|
AEGA Booth at the August 2004
Dublin Horse Show
Left to right: John Mottern, Lucinda Read,
Compassionate Greyhounds, U.K., Fermin Perez, Scooby Refuge, Spain, Jack
Mottern, Marion Fitzgibbon, Limerick Animal Welfare, Ireland, Louise
Coleman, Greyhound Friends, AEGA, U.S., Fox Piaget, Becky Blackmoor,
Battersea Dogs' Home, London. Recently I went to Ireland to work at a greyhound welfare/adoption public information stand (table) at the Dublin Horse Show. This event is attended by thousands of people from Ireland and other European countries. It is sort of like a country wide state fair. In addtition to the horse show competitions there are many arts and crafts, animal welfare, and just general commerical stands. When I first went to this event seven years ago the Irish public scoffed outright at the very idea of adopting a greyhound........."wicked" was often the adjective most commonly attributed to greyhounds. Greyhounds are still used in country coursing events......the public associates the breed with tearing apart hares....... Over the years I have noticed a growing........slowly, but growing, change in the Irish people's perception of greyhounds. There is still little greyhound adoption in Ireland.....but more and more people who see a stray greyhound by the side of the road will take it in.....bring the lucky dog back to health - and then realize what a great companion they have. Every year these same 'adopters' and some new stray finders specifically come to talk with us at our stand. It is encouraging that a cadre of greyhound lovers is being built in Ireland.....it is also heartening to have support from major dog charities - Becky Blackmoor, Kennel Manager, Battersea Dogs' Home in London came to Dublin to help us work at the stand. Becky is extremely knowledgeable about greyhounds and she is always a big help - especially answering people's questions...........Becky is in the photo above that was taken at our Horse Show stand. I would like to thank Amy Cox for donating collars for me to bring this year. They make a big difference in changing the greyhound's image. Presentation is everything.......The Greyhound Project has for several years....including this one....donated past copies of CG magazine and calendars..........the wonderful photos, in particular, go a long way in focusing people's attention on the dog that they usually only see muzzled. Marion Fitzgibbon works with Limerick Animal Welfare, the Irish SPCA and the Avalon Greyhound Sanctuary. Land has been purchased for an animal shelter that will serve the Limerick area - Marion is a great greyhound advocate so this shelter will be a haven for greyhounds and lurchers when it is built.......the struggle to raise the money to build the shelter is on going. The website for Limerick Animal Welfare is www.limerickanimalwelfare.com. There is a section about greyhounds. As usual in greyhound welfare there are substantial ups and downs. In Spain currently a dilemma has develped in the shelter near Cadiz. Juan Jesus, the municipal kennel manager who has worked so hard to improve the lives of the local galgos, is leaving his job. There are 33 galgos in the shelter now and it is hoped that a large animal welfare group in Germany, ProAnimale, will take this last contingent. SOSGalgos is a Spainish greyhound/galgo advocacy organization based in Barcelona. Anna Clements and her husband, Albert Sorde founded SOSGalgos. The have a veterinary practice and have been very active in working for the improvement and enforcement of animal welfare legislation that pertains to greyhounds and galgos. They also have built a strong network of contacts among the animal shelters throughout Spain that make an attempt to help the dogs.............. SOSGalgos treats and finds homes for galgos and also has good working relationships with the local shelters. Donations made to the American-European Greyhound Alliance can be sent to SOSGalgos.....who will administer the money, carefully, to the local shelters to care for specific dogs. Donations to Scooby would be transferred from AEGA directly to Scooby. Money donated via AEGA is sent to whatever group the donor specifies. This is an effort to come to the aid of some dogs..........particularly now that the Cadiz shelter will not have Juan Jesus who cared for the galgos. Donations can be made via PayPal through the American-European Greyhound Alliance at this page or by going directly to Paypal and sending your donation to donations@ameurogreyhoundalliance.org. AEGA is a U.S. non-profit and I.R.S. regulations apply. For more information - www.sosgalgos.com, and www.scoobymedina.com. Despite enormous obstacles the hard work of people here and overseas is acting like a magnet drawing in more good will and resources to help the galgos and Irish greyhounds who need all the friends they can get.
|
