Jane Colton tells the story of how she came to adopt her Podenco Pablo.

‘I worked for the rescue dogs and cats here in Torrox Costa. It is not a registered charity, just a kind German lady who started a long time ago by taking in stray dogs. She was reported to the council and was told she could not keep the animals in her penthouse apartment. She moved to the campo and lived in a large shed for a few years. Now she has a larger building with land and has built concrete kennels for the larger dogs, the smaller dogs and cats live in a gated area adjoining her home, she has 60 dogs now.

My dog and I live in Spain only in the winter now, he does miss the sunshine, so I work in the Spanish market every Monday selling 2nd hand goods. We also have extremely kind people who donate and help in different ways. My rescue Great Dane had recently died of old age and I decided no more dogs, as I was so devastated to lose her.

Then after a couple of months an Ibizan Hound was taken in and I knew I couldn’t resist him, he took two hours to catch, his name is Pablo and I have had him for nearly nine years. I live in the country in Northumberland so in his younger days he caught many rabbits. He carried them home. He enjoyed every last morsel…there have been times when I have waited for him whilst he is hunting and thought I had lost him but as every Podenco owner knows too well, they always return but when?

I would just love another one, but not just yet.’