The task facing Rescue and Animal Welfare Organisations in Spain is huge and relentless.

The constant flow of Animals needing rescue, care and re-homing is similar to seeing the tip of an Iceberg. As with an Iceberg we are seeing the impact of only a small proportion of the problem, the vast majority lies below the surface.

The unseen mass, is, among others, a compound failure of a clear understanding of the Law affecting Animal Welfare.

What are the responsibilities and accountabilities of the various agencies ,Municipal, Law Enforcement,
Veterinary and Legal in applying and reinforcing the Law?

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Why should I sign this petition? For over 25 years, podencos have not been considered as sighthounds. The reason behind this was that the SCI (World Dog Organisation based in Switzerland) wanted to put the Canario Podenco and the Ibicenco Podenco, which at the time belonged to two different breed groups, back into one group. The hunting lobbies got involved (especially the Spanish hunting lobby, operating through the Spanish association of dog breeders) and because they feared that hunting with sighthounds might be banned at some point, they asked for those two breeds to be classified as “primitive dogs” and not “sighthounds.” And they won!

Unfortunately, only Ibicenco, Canario, and Portugese Podencos could be returned to the sighthound group as these are the only officially recognised breeds. Still, that means thousands of dogs! And the Canario Podencos represent the vast majority of dogs found on Spanish islands -and they are the ones who most need our help because they are so hard to reach. Many breeders within the SCI are also trying to push for this breed group change.

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A petition with a difference. This one will be sent to the Mayor of Cordoba, Spain. Here is a translation.

‘An institution dedicated exclusively to the protection of animals and the respect of animal protection laws is necessary in every city where there are protectionist groups. The animal police must be equipped with veterinary medicine vehicles, a place to recover animals in situations of neglect and abuse, where they have the power to fine and punish the aggressors anywhere.

We must control cases of abuse and abandonment of animals, and appropriate people who love animals and know all the legislation that exists on the subject. These people should be prepared to deal with animal emergencies, shelter transfers and police power to arrest people accused of ill-treatment and murder of animals.

Mr. Governor of the province of Cordoba, please do something to stop such abuses, murder and abandonment of animals.

Please sign and share this petition widely.