Galgos and podencos continue to roam the streets of Spain, hunting is about to start, and the whole vicious lifecycle for the galgos and podencos begins again. Here is the story of the capture of a little podenca on the streets of Malaga this week. Charl del Rio of 112carlotagalgos tells the story.

‘Twas the night before last and as the sun went down, it was the beginning of a new time for Canela, a pure podenca with ears so piercingly stunning and orange eyes,.. who would look at you but fear you.

A bit more than a month or so ago a friend mentioned about a possible Galgo, wandering locally. I knew it couldnt be a galgo since we dont see them wandering the streets here. A podenco yes! I went to drive around on several occasions and asked her to keep an eye out. It seemed to have gone. 3 weeks ago she mentioned to me it had disappeared.. or maybe coming at times when she wasnt there. To no avail, no sighting.

Suddenly a lady went into the bar where Lisa works and saw our 112Carlota galgo sign in the bathrooms, she commented to a member of staff about a whippet, they phoned Lisa and she said the lady sounded emotional about the case. She had been feeding it on the other side of where my friend lives. This isnt much distance away, its all urban but wouldnt be possible to sight it from where my friend lives. She told Lisa she feeds the dog but cannot get near it. It only eats when she leaves the food.

So Lisa called me and the night before last I decided once finished my Galgo duties, I would just go and take a drive around to see if I saw anything. Again, I knew it wouldnt be a whippet and already had mentioned to Lisa Id put money on it being a podenco.

I rang the bell of the block where my friend lives, its dark and late, but to ask if she had seen anything. We decide to drive around together equipt with famous salchichas.. (hot dogs) and then suddenly just before us at the end of her road,.. a tiny figure of a podenca with huge ears crosses the road with such fear.

Stopping the car I got out and locate where she is, beginning to throw gently the salchichas she comes, closer and closer. But for her, too close would mean threat and while my voice is low, its not enough to convince her quickly. slowly slowly she gets closer and closer. Bit by bit. .. 2 hours later!

All of a sudden way at the end of the road a young girl comes out with her sister about 16, they whistle and she scuttles off to where they have been laying food for quite some time. They cannot get near either, she comes when the food goes down and she moves away. Unable to touch her she is wild to the urban streets.

Chatting with the girls who are clearly distressed and wonder who I am, and worried for this poor soul. while I continue to catch the podenca my friend explains who I am and that she will be safe. The young girl in tears, concerned about the entire thing. Overwhelmed.

A man and a dog join the group, everyone has been concerned for this podenca everyone emotionally pulled by her urban plight. Like a little fox in danger of being itself. The cars pass, the dog swirls rapidly through them an expert but only for so long.

Since the girls lay food, we decided to opt to walk to their gate where she has also followed them before, along with the man with the dog. In agreeance should she get there we push her in the gate and close rapidly. It worked. Poor Podenca, shivering in fear, unaware she has reached freedom! Poor kind man who helped took a bite from her, the best she could do to defend herself. I was thankful to him and his dog for the help. A good job done.

The young girls had called her Canela, and done their best. We honour that and call her canela, Ela for short.

Ela is a curious colour, she is a grey fawn colour, orange tiny eyes. She has weight on her for urban food helps. What is even more curious, since paco (where we keep our galgos) has seen her, he said he had seen her up in the town.. this a fair journey for tiny legs to travel, and also Susanna who brought me Angela has seen her as well. This little podenca has survived. She has very clean teeth, around 2.

It appears her hair is re-growing. Her skin is in poor condition however it is not sarna. I imagine she has lived rough, really rough, scorched in the summer heat, been low on nutrition until she found her girls and lady who regularly put food down for her wether she came or not. Having food there would encourage new growth. Leishmania is a possibility, this we will test for in a few days.

She is nervous, and at the moment would escape. She is clearly an expert on rough living. Once she has had a few days to settle in, we will start her tests. A few days to observe her treat her intestinal worms, bathe her in correct shampoo for her skin, nourish her and let her know she is ok. We will then begin to prepare her.

If you would like to help us with Canela, we would be extremely grateful. She needs good nutrition and a lot of care.

Canela, this is a new time for you, a new life and we hope a new love will spot you.. and offer you your forever! Theres a whole new world waiting for you!

Donate by Paypal to comdelrio@hotmail.com 112carlotagalgos relies on donations to pay for the vet fees, food, kennel rent for their rescued galgos and podencos. Please also contact Charl if you can offer a home to one of her dogs.

In Galgo affection.