Caroline Ooms and her foster/ adopted dogs

Caroline Ooms has been active in animal rescue since she was a little girl. What started out as local initiatives (helping out stray cats and wounded birds), turned into fostering and adopting shelter dogs both in Belgium and in Spain. Read more about her and her life amongst (numerous!) foster dogs below…

volunteering for Animal Care Espana (ACE)

 

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I’m Caroline, and I’ve been an animal lover since I was born. There were always animals around at home… mostly dogs & cats, but later also horses, chickens, goats etc. I had my first dog I was responsible for when I was 10 years old. It was a black lab my parents adopted from Veeweyde, our first rescue dog.  As a little girl I was already very much aware that animals weren’t always treated well, and I always wanted to protect them. Even back then…

little foster dogs

How did you get started in animal rescue?
I started pretty young at a very local level by helping out cats & dogs in the neighborhood. There was always a homeless cat with kittens or a bird in distress… This continued for some years. Later I adopted an old Border Collie from a shelter in Ghent, and a Spanish Galgo from a shelter in Madrid. This is how it all started with the dogs…

Little foster dog… Now lives with a friend of Caroline’s.

Maxy was fostered by Caroline in Spain and eventually got adopted by her younger sister.

Can you tell us a bit about the dogs you share your home with? What’s their story?
At this moment I only have 2 dogs at home (I had 4 while living in Spain) One is a foster dog called Ula, she’s a Shepherd mix that was saved by Galgos en Familia in Alhaurin el Grande. She was very traumatized and I took her in to give her a chance to overcome her fears and lead a normal and happy life. Since Ula’s been living with me for quite a while I think she will stay with me. Saying goodbye to this sweet dog would be too painful for me, I guess. Then there’s Viggo, my Weimaraner. He is the only dog I got as a puppy: he moved with me to Spain where he became the ‘mascot’ of my B&B, together with some other rescue doggies that crossed my path and stayed with me until we found a home for them. During my Spanish years I had around 10 dogs & cats that stayed at my home, waiting for a better life.

Ula, Caroline’s Shepherd cross (foster-turned-adopted dog!)

Viggo the Weimaraner

Why is fostering rescue dogs so important?
There’s nothing more grateful or rewarding than fostering! Especially when you see what a difference you can make for these little helpless souls. I’ve fostered around 10 dogs for shorter or longer periods (also a cat!) and they all learned how to behave inside the house, how to interact with kids or people in general (some where pretty traumatized and afraid of about anything). To see these animals change and blossom every day… There’s nothing more beautiful. The hardest part is saying goodbye when they leave to live with their adoptive families… Some of them keep in touch and send pictures, which is great!

Little dogs that were fostered at Caroline’s place.

foster cat

Are there any organizations you regularly work with, (and why)?
Yes! I am very fond of SHIN (ace) and Galgos en Familia. I know both their founders (Fabienne and Vera ) and I respect what they do enormously! This being said, I know there are many more organizations that do good and wonderful work abroad and in Belgium!

volunteering for Animal Care Espana (ace)

How would you convince people to adopt and/ or foster a pet?
There are so many dogs and cats that had a rough start in life! They were treated badly, some almost died in killing stations… These animals have been through hell. You can really make a difference by adopting or fostering a dog from a shelter abroad or in Belgium. These animals are so happy and thankful for the second chance they get in life. You won’t regret it

Volunteering for Galgos en Familia

Thank you, Caroline, for this inspiring interview!

If you would like to foster a dog or do volunteer work for ACE or Galgos en Familia yourself, you can find the necessary information here, here, and here.

Fabienne Paques, Animal Care Espana

Animal Care España (ACE) was founded in 1999 by Fabienne Paques. She was so shocked after seeing a Spanish killing station, that she immediately decided to do what she could to help the enormous population of Spanish stray (and dumped) dogs. My biggest respect for this remarkable lady… Since founding ACE, she has rescued 16 000 dogs, and helped finding them forever homes.

Can you introduce ACE to the new reader?
I founded ACE in 1999. The goal was and is to rescue dogs in Spanish killing stations. 90% of the dogs we shelter come from these stations. We care for them, nurse them back to health an adopt them out in a responsible manner. We give every dog a chance, and so rescue all breeds, especially the ones that need the most help. As we think that every life counts, we also take in “difficult cases”.

