Our beautiful, lost and lonely Bodegueros and Podencos

These happy Christmas pictures sent by Fabienne hide a sad truth. And she makes this appeal. Of all the wonderful dogs in our care, there are two breeds that so often get overlooked. To make it worse, we have a larger proportions of these charmers than of any other breeds. This in spite of the fact that both breeds are are intelligent, loving, loyal and great with children and other dogs. Why? Who knows!

Perhaps it's because people are not familiar with these breeds. It's so worth getting to know them. The Podenco is a noble, hunting dog that adapts wonderfully to family life. They are bright, loving and adorable, loving hugs and cuddles and eager to please and love you. Bodegueros were once bred to chase and kill rats in the bodegas - the wine cellars. They are not Jack Russells, even thought they look a little similar. And they don't have some of the more difficult Jack Russell attributes. Instead they are happy little clowns. Funny, endearing, loving - great fun to have around.

These are working breeds so there are hundreds and thousands of them in Southern Spain. Neither dogs nor bitches are sterilised and castrated. The hunters and farmers don't believe in it. Instead they allow them to breed litter after litter of puppies. They choose the best and dump the others. Even those they keep are expected to hunt well, if they don't they are at worst mutilated and hung from trees, at best abandoned and left to fend for themselves, with many ending up in the killing stations. Luckily we are able to rescue some, though not enough.

In these pictures you see our poor Duardo. He did have a home once but his owners dumped him and he's pining away. He's already lost half his body weight and is in urgent need of a home. His situation becomes more desperate every day. I will post again when I know the name of the other little dog, the small Podenco so you can look him up on the website as well.

Duardo with his friend the Podenco, who has already been with us a long time.

Sad times. Sad eyes.

Poor little Duardo has let himself go completely.

Three among the many Bodegueros and Podenco's in our care.

Please think about this fellow and the hundreds of other Podenco's in El Refugio.

Duardo's case is really urgent. Look at those sad, despairing eyes.

'We try to cheer them up, but with no result' says Fabienne.

Please let this be the last Christmas they have to spend in the Refugio.

Please help us! May we both have loving forever homes soon.