Hope for Podencos - working together to keep the dream alive
Steve with Baby, now in the care of Galgos del Sol (photo: The Faithful Hound Photography)
As our wonderful community is already aware, Steve - one of the founders of Hope For Podencos will be returning home to the UK in January 2024. After many years rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming the pods in need, it is time for him to hand the centre over but continue to run the charity from the UK.
We have been incredibly lucky with the support we have received from other Spanish charities, asking us not to step away entirely from the world of rescue, working with us to ensure we can continue with our boss man Steve at the helm!
What does this mean for HFP? It means Steve will retain control of the charity that he and Irene worked so hard to build up, and either we will have our Spanish HFP family run the centre, taking in the rescues, rehabilitating and preparing them for their new homes. Or we will sell the centre at a heavily reduced rate (bringing the funds and the charity to the UK) and partner with our trusted Spanish counterparts to bring Podencos to the UK straight into foster or adoption. It is super important to our UK team they are provided exactly the same level of detail and have the ability to visit the dogs - just as it has been with us having our own centre.
As our followers will be aware, we have received a huge amount of support from Tina and the team at Galgos del Sol. We simply could not have reached this point without them. They have taken some of our more complicated podencos and given them a new lease of life. Given the pressure on the Spanish charities with recent legislation changes we know times are tough for everyone. But GDS have given us the knowledge and power to realise Steve can continue with HFP and not have to give everything up, but he can do it his way - as he starts his well deserved retirement.
You can see the Hope For Podencos/Galgos del Sol dogs looking for their forever homes in the images above and you can view their profiles by clicking the links below:
Apollo - looking for his forever home, he needs a nice calm household to spend his days just enjoying life in the garden at his own pace
Fresa - currently in foster in Spain
Belle Star - looking for her forever home, an affectionate and lively girl
Baby - looking for her forever home, an affectionate and playful girl who needs a VERY secure garden
You can also follow the beautiful Santos, who due to severe Leish is in the incredible care of Beverley Nash and her pack so he can see out his days in a loving home, you can follow his journey here - Santos & Bev FB.
Santos living his best life with Bev and her pack
Alongside the fantastic support from GDS, we’ve also been working with some other amazing rescues and charities who are also working towards our common goal of ending the suffering of the hunting dogs in Spain. In particular, we’ve been joining forces with the team at Helpers of The Pods and Dogs, a UK based rescue with many connections in Spain. Cara (Podenco Pair on socials) and Gemma who have both adopted or fostered for Helpers and have also both adopted from HFP have been supporting the two rescues/charities behind the scenes and are committed to the future of HFP and already work closely with Clare from the UK team. They recently all met in Scotland, as part of The Faithful Hound Photography project. Andi, the talent behind The Faithful Hound captured this photo of Clare (UK HFP team), Cara, Genna (who has fostered for both HFP and Helpers) and Gemma and all of their Podencos.
From left to right - Clare, Cara, Genna & Gemma (photo: The Faithful Hound Photography)
We have been so lucky this year to have the support of so many; we worked on a challenging re-home after one of our very special adopters sadly passed unexpectedly - Corrie you will always hold a place in our heart for giving Isa and Willow the fantastic start to their new lives in a home (with fellow Podenco Rudy) that has enabled them all to be able to move on at such a difficult time.
We would also like to thank Greyhound Protection UK for helping us with Amara when her initial adoption did not work out as hoped (no fault of Amara or the adopters). Amara is still looking for her forever home and you can find out more about her on her profile below.
Last but not least, we would like to thank the Margaret Green Animal Rescue for working with the RSPCA to save Nancy & Mindy and get them a new home together, no easy feat for two pods!
So those are the updates from us, thats where we are at with the centre and the next steps in the grand plans! HFP will continue with Steve and the teams both in the UK and Spain.
We hope this shows how strong the community can be when everyone pulls together, we can keep fighting the good fight and we can grow our network to work with others and make a difference. As a wise lady once said, together we are stronger (here’s to you boss lady Irene!).
With much love! The HFP team xxx
If you would like to adopt a podenco you can see our available dogs here!