Why did you start this organization?
As a child, I already rescued all kinds of animals: I brought home every animal in need (much to my parents dismay…) My whole life I’ve been concerned with animals and people in need. Although lately it seems that animals have taken over… It’s my life’s purpose to do my best for dogs in need, and I go very far in that, even when it seems impossible. Animals can’t defend themselves. Here, in the South of Spain, they’re nothing more than disposable objects. It’s unbelievable what people do to them. On the 11th of December,1999, I started my own shelter, and the motivation never left me… On the contrary, it grows every day.

What is the best part of your job? And the hardest part?
The hardest part is taking the dogs out of the killing stations. We can never take all of them, so we have to make choices… We always go when we have space in our shelter for about 40 dogs, but even then, we have to leave so many dogs behind. It’s very harrowing, emotionally, when you have to drive back, leaving all those other dogs behind. The ones that we can’t take, get destroyed in the killing station. It’s also hard when we rescue a dog in poor health, try so very hard, and then the dog still dies… Little puppies dying in our arms…
The best part is when we see the dogs in their soft beds in their new homes, getting spoiled and being loved. When we have our annual meeting in the Netherlands and in Belgium, we see them again, and then the memories come flooding back: remembering that dog in the killing station in Spain, waiting to be destroyed… Witnessing the “before and after” transformation of every rescued dog is definitely the most rewarding part.

Why Spain? What are the specific problems there regarding (stray) dogs?
My parents had a holiday house here, so that’s how I knew Spain. One day, a friend took me to the killing station LA CALA DE MIJAS, and since that day, I wanted to make a difference. It was hard to get started, people were against it… But I persevered, because I just couldn’t accept this gruesome situation. Today, we have rescued 16000 dogs.
The problem in Spain is that they work with this system of killing stations: young and old dogs alike get just ten days time to get adopted. After those ten days, they are killed. Many get gassed, because that’s the cheapest method. It’s unbelievable, but these killing stations are funded by the Spanish government. Staff are getting paid to catch stray dogs and kill them within ten days. When dogs are brought to the “shelter” by the owner, then they get killed immediately. It’s normal for the Spanish to dump their family dog at a killing station when they no longer wish to take care of it (or when they want another one). Spaying and neutering is not done here, in this very “macho” world. So every female dog gets approximately two litters of puppies a year. The puppies are given as gifts to family members, or even strangers. When they’re no longer “cute”, they get dumped in trash bins or killed in the most horrible ways. You have no idea what we see here every day, the horror. When it comes to animal welfare, Spain still has a very long way to go. The situation is just horrible.

A lot of dogs in the shelter of ACE are Spanish hunting dogs. Can you tell us a bit more about why this is?
The dogs that suffer the most, are the hunting dogs. Not just Galgo’s, but also, and especially, Podenco’s, in all sizes. Most hunters mistreat their dogs in horrible ways. They keep them in tiny, disgusting and dark stables, and don’t provide them with enough food and water. They usually feed the dogs stale bread, to starve the dogs, so that they become better hunters. (Because they’re so starved, the dogs will hunt anything.)
After about four years, almost all the dogs are killed by hanging. Some “lucky ones” get dumped in the killing stations. They are then replaced by “fresh” Podenco puppies, provided by female Podenco’s that are chained and have new litters of puppies constantly.
The Spanish hunting dogs live horrible lives, but nobody takes any action here, because a lot of politicians and “big names” are hunters themselves. They paint their dogs a certain color, or they cut their tails in a certain way, so that they recognize them by the end of the hunt and can use them again the next time (at least the ones that survive…) . Our documentary gives you more information about the fate of the Spanish hunting dogs.

