NJ Foundation Grants $15,000 to Help Rescued Dogs In Spain

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - April 24, 2022 - PRLog -- At the end of the Spanish hunting season, it's estimated that 100,000 hunting dogs are killed each year, many in cruel and unspeakable ways, when they are no longer considered useful. Those not killed are often abandoned, dying from starvation, disease, or injury. Animal protection legislation has recently been enacted in the country, but is slow to take hold.

Enter the tireless Spanish dog advocates who run life-saving, private shelters created to rescue galgos, also known as Spanish greyhounds, podencos, and mastines (similar to mastiffs). These breeds are typically used by recreational and serious hunters. Hunting dog shelters are challenged by the overwhelming amount of dogs in need and their limited resources for even the most basic necessities, including food and veterinary care.

This month, The Flying Dog Foundation, a 501(c)(3) US-based charity, awarded six grants totaling $15,000, distributed evenly, to six partner shelters in Spain:

– Galgos en Familia
– Casa de Postas
– Mastines en la Calle
– Podencos y Mas
– Asociacion Protectora Argos
– Siempre Contigo Protectora de Animales

"Our rescue shelter partners in Spain are stretched to the limit," informs Jacqueline Howard, President, The Flying Dog Foundation. "Some hunters surrender their dogs to the rescuers. But many are found and rescued by shelter volunteers and staff. Often, the dogs are in horrible condition, many emaciated, some with broken bones or other severe injuries."

The rescue shelters in Spain are often overflowing with dogs in need and, of course, it's an expensive endeavor. "That's where The Flying Dog Foundation comes in," shares Howard. "The shelters use our grants to pay for things like dog food, veterinary care, and shelter improvements."

It remains to be seen how effective recently passed animal welfare legislation in Spain will be, especially for hunting dogs. The international dog advocate community is also watching the extent to which new laws are enforced and hunters held accountable for the humane treatment of the hunting dogs for which they no longer have a use.

"The good news," explains Howard, "is that awareness over the exploitation and abuse of Spanish hunting dogs has been building in Spain and around the world. Their fate is changing, albeit slowly."

Rescue knows no borders.
The Flying Dog Foundation helps make profound, life-saving changes in the lives of dogs in dire situations by awarding grants to partner rescue organizations. The focus is on, though not limited to, dogs rescued from the meat trade and hunting dogs in Spain. The Foundation is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) US-registered charity and has been awarded Guide Star's highest accreditation (Platinum). Discover more about The Foundation here: https://www.TheFlyingDogFoundation.org