On Sunday, February 6 there's a large demonstration against hunting!!!

Thursday 3rd February, 2022 

The cities and towns where the demonstrations will take place, and the locations in those cities and towns are on the poster above. As you can see, there will also be demonstrations in Italy, France and Germany. 

Our precious Galgos ...

Following on from the Day of the Galgo ... here are some of our precious Galgos, all of them waiting so patiently for a forever home. The video is quite fast, so here are their names -  - one of them could be the loving companion you are looking for. Could it be ...

Zamo or Tanque ... or Annie, Patricia, Bruce, Ellen or Jana. Maybe Tania, Ayna, Merche, Orlo or Sandy. Perhaps Ytse or Page, Nathan or Sandra. Brienne, Hennie, Xellah or Liam.

You can find them by entering their name in our Dogs for Adoption section.

 

February 1st is World Galgo Day ... celebrating these noble creatures and praying for change

1st February 2022

Here in Spain, everyone who loves and cares for dogs feels a shiver up their spine as the date approaches. Because it isn't just the day we celebrate World Galgo Day. It's also the day that marks the end of the hunting season here in Spain. And that means torture, abandonment, cruelty and various forms of painful death for these noble dogs. 

The date for World Galgo Day wasn't chosen accidentally. It was chosen deliberately to celebrate them while also drawing attention to their mistreatment, to the horrible lives they live and the unspeakable ways they die at the hands of their so-called masters. And not simply Galgos, but also Podencos and all hunting and working dogs, such as 

It is estimated that over 100,000 Galgos and Podencos and other hunting dogs are cruelly killed in Spain every year. Why so many? Why this 'cull' every year? It's because they are mostly used for only one season and then discarded. Even the 'good' ones are discarded, because there is no sterilisation or castration, so there is a never ending stream of new dogs to take their place. It's an exceptional dog that doesn't meet it's fate, one way or the other, at the end of the season.

If a dog has hunted well, it may be treated to a 'kinder' death, which is to say that if hung from a tree it will be hung high up so that death comes quickly. One who has displeased will be hung with its feet barely touching the floor, so death will come only after a painful struggle.

It is, I believe, almost impossible for any 'normal' person to understand the mindset of someone who is capable of such acts. For death by hanging is only one way. Galgos and Podencos have been thrown down wells, flung into rivers, burned to death, doused with acid, shot, and thrown out of cars on busy motorways. If 'simply' abandoned, they may have been tortured or beaten first. Even before their end, when they are still believed to have some use, they are badly neglected, starved, crammed into outhouses and cages with no light, no water, and absolutely no human kindness.

It was hoped that with the advent of the new Spanish laws, recognising at long last that animals are sentient beings, the lives of these gorgeous creatures would improve. Not a bit of it. The legislators, some of them hunters themselves, are subservient to the powerful hunting lobbies and so have excluded hunting and working dogs from the protection of the law. These include not simply Galgos and Podencos, but also Beagles, Breton Espanols, Bodegueros and other working dogs.

Below are links to the petition to get hunting and working dogs included in the legislation that will recognise them as sentient beings and thus protected by law. And also to a very detailed article from National Geographic about Galgos. 

I hope in future posts to tell the rescue stories of some of 'our' wonderful Galgos and Podencos.

Please sign the petition - https://chng.it/4H6GmTMV

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/spanish-galgo-hunting-dog-killing-welfare

May I ask you to sign this petition, in the name of all the forgotten hunting dogs in Spain

Thursday, January 27, 2022

As you know there is new legislation proposed to recognise animals as sentient beings. Protected by law. But .... in the words of George Orwell "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others." That seems to be the thinking in the Spanish Government. Because they intend to make hunting dogs an exception. They do not want them to have legal protection because powerful lobby groups representing the hunters and others want to be able to continue their abominations, their inhumane treatment of the animals, undisturbed! If they have their way, hunting dogs would remain objects and we cannot accept that!!! Please sign and share this petition and be the voice of these Podenco's Galgo's Beagles Breton Español Bodegero's ....

Please sign for them ....  https://chng.it/4H6GmTMV

You'll find the full story with details of the legislation here

Twenty six thousand - what's in a number?

Tuesday 25th January, 2021

What's in a number?When the number is 26,000 and the place is ACE-Shin that number represents 26,000 lives rescued and 26,000 golden baskets. It represents 26,000 poor souls saved from neglect, torture, cruelty, misery and abandonment. It represents 26,000 forever homes and a happy, secure future for each one. 

Of course 26,000 is not an exact number because since arriving at that total, many more of our darlings will have been re-homed. And of course there are still the darlings waiting for a home and the rescues continue, with more arriving daily. Our work is never done, however much we may pray that our help would no longer be needed. However much we may wish that there be no more cruelty, no more animals abandoned to their fate. For as long as the indifference and cruelty continues, we'll be there.

I sponsored my first dog, Enzio, more than twelve years ago, and my first visit to the Refugio was a few years later in 2011. I have been so privileged to know and write about some of the wonderful dogs who found their golden baskets. Here are just a few of them - they have all touched my heart in different ways.

Enzio, now Vasco

I spent hours looking at the database, trying to choose a dog to sponsor. The short list ran to about 50! I had to choose and chose Enzio, mainly because he looked so terrified, so lost. After a few years, on my first visit I met him. Well I sort of met him - the closest I could approach was several metres distant and all I could do was talk to him softly. The slightest movement had him slinking off to hide, shaking all over. The following year it was only marginally better and then, one day, I received and email saying 'Enzio is home'. Enzio's new family called him Vasco and his mistress says he reminds her of a 'reserved and serious English gentleman'. He is no longer scared. He is happy. The link below brings you to an earlier post with his full story.

http://ace-english.blogspot.com/2013/10/love-patience-transformation-very-happy.html

Enzio, then

Enzio/Vasco at home with one of his adopted brothers

Vasco, a very relaxed 'English Gentleman'

Bombadonneke

She touched all our hearts, our little fatty, Bombadonneke. When I first saw her she was in a run with other dogs who were bullying her. Desperate to escape she managed to squeeze her fat little tummy under the wire. Seeing her distress, Fabienne took her home to foster. Where it transpired that the poor small thing was pregnant; an emergency Caesarean reveal a very large puppy, sadly dead. Once Bomba had recovered Fabienne put her on a diet of green beans, which wasn't easy because Bomba loved her food. But in time the little darling lost 6 kilos. It was a bitter sweet day when we learnt she had been adopted, we loved her so much but we wanted her to be happy. And she is. Her name is now Lola and her owners adore her, and she adores them too. Below is a link to an earlier post, when she was about to leave for her new home.

http://ace-english.blogspot.com/2012/12/more-christmas-presents-this-one-is-so.html

Before the great green bean diet

About to set out for her forever home

Slim and so happy with her new owners

Steven

Beautiful Steven.  Found wandering all alone in someone’s garden but now safe in the Refugio. Fabienne describes him as ‘the apple of our eye’.  I loved him when I met him – everyone loves this elegant and charming fellow and he loves them. Such an affectionate boy. Dogs are crazy about him too. Steven was in the Refugio for a long time; he made everyone happy but he so longed for his very own home and his very own boss. And then it came, what we'd all been longing for. Steven was adopted and now lives in Denmark - his very own home at last. .... just look at this happy boy in the pictures below. 

All dressed up and ready to fly to Denmark

Happy Steven playing chase with his new friend

Not just handsome, not just beautiful but the most loving, affectionate dog you could ever meet.

More happy endings to follow!

Spring fundraiser : Charity Dinner on Friday 25th March

Monday 25th January, 2022

 

The joy when you can say ... "they're home!"

 Friday 21st January, 2022

During my time writing the English Blog and over the years during visits to the Refugio, I've become acquainted with various dogs. Either their story specially touched my heart, though of course they all do, or perhaps I formed a bond with a particular dog while in La Cala. Dogs such as Enzio, Hammy (I gave him his name), Rory, Steven, Stefan, little puppy Clodagh and many many more. And of course, Pippie and Cloeie who I was privileged to be able to save from a killing station. 

There's such joy and relief each time a precious one finds their forever home. For me it's extra special when it's one I have known personally. And I know that joyful feeling is even more intense for Fabienne and her whole team, who have cared for and loved these sweet animals day in and day out for weeks, months, years. 

Below is a random selection of dogs and cats who have recently found their forever homes.

                                  

Levi

Levi (ACE India) has been in her new home in the Netherlands for barely two weeks. Her owners write that's she's doing really well and has become a lot calmer already. She's getting lots of cuddles from her whole family and they are delighted with her progress.

Pongo

Dear Pongo has been with his very own family for nearly a year. He's having the best time ever, cuddling, running by the sea and through the forest. He divides his time between home, where he loves to snuggle on the sofa and travelling round Europe with his family. His owners adore him and he's one happy doggie.

Scarlet

Early last Sunday, Scarlet's new owners came all the way to fetch her. Lucky little Scarlet is flying home with them, leaving her sad past behind and looking forward to a wonderful new life, full of love.

Odette and Marcel

Odette (left) was adopted in November 2020 and Marcel (right) adopted in May 2021. Formerly called Carmen and Dali, they are leading a life of luxury with owners love them and who couldn't be without them.

saturday, january 1, 2022

ACE Murphy, ACE Meeko and ACE Mandarine wish everyone with you a very Happy New Year 2022.

We wish that every dog and kitty with you will soon find a golden basket or scratching post 🤗 you are doing a wonderful job and we have taken you into our hearts. You have our support forever❤️