Some people say: “Why bring dogs from other countries here? Our own shelters are full already.” What is your response to this?
I think every dog, cat, anyone in need of help, deserves a second chance, no matter where they are in the world. We rescue these animals, spay/ neuter them, and adopt them out to people in the seven countries we work with. Our animals are perfectly in order with the European laws. They go to their new homes as companion animals and cannot reproduce. They become a wonderful addition to a family. The dogs in Spain are special, in the sense that they didn’t get dumped through a fault of their own, but because their owners just got tired of them, or want a new dog: another color, another breed… Or their dog had a litter of puppies and they rather keep one of the puppies and get rid of the mother dog.
The Spanish dogs that get dumped, are not used to being loved and cared for. They are usually being kept outside, living with other animals in stables. These dogs are so thankful to get a bit of attention, a bit of love. Most dogs at our shelter are so sweet and wonderful. And I can speak from experience, because I adopted 17 of them myself. The biggest one weighs 85 and the smallest 3,5 kg, and they all live together in harmony. They play together, sleep together, never fight… They bring so much joy and humor into the household, and really enrich our life.
Yes, shelters are full everywhere, but we have just as much right to rescue a dog as all the other shelters. It doesn’t matter where it is, but every life has the right to live!

Some people are also afraid that dogs adopted from other countries can bring diseases with them. Is this fear justified?
Diseases are everywhere. The illnesses we get here in Spain, are all perfectly cure-able. If we go about this in a professional way, there is no problem. Every dog can get ill: in Spain, Romania, as well as in Belgium. Some people just use this argument to spread fear and to make our Spanish dogs look bad, when in fact all of them are being checked for Mediterranean illnesses, and are being treated when they have health issues. They get vaccinated, spayed or neutered, get a rabies shot, de-wormed, get anti flea treatments… When the dog suffers from Leishmania or Filaria, we inform the potential adopters, and in that case, the dog only goes to its new home when the illness is treated and under control. These illnesses are not fatal when the dogs receive the proper treatment. The problem is that often there’s a stigma attached to these dogs in the countries of the adopters, and they sometimes end up getting euthanized because of it (mostly in Finland, Denmark, Norway, less so in Belgium and the Netherlands). Most of our dogs don’t die of Leishmania or Filaria, but from old age or another cause. Disease are everywhere, but with proper treatment, it’s perfectly possible to keep them under control.

Isn’t it very tempting to keep (some of) the animals yourself? And have you already done this?
It’s normal to adopt some of the dogs yourself… You fall in love every day!

If you have any adopted animals yourself, can you tell us a little bit about them?
My husband and me have 17 dogs of our own, and always about 10 in foster until they go home. We have a clean house and a lovely family. It is a lot of work, but we love to live in this adorable, kind and loving atmosphere. Nothing can bring more satisfaction into your house than a dog saved from death, street or hell.

You take in mainly dogs, but I see on your site that you also have some cats up for adoption. What’s the situation regarding stray cats in Spain?
The situation regarding cats is even worse than the dogs. These cats stand no chance at all… We only have a limited amount of cats up for adoption, because we started a project for feral cats: we spay and neuter them, get vaccinated, and then we let them live in freedom in our refuge, on the hill. We feed them and provide them with water, and get treatment when they’re ill. We can’t do more than this. We try to make a difference by putting some cats up for adoption, but it’s very hard. We do what we can. Cats here get poisoned, destroyed, killed… When you go to a killing station and visit the cat ward… It’s just horrible.

Do you euthanize animals in your shelter? Why (not)?
We are a no kill organization. We only euthanize the dogs that are very aggressive, or fatally ill. Otherwise, we fight or every life.

Can you describe a “normal” work-day at the shelter?
Every day is chaotic and different… But in general this is our schedule:
– We start at 8 o’clock… We have 4 wards with dogs, and the dogs of the 1st ward get to go on the “run free field” for one hour. Afterwards they go back inside and we feed them.
– 10 o’clock… Dogs of ward no. 2 in the field, they run for one hour, go back inside and eat… Meanwhile we clean inside. In ward 3 are dogs that can’t be together with other dogs, so we walk them individually. Ward 4 is dogs in quarantine: we clean them and take care of them but don’t walk them, as a precaution.
– 12 o’clock: lunch for our staff and volunteers
– 12u30h: preparing flights: washing and grooming the dogs, prepare flight benches…
– Meanwhile in the clinic our vet works from 9-15h: every day we test dogs, check them, clean teeth, spay and neuter… Dogs with problems get extra attention from our vet.
– Medication rounds every day at 13h: dogs in treatment get their medication; new dogs get de-wormed and checked.
– 15h: second round of cleaning until 17h
– 17h – 20h: evening shift for cleaning and treating dogs that are ill.
– In the meantime we receive visitors, give them information, we film new dogs and put their info on the site, we drive dogs to the airport, where they will begin their journey to their new homes…
Every day is hectic and busy, we really can use all the help we can get.

