G.R.I.N'S "NETWORKING" IN SPAIN HELPS DRAW VOLUNTEERS FOR TWO SHELTERS THIS COMING SEPTEMBER 2011... SCOOBY MEDINA SHELTER AND FUNDACION BENJAMIN MEHNERT WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU! BUENA SUERTE JOSH AND ROBIN!
Leaving Tracks Incorporated, of Atlanta, Georgia extends a heart-felt thank you to GRIN’s west coast board member, Telma Shaw. Telma has been instrumental in providing Leaving Tracks with information about galgo rescue organizations in Spain, as well as facilitating introductions to the people that run them.
Leaving Tracks is pleased and excited to be sending two volunteers to Spain this September to work at Scooby in Medina del Campo, followed by several days at the Fundacion Benjamin Menhert in Sevilla. Josh Ferenczy is a 25-year old veterinary technician, who just completed college, and plans to attend medical school next year. He is looking forward to using his work skills to help the animals at both facilities. Robin Waldman, an audiologist from Newfoundland, has always dreamed of traveling to Spain to work with the galgos. Her original plans did not include the excursion to Sevilla, and she is most excited to how the Fundacion Benjamin Menhert differs from Scooby.
We are indebted to Telma for her extensive knowledge of the galgo community in Spain, and all her help in coordinating this trip. We know that the good works of Josh and Robin will make a difference at Scooby and the Fundacion. And we are hoping the information they provide on their return will be useful to future volunteers who visit galgo rescue organizations in Spain.
You can learn more about these groups by visiting their websites: www.leavingtracks.org, www.scoobymedina.org, and www.fundacionbm.com.
Thanks so much for the opportunity to volunteer at Fundacion Benjamin Mehnert. What an exciting opportunity!
I should tell you a bit about myself. I am an audiologist in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. I grew up in New Jersey and moved to Canada in 1990. I've been an audiologist for 20 years. I started out working as a clinician. Now I am the Staff Audiologist/National Trainer for a small hearing aid manufacturer. I've volunteered at various animals shelters since I was a child; I also grew up with dogs.
I adopted Phoenix, my first greyhound in 2002. I knew I wanted to adopt one for a long time, but didn't until I bought my own house. Phoenix was a lone hound until I adopted brood mama Loca from Greyt Friends in Marietta, Georgia. Here is the link to the story of her GUR. She passed away June 1, 2009. A month and a half later I adopted another brood mama named Treasure. My beloved Phoenix passed away from osteo last month, so I only live with Treasure and my cat now.
I've been appalled by the treatment of galgos in Spain since I first learned of their condition shortly after I adopted Phoenix. My interest intensified as my friends started to visit Scooby as volunteers.There more I learned about galgo shelters, the more I knew I needed to help. Then last year I visited Chile and Argentina. I realized that galgos are used for hare hunting and racing in the southern areas of those counties I don't know much about the way they are treated, but I hope it's better than in Spain. I do know that there are thousands of stray dogs, especially in Chile. They are everywhere. They live in packs, they live alone. I've even seen them abandoned at highway rest areas that are between lanes. I started by taking photos of every stray dog I saw (thousands) and by the time I left, I knew I had to do more. While in Spain, I hope to learn more about gal go shelters; how they are started, the daily upkeep and fundraising, in hopes of possibly starting one in Chile.
I don't have many pictures of myself with my dogs, so I've attached one of me and my bridge angels Loca and Phoenix at Dewey Beach. I've also attached a picture of a couple of galgos in Southern Chile. This photo was included in an exhibit of stray dogs in Chile. I've heard that it looks exactly like photos of galgos in Spain.
Thank you all for this opportunity. I'm so excited to be able to assist at two shelters.
Take care
robin