treatment because of illness, such as leishmaniasis or an old injury which can no longer be operated on. Every Galgo with a special problem needs major veterinary attention, causes extra costs that reduce the budget destined for rescuing other Galgos and in some cases these injuries will have consequences that may hinder the galgos's adoption and lengthen his stay in the foster home, blocking this family from helping other Galgos that are perhaps healthier and might fit in better into families that have been waiting for a long time to adopt a Galgo. What should we then do with the cases that nobody wants?

Mel is an extremely affectionate Galga; she is calm but easily frightened and has an injured knee that has required three operations, although this does not impede her favourite hobby, i.e. lying on the sofa. Emi, a veterinarian with an enormous terrace and the best possible conditions for offering a foster home, could have helped dozens of Galgos during the months she's been taking care of Mel, and she wouldn't mind adopting her, but she knows that with two Galgos she would have to stop fostering others and therefore, although it will be very hard for her to say good-bye, she would be happy for Mel to find a family who would give her a good home and accept the her just the way she is.

Scooby is a perfect Galgo, except for the fact that, when being outside, he shows a special ability for jumping even the highest fence. Nevertheless, he would be happy in an appartment; he doesn't show any signs of anxiety and has a fabulous personality and is one of those Galgos who could talk if he could.
He considers cats an excellent dish and he's 7 years old, it would be very difficult to socialize him with his 'enemy'; although there are lots of families living in a flat without cats, so far nobody has come along to offer to give Scooby a loving home for the next coming years, and this would leave his current foster home in the Seu d'Urgell free to carry on fostering other galgos.

We could go on and on and tell lots of other stories of Galgos with the hope of finding somebody to give them a second chance in life but it is essential to get the message accross that there is a family for every Galgo and a Galgo for every family, even though it is struggle for some of them. In the end, there will be enough people to demand the Authorities to ban hunting and everything related that only generates injustice, abandonment and cruelty. In Catalonia, we are proud to say that we could stop a source for cruelty when the the Meridiana racetrack in Barcelona was shut down, but it would be better to not look too closely as the local Authorities did pretty little to resolve this situation. In Lleida, there are still cases of cruelty that the Authorities will not or cannot resolve and therefore every day our volunteers in the area are appealing for help.

We'll carry on being glad when a beautiful and healthy Galgo finds a home with a good family, but every time we come to know of somebody who wants to help the other ones, our joy is even greater.

ayer rescate a un galgo que llevaba el cuello abierto y en un estado de inanicion espantoso. Creia que no llegaba a la clinica veterinaria (25km) El veterinario no estaba seguro que se pudiera salvar; le hizo prueba leishmania y ha dado negativo, en el hemograma sale una anemia de 29 y 0 proteinas. La herida ademas de grande y profunda esta muy infectada, tambien tiene un fuerte golpe en la cabeza y al lado de la boca un enorme bulto que al vet. le parece un hematoma. La herida, de momento no se puede coser por la infeccion, durante el fin de semana iran limpiando y curando con la herida abierta y el lunes empezaran a aproximar carne. Responde bien al medicamento, hoy parece que esta mas espaviladito y ya ha comido los potes especiales para convalecencias, esta tarde ire a visitarlo y le llevare (con el permiso del veterinario) un potito de niños. Os pasare las fotos para ponerlo en la web y preparar a alguien de acogida, mejor cerca de Emi o Albert para hacer seguimiento veterinario. Esta clinica donde esta ingresado es muy buena y siempre hay un veterinario de guardia, en ningun momento los animales estan solos, a mis niños los llevo aqui.

Hola chicas, os ruego os hagais eco y difundais el caso de la protectora de Segriá en Lleida, en menos de una semana han entrado unos "individuos" h**** de p*** porque no tienen otro calificativo y han acordado a 3 perros y apaleado a otros pocos. Estan desesperados y muy desanimados, bueno, como estamos todos porque creo que esto va cada vez a peor y nadie hace nada por solucionarlo, y no os quiero contar en Extremadura donde vivo.

Os pongo el enlace donde podeis acceder.

http://defensaanimalslleida.blogspot.com/

Como siempre muchas gracias y esto es una pena.