How can people help your organization?
Every kind of help is welcome. We do all our work with the help of donations, and with our own money. We work with volunteers and foster parents to the dogs… It’s not easy work, people demand more and more of us, and often seem to forget that we’re a rescue organization. It’s hard work and we really do need help. You can help by virtually fostering a dog , donating food and other goods, donating money for medical procedures… Volunteers are always welcome to come and help.

In which countries can the dogs of your shelter be re-homed?
Belgium, the Netherlands,  Austria, Germany,  Finland, Denmark and Spain.

How would you convince potential pet owners to adopt instead of buy?
When you adopt a stray dog… I don’t have to explain it to you, the dogs do that themselves. I can’t describe in words what you will get back from these dogs…

 

All photos were provided to me by ACE.

 

Photographer Elke Vogelsang and her rescued dogs

Elke Vogelsang is a German photographer with a big love for dogs. 
This comes across in her beautiful images, for which her three adopted canines, Noodles, Scout and Ioli, 
often are her perfect models. Elke started volunteering in a local animal shelter when she was still a kid, 
and is currently planning a photo series with shelter dogs in Spain. 
In this interview, she talks about her own three faithful rescues, and what makes them so special. 



Can you introduce yourself?
 
My name is Elke Vogelsang. I'm 42 years old. Based in Hildesheim, 
Germany, I work as a professional photographer who mostly shoots 
portraits of people and pets, but in my spare time I spend plenty of 
time with my three rescue dogs who frequently find themselves in front 
of the camera.


 
You have three rescued dogs, and they are the main subject of 
several of your photo projects. Can you tell us a bit about your dogs, 
and how they found their way into your life?
 
Noodles is a female Galgo Español mix from the south of Spain. She is 
eight years now and joined our family when she was 8 months old. She 
was rescued from a kill shelter in Spain and brought to Germany. She 
is the eager beaver, the clown, she always wants to learn, to play, to 
run and be entertained. She is unintentionally comic sometimes.
 
Scout is a female Galgo Español mix as well. She is 6 years now. She 
and her 7 brothers and sisters were found next to her dead mother 
somewhere in a field near Madrid. I call her Madrileña mia, my 
metropolitan girl. She is a hunter, beautiful, wary, alert.
 
Noodles and Scout once saved my husband's live. So I can't put into 
words how much they mean to me.
 
Last but definitely not least there is Ioli. He is a Spanish mix as 
well. His mother arrived pregnant in Germany in a very bad condition. 
He is one-eyed but not handicapped, sweet as honey, everybody's 
darling, very charming, always funny, sometimes cheeky and insecure. 
He steals hearts.


 
Are they the first animals that you have adopted?
 
They are my first own dogs, but we always had dogs in our family, all 
of which were adopted from our local animal shelter.
 
Why did you choose to adopt instead of buy?
 
As a kid I helped out in our local shelter and I know from experience 
that you find the most amazing, gorgeous, friendly animals here. So, I 
know that I will always find the treasure I'm looking for among 
shelter dogs.


 
You provide your photography services free of charge to animal 
welfare organizations. Can you tell us a bit about that?
 
I take pictures for my local shelter. Unfortunately, I'm lacking time 
for this. Friends who rescue dogs from Spain ask me to take pictures 
of their foster dogs. I love to meet so many different characters 
among my canine models and am glad to be able to help a bit in finding 
a home for them.
Currently I'm planning a photo series with shelter dogs in Spain.


 
How would you convince people to adopt an animal from a shelter?
 
I don't think that rescue dogs are any different from dogs from a 
breeder. All dogs are loveable animals. But it hurts to see that there 
are so many great dogs out there never finding a home.
Some people think that former stray dogs or shelter dogs might be 
complicated or even aggressive, but you find all kind of characters 
among them, just as it is the case with breeder dogs. My dogs would 
have been killed, if it hadn't been for some people getting them out 
of those kill shelter (or in Ioli's case his mother). They are 
friendly, beloved family members. Couldn't wish for more loveable 
companions. I would always adopt.


 
What's the best thing about your rescued dogs?

