Come and do your last minute Christmas shopping in Barcelona with your galgos! A Christmas market with a difference: in addition to stalls with plenty of ideas for present, there will be music, drinks and a great atmosphere. There will also be a raffle, the proceeds of which will go to SOS Galgos. For full details, click on the poster below: 
We are happy to announce that the 2012 SOS Galgos Calendar is now on sale. We are very grateful to Elke Winkler in Germany for the design and to our member, Nieves Chueca, for her stunning sketches. Her drawings were inspired by her recently adopted senior galga, Lili, who has many more happy years ahead of her with Nieves.
The calendar costs 10 euros plus postage, if you wish to buy one (or more!), please write to us at tienda@sosgalgos.com and we will get in touch.
Every little gesture helps a galgo in need start a new life.
The European Parliament seeks answers from Spain regarding cruelty to galgos
Several Members of European Parliament have written to Zapatero asking for a stricter legal framework to prevent cruelty to these animals
ANTONIO GONZÁLEZ Madrid 05/10/2011 16:49
Galgo abandoned in Olivenza (Badajoz) EL GUADIANA Y LA TRAILLA
The cruelty inflicted upon galgos in many regions of Spain is of great concern within Europe. This concern was expressed in a letter to José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero from three Members of European Parliament, including the European Parliament’s President of the Intergroup on Animal Welfare, Carl Schlyter.
The letter, signed by Schlyter and two other members of European Parliament, Kartika Tamara Liotard and Raül Romeva, states that “members of the public, as well as many associations, have informed us about many cases of abuse and outright cruelty. Galgos are found severely beaten, burned alive, doused with acid, dumped in wells, tied down in caves and left to die, hanged or tortured in other ways.”
The letter recognises that Spain has improved its animal welfare laws by condemning animal cruelty under Article 337 of Spanish Penal Code, however it warns that “it appears that only a very small number of cruelty cases end up in court, even if Seprona, the environmental arm of the Guardia Civil, has made the case”.
The letter, the original of which can be found on the galgo welfare blog El Guadiana y la Traílla, refers to the Treaty of Lisbon which states that animals are sentient beings, reminding Zapatero that each member state must pay full regard to the welfare requirements of its animals and that Spain must enforce its animal protection laws and put an end to these cruelties. The European MPs recognize that cultural traditions of member states should be respected but “must not be an excuse for these kinds of atrocities towards living beings”. They request an urgent response from the Spanish government.
A universal Animal Protection Law remains to be approved as part of Spain’s legislation. The initiative was requested by Joan Herrera, then MP for ‘Iniciativa per Catalunya Verds’, under an agreement with the Commission for the Environment, Agriculture and Fisheries that was reached on 30th September 2009.
The aim of the law was “to make progress in animal welfare”, but it did not win many votes as the majority of power lies in the hands of the various autonomous community governments in Spain. In any case, the results put an end to hopes of the law being approved as part of national legislation.
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The original letter:
Charlie was found wandering the streets of Seville in July in a very sorry state. He was rescued by Barbara and her partner who got in touch with us. Thanks to them and the Clinica Ronda Capuchinos in Seville, Charlie has made a dramatic improvement as can be seen in the photos which speak for themselves.
He has a wonderful character and interacts well with people, dogs and cats. He now needs a forever home.
