Thank you to everyone who responded to the post about the Podenco who was thrown away in the rubbish.  Over the years, I have always been very sensitive about the content I choose to post. I never want to share something simply for shock value. But this one resonated with me so strongly.

My very first Podenco, Tilly, was thrown into a dumpster in 2003 with a broken leg and left to die.  (see photo above). At the time, I believed it was a random act of unimaginable cruelty. I had no idea that, a few years later, I would begin to discover the reality of what so many Podencos endure.
That is why I shared yesterday’s story.

Not for the shock factor. Not to upset people. But sometimes we need to show the reality.  I apologise if the post caused distress. That was never my intention. But for whatever reason, the story reached more than 400,000 people. And amongst those people will be many who, until this week, had probably never even heard of a Podenco.  And that matters.

Because the more people who know about them, the more people who understand what is happening, the more voices there are to speak for them.

It is a cruel world, and Podencos are not the only animals to suffer at the hands of humans. Around the world, animals are exploited, abandoned and abused. But for me, entering the world of Podenco rescue opened my eyes to a place I never knew existed.  A place where I discovered just how callous and utterly cruel human beings can be to such a wonderful breed of dog.

Over the years, I have been privileged to know hundreds of them, and every single one has had something to teach me.

So, to everyone who has commented, shared the facebook post, followed our page, or simply taken the time to learn about the Podenco, thank you.

And to those who have recently joined our little Podenco family, welcome.

Because without people willing to care, to listen and to share their stories, they have nothing.

We have to be their voice.

We have to tell their stories.

And together, perhaps, we can make a difference.