Podenca Estrella, survivor of the Jaen killing station

I've fostered quite a few podencos, mostly the rough-haired type, from mainland Spain.  One of the most beautiful stories is that of Estrella.  In December 2009 I posted a picture on Galgo News of 3 galgas and a podenca in a cell in the killing station in Jaen.  Rescue of the 3 galgas was arranged but somehow the podenca was overlooked.  I received an appeal from across the ocean in Canada – the podenca is still in Jaen, can you get her out?

So the wheels were speedily set in motion and the podenca was rescued and taken to a refuge.  An association with whom I work closely, L'Europe des Levriers, then agreed to help get the podenca from Jaen to Madrid, from where I could collect her, along with other galgos we were bringing out to France for rehoming.  So there we were, at the beginning of February 2010, meeting up with Estrella – as the podenca had been named – to bring her home to foster.

She was very sweet, timid and needing to put on weight.  Along with her EU passport was her blood analysis for Mediterranean diseases, which she had taken before she left the killing station, which showed she had ehrlichia.  But no medication had been commenced.  So immediately I visited my vet and we set Estrella on treatment.  It didn't take long to get her clear of the disease and she soon started to put on weight.

I posted her story on Galgo News and it was picked up by a delightful young Englishwoman, Frances,  living in southern France.  We agreed to meet up and chat and, with a recommendation from another animal rescue organisation from whom she had adopted a dog, Estrella went to her forever home.

She now lives a wonderful life of comfort and cuddles along with her two other canine friends.  A fabulous ending for an adorable podenca.