Where to start? I don't think I can come up with one single thing, 
it's an allround package. They are charming, beautiful, individual 
family members. They give so much but actually do demand little. They 
are funny, my joy and recreation. They make me laugh and are a comfort.



If you wish to know more about Elke Vogelsang's beautiful work, you can visit her website here,
or follow her on Facebook.

All the photos in this post were taken by Elke Vogelsang.

Lieven and Fara

Lieven Debrauwer is a Belgian movie director, theater-maker and perfume connoisseur. He also has a love for animals, and recently adopted a feisty little dog from Spain through the organization Animal Care España. Her name is Fara, she’s nine years old, and even though she’s only lived with her new owner since Christmas, it’s clear that she’s finally found her “forever home.”

I hope you enjoy reading this inspiring and heart-warming interview with Lieven Debrauwer.

Did you have any pets before Fara?
When I was a little boy, I was once chased by a neighborhood dog on the way home from school, so, ironically enough, I used to be afraid of dogs. This changed when we took in my uncle’s poodle Fifi (that he had to re-home because he was given a husky puppy). I was fond of this dog, and was very sad when later he had to be put to sleep because of a bad abscess.
A couple of years after Fifi, my brother bought a new dog, a collie, that ended up being more my dog than his… However, when I moved to Ghent into a little studio where pets weren’t allowed, we had to re-home Pasha the collie. Luckily, the grandparents of my sister-in-law were willing to give her a good new home.
Then, a couple of years ago, my ex-partner bought a puppy on a whim: a cross between a Labrador and a Beagle. After a while, he left the dog more and more at my place (we didn’t live together). However, I didn’t have the kind of very active lifestyle that this dog required, so in the end we also had to re-home him. Luckily, my accountant happened to love Joshua and she adopted him, to keep her Golden Retriever company. From what I’ve heard, he’s doing very well now in his new home.
So yes, I have had three experiences caring for dogs, but they didn’t go smoothly. (For the most part because I never got the chance to pick out a dog myself and make sure the dog in question would suit me and my lifestyle).

Why and how did you decide to get a new pet? And why a dog?
The last couple of months, I’ve been doing most my work from home, and it started to feel a little lonely in the house. Too quiet! I thought it would be nice to have some more “life” at home, some company.
And I’ve always liked dogs more than cats… I couldn’t picture a cat in this house.

Why did you choose to adopt instead of buy?
I think it’s a very noble thing to want to save an animal. It’s better to rescue a dog in need than just to buy a puppy for your own pleasure.

Why did you choose to adopt a dog from Spain, and why through ACE?
When I decided that I wanted to adopt a dog, I spoke to a friend, the owner of a perfume shop “Place Vendôme”. He has six dogs, all adopted through ACE. He recommended that I adopt a dog from them, because the strays in Spain are really being mistreated.
When I read a bit more on the website of ACE I learned about the situation in Spain: unwanted & stray dogs get dumped in so-called “killing stations”, where they’re routinely killed after only a couple of days. The killing also doesn’t happen humanely… So when I saw the fantastic work that Fabienne Paques, founder of ACE, is doing, I wanted to work with her organization.

Was it “love at first sight” when you chose Fara online?
After I had decided to work with ACE, I looked on their website at the dogs they had up for adoption. I was specifically looking for a small dog, that could easily travel everywhere with me. And a quite calm dog, also. For the rest, I trusted my intuition.
When I first checked the ACE website, I picked out a dog that seemed to be a good match, but when I asked for more information, it seemed that he was already reserved. The same thing happened when I picked out a second dog, so then I picked out five other dogs from the site, and explained in more detail what I was looking for exactly in a dog. They told me that Fara would be the best choice for me, because of her calm and affectionate nature, and so they put her in “pre-reservation” for me.

Can you describe the adoption procedure? How exactly does it work to adopt a dog from abroad/ over the internet?
After I chose Fara, a person of ACE visited me at home to see where the dog would live, and asked me the necessary questions to make sure I would be suited to adopt a dog. All went very well, and so I could officially reserve Fara and go ahead with the adoption. Then a flight was arranged (on Fara’s flight there were nine other ACE dogs, and one cat). All in all the adoption costs 270 euros. This includes everything: vaccinations, spaying/ neutering if necessary, chipping of the animal and providing it with the necessary ID documents…
She arrived December 23rd, just in time for Christmas!

