Galgos (greyhounds) were brought to Spain by nobleman, so they were held in very high regard. Only the people of high rank could obtain one. After a few decades, they lost their prestigious position and became known as “trash dogs”.
David Rosenberg is the editor of Slate’s Behold blog. He wrote an article on Mathias de Lattre, a photographer who did portraits of abused greyhounds in their happy, new homes. Roughly 10,000 greyhounds every year in Spain are hanged from trees after hunting season. Another 50,000 are abandoned or living in deplorable situations. Farmers and hunters in the Spanish countryside, where roughly 30 million people live, own these greyhounds and use them for hunting hares and sporting. These poor animals live in deplorable, crude and cruel conditions. Many are crammed in sheds without daylight for days- even up to a week- with very little food and water. Some are kept in the back of vans and have died from heat exhaustion. After a day of hunting, dogs that hunted well might be “rewarded” with stale bread and fresh water. Poor-performing dogs are often left behind in the woods to die or are hung from a tree by its owner.
Stemming from a decades-long tradition, hunters hang their hounds from trees. Dogs who hunted well get the ‘privilege’ of being hung from a high branch. Those who hunted poorly are ‘hung low’ so their feet touch the ground, ensuring a slow, tortuous death. They have a name for this form: the "PIANO PLAYER" because the dogs frantically scrabble their legs in a vain attempt to live.
David Rosenberg is the editor of Slate’s Behold blog. He wrote an article on Mathias de Lattre, a photographer who did portraits of abused greyhounds in their happy, new homes. We could show you the abused dogs. Or the dead dogs hung from trees. Instead, see what a dog rescued looks like. Please do your part. Speak for these dogs.
Ex-hunting dogs are often thrown down wells or abandoned in the woods or streets to die. Some are even burned alive. The methods Spaniards use to kill their dogs are rarely humane. Spain’s national animal protection laws apply to dogs that are pets. But hunting and sporting dogs are NOT considered pets! People are trying to reach out to Spain’s Environmental Minister, Rosa Aguilar Rivero, and asking her to establish hunting dogs as pets as well as banning the inhumane treatment of these animals.
Please share this article and tweet and talk about this. Education is key to making changes. Sign petitions. Raise your voice. Do something. Be part of the solution and help end the deplorable treatment of greyhounds in Spain.
Please share this article and tweet and talk about this. Education is key to making changes. Sign petitions. Raise your voice. Do something. Be part of the solution and help end the deplorable treatment of greyhounds in Spain.
click on image to go to petition
Video about Greyhound abuse in Spain with Spanish subtitles to be shown at the Spanish Congress of Deputies on March 12th, 2014.
Sources:
http://www.greyhoundsinneed.co.uk/natureofproblem/natureofproblemFrame.htm?http&&&www.greyhoundsinneed.co.uk/natureofproblem/AmigosdelosGalgos.htm
http://www.euroresidentes.com/Blogs/2004/11/torturous-lives-for-greyhounds-in.htm
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2290221/The-heartbreaking-plight-Prince-greyhound-left-tortured-starving-owner-decided-longer-hunt.html
http://forcechange.com/24603/ban-torturous-hanging-of-greyhounds-in-spain/
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