Podenco Post

Category: Regulations

  • Looking back on 2024

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    So another year draws to a close. Another year when the Spanish government has done nothing to protect the hunting dogs, their over-breeding, the cruelty of the galgueros, using them just as a hunting tool and discarding at the end of January when hunting in Spain finishes each year. Thousands abandoned in the campo, dumped in perreras, dumped outside shelters.

    One difference in my 15 years involved with the plight of the galgos and podencos is that there aren’t the hangings in olive groves which there used to be. The bad publicity has possibly been one influencing factor, plus the increase in shelters and rescue associations to help these wonderful dogs to find forever homes around the world.

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  • The Waste of Spanish Society by Ed Verhaegen, founder of Podencoworld

    This is an article written by Ed Verhaegan published in Laverdad, an Alicante newspaper, in 2010. Sadly 14 years on the situation hasn’t changed and currently there are protests about municipal perreras being handed over to a private company which has a bad reputation for its treatment of dogs from the day they arrive.

    ‘The waste of Spanish society

    Valencia, FEDENVA wants to change the law on stray animals, adaptation of the law implies that the collection and housing of stray and abandoned animals by private commercial hands, to earn this money. This means mass slaughter of stray animals in which starved will come to an end because the only purpose of these commercial companies make money. It will be the animals provided with minimal care and they will want to get rid of the cheapest possible way of animals. Valencia-The Federation for Animal Valencia (FEDENVA) wants the collection and care of stray and abandoned animals to be managed by non-profit organizations and not “by commercial companies whose goal is to make money.”

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  • Justice for Podenco Mr Bones – a call for change

    Mr Bones 400 11 2024
    From Bev Farmer

    ‘This is a long but important post and it would be greatly appreciated if you can share it. Paws on Hearts/Aguiproan Animal Rescue And Rehoming

    As a rescuer, this is one of our greatest fears. Many rescues, including Paws on Hearts Animal Rescue and Rehoming, work tirelessly to ensure their dogs are safe, even after rehoming. A common practice is to dual-register microchips in both the adopter’s name and the rescue’s name. In theory, this system ensures that both parties must be consulted before a rescue dog is euthanised.

    But tragically, this safeguard failed Mr. Bones. He is not the first rescue dog to be euthanised without a rescue’s knowledge or consent — and heartbreakingly, he won’t be the last unless change is made.

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  • SOS Galgos – protest against the Spanish Animal Protection Act 7/2023

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    SOS GALGOS (oficial)

    One year after its implementation, we protest the Animal Protection Act 7/2023, a law that denies hunting greyhounds rights and sentences them to a lifetime of suffering. Come on, that’s a f*cking law.

    Become a partner to protect the greyhound from this unfair law!

    Protest with us by sharing the campaign so that everyone knows what is happening with the greyhound.

    #Noscagamosenlaley

    (The link is on Instagram, apparently)

  • Protectora Scooby – summer newsletter – Animal Rescue Transitions To ‘Bureaucrazy’

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    Fermin writes.

    As many of you know, the Scooby shelter grew organically from doing the best we could with limited resources and still
    making tangible improvements for our rescued animals, nursing them back from the brink to overcome sickness and
    adversity to become dogs and cats well enough to go to loving adoption families. Yes we had tragedies but our small team
    shared the work and helped the animals to a better life. I still remember a volunteer vet from Scotland, in the twilight of his
    career, telling me to welcome volunteer vets but crucially to make sure they had solid experience because in a ‘field’
    medical setting, she said we’d need people who were skilled to work with what’s available, rather than the early career medical professionals who would not yet be ready to work in a situation needing ingenuity and technical resourcefulness. I still remember this vet stitching by candlelight when we were blighted with power cuts.

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  • Protectora Scooby – summer newsletter – Declining Adoptions, Rescues & Donations

    SOS Galgos 400 6 2024
    From Fermin.

    ‘We collaborate with 10 – 15 partners internationally who help us fromtime to time to home our rescued dogs and cats in their countries. This is much needed because it is impossible for us to home dogs and cats in significant number in Spain. Shelters like ours cannot operate without international adoptions.

