Bev Farmer of Podenco Friends is now helping Laura Johnson of TheKennelKlub with the Lanzarote podencos. Here’s what Bev writes.

‘A picture that says a thousand words……. So many podencos are subjected to such a harsh life they are never loved or treated with kindness like we do with out own dogs. They don’t get to sleep on a sofa o,r a comfy bed, if they are lucky they are are held in cages where they can sleep on the ground. Many don’t even get this, they are restrained on chains 24 hours 7 days a week only released when taken out on a hunt. Then they are abandoned if sick or old, for its much cheaper to get a pup or younger one, than pay for veterinary treatment.

The Podenco face two battles, a life of subjugation and then a lack of adoptions for they are not viewed suitable as a family pet, the odds are really stacked against them. On the Island of Lanzarote Podencos have been discovered in the most deplorable conditions held in holes in the ground with no natural light, left there for days with stale water and no food. This is 2016 and why this is allowed to continue is beyond me, and with the power of social media today, few people know about the breed outside Spain.

I can not imagine what goes through their minds when they are handed into a perrera, thrown into cages or corrals with other dogs they have never encountered before. Exposed to other dogs that may carry sickness or disease, fights break out over food for they are fed in hoppers, the strongest survive so many others never eat. It is without doubt a very stressful situation for them. These could be their final days on this earth, for once the perreras are full they have no choice but to euthanise and Podencos are at high risk due to the lack of potential adoptions.

The photograph is Safina…. her eyes say it all, absolute fear. I have looked into the eyes of hundreds of podencos that have been rescued, the emotion is palpable. So many are afraid to be touched, they flinch and recoil from any contact. But with time they can begin to trust. However for some the mental scars are so deep it can take a long time. Safina’s release from the perrera was her salvation and although she was taken seriously ill after surgery and almost died, she is slowly coming out of her shell and beginning to be comfortable with people.

For every Safina we save there will be another hundred needing help. At times it seems over whelming but we must celebrate the ones we have helped and, although it can feel impossible, we must continue to help more.

Tomorrow (11/10/2016) six of the Lanzarote Podencos start their next stage towards their final journey to their forever sofas. Nala left today to her new life and for the moment Safina will remain in the care of the Kennel Klub on Lanzarote until she is fully recovered.

Laura and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported this rescue of eight podencos. We still still need help and hope you will continue to follow the next stage of their journey.

Saving the Lanzarote Podencos – together we can. Paypal podencofriends@hotmail.co.uk, use friends and family and mark for the Lanzarote podencos