Bebe was adopted by Beryl who has kindly written her story below ……
Greyhounds and galgos are my passion. I’d heard of Podencos – something to do with dogs on the island of Ibiza. So when Jazmin arrived in November 2007 as a foster dog, I started on a learning curve. She was a little beauty, about the size of a border collie, rough haired, with huge pointed ears. She wasn’t with me long; the sister of a French friend had lost their dog 3 months previously and was ready to adopt again. Jazmin moved into their home and arrived in Paradise, loved and nurtured by them; a world removed from her life in the hands of a Spanish hunter.
Two or three more podencos passed through our foster home on their way to their forever homes. But galgos remained my first love.
And then a photo arrived in my inbox of the most pathetic starving podenco, which a young Spanish volunteer had picked up off a Seville motorway, injured and severely traumatised. Marisa was the name of the volunteer (my daughter’s name) and she called the dog Bebe – my nickname at school! So, you see, the dog and I were destined to be together.
Bebe needed to have an operation for her injuries, but neither Marisa nor the shelter where she was a volunteer could keep the dog during convalescence. So I arranged with the French association L’Europe des Levriers, for whom I am a volunteer, that they would organise the transport from Seville to my home in France and I would take care of the dog.
Now, I like galgos, lurchers, collies – you get the idea – not Yorkshire Terriers, Jack Russells – I don’t ‘do’ little dogs! Well, my friend Beatrice duly arrived from Spain with a van load of galgos, staying overnight at our home before heading off to their adoption homes the following day. She stepped out of the passenger seat of the van with a little chestnut bundle in her hands. I said ‘that’s not it?’ and she nodded and smiled her lovely smile. (Look at the size of little Bebe compared with a rescued Galgo, Emi)
The little bundle was extremely traumatized. Whilst all the other rescue dogs were bedded down for the night in the compound in the barn and our own 3 dogs were settled in their overnight room, I slept uncomfortably on the sofa, hugging the little bundle. She walked on 3 legs, carrying the fourth and her hind quarters showed scarring evidence of the accident. Her EU passport pronounced her a Podenca Malaguena Andaluz.
A visit to my vet was a priority, x-rays were taken, and a dislocated hip was diagnosed. As it was by now 2 months since Bebe was found injured, the only route to dealing with her injury was to remove the ‘ball’ from the ball and socket joint of her hip. She came home, still with staring eyes, with a huge plastic collar round her neck, and a shaved bottom. My vet said ‘she may not ever walk on 4 legs; we’ll just have to see’.
I am pleased to report that Bebe runs on 4 legs like grease lightening! Concorde has nothing on Bebe in full flight! The only time she cannot use her leg is going downstairs or standing with her front two feet on the low window sill as she cannot stretch the injured hind leg fully. She also bears scars on her body where the hair has not grown back from her injuries. The marks look like she was actually dragged beneath a vehicle.
Bebe is now my iPod. I researched the Podenco Andaluz and discovered it is a miniature breed of Podenco. She is cute, adorable, happy, tail always wagging, barks at strangers and strange noises, has the hugest ears for her little head, and eats hardly anything as she is so small. Her loyalty to me is beyond description. None of our dogs are allowed on the furniture but Bebe is an exception, being so small and cute. As soon as I sit down, I have to cross my legs, and Bebe is up there beside me.
Podencos are totally different characters from galgos. I have now fostered several podencos, brought many out on rescue missions for rehoming in France. They suffer at the hands of the galgueros, who sadly have no idea what wonderful dogs pass through their hands.
You will never look back if you let a Podenco into your life.
Author: Beryl Brennan, France Galgo News
