Podenco-Help

Today another subject! “Where there’s sun there’s also shadow,” says a proverb, so this time here’s a report on a Spanish dog’s life. A few days ago, startled by an e-mail from a friend in Germany, I made a trip into the hinterland. It was a journey of about ¾ of an hour into deepest “Pampa”. My trip concerned the “Podenco-Aid-Foundation” that had been established here years ago. It was said to be experiencing terrible difficulties with the community.

Gigantic, fenced-off free terrain with innumerable dogs, mainly Podencos and Galgos, but also other breeds, in the background I saw little garden cottages and some kennels.

Everything was actually in good order and well maintained. After a few steps, I was able to see what was happening here: they were tearing down all the houses! I must have looked pretty shocked, in any case Annelie Jacob immediately took me to one side and explained everything:

She and her husband had founded the “Podenco-Aid-Foundation” about 6 years ago in order to have a holding place for Podencos and Galgos that are too old or not “driven” enough for the hunt. Until a few years ago, it was not unusual in Spain to hang such dogs from a rope on the next high tree. The lucky ones were simply turned out onto the streets. After massive intervention by the FCI, this terrible custom has stopped - as far as can be established. In any case, at their peak, the Jacobs had 300 dogs on their 10,000 square meters, each one fed and – wherever possible – cared for medically at the Jacobs’ own cost. A very expensive hobby! Finance came only from donations, sponsors, and a couple of happy Sundays at the junk market.

Even the finest cannot live in peace however.... the Benissa community were not pleased! The authorities came to make an assessment and ascertained that the wooden houses, garden cottages, and kennels, in fact the whole compound had been built without permission, and had to go. Moreover the dogs were not being kept in accordance with the appropriate regulations. No one knew where these poor dogs would end up, but a one-way fast ticket to “doggy heaven” was probably planned. The problem went back and forth for a month

Today the situation is this: The authorities have moved in and have started a commando action to tear down the compound. It has been made clear to the people here, that asylum for dogs has to be in accordance with the regulations and at your own cost! The mayor of Benissa declared that everything would be handled with the greatest support. How that looks, no one knows.

The Jacob family is frightened now that soon the next commando wave will come and get the dogs. Many have been removed or flown to Germany, Switzerland and so on and are happy there. But what about the remainder, what will happen to them? And what about those to come?

The Jacob family want to build a home that complies with the regulations, but how are they to finance this kind of project?

They have written to many animal protection-organizations – all aid is necessary! Let’s get involved!