Spanish Greyhounds or Galgos are bred solely for hunting in Spain. These dogs often live in deplorable conditions and are often abused and neglected by their owners. After the hunting season is over, these dogs are abandoned or even killed.
Every year, after the hunting season is over, an estimated 50,000 Galgos are abandoned or killed. Thankfully, numerous animal rescue organizations in Spain are putting actively advocating against this practice and are rescuing as many Galgos as they can. A dog named Valentina is one of the few Galgos that survived this horrific practice.
Rescuers found Valentina wandering the streets with a noose around her neck. Her owner tried to kill her by hanging. Fortunately, the rope snapped and Valentina managed to escape. Valentina was so terrified of people that she didn’t even want to get near the rescuers.
The rescuers were able to gain Valentina’s trust that they could finally get near her and rescue her. After the rescuers took Valentina back to their facility, they started helping her heal and recover. Valentina found it hard to trust humans but her rescuers helped her realize some humans can be trusted and that there is love in this world.
Valentina’s story was published online and has touched so many people’s hearts. She found a new forever home in the Netherlands where she’s finally able to express the love she always wanted to give. Valentina is only one of the lucky ones that escaped the horrific hunting practice in Spain.
Several animal rescue organizations are trying their best to end the practice of hunting with Galgos in Spain, which is the only European country allowed to do so. Although there’s no shortage of people who are willing to adopt rescued Galgos, the best solution is to ban the use of these dogs or any other dogs for hunting.
Thanks to animal rescue organizations in Spain that are working hard to rescue these animals, dogs like Valentina are getting a chance to live full and happy lives. Here’s a video featuring Valentina’s story.
Source: The Dodo via YouTube