How was Fara when you first got her? And how is she now?
Apparently ACE bought Fara from a “killing station”. When ACE got her, her fur was all matted and in a terrible condition, so they had to shave her. After being saved from the killing station, Fara stayed in foster care with a Belgian lady in Spain, because Fara didn’t interact well with the other dogs of the shelter.
When I got her, I noticed that she was quite apathetic (which could also be because she had gotten a tranquilizer before the flight). She was very calm and followed me into the car with no problem, but she didn’t like being touched or picked up. When I attempted to pet her, she would growl and bite. So then I contacted Fara’s “foster parent” in Spain, as well as my friend from “Place Vendôme” who has six ACE-dogs himself, and both of them immediately reassured me that this was normal: Fara would just have to get used to the new situation. The best thing to do would be to give her some time and not to smother her with attention.
So, the next day, for Christmas Eve, I left her home alone for a bit, while I visited my family, and when I came back home, it was like a Christmas miracle: she jumped off the couch (where she had been sleeping), ran towards me, and licked my hand. She followed me upstairs and slept on the bed with me!
Since that moment, she follows me everywhere… She accompanies me to my perfume lectures, and then she always sleeps under the table. Nobody usually even notices her, she’s that calm.

 

How did your life change after having adopted Fara?
Of course a dog is not the same as a person, but still… she brings “life” into my home, and I can bond with her. She’s not the kind of dog that sits on my lap all the time, but she’s very affectionate in her own way. She gets ecstatically happy whenever I come home, even when I’ve just left the house for half an hour. When I have to leave home for a day or for a weekend, she stays with my parents, and I feel that I really miss her then. It’s remarkable how quickly we became attached to one another.

Fara is not a very young dog anymore. Did you adopt an older dog on purpose?
Fara was proposed to me by ACE and she just happened to be nine years old… Her age doesn’t bother me. I didn’t want to get a puppy anyway. I noticed I got a lot of positive response because I adopted a “senior” dog.

What’s the best thing about Fara?
She’s very loyal. Sometimes she will growl at other dogs or people, but I can do anything with her.

Would you adopt again?
Yes, immediately! Because you get so much gratitude from the dog, and also from the organization. I’m still in contact with Fara first “foster parent” in Spain and send her photos sometimes.

 

How would you convince others to adopt, rather than buy, a pet? And would you recommend them to adopt through ACE?
I would definitely recommend ACE, first of all because if you know how the dogs are mistreated there, it just makes sense to give those animals a good second life and a bright and happy future, if you can. Even if they’re “just dogs”, they’re still living beings with feelings. Secondly, I’m really touched personally to see the strong commitment of ACE’s founder Fabienne Paques. She’s really made it her mission to save as many Spanish dogs (and cats) as possible, and that’s something we should support in any way we can.
Even though I don’t know much about Fara’s history, I can sense that she’s been through a lot. When you give an animal in need a comfortable, good home, you make another little creature happy. It’s a good deed.
People that want to have a puppy at all costs… It’s kind of selfish. Also, you don’t know how a puppy will turn out: you buy a cat (or dog) in a bag. Fara being a “senior” is actually a really good thing. She’s older, so she sleeps a lot and is calm around the house while I have to do my work. An ideal match.

 

Since Fara was quite camera-shy, most photos in this post were provided to me by Lieven Debrauwer.

If you’re interested in ACE, please visit their website, and check this blog for an upcoming interview with them.

If you wish to know more about Lieven’s work, you can visit his website, and check my other blog “Artists @ Home” for an upcoming interview with him.

Greyhounds Rescue Belgium

Today we have a talk with Hervé Marysael, President of the organization Greyhound Rescue Belgium. They do fantastic work finding homes for retired racing dogs (greyhounds), and abandoned Spanish hunting dogs (Galgo’s).

If you are considering adopting a dog, or are specifically looking for a sight hound, I highly recommend you have a look at the dogs up for adoption, on the website of Greyhound Rescue Belgium. Impossible to resist these majestic looking creatures…

Can you introduce yourself and the organization Greyhounds Rescue Belgium? When and why did you start this initiative?
Greyhounds Rescue Belgium is a charity that was founded by the former President: Josephine Van Den Bergh, in December 1999. She was very touched by a documentary on National Geographic showing a mass grave of greyhounds in the USA.  In 2006 I joined the charity as Webmaster. Since 2011 November 1st, I became President and I continue the work of the founder.

Are all of the greyhounds that are up for adoption retired racing dogs from Ireland?
Mostly from Ireland. England is possible too.

Why are there so many of them up for adoption? Is it a standard procedure to re-home ex-racing dogs?
It looks good when they try to re-home some greyhounds.

What happens to the retired dogs that don’t get adopted, do they automatically get euthanized?
Approximately 15.000 greyhounds are killed – destroyed –  every year in Ireland and England. The same happens in USA, New Zealand, Australia, Vietnam and Macau.

Can you describe what the life of a racing dog looks like?
You can find this information on the internet on different websites and on several movies on YouTube:
YouTube – On the Line Cradle to Grave (part 1 of 2)
YouTube – On the Line Cradle to Grave (part 2 of 2) 

You also have Spanish Galgo’s up for adoption. Why are so many of them in need of new homes?
The Galgo español is used for hunting. The hunting season starts around September-October. No galgero (hunter) has a Galgo español which is older than 3-4 years old. They are killed, destroyed in a cruel way when the hunting season ends in February. It is called the most cruel month of the year for the Galgo español and the Podenco. There is estimated that each year between 50.000 and 100.000 Galgos are disposed of.

It must be tempting to keep (some of) the rescue dogs… Have you adopted any of them yourself?
It is always tempting to adopt these fantastic dogs. It is the main reason why I am always looking for foster homes: they end up keeping their greyhounds or Galgos. At this moment I have 2 greyhounds and 8 Galgo español.

How does your organization operate exactly?
In short: I receive pictures and descriptions of dogs that are available for adoption from the shelters we work with. This information is put on the website of Greyhounds Rescue Belgium, and people can reserve the dogs. We organize  transports from Malaga every month. We do not have shelters.

On average, at what age do the dogs stop racing?
It depends, but most dogs are retired at the age 3-4 years old.

Are the dogs still healthy after a lifetime of heavy racing?
Most of the dogs are retired from racing because the younger generation is coming up and faster. The second reason is that sometimes they get injured during the training and as a result they are retired of racing.

If someone is interested in adopting a dog through Greyhound Rescue Belgium, what steps should they take? And are there any conditions they have to respect?
All the information can be found on the website of Greyhound Rescue Belgium v.z.w. (charity). See especially the procedure page. Two main conditions are that the dog should not be left alone for more than 5-6 hours during the day and the garden should be fenced 1,80 m high. The best thing is to take at least two dogs, so they have each other to comfort one another.

Do you do any follow-up after the dogs have been re-homed?
Yes, I do follow up every dog during several weeks, some several months. It depends how special they are.

How would you convince someone to adopt instead of buy?
Come and meet those dogs on an info session that I do every month. This will convince you!

What makes greyhounds and Galgo’s so special?
Sight hounds like greyhounds and Galgo español are very special dogs. They have the ability to touch you deep in your hart. It is a feeling that will never leave you again.

Is it at all possible to teach a sight hound to live together with smaller pets, or does it depend a lot on the individual dog?
Greyhounds and Galgo español get on well with other dogs. Some greyhounds are not so good with small dogs. All dogs are conditioned and trained to hunt or to try to catch the lure, so it can be difficult to be with cats. Some do and some don’t.   Greyhounds make great pets.

Is there anything specific people should take into consideration before adopting a greyhound or Galgo?
It is just like with any animal you take in your house: think it over very well. These animals all need TLC (=tender love and care). They can attempt the age of fifteen years old so think twice before you adopt. They deserve a good life.

How can people help Greyhounds Rescue Belgium?
There are different ways to help:

• Become a member for 15,- EUR or 30,- EUR

• Transfer a donation for the charity

• Adopt a dog or better two

• Become a foster family

• Consider doing a monthly donation for the Greyhounds Rescue Belgium CASH-project

Where can people reach you?
They can reach us by e-mail: greyhounds.rescue.belgium@gmail.com or by phone or on Facebook.

 

All the photos in this post are copyright of Greyhounds Rescue Belgium, I didn’t take them myself.