    We, like our adoption artners and fellow shelters around the globe, are witnessing a decline in home offers. We have noticed this trend over the years since 2019/20 and attributed it to the many pets homed during the COVID period. But it is a continuing trajectory and we suspect there may be more to it than a simple glut. It is now so acute that we cannot rescue as many dogs and cats as in prior years or indeed those now in adversity because our refuge is at capacity. It is simple if we don’t move dogs and cats to families, we will not have accommodation space for those in need of rescue.

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  • Protectora Scooby – summer newsletter – A Bad Law

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    A Bad Law

    We continue to operate our rescue in the context of the very bad legislative amendment enacted in 2023. A new and very ambitious update to the animal welfare law in Spain was passed in January 2022. The law itself includes training for dog owners, penalties for animal cruelty, prohibition of puppy farming and sales of pets in pet shops. All of this is totally laudable and
    necessary. However, the PSOE Party (Spanish Socialist Workers), the senior partner in the coalition government, subsequently proposed an amendment to the law to exclude hunting, working and guarding dogs. The amendment was approved in 2023. Commentators say the PSOE initiated the amendment fearing reactions from rural voters.

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  • More on the controversy of using e-collars on Podencos in the UK

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    From Bev Farmer of Podenco Friends.

    Rescued Podencos rehomed in the Uk wearing E-Collars

    This is beyond sad, and our greatest fear. The rescues in Spain save these Podencos that are abandoned or subjected to abuse .. They along with their vets supporters and volunteers invest time, significant amounts of money and love in preparing them to start a new life. In the belief they are going to a loving home where they will be safe from any future harm.

    It came to the attention of the rescue responsible for the podenco on the right (who was only a few months old when adopted that it is wearing an e-collar. Through a post by a “dog trainer”.. That the only way to give the life a podenco needs which is able to run off lead and not hunt animals is by using electronic training aids, a polite way to call an ecollar that discharges an electrical shock to modify the dogs behaviour.

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  • PACMA – friends in Spain, please vote for this man on 9th June – this is why

    PACMA election Veterinario 400 5 2024
    From Pacma Animalista

    ‘Don’t you think it’s unfair to have to pay 21% VAT for a service that is of primary necessity, such as the health of your animals? U.S. too. Going to the vet cannot be a luxury, and therefore, this week we have presented a series of fiscal measures to the Government that we think you will like.

    Reduction of veterinary VAT from the current 21% to 4%: Our proposal seeks to reduce this tax to the super-reduced rate of 4%, or eliminate it completely, to make veterinary services more accessible.

    10% deduction in the income tax return: We propose that families can deduct up to 10% of veterinary expenses in their income tax return, with a maximum saving of €500 per year.

    What do we get with this?

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  • Vets in the UK – taken over by hedge funds and insurance companies result in exorbitant fees!

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    Vet groups in the UK have been taken over by hedge funds, insurance companies and other groups concerned only with making a profit. This results in fees which many pet owners cannot afford. For people on their own or elderly, a dog or cat is their only companion and the situation is such now that they cannot afford to have a dog or cat because they can’t afford the diabolical vet fees. As wth most things in the UK – it’s yet again RIP OFF BRITAIN! Whatever happened to the caring society?

    My experience recently was that my Podenca Rosie had bad diarhorrea and starvation for 3 days did not sort it. Wouldn’t you know it, it was a bank holiday in the UK! So I telephoned my vet surgery which was closed and was referred to another surgery. Usual consultation – check heart, pulse, temperature, gums – prescribed a probiotic paste. Consultation fee – £288 inc vat – total bill £341. I’ve paid it, of course, but that is a huge amount when I’m long retired and living on pensions.

    Below is a letter posted on facebook by a vet which says it all.

    From David Thomson

    My letter to the RCVS (Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons)

    I am dictating this letter so my spelling and grammar may be incorrect for that I apologise.

    It is with a heavy heart and a lot of depressive soul searching that I am sending this email to a governing body that I used to hold in great esteem.

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