Un abrazo

Inés

YA BASTA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Todo el fin de semana hemos estado haciendo turnos por la zona, estamos sin dormir, sin comer, y aún así, han vuelto a entrar. Ayer la niebla era muy espesa, hacía un frío insoportable pero estuvimos toda la noche dentro de los coches vigilando. No podemos cubrir las 24 horas del día siempre, no tenemos fuerzas ni somos superman para defendernos ante un ataque contra nuestra persona, ni tampoco podemos tener todo el recinto de la protectora vigilado....pero aún así, hicimos turnos durante la gran parte del día y toda la noche pero no ha sido suficiente. Con cerca de 200 perros en nuestra protectora, en un terreno enorme en el que no se ve nada por la noche nos SENTIMOS IMPOTENTES. Hoy le ha tocado a TROY, nuestro TROY, uno de nuestros peques, cariñoso, bueno, dulce y totalmente indefenso, lo han ahogado...no puedo dejar de llorar mientras escribo porque no lo entiendo, no sabemos el por qué de estos ataques, y el ayuntamiento no nos ayuda. Dicen que es asunto de las fuerzas de seguridad y ya está. Esa es toda la solución que nos dan.Cualquier día nos pasará algo a nosotros, porque esta gentuza no tiene miramientos y, el día que nos pase algo entonces, quizás, si se moviliza la administración. No han muerto ya suficientes perros? es k están esperando que los maten a todos? no podemos creer la pasividad de nuestro ayuntamiento. Hoy hemos reubicado a nuestros perros (los más expuestos) en casas de acogida temporal y en otros sitios que me cuidaré mucho de decir, pero no podemos asumir esta situación por más tiempo.

Hemos asegurado al máximo todas las entradas y seguiremos con las guardias entre los voluntarios, hasta que haga falta.....Son unos cobardes y unos asesinos sin piedad. Desde aquí hacemos un llamamiento pues necesitamos fondos para poder aumentar las medidas de seguridad pero también un llamamiento a la administración de que nos estamos jugando el tipo y no hacen nada para remediarlo! Hemos puesto otra denuncia en los juzgados y dicen que aumentarán el dispositivo de seguridad.....Qué más podemos deciros? que estamos derrumbados, agotados, desmoralizados y que ya no sabemos qué más podemos hacer...esta situación sólo podrá remediarse si la administración nos ayuda y YA!, No vamos a soportar una muerte más, ni un maltrato más porque vamos a salir a la calle y nos van a oir!Encima tenemos que aguantar comentarios de que pueda ser un montaje para conseguir un terreno es k ES INCREÍBLE! Queremos un terreno para nuestros animales, para darles la calidad de vida que se merecen y POR SUPUESTO protegerles de cualquier daño pues ya han sufrido bastante para llegar a nosotros..Nos gastamos dinero de nuestros bolsillos a diario, tenemos los coches destrozados porque llevamos a los perros en nuestros vehículos, nos distribuímos nuestras vacaciones y días festivos para subir a darles cariño y cuidarles lo mejor que sabemos, nos dejamos la salud física y mental pero NO NOS IMPORTA! Nuestra mejor recompensa en su felicidad y no pararemos hasta conseguirla. Señores políticos del ayuntamiento de Lleida, los perros que acogemos son porque USTEDES NO PUEDEN ASUMIR LA DEMANDA DE ABANDONOS DE ESTA CIUDAD, si no es por nosotros y la protectora de nuestra compañera y amiga Lydia Argilés, Lleida estaría colapsada de animales. Son perros que deberían estar en sus instalaciones así que no nos digan que no les compete porque esto es una labor social en beneficio de todos los ciudadanos y, según la ley, ustedes deberían asumir este problema y no nosotros, así que no se cómo pueden darnos la espalda!! Vamos a ir a por todas, no vamos a parar hasta que demos con los culpables, de eso deben estar seguros, intensificaremos las guardias y, si para eso nos tiene que pasar algo, entonces que de la cara la administración y sus fuerzas de seguridad...Aquí les dejo la foto de TROY de cuando estaba bien, es decir ayer mismo. Ayer mismo estaba así de feliz, ajeno a todo, y ahora ESTÁ MUERTO. Quizás a los señores políticos les importe una M. la vida de Troy o la Boni o la de Tito o la de Duna pero a nosotros no y vamos a ir a por todas.....................