The Forgotten Dogs of Spain

 

In the spring 0f 2018, I travelled to Málaga with my friend Vince and his three Podenco dogs - Sylvie, Libby, and Biscuit. We took the ferry to Santander and drove nine hundred kilometres south in a silver transit van, three caged souls in the back each with a story of survival.

Sylvie, the matriarch at seventeen, had seen it all.

Libby, who first came to my friend when she was pregnant - he would feed her at the edge of the forest, and once her pups were born, she proudly brought them all to his villa on his birthday, as if to say “Here is my family. You’re part of it now.”

And Biscuit, the smallest -  a Podenco Andaluz - found by a bin, discarded like rubbish yet radiant with life.

We arrived in Málaga with three Podencos… and returned with five.

Daisy, saved from death row at the Perrera and Binky, found alone on the campo, who now lives with me - two wild hearts who were destined to meet.

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What Are Podenco Dogs?

Podenco dogs are a group of Spanish hunting breeds known for their intelligence, agility and sensitivity. Along with the Galgos (Spanish greyhounds), they are traditionally used for hunting in rural Spain.

Despite their gentle nature, Podencos & Galgos are widely treated as working tools rather than companion animals. When they are no longer useful, many are abandoned, neglected, or killed.

Across Spain, shelters and rescue organisations are overwhelmed each year by injured, starving and traumatised Podencos and Galgos, especially at the end of hunting season.

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The Reality for Podencos in Spain

It is impossible to live with a Podenco and remain untouched.

Many are raised in harsh conditions, confined to small spaces, deprived of proper food and pushed to exhaustion during hunts. Hunger is often used as a crude method to sharpen their drive. When the hunting season ends their suffering often worsens.

Thousands are abandoned in the countryside to starve. Others are left chained, hidden away or disposed of in ways most people would struggle to comprehend. Shelters across Spain see waves of these dogs every year, emaciated, injured, but still capable of trust. Despite this, their gentleness endures. Their eyes hold both sorrow and forgiveness. Their spirit remains unbroken. Their love, unconditional.

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Why Are Podenco Dogs Abandoned?

The answer is simple and uncomfortable. They are bred for performance, not companionship.

Only the strongest and most successful are kept. The rest are discarded when they no longer serve a purpose. While Spain has introduced animal welfare laws, hunting dogs like Podencos and Galgos have historically existed in a grey area, treated differently from other pets. Excluded from protection and currently under review to be classified as livestock.

This gap allows the cycle to continue.

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So we march.

London. Exeter. Manchester, Glasgow.

We raise banners and our voices to tell the world about these beautiful hounds - their magic, their loyalty, their quiet grace.

We adopt them, love them, sometimes release records for them and we speak for them.

We march for the ones who were abandoned. For the ones who survived. For the ones who never made it home and for the belief that one day these extraordinary dogs will be recognised, not as tools, but as sentient beings deserving of dignity, protection, and love.