GAA Adoption Video

Here is a video that someone was kind enough to make for us promoting greyhound (and galgo) adoption. The dogs at the end are all Greyhound Angels Adoption rescues, including my own Elliott and Major. By the way, GAA has now adopted out over 1000 dogs! Congratulations to Lisa, Ira, Harry, and all the people who have made that possible.

Medina from afar

Now that I have had lots and lots and lots of sleep, I can finally put sentences together properly, I think. Looking back from a warm home, contented hounds, and peanut butter (which they do not have in Medina del Campo...someone should have told me!!!!), I wanted to share some thoughts about the trip.

We knew that the Spanish culture did not value dogs the way that we do, but it was still a shock to see that in action. At best, we were told, the Spanish view dogs as a convenience, something nice to have around. At worst, dogs are looked at as disposable...to be used and then killed without much thought, because well, that's the way it is. While groups like the ASPCA have been around in the states for many years, Fermin Perez told us that he was the first to bring to light the plight of galgos in Spain, and Scooby is only 20 years old.

Sami and I saw nearly 300 dogs at Scooby, about 95% of them galgos. We also saw cats, sheep, mules, horses, and other animals. All of them found refuge at Scooby after being returned or rescued by the organization. Some are brought in by gypsies...but only if the animal is injured or old or no longer useful...why should they keep it then? One day Sami and Sandra, our wonderful tour guide, helper, and friend, went to chase a galgo they found standing on the side of the road. This poor galgo had part of its leg gone and was bleeding, but being so scared of humans, it immediately took off, although all Sandra and Sami wanted to do was to help it. Can you imagine that fear? Even I, with two galgos who were extremely afraid, have a hard time imagining that degree of fear and the circumstances that caused it.

This is not meant to be a rant against any culture or country. Things are what they are. If anything, it is an accolade towards Scooby. The work that they do is incredible. Fermin told us that things are slowly changing, awareness is slowly arising, and attitudes are slowly being chipped away. It will be a long road, but Scooby has started people walking on it, and that is the case. I can happily report that last year, Scooby found homes for 500 of those galgos.

I can't say that a visit to Scooby will be in my plans for the near future, not until my bank account restores and my anger at Delta at JFK dissipates, but they have got a lock on my heart. They will get my support from afar, and I will work tirelessly to strengthen the ties between it and GAA. From the very skinny mommas who made me love them from day 1 to the puppies who thought my shoes were wonderful chew toys, the impressions are indelible and the memories permanent.

Especially around this time, some are happy to point out all that is wrong with us as a nation. I'd like to point out one thing that is right. We love our dogs, whether they be needle nosed or snubbed nose, whether they can run 45 mph or 1 mph, we love them. The Scooby trip was a reminder to me that not everyone does, and that we need to be very grateful of those organizations like Scooby that show that caring is still alive and well. Hug your hounds, folks, and if you can, add another one to your family. There are just too many out there who need homes and need to experience the love that we, as a people, show we can give.

Here are some more photos from Scooby....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/15764924@N07/sets/72157612271824939/show/

New friends, old memories

It is myself and the hotel clerk here at the business center at the hotel on Sami´s and my last night here in Spain. Tomorrow, around 6 am, Fermin, Director of Scooby, will be coming to take us and our four new friends to the airport. We will be at Kennedy around 2 pm EST, with Lisa and company awaiting to take the four new galgos to their new lives in the United States. While we met the galgos yesterday, we really got to know them today. We had time to really get into the paddock and just be with them today, and it made all the difference. Yesterday, only Moro, the not shy one at all, would come to me. Today, Moro was still front and center, but little by little Farruco and Buffon came and allowed themselves to be pet. Only little Java was still wary of us, but I considered it progress that she gave me a good sniffing in a place that I will only leave to the imagination. Later in the day they were prepped for their journey to America and I got to spend some more time with them, again, just telling them that their lives were going from dirt and straw to pampering and never having to want again. Moro, with his old soul eyes, seemed to get it first. I think anyone who adopts any of these hounds is going to have such wonder and discovery in seeing their dog realize that the worst of life is over and the best of life has just begun.

Sami said a very wise thing yesterday (and that is generous of me saying seeing what she said in the GAA post about me...lol). She said she didn´t care that we were starving the first night or the other things that happened, as seeing these hounds and knowing that they would have homes very soon was the most important thing. If anything, that is the lesson of Scooby. They rescue the hounds so they can have happy homes, or at least a better life.

I saw a group of people work very hard to make sure that was the case, and each and every one of them deserves more accolades than I can give. Sure, there were things about this trip that I would have done differently, and a few things that I wish weren´t done, but in the end, we came to Scooby to save four lives, and that is what we did. And they are four very special lives at that.

There will be more posts with more pictures, I promise, but for now it is packing and prepping and a very early day tomorrow, followed by a long flight, and some jet lag. As always, thank you for keeping us, the hounds, and the hounds at home in your thoughts and prayers. See everyone soon.

Poor Moro, so tired after all that petting

Buffon sunning himself

Farruco looking into the distance

Ms. Java on her perch

Gifts, puppies, and piles

Well, Sami and I got to use our respective gifts on Friday. Sami was a wonder in getting things organized and working with the vet to get the clinic organized the way the vet wanted things. This vet, Tomaso, really is quite dedicated and wants only the best for Scooby. We were actually discussing plans (you know, if wishes were horses...) for what Scooby could become and we were all getting quite excited about it! I tried to do my best to speed up the Scooby computers and add some programs to help out the organization. I will try to do that again today with the other computers in the office.

I can´t call it a gift, but Sami and I could have second jobs as puppy wranglers. They were very cute, but we were asked to watch over them while a sick dog was being cared for. Those puppies seemed to have two favorite games....´keep away´ or ´nip the human´. I think my final count was 831 of the amount of time I was saying ´viene aqui puppalitos´(okay that last part was not Spanish, but sounded cute) to the 5 puppies as they tore down a hallway they were not supposed to, or they tried to get into paddocks they weren´t supposed to, or they tried to get into the container of food, or they just were everywhere else. It confirmed my idea of puppies...I love them, but will never have one. Give me them when they are older and I am happy. Both Sami and I were wiped out by these 5 rascals, but were also rejeuvenated by the one old mom dog there who just would amble over and want to be pet. I need to virtually sponsor that boxer dog as she was the most patient thing I have ever experienced. She would almost amble over to me to say, ¨Yes, these 5 are pains in the rump, but it´s okay, now just pet me¨. It was wonderful.

Well, ´our´four dogs were told by Sami and I that they won´t believe the lives they are going to have. We found three wary and one friendly, but believe that they will come around well when we get them to America and they learn what belly rubs and treats and non'stop attention is like. Whoever gets to adopt out these pups will be quite lucky...they are wonderful. And yes, I had a fleeting moment of wondering if one more dog bed could be made for Moro.

Well, I promise more pictures when I am not collapsed in a heap after a jaunt around town after the puppy antics. We have a ton of them to upload and hope to get them soon.

Off to wrangle puppies, galgos, and a burro!

Pizza and donkeys and galgos, oh my!

Well, here I sit in the hotel business center, which is a fancy name for a desk and older computer in the lobby, but it helps! Since one of our greyhound friends, who shall remain nameless, already chastised us for not putting something on the blog, here I sit with Spanish television in the background for entertainment. I think someone just won a car or something.

It has been quite an adventure so far. The work Scooby has been able to do with so little money is incredible. We have always said that American greyhounds have it so good compared to their galgo cousins. Well, it can also be said that American greyhound agencies have it so good compared to their galgo counterparts. There is sometimes not electricity, hot water, or other items, but these people seem to take care of 300 or so animials, including galgos, cats, donkeys, and ducks. No animal is turned away, even the ones dumped on Scooby because they basically are just about the die and the owners no longer want the ´burden´. There are discussions at times that why bother helping galgos when there are so many greyhounds to be assisted. One look at Scooby and many would not ever say that again.

Today we really got down to work. Sami assisted in the vet clinic, helping a very young vet get some semblence of order to the clinic. People, out of the goodness of their heart, donate things that Scooby does not need and it just gets stored, leaving Scooby to have to catalog items, which the staff of 5 (for 300 animals) never has time to do. In between she played with a puppy and actually had to assist the vet when he performed minor surgery.

I was asked to help in the office trying to nurse some computers back to health. It really is an international mix at Scooby. There are Spanish people, Dutch people, and Romanians there at any one time, and now add one badly Spanish speaking American doing computer work. Today we also got to visit many of the paddocks where the animals are kept, except for the paddocks where the galgos we are going to bring back were held, because two dogs got into a fight there and one had to be put down, so the whole paddock was in lockdown.

Sami made a couple of new friends, including a puppy who just loved her and a donkey who thought she was the greatest thing since sliced bread. See them below.

We found a pizza place to devour lunch and dinner at, after having very little luck and learning the Spaniards eat their big meal at noon and a much smaller meal at night, meaning we had just a bit of finger food for dinner last night. We wisened very quickly!

Tomorrow is more of the same and then Sunday we fly back with our four charges.
Talk to ya soon!

Here we go!

Well, it is Tuesday, January 13th, and Sami and I will be leaving from JFK Airport this evening for our adventure in Spain. I am already missing my trio and I am sure Sami is missing Gypsy, even though we are still in America!

Packing the crates last night was an adventure, as I had to buy longer zip ties, figure out how to get them in my SUV, and work out the logistics with Sami as to how the heck we were going to unload them from my car so I can get to Long Term Parking. We think we have it handled.

We have all the confirmations from Scooby that they know we are coming, though they still don't exactly know who is coming to pick us up. I wonder how you say, 'hitchhike' in Spanish? (that's Sami's department, though I am listening to Spanish lessons the flight over!)

I ask anyone reading this to keep Sami and I in their thoughts and please keep Brando, Nayo, Valentina, and Gypsy in your thoughts as well, as their dad and mom, respectively, are going to miss the stuffing out of them and worry about them the whole time.

Here we go!

Galgos Pictures FINALLY!

Sorry it has taken so long, but I FINALLY got around to setting up an album of Julies pictures from Scooby: