Italy 2006.pub - Greyhounds in Need

Third Reunion of Greyhound Adopt Center Italy, held in Modena, 2nd June 2006
The sad plight of the greyhounds and galgos and the hard work and stress involved in trying to get help to them, is a heavy burden to all
of us , whatever part we play in it, but just occasionally it has its high spots! For me possibly the most pleasing and rewarding is to see
new younger groups flourishing especially in a new country. This does give us ‘oldies’ hope for the future and some reassurance that if
we do not succeed politically in our lifetime to curtail the wastage and abuse meted out to these poor animals, that there will be others
who will continue to care for them and their cause after we are gone.
The Greyhound Adopt Center Italy , based in the north in Modena, has been operative now since 2002, thanks to Elisa Manna, their
young President, who works with Chiara also in Modena, and with Emilia in Turin.
300 people and 150 rescued dogs participated in this all day gathering !
…….here’s just a few of the 100s of photos I took…...
Altogether now!!!!!
Since 2002, the Greyhound Adopt Center Italy have homed ~450 dogs…... Divided more or less equally between:
1) Greyhounds rescued from Ireland (from PAWS Kildare, with financial help from the Irish Greyhound Board)
2) Galgos from refuges in Spain , especially Arca de Noe, Albacete, with financial help from GIN.
3) Irish greyhounds from Rome track, closed in 2002, plus a few from Naples track, closed in 1999.
Adopt Center is based in northern Italy and most dogs are homed in Modena, Milan,Ferrara, Verona, Bologna,
Turin, Venice, Genova . Some go to Rome, Florence, Perugia, Ancona or further south to Sardinia & Sicily
……. some lure coursing for the athletes…...
Dolores, sister
of Deirdre,
from PAWS,
Ireland.
Anne from GIN,
Balbino (rt) from
UK
Albacete, Spain, with
one of his galgos
and adopter.
Elisa
President of
Adopt Center
Italy
R-L
Chiara
Dolores, Anne, Deirdre,
from
Chiara, Elisa, Balbino
Adopt
and his wife, Emilia
Center Italy
…….some of the people involved…..
Riccardo helps with
transport. His wife
Emilia, is treasurer ,
( she had her leg in plaster!) Here seen with galgos Machin and Niko.
Written, translated and delivered to those attending the event, in Italian
Vi prego di scusarmi per leggervi queste righe ma non parlo bene italiano e quindi Joan e suo marito han tradotto questo per me. Spero
che la mia pronuncia non sia cosi orrenda per farmi capire da voi.
Questo è il terzo felice Raduno al quale partecipo in Italia con i vostri levrieri e galgi salvati qui in Italia, Irlanda e Spagna, e mi da’
l’opportunità di congratularmi e ringraziare Elisa, Chiara, Emilia e i volontari del CENTRO ADOZIONE LEVRIERI e tutti voi che li
avete adottati, per il vostro impegno, duro lavoro e generosità, per dividere il nostro interesse e compassione per questi cani, e per il vostro
coraggio nel partecipare a questo lavoro che non è facile.
Importare una gran quantità di cani randagi da un paese e trovare la sistemazione per loro in un altro è un grande lavoro pieno di sfide e
potenziali complicazioni, e solo i più coraggiosi lo farebbero. Innanzitutto, le comunicazioni sono su lunghe distanze e in lingue straniere
per i volontari all’estero come Balbino, che salvano, riabilitano e portano avanti cure veterinarie per questi cani che in molti casi non
hanno nemmeno avuto la prima vaccinazione. Balbino, con abilità ci manda in anticipo via e-mail foto e informazioni di ognio levrieri
nel suo refugio. Poi, la preparazione dei cani deve essere completata con la sterilizzazione ed il passaporto. Inoltre bisogna affrontare il
problema del trasporto, trovare autisti e veicoli disponibili, esperienza e coraggio per farlo. Non dimentichiamo inoltre che a questo punto
bisogna trovare dei fondi per finanziare tutto questo lavoro. Nel frattempo, per preparare in anticipo il loro arrivo, Elisa e i suoi colleghi,
lavorano duro per pubblicizzare la critica situazione e le necessità di questi cani, promuovere la loro causa ed educare i potenziali
adottatori nell’ arte di adottare un levriero.
Ma il lavoro non si conclude con il trasporto e una adozione……… i volontari e i rifugi in Spagna si stanno di nuovo riempiendo con altri
cani abbandonati. Mentre in Italia crescono le famiglie di galgo e levrieri salvati, aumenta anche la responsabilità di Elisa verso le
famiglie che adottano, i quali nel corso dei prossimi dieci anni avranno bisogno di guide e incoraggiamento.
E un processo che cresce continuamente, ma quello che non cresce abbastanza è il numero di volontari. Hanno sempre bisogno del vostro
sostegno, comprensione e pazienza, specialmente quando i tempi sono duri.
Raduni come questo ci uniscono come una famiglia, con dividendo il nostro interesse e impegno verso questi cani che soffrono molto
nelle mani di sfruttatori che li vedono come comodità per i loro sport e profitti, per poi abbandonarli quando non servono più. Questi
incontri sono l’apice del nostro lavoro. Da quando, nei primi anni novanta, nutriamo interesse per questi cani, gruppi come i vostri sono
nati in tanti altri paesi e io ho condiviso simili occasioni con organizzazione in Francia, Belgio, Olanda, Lussemburgo, Svizzera, Austria,
Germania, Svezia, Finlandia e America.
Balbino sicuramente direbbe insieme a me che il miglior premio per il nostro impegno e vedere qui questi cani, una volta in pericolo e con
molti rischi, adesso felici, in ottima salute e in buone mani.
Grazie a voi tutti.
Forgive me please for reading these words. I am unable to converse freely in Italian so Joan has kindly translated this for me to deliver
in Italian! I hope my pronunciation is not too awful and that you can understand me!
This is the third happy reunion I’ve attended here in Italy of your rescued greyhounds and galgos from here, Ireland and Spain, and it
gives me the opportunity to congratulate and thank Elisa, Chiara and Emilia and the other volunteers of the Greyhound Adopt Center,
and all you adopters, for your commitment, hard work and generosity, and for sharing our concern and compassion for these dogs, and
for your courage in taking part in this work which is far from easy.
Importing large numbers of ‘street’ dogs from one country and finding solutions for them in another, is a huge job, full of challenges and
potential complications, and only the most courageous would undertake it. First, communication needs to be made at a distance and in a
foreign tongue to the volunteers abroad like Balbino who are rescuing, rehabilitating and carrying out essential vet care on these dogs
who in most cases have not even had a primary vaccination. Balbino skilfully then sends us in advance by email, photos and information
of every galgo he has in his refuge. Then the preparation of the dogs must be completed with sterilisation and passports. Next the problem
of transport has to be faced, finding drivers with time, vehicles, experience and guts to carry it out. Let us not forget at this stage either,
that funding has had to be found for all of this work so far….. Meanwhile to prepare in advance for their arrival, Elisa and her colleagues
work very hard publicising the critical situation and needs of these dogs, promoting their cause and educating potential adopters in the
art of adopting a sight hound. But the work does not end with a successful transportation and adoption…The volunteers and shelters in
Spain are already filling up with more abandoned dogs about to undergo the same process again. And while Italy’s family of rescued
galgos and greyhounds increases, so does Elisa’ s burden of responsibility towards their adopting families who over the next ten years or
so, may at times need guidance and encouragement. It is an ever-growing process and what doesn’t necessarily grow are the numbers of
dedicated volunteers actually carrying it out. They will always need your support, understanding and patience and often much more when
the ‘going’ gets tough.
Reunions such as these bring us all together as one family, sharing the concern and commitment towards these dogs who suffer so much
at the hands of the ruthless who see them only as a commodity to be used for sport, profit and prestige only to be discarded when their use
is over. These visits are the high spot of our work. Since we instigated concern for these dogs in the early 1990s, groups like yours have
sprung up in many other countries and I have shared similar occasions with organisations and individuals in France, Belgium, Holland,
Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Sweden, Finland and USA.
Balbino I know will join me in saying that there is no greater reward for our efforts than to see these dogs here, once so threatened and at
risk in every way, now so happy, healthy and in your safe hands.
Thank you …… all of you ….
Anne Finch