Green Creek woman helps rescue Galgos from Spain

When Janice Dorval of Green Creek logged on to her Facebook account one day and saw her friend’s pictures of what are known as Galgos in Spain, she was intrigued to find out more about them and the Galgos Del Sol organization based in Murcia, Spain.

Galgos are sometimes referred to as Spanish greyhounds, but they come from a different lineage. It is believed that these dogs were bred by the Celts who brought them into Iberia during their migrations south from northern Europe, according to the Galgo Podenco Support organization responsible for finding homes for these Galgos.

Dorval contacted the Galgo Podenco Support organization and got approved for the adoption of two Galgos, Tipi and Tom. Dorval later changed Tom’s name to Neko.

According to the organization’s website, galgopodencosupport.org, it is estimated that 60,000 to 80,000 Galgos are abandoned or slaughtered every year after their value has been deemed worthless. The Galgos were once highly valued by royalty to be used only for rabbit hunting, and no known reason is given for the change in treatment.

“A friend in New Hampshire, Paula Wehde, was making posts on Facebook about the terrible abuse inflicted on these dogs in Spain,” Dorval said. “So began my journey to learn more about these beautiful sighthounds.”

She then had to go to Boston to pick up the two dogs at Logan International Airport on April 9. Dorval also met Tina Wales Solera, the founder and president of Galgos Del Sol, who brought seven dogs over from Spain to be rescued.

Galgos Del Sol is a 501c3 charity organization that is responsible for the rescuing and rehoming of more than 100 Galgos, additional podencos (hounds) and mixed breeds. Solera said she founded the organization after coming face to face with a stray galgo looking for help in 2012.

“It’s hard to explain the connection that I felt,” Solera wrote on her website, “but when he looked at me with his soulful eyes and stretched out that needle nose, I knew my life had changed forever.”

Solera, her husband and two children moved from Britain to Spain in 2007. Solera said she did not know making this move would change her life and the lives of hundreds of dogs in need of help in Spain.

Tipi is a year old female who Dorval said was left on the street with a broken leg. After being picked up on January 1, 2016 by Galgos Del Sol, she was brought to the veterinarian and they reset her leg, but it healed badly.

“She spent many weeks in the vet clinic and has a lot of calcified tissue on the leg,” Dorval said. “But, she is able to run and play just fine. She’s super sweet and loves having a home of her own.”

Tipi is “literally the ‘Street Life to Sweet Life’ pup,” according to Dorval. Neko came as a result of her mother, Abbey, being found pregnant on the side of the road in Spain in November 2015. Abbey had eight puppies, seven of which were delivered via C-section, and all are adopted now.

“The litter was named after Downtown Abbey characters,” Dorval said. “There was Lady Rose, Mr. Carson, Matthew, Edith, Dr. Clarkson, Mrs. Patmore, Isobel and, of course, Tom.”

Spain does not have laws protecting Galgos as they are considered “tools” of the hunters, according to Dorval. Social media is instrumental in saving these dogs from abandonment and death.

“There are many individuals and organized rescues that work tirelessly to help the plight so many of these dogs face,” Dorval said. “I’m looking forward to meeting others who are involved in making a better life for these wonderful, sweet canines.”

She will start by attending the Mountain Hounds event in Gatlinburg, Tenn. the first week of June and meet the person who adopted Neko’s sister, Lady Rose. The event features sight hound rescue from racing greyhounds to dogs from other countries, according to Dorval.

If you would like to join the mission to find suitable homes for these Galgos, visit the www.galgopodencosupport.org or www.galgosdelsol.org websites. From there, you can explore the projects these organizations have taken on, donate, sponsor a hound or adopt a galgo of your own.