What is a Galgo?
What is a Galgo?
The Spanish Galgo (sometimes called the Spanish Greyhound) is an ancient breed, and a member of the Sighthound family. Despite a close resemblance, they are a separate breed from the racing Greyhounds seen in the USA and UK. They can be smooth or rough-coated, with a more lean musculature than the Greyhound, characteristic of an endurance runner rather than a sprinter.
Why do Spanish Galgos need our help?
Once a prized possession of the aristocracy, the Galgo has in more recent generations been used in Spain for hunting hare or for sport competition hunting. Unfortunately, this strong association with Galgos as hunters has led to its general dismissal as a potential pet in Spain. The life of the Spanish Galgo is a continual race for survival. Even a young, strong healthy dog may be discarded at the end of the hunting season, or at the end of a race, due to a bad finish, a small injury such as a sprained foot… anything that may make the Galgo lose value to its Galguero.
At that point, a Galgo may be left stranded in the fields, beaten for its poor performance, sent to a perrera to be killed, shot in the head, hanged from a tree, burned to death, cast down a well, or tied up and left to starve. Even a dog who has served its Galguero well and earned prize money is not exempt. Once they have outlived their purpose, there is no limit to the cruelty they endure. Likewise, cruelty permeates the training of a Galgo. Dogs may be tied to motor vehicles and made to run for hours with no breaks. If a Galgo trips and falls, the vehicle doesn’t stop, dragging the fallen Galgo along with it. There is no sympathy for this “losing” dog.
Organizations throughout Spain and abroad are fighting relentlessly to end this tragic practice, which has repeated year after year for generations. Over 10% of all animals abandoned in Spain are Galgos. Some organizations estimate the number may reach 60,000 Galgos discarded annually.
What are Galgos Like?
The temperament of a Spanish Galgo is quite similar to that of a Greyhound. Most are calm, gentle, quiet and laid-back. While they are mainly “couch potatoes,” they can be slightly more energetic than a Greyhound. They are notoriously excellent jumpers, and a baby gate or a 4-foot fence is no obstacle for them. We will only consider homes for our Galgos with a MINIMUM 5-foot fence (prefer 6-foot, or leashed walking only).
What is involved in bringing dogs from Spain?
Like all of our overseas rescues, Galgos from FBM must be accompanied by a flight volunteer, who will fly to Madrid and then return home on the same flight as the Galgos. Direct flights from Madrid arrive to Chicago O’Hare, after which the Galgos are transported via van back to the Twin Cities. Galgos have been spayed/neutered, screened for infectious diseases, and received routine veterinary care while at FBM, with basic costs being passed on to MNGR. However, as these dogs have almost universally seen maltreatment and neglect, these dogs may come with additional veterinary costs.
Why spend that much when there are dogs to help in the USA?
Please visit the website and Facebook page of Fundacion Benjamin Mehnert (HERE), to see videos of the situation for the Galgos in Spain. We guarantee you will not be able to turn a blind eye. Our mission is to try to help any Sighthound who needs us, and we believe the lives of the Galgos are worth our help.