Lovely dog with a tragic fate: greyhounds of Galgo from Spain

Spanish Galgo — breed dogs, whose fate is mostly tragic. The Spanish mass bred these hounds to the hunting season for hare, but the animal life is tiny, dark and filthy sheds, even without the ability to go for a walk. After the end of the season from 50 to 100 thousand greyhounds are killed or throw out what has become a frightening tradition.

Photographer Travis Pernoud takes an active part in the rescue of Galgo. In October 2012, his family came Lina, and then he began to learn more about the difficult life of the Spanish greyhounds.

In June 2013, Travis along with his wife created a special group of assistance to these dogs, and only a month went to Spain, took several Galgo from shelters and found them good masters. During the trips the animals Patnaud satisfied with the photo shoot and puts their photos in the Internet, so they probably found a new home.

In Spain after the end of the season hunters often kill their dogs "Spanish Galgo". Young healthy dogs are hung, killed, throats cut or taken away and left to die.

According to statistics, annually kill about 20 thousand such dogs. The reason is that Galgo are great hunters of birds, and it is aged from eight months to two years. Them in huge quantities are grown for the hunting season and post-season rid of unnecessary.

The nature of Galgo very similar to the Greyhound. It is a quiet and friendly dogs, ready all day to sleep on the couch. Almost all dogs of this breed get along well with cats, so it can become the perfect companion for a person who loves both cats and dogs.

As Galgo friendly towards other dogs, and small in size.

These balanced and calm dogs live well in a house where there are children: there is no risk that the animal will suddenly jump and knock the child down, as is the case with representatives of more emotional species. Galgo gentle and patient, they are happy to accept affection and attention from children.

For Galgo with their reserved and even shy demeanour is very important from an early age to have the opportunity to communicate with other dogs and with people – that subsequently, Galgo feel confident and relaxed with other people, dogs and new surroundings.

But life Galgo, as well as dogs of breed the podenco (Podenco) and other hunting breeds used by Spanish hunters (called "helguero"/galgueros), very bitter and gloomy. Salguero usually think of their hunting dogs things belonging to them.

These dogs are treated as necessary hunting arrangements, which are easy to replace or throw away if they are no longer needed.

The Spanish laws prohibit cruelty to animals, in particular, mutilation, physical violence, keeping dogs on a short leash, etc. But still the authorities turn a blind eye to the terrible situation in which there are dog breeds Galgo and the podenco.

Spanish hunting dogs are constantly kept on the verge of starvation; in cramped dark spaces or on a short chain. Contacts with the person is minimized; no affection, no attachments.

Many dogs only live to 2-3 years of age – then they are discarded and replaced with "fresh". Pedigreed bitches will keep your life longer.

At the beginning of the hunting season at Salguero usually 20 dogs. At the end of season five. "Substandard" dogs replace.

A favorite pastime of hunters and their method of getting rid of unwanted dogs – the so-called "playing the piano".

The noose around the neck of a dog tied to a tree so that his hind legs barely made it to land. The animal tries to maintain balance and "dancing", interrupting the hind legs and slamming the front in the air – struggling with the upcoming suffocation.

This absurdity, this slow death makes the victim of human cruelty pass through all the stages of agony, panic, despair, fear, pain.

Strangulation can take several hours and sometimes days. In the end, when the dog is exhausted, so that she can get the hind legs to the ground, it hangs in the loop – finally death occurs.

For whom can it be fun? For Spanish hunters. This torture they call fun "playing the piano" because the dogs frantically plucked hind legs, fighting for a breath of air. This is a terrible and shameful act, a certificate palatalizes callousness of people.

The dogs kept in unimaginable conditions. Is their uncontrolled reproduction, dogs too much. The hunters keep the dogs or the outdoors, tied on short chains or in dark and cold rooms. Feed several times a week: leftovers from restaurants, moldy bread.

As the seats keep dogs and no one cleans, the animals developed skin diseases, wounds appear. Emaciated animals are forced to sleep on the bare ground – which leads to the appearance of bedsores.

And at the end of the hunting season of Galgo EN masse, with special cruelty killed. Tens of thousands of animals are left to fend for themselves, they die of hunger. Other dogs bludgeoned to death, thrown into wells, poison, and die a terrible slow death by hanging.

Lives of hunting dogs in Spain is a life in hell.