This is Kalervo, a rescue sight hound from Spain. He is soon three years old and because of his life’s earlier circumstances he now behaves like a small puppy even though he is bigger than the average male galgo.
Like many others, he was rescued from a galguero’s farm somewhere in Spain. Galgos are bread to hunt rabbits and they’re usually trained in inhumane and despicable conditions (dragged behind cars, forced to live in dodgy, crammed sheds). If at some point it turns out they’re not up to the task, they’re often tortured slowly to death as they’re not considered even worth the bullet to be put down mercifully.
We went to see Kalervo in Helsinki where he had been placed in foster care. He’d been discovered at an overcrowded (because of too many abandoned dogs), crammed dog shelter lying down and wounded badly as other dogs were biting him. His wounds seemed he hadn’t been moving at all for awhile, he had scars all over his body, he was malnourished and dry and his intestines were showing from his lower abdomen. According to doctors treating him his neck injuries indicated that he had also been trained by being dragged behind a car+beaten with a baton or a similar object.
As I saw him lying on a settee the first time and just how exhausted and scarred he was, I had to gasp in order not to break into tears. He didn’t even lift his head to see the visitors.
picture below: starting the trip to his new home. Lovely helper/therapy-whippet Lumo assisting
We brought him home that day and his recuperating began. I would lie if I say it’s been easy - but it’s been definitely worth it! We’ve given him a good home and the base to finally become the dog he really is and he has taught us a lot about life, the nature and patience!
He had lived with us a couple of months when he barked for the first time (at the mailman, obviously). We figured it was the first sound he’d made in at least six months or the time he had been in the country! Like said, he’s taller than regular galgos - and still, even though he's built like a brick shit house, he finds a lot of things scary: cars, buses, shadows, yelling kids, people with stick-like items, the staircase, sound of soda bottle opening (though he's mostly over this).
Also in spite of his large frame, he behaves like a little puppy: he can easily climb on the sofa and have a lie down on a sitting person or his granny whippet friend. One of the amazing things we’ve witnessed is how he’s slowly opening up to his character - something that he’s never had before!
picture below: first snow for our Spanish refugee. He was not overly convinced that morning.
Proper head gear for walks helps always - indoors you just look overly cool and a tad miffed
One reason why I’m writing this is I want everybody know that today February first is the World Galgo Day and it’s set in order to tell the world about the poor treatment of these noble creatures. Around this time the hunting season in Spain is over which is the season of animal abuse with certain farmers. The dogs are hung slowly from trees, thrown down into wells, abandoned etc. Some hunters who choose to ‘merely’ abandon their dogs cripple them purposely in order to unable their return home.
You can find more information for instance by googling: diadelgalgo, galgorescue, worldgalgoday, stopgalgueros. An organization called Galgos del Fenix has recently made this video depicting of the poor treatment of these animals.
I have not taken part in producing this video, nor do I claim any copyright to it. I'm sharing it only to spread information and understanding about the severe abuse of these animals.
This is Kalervo spreading love for you all.
He has cheated death and fate - this is his lesson for us all.
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