Hung from a tree ~ happy birthday Snows

Snowy Snowy, how are we?

Little One, Little One

Cute as can be

Alternative version:

Snowy Snowy, how are we?

Little One, Little One

Hung from a tree

It’s a sad fact of life that the Spanish hunting breed of Podencos doesn’t have the best life expectancy.

Brought to the Iberian peninsula, first by the Carthaginians, later by the Moors, Podencos are an ancient breed descended from North African greyhounds. Among hunting dogs they are rare, as they hunt by sight, smell and sound. Think of an alert dog working on all three senses. You can probably add the other two, he barks and he is very touchy-feely, pawing like a cat, and happily lying all over you. This morning he rested his head on my face for his post-breakfast snooze.

Podenco checks out rain erosion in the river bed, the actual water course is currently running to the left where the greenery is

Podencos come in three sizes: toy, medium, and grande. Snows is medium. Given his energy I dread to think what large ones are like but they do hunt bears in Andalucía.

And this is the problem. They are used as a hunting dog in their prime early years, say for one or two when they are fit, energetic and raring to go.

But because many Spaniards view dogs as past their sell-by date when they stop being useful, they then get rid of them. Hence, hung from a tree. It’s no joke. It happens. Gallegos suffer a similar fate.

Snowy was lucky. Chucked out, maybe because he was albino? at a day or two old. Picked up from the rubbish bin by a kind Spaniard and given a permanent home by us a few weeks later.

Some time this week he is a year old. He didn’t come with a birth certificate in the rubbish bin, so it’s a best guess from my vet Pedro, Rocío who found him, and us.

A birthday message from Snowy (approved by Pippa):

Thank you to everyone who gives a home to an unwanted or rescue animal. You are the best.

And one from me:

To those of you who continue to buy the perfect pedigree pup or kitten. You are condemning some animals to a life in a shelter, or worse, to be killed at a shelter when their time is up, or hit on the head, drowned – or – hung from a tree.

You don’t need to adopt a hyper, energetic, excitable Podenco, often the unwanted dogs are the older, quiet ones, just needing a home and some love in their later years. A bit like most of us.

Anyway, from this, last year:

(All photos captioned)

Baby Snowy

Snowy. The tough hunting guard dog – lapdog.

Sleepy Podenco tucked up safely in someone’s jacket

To this:

And?

On guard!

A dog’s life?

And from the big boy, to authorise approval:

Pippa reclaims the sofa…

… Briefly

My boys on the sofa