Spain update november 2025
Thursday, November 20, 2025
Less than half an hour ago, the two Dirks departed with their precious cargo of 15 Spanish Galgo treasures, bound for the promised land of hopefully forever loving owners and families. Among them was Juliette, who, just like me, was crying heartbreakingly. She had playfully and curiously jumped into the van and then into Amaya's box, which had been with us for a few days and was therefore familiar to her. However, once the door of the "compartment" closed and she saw it was for real, she started protesting and crying in shock. She cried in the van, and I cried inside. I hesitated until the last moment because we are so close and, as I have said, she is "one of a kind." She is smart, full of life, curious; she wants to see, learn, and experience, and that is why I felt it was selfish to keep her with me and condemn her to a life limited to Casa Belgica and a few weeks 'vacation’ at the dog hotel. The many hospital visits of the past 2 weeks plus several more upcoming hospital visits also play a role. After Dirk and Luc arrive at Casa Belgica on Sunday evening after the long journey Luc leaves the next day already because of the impending strikes in Belgium, and Dirk must drive him to the airport after breakfast! Then I have a 17:00h appointment with the surgeon who will give his veto to my gallbladder (we think), and at 19:00h I am expected to have fasted for a scan with contrast dye. A few days later I have another appointment with internist Adolf, whose real name is Alvarez... Where will this end? Anyway, in the meantime, I have already received two calls from Dirk saying it was cold in the mountains and it has been raining the whole time. They are currently on their way to Bordeaux, and it is raining less, but still. He concludes by saying the dogs are well-behaved and promises to call back before Paris... Courage! I have been driving along for years, but I could not do it anymore. No one can imagine what it is like to travel so far with so many dogs on board, arriving at night, unloading the dogs with the "reception team" on duty, and so much more...
They deserve respect, the drivers, and no comments from gossip speakers about who can do it all better. Well, until that time comes and they must prove something and pay our bills...
At 23:00h, I called Dirk to tell him I was going to bed. He told me they were still about thirty kilometers from Paris, and it was not raining anymore, which was a good thing, I thought relieved. At 8:00h, he called me from De Pinte to say that he was in bed at 4:00h and that it had suddenly started snowing heavily in Lille last night!!! Anyway, they drove carefully and arrived safely. Meanwhile, he was ready to leave for Hof Rosa Canina, where the vet would come to examine all the dogs and double-check their credentials (passport, vaccinations, etc.). When he got home, he would call with more details. Once again, I was relieved that they had arrived safely, because every trip was a tense wait from departure to arrival. I felt reassured when they pulled into the driveway of Hof Rosa Canina with the dogs, and I thought I was not the only one.
Friday the 21st, Saturday the 22nd, Sunday the 23rd of November 2025
On Friday, I will be busy all day with the garden contractor and his three helpers, who will be digging out the affected palm trees, which have been eaten by the red beetle larvae after the fire, and treating the rest. As always, it is freezing cold these days, and an icy wind is blowing. Anyway, I will have a lot to tell, because Dirk always wants to know everything, and there is a lot to know. One of the palm trees by the gate cannot be dug out, so the men must stop at 17:30h empty-handed. They will be back on Tuesday. Well, Dirk is also back then.
It was just after 8:00h when I called him because his promised call did not come. Anyway, he is already outside, ready to leave, but it is freezing cold, and the van is frozen solid. When I ask him in between his stories why he had not called when he woke up, as promised, he does not answer. During the adoption day, I receive a photo of coordinator Dirk B. addressing his "troops" as compensation, followed by photos of Julliette with Ronny and Amaya with her new coat and her new owner. My heart bleeds that I cannot be there again, and I hope the adopters will forgive me. So, once again, my apologies, but it is a case of force majeure. At 17:00h I received a call that he and Yolanda's Luc d'Artagnan have arrived in De Pinte. They will have dinner soon, then go to bed early. Tomorrow, they will be up at 4:00h and leave for Spain before 5:00h. For Dirk it is the second time in 4 days that he will make the long journey.
After their dinner and a short night, they get up at 4:00h as planned and an hour later they drive in the frozen van onto the snow-covered highway! After seeing the weather forecast on TV Flanders yesterday, I called worriedly at 6:00h. They have not defrosted the roads yet; the highways are incredibly slippery, and it took them an hour to reach Lille.
Once in Paris, there was still snow, but it is no longer slippery because it started raining, and it is gray and cold. It will stay that way until they reach Bordeaux, where the thermometer suddenly reaches 12 degrees Celsius, but it is still raining as they drive through the Basque Country, where it rains nine times out of ten, and there it is dry and 18 degrees Celsius! How unpredictable can the weather be? Around 19:00h Dirk calls to say they are in Burgos. If all goes well and there is not too much traffic in Madrid, they should be home around 22:00h. Before he closes, I ask them to call when they turn into the street so I can open the gate. At 21:45 I got a call from d'Artagnan saying they will be there in 5 minutes. FINALLY!!!! When I go back downstairs, Titabah is already standing at the gate, squeaking and jumping for joy!! A few minutes later, they arrive with a load of dog food and treats, the spoils of Anne, Nancy, Ines, and Mario. There is something for me too, “Heksenkaas” (Witch’s Cheese). After raising a glass to a happy homecoming, everyone goes to sleep. Now, instead of a woman, I have both sexes in bed, Dirk and Titabah... Directly across from us, the deep, contented snoring of Luc d'Artagnan resounds in the vet's room.
Monday the 24th of November, Tuesday the 25th of November 2025
As soon as Dirk and Luc leave for the airport, I start preparing the room for Anne and Fred, who arrive Thursday morning. Later that day, I must go to the clinic: at 17:00h for a visit with the surgeon and at 19:00h for a scan with contrast dye. Meanwhile, we still must do some grocery shopping, go to Viveros to pick up some live plants, and... and... When we leave for the clinic at 16:30h, it starts to rain. Half an hour later, I am with the surgeon, who says he wants to see more tests about the scars on my stomach and find out what was done. At 19:00h, it is my turn for the scan, right on time. In the changing room, the doctor asks if I have any allergies and if I have anything special to report. So, yes, I am very difficult to inject because I have very fine, deep veins. As always, the man says his nurse is an "angel" who injects like the best (another one). Anyway, wait and see and I will experience it. They all say they are the best, I know better... So, I answer that I am not worried, I will leave that to them... As soon as the "angel" makes her appearance and inspects my arms, wrists and hands, she says to her colleague "complicado, muy complicado"... Why does that not surprise me... After half an hour on the hard iron table and six painful punctures with thick needles in both my arms, hands, and legs, the seventh in my foot is finally a hit after a long search and a lot of digging! When they help me off the hard iron table after 30 minutes, I am visited by the man with the hammer. I am feeling unwell and, to the unease of Angel and co, I am temporarily out of the world. After more than half an hour in the scanning room, I am back with Dirk in the waiting room, who anxiously asks why I have been gone so long. That is why. When we go to pay and it turns out I have an appointment for a bacteriological examination tomorrow at 8:40h, I cannot help laughing because the garden contractor is coming back tomorrow. That means I must spend time on it. Hopefully, everything will go smoothly.
Anne and Fred will arrive on Thursday for surgery. It has been over two years since Fred was very ill. Our doctor, a heavy smoker, had to undergo surgery for a lung tumor and then had a very long recovery. Therefore, Anne could not come without her assistant. It was a terrible time for Fred and all those who loved him, who were aware of his condition and could only anxiously wait to see if we would see our dear friend again at Casa Belgica. Fortunately, everything is behind us now, our doctor Fred has been declared cured. And Thursday cannot come soon enough for me to hug them, because, as I said, we have not seen him and Anne in over two years and I have missed them terribly.
Thursday the 27th of November 2025
An hour and a half after Dirk left for the airport, I got a call that Anne and Fred had arrived and that he was on his way to the parking lot with them. They would be home within the next hour! I could not help but ask how Fred looked. When Dirk replied that he had put on a bit of weight, I could not imagine a Fred, always super slim, putting on a bit of weight. Anyway, I could not believe my luck that they were on their way and went to check their room again. Half an hour later, the reunion was equally emotional for everyone, and none of us (especially me) knew what to do with our emotions. Both Anne and Fred, who had indeed gained a bit of weight, were eager to get started, but first, a quick lunch of fresh, full-fat tomato soup and plenty of peppino and salads Anne’s style . A green lunch was interrupted by Marie-Carmen bringing the first 10 dogs. When I shuffled after them an hour later, they had already started. The second woman on Anne's table is an elderly female with a huge, hideous nipple tumor and a rotten uterus from the many puppies she was forced to give birth to. Meanwhile, the elderly female Anne "restored" as best as possible after major surgery is on Fred's table for her teething and care. When I tell Anne to be gentle with Fred, she laughs, "pas de pitié, claquez le fouet" (meaning, no pity, