Podenco Post

Author: Beryl Brennan

  • World Podenco Day

    I’ve always understood 1st May is the Day of the Podenco but it seems the Spanish have decided to confuse matters.

    From Yo Galgo. #FreeThePodenco

    Today (22nd March) is World Podenco Day. The Podenco is another hunting dog that suffers greatly in Spain, and a breed that can be found in high numbers at shelters.

    The Podenco is used for rabbit, deer, and wild boar hunting. They are mainly used in “rehalas”, which are groups of up to 24 hunting dogs of different breeds. It’s a brutal way of hunting, where the huge group of dogs goes after their prey, resulting in great suffering for the prey and injuries and occasionally death of the dogs.

    This video is from a hunter’s den, that I visited while shooting Yo Galgo.

    The prey drive, agility, and endurance of the Podenco is also its curse. And just like the galgos, the podencos are being discarded or killed when they no longer live up to their owner’s expectations.

    It’s time to #FreeThePodenco

  • Arthritis in Dogs

    Bebe grey chair 400
    My little Podenca Malaguena Bebe is now 17 years old and very grey. She was rescued in 2011 injured on a Seville road and my lovely French vet operated on her to repair her injured hind quarters. She’s always been a ‘pocket rocket’ but is slowing down now. I’ve had her on Turmeric for some years to help with the arthritis developing in the operation site and she’s even happier now we have moved from an old stone farmhouse with lots of steps and tiled floors to a small bungalow…no steps and carpet!

    This link takes you to a book on arthritis in dogs published by Whole Dog Journal if you are interested in learning more.

  • Podenca in Toledo – surviving a blow to the head to kill her

    There are no limits to the lengths the bloody hunter sub humans will go to dispose of their loyal hounds. Pray for a full recovery for this poor podenco.

    Video

    Animal Rescue Espana says…’We just arrived with the podenca at the Veterinary Hospital. It’s very serious but we’re going to do everything we can to save her. We were called by police from a town in Toledo and sent us this video of how they found her. Looks like they tried to kill her with a strong head blow and didn’t make it.

    Help us save Laura, she now has a name and we hope she has a life. BIZUM 906 678 211

    Link to donate with card or PayPal:

    For just £ 1 per month you can team up: http://bit.ly/1KFSQ9z

    Starting at £ 6 per month you can become partner: http://bit.ly/2mOGev9 or

    Starting at £ 10 per month you can sponsor http://animalrescuespain.es/apadrina/

    You can also make a donation:
    BANK ACCOUNT: ES53 3053 2038, 1703 8460 0042 (Bankia)
    Headline: Animal Rescue Spain

    Follow us on Animal Rescue Spain

    Sadly the little podenca didn’t make it, and crossed the Rainbow Bridge. RIP little dog.

  • Podencoworld Nederland – helping home the podencos

    I haven’t posted about Podencoworld Nederland for a while…Ed Verhaegen was, along with Bev Farmer of Podenco Friends, a tremendous help when I was researching and writing my definitive guide to the podenco – From Pyramid to Perrera.
    s from

    Here’s some news from Holland about their rescued podencos.

  • Galgo’s Rescue Almeria – needing help for Marlos’ vet bills

    Marlos 2 400
    From Sandy Galgoslover.

    ‘By sharing the news that the owner wanted to dump his podenco, we were able to take action and thankfully this boy is now safe.
    The reason why this handsome young fellow, Marlos, was no longer wanted is probably an accident while hunting.

    Marlos’ knee joint is dislocated so surgery is recommended to help this boy. Because he’s underweight (18,3 kg) he first needs to gain more weight. There is also some good news, Marlos tested negative for Leishmania, Erlichia & Filaria but positive for Anaplasma. Now we have started his treatment with doxycycline. We want to thank Helping Animals Almanzora to cover the costs of his blood test but the vet bill for his surgery and aftercare will be high.

    Fingers crossed this gorgeous boy is in soon well enough for surgery. As usual with these complicated injuries, we’re going to a traumatologist in Lorca.

    All help is welcome to cover Marlos’ surgery/ revalidation.’

    (more…)

  • Yo Galgo – letter from EU to the Spanish national and regional governments

    On March 11 2021, a letter from the European Parliament, underlining that the treatment of hunting dogs in Spain goes against European values ​​and does not comply with Article 13 of the Lisbon Treaty, which obliges Member States of the EU to adapt its legislation to recognize animals as sentient beings, was sent to the 17 autonomous communities and the government. This letter expresses the deep concern that Europe feels about this situation.

    We are very happy to have participated in the research and writing of this document, which comes with recommendations on what to do to start solving a problem that not only affects thousands of animals in Spain, but also society as a whole.

    Read the full details on this weblink.

  • Intergroup on Animal Welfare – conference on galgos and podencos

    I’ve just been introduced to this group and the discussion which took place on 3 February on the situation for galgos and podencos in Spain.

    Join the group, support their work, and read the presentation by Anna Clements, co founder of SOS Galgos in Barcelona.

    Intergroup on Animal Welfare

  • More on podenco brothers Camilo and Eloy – introducing a harness

    Camilo and Eloy 400 6 2021
    From Polly Mathewson

    ‘Dear Friends of our beautiful shy podenco brothers CAMILO & ELOY, if you have missed the boys do enjoy a little sit down to enjoy seeing what they have been up to this week.

    Read on if you’d like more detailed news, but in any case please share their post all you can so their loving adoptive family can see them!! We know those wonderful people are out there SOMEWHERE, who will fall in love head over heals with our sweet two. Two absolute soulmate hounds in the making for you.

    Our brave lads continue to do so well as they strive to get over their fear of humans and the terrible trauma of seven years spent invisible just existing – not living – within four sad walls. This week they had FOUR of their best friends to help them, and the particular focus has been to see how Eloy is doing on his pain medication for his severe spondylosis and to tentatively start the boys getting used to their harnesses. Once comfortable with a harness and lead their lives can start to get bigger. Fun in the countryside awaits!

    (more…)

  • Dog breeding in Spain today

    Dog breeders! 3 2021
    Most of these are podencos for hunting. No idea whereabouts in Spain it is, hopefully it will be exposed but probably not stopped.

  • Head tremors in dogs

    Sadlymmy beautiful young galgo Polar – dumped at the gates of Pepi’s Refuge, Pedrera at 2 months old with a bad knee injury – has been diagnosed with lymphoma. The disease is too far gone to respond to chemotherapy so he is on palliative care and getting lots of love cuddles. The cancer only manifested itself by two lumps suddenly appearing either side of his throat and within the week of the vet visit he has others on his body. He has also occasionally got head tremors, and this is a link to an article on the subject, if your dog occasionally suffers the same.