News from Madrid

Rosana, Ben Hur, Golosa, Lucy and Luisa.

We would like to take this opportunity of extending our heartfelt condolences to the people of Madrid on the tragic happenings of 11th March. We are very aware that South Madrid where it happened is not only the poorer part of Madrid and the area where many volunteers are involved rescuing galgos and where many of the refuges with whom we are in contact are situated. We give you all a big hug at this troubled time.

Supporters may remember our Galgo Appeal last year to facilitate the rescue of 43 extra galgos mainly from Madrid/Toledo area at the end of the hunting season last year. This project was successful thanks to Nuria and Gonzalo of Amigos de los Galgos, who prepared them, Laura and Kev who transported them and Catherine Madry of Levriers en Detresse, France, who homed them. Since then we have been relying on the services of Nuria, Gonzalo and Catherine to help with further rescue throughout the year, and at the moment we have 6 galgos being prepared at the boarding kennels where they are being maintained at discount price. While in the kennels, they have been tested for tick and mosquito borne diseases, treated accordingly, vaccinated, sterilized and microchipped. Nuria herself works very hard while these dogs are in kennels. She travels three hours every day across Madrid after work visiting them and takes them to and from the vet for their medical care and into her home when they recover from surgery.

Five of them are due to go to France into the care of Levriers en Detresse. Their Vice President, Michelle and Christiane from the South of France will be coming to Spain on the 13th March to collect three dogs. Lucy is due to go to a home in Denia. 

Thanks to all our supporters in the USA (mainly GPA Central Texas) and the UK who help Nuria with materials and funding for these and other galgos she rescues. 

Their histories, from Nuria, are as follows:

	Ben Hur was abandoned by a galguero, and rescued on January 15 from Toledo, like Golosa and Rosana. He has long hair and is a great character. His Leishmania test showed "doubtful" at first and then after castration it increased to a low level, necessitating Glucantime treatment after checking liver and kidney function. He did well and is putting on weight and is being given vitamins and is now well controlled on Allopurinol tablet which would be advisable now for the rest of his life.
Ben Hur
	Golosa was rescued on January 15. She was abandoned in Torrijos, a village in Toledo, which belongs to the region of Castilla La Mancha, very famous for hunting with galgos, and is one of the areas of Spain where the most galgos are abandoned each year. A very charming man who lives there invited us to save her with two others, Ben Hur and Rosana.  She is very timid and Nuria said she had trouble approaching her at first. She needed "socialization" and has improved a little, but she needs careful observation as once she did jump 2m and escaped, and was brought back by Ben Hur who was taken wisely by the vigilante to fetch her back. She is settled now, but would need to be handled with great care when she is faced with a new situation.
Golosa
	Rosana too was rescued on January 15 in Toledo, (60 km from Madrid) together with Golosa and Benhur, in Torrijos, where the races and galgo championships take place every year and also where there are a large number of "galgueros". She seems to be dominant with the other females, but she is lovely with people.
Rosana

	Luisa was rescued in a park in central Madrid on January 15, following a call we received. For a long time, she roamed there and people fed her. We had to catch her using a strong sedative. It took from 7 in the morning until noon, which was quite a spectacle for the crowd. She was eventually penned up it in an enclosure from which she couldn't escape where she ate the meat with the sedative. Now she is fantastic, likes to play with others especially with Lucy who is also very young. Both run constantly in the yard. She has loads of energy as she's very young.
Luisa
	Lucy was found close to Madrid (Majadahonda). She has early symptoms of Erlichia and is following treatment at the moment. She is much better. She is going to be adopted in Spain by a friend of one of our volunteers.
Lucy

Rescued on February 29, Rubia came from a "galguero" in Cuenca (Castilla La Mancha) who did not want her any more. She is extremely loving and behaves very well. She seems to have been really badly nourished. Her hair was very rough. She now wolfs down all that she's given. After one week with us you can see that she's made progress and even her appearance has changed. She plays a lot, is always very happy and has a good character. She wants to be petted.

Rubia