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GALGOS IN CADIZ, SPAIN |
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Photojournalist John Mottern traveled to Cadiz,
Spain to photograph the abandoned hunting dogs in the local municipal
pound. The story and gripping photographs (shown below) were distributed
world wide on the Agence France-Presse wire to all major news outlets.
A desperate need exists for funds to help these dogs who are in particular peril and the international effort in general which is ongoing. Donations will be applied as the donor wishes or open gifts will be sent to where the most immediate need exists. These photographs are available for publications at this time for no editorial fee and can be received via email in high resolution form. DATELINE:3/11/2003 - CADIZ, SPAIN by John MOTTERN and Louise COLEMAN john@photocave.com, greyhndfds@aol.com LEAD: GREYHOUND RESCUE / CADIZ Juan Jesus Portillo Ramos has lived in the Southern Spain region of Cadiz all his life; still living at home with his family as is typical for the area. He works for the county serving over 20 towns gathering stray and abandoned dogs of all shapes and sizes, usually faced with the task of putting them down after the mandated 3 day stay in the region's only kennel facility. There are not a lot of takers for a new family pet and the streets and highways are dotted with the blood-splattered fodder of fast moving cars. Spain is not known for it’s overwhelming love of animals although the tradition of the bull fight and the romantic image of the horse and rider cantering across thousand acre farms is a deep rooted tradition and a cultural identity. In a society of tradition where change comes slowly, Juan reached a point where enough was too much and the norm was unacceptable. Greyhounds, or as they are know in Spain, Galgos, are used for a brief hunting season where betting and bragging rights heat up a ferocious competition between hunters. The race between dogs across a rough countryside in a chase to the death for a hare or rabbit is also brutal for the pursuer. As the season winds down the losers and the brood bitches who have already provided for next year are typically destroyed. In many places in Spain in a voodoo-style tradition, like a blessing or the superstitious ritual of an athlete for the upcoming season, many used dogs are hung from trees in remote wooded areas. There is not a public display of this horrific event but it is accepted. Juan receives a small percentage of these Galgos by hunters who would rather let the county deal with their wasted dogs than to destroy them on their own. The small percentage is still an overwhelming number of mouths to feed and broken bodies to mend. Juan has turned to the internet to literally beg for help as he struggles to save these 100 plus dogs. Help has come in tiny bits and pieces largely from other groups in Spain and from international organizations like the American-European Greyhound Alliance, www.ameurogreyhoundalliance.org, (508-435-5969) based in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. Juan has enough food for two weeks and a minimal amount of basic medicines to virtually keep the dogs breathing. Many dogs arrive at the kennel infested with a lethal dose of ticks and fleas which are only outdone by internal parasites which keep the lean animal in an emaciated state of starvation. Juan has the temporary support of his employer who sees the need for change but understands the limitations of resources and current political-public empathy. Many from the international community are working to help a new campaign of understanding and social responsibility but for Juan the slow response has left him fighting for the lives of a few who he has grown to love. If you would like to help the galgos that Juan is caring for with a tax-deductible donation, please click on the Paypal "Make a Donation" link below. You can use their secure server to send a donation using any major credit card to the AEGA that will immediately be passed on to Spain. AEGA does not keep any portion of these donations.
Ex-hunting greyhounds (Galgos) arrive at the municipal kennel (Mancomunidad De Municipios Sierra de Cadiz) 07 March, 2003 which serves the Cadiz region in Southern Spain where only a small percentage of the area's abandoned dogs are gathered. These arriving greyhounds received immediate treatment for overwhelming infestation of fleas and ticks requiring isolation from the rest of the population. Internal and external parasites caused extreme weight loss and ill health for these animals mandated for euthanization after 3 days. AFP PHOTO JOHN MOTTERN
Two ex-hunting greyhounds (Galgos) with flesh wounds caused by their previous owners are seen huddled at the municipal kennel (Mancomunidad De Municipios Sierra de Cadiz) 07 March, 2003 which serves the Cadiz region in Southern Spain. Suffering from malnutrition due to internal parasites these dogs appear despondent and dejected. The dogs are now receiving care from Kennel staff who with little support or resources are attempting to treat the animals who had been previously mandated for euthanization after 3 days but are currently spared while alternative housing is sought. The greyhound on the right shows multiple injuries due to beatings and gun shot wounds from the previous owners. AFP PHOTO JOHN MOTTERN
An ex-hunting greyhound (Galgo) arrives at the municipal kennel (Mancomunidad De Municipios Sierra de Cadiz) 07 March, 2003 which serves the Cadiz region in Southern Spain where he is treated for a pervasive and life threatening infestation of ticks which cover his entire body, as seen behind his ear. Internal and external parasites cause extreme weight loss and ill health for the animals at this shelter. The kennel staff which had previously been mandated to euthanize after 3 days are desperately attempting to treat and place these dogs elsewhere using the internet to contact outside rescue organizations. AFP PHOTO JOHN MOTTERN
An ex-hunting greyhound (Galgo) no longer needed by his owner arrives at the municipal kennel (Mancomunidad De Municipios Sierra de Cadiz) 07 March, 2003 which serves the Cadiz region in Southern Spain where he is treated for a pervasive and life threatening infestation of ticks which cover his entire body. Internal and external parasites cause extreme weight loss and ill health for the animals at this shelter. The kennel staff which had previously been mandated to euthanize after 3 days are desperately attempting to treat and place these dogs elsewhere and have been using the internet to contact outside assistance. AFP PHOTO JOHN MOTTERN
A stray dog just hit and killed on the highway 08 March, 2003 exemplifies the overwhelming problem of abandoned dogs in Spain's Cadiz region and the country at large where only a small percentage of these strays end up in the municipal shelters where most are mandated for euthanization after 3 days. AFP PHOTO JOHN MOTTERN
Juan Jesus, shelter manager at the municipal kennel (Mancomunidad De Municipios Sierra de Cadiz) is seen feeding over 50 ex-hunting greyhounds (Galgos) 07 March, 2003 in the Cadiz region of Spain where he has been using the internet to reach out to greyhound rescue organizations worldwide begging for assistance for these animals. He is normally mandated to euthanize captured or relinquished strays after 3 days yet Juan with few to no resources is attempting to find outlets for the Galgos which all suffer from internal and external parasites causing extreme weight loss and ill health. AFP PHOTO JOHN MOTTERN
Two ex-hunting
greyhounds (Galgos) suffering from malnutrition and despondent behavior
await their fate in the municipal kennel (Mancomunidad De Municipios
Sierra de Cadiz) 07 March, 2003 where they are mandated for euthanasia by
the County after 3 days but are currently being cared for by a sympathetic
shelter worker who is using the internet to seek assistance on their
behalf.
If you would like to help the galgos that Juan is caring for with a tax-deductible donation, please click on the Paypal "Make a Donation" link below. You can use their secure server to send a donation using any major credit card to the AEGA that will immediately be passed on to Juan in Spain. AEGA does not keep any portion of these donations. Go on to Page 4 of the Cadiz galgos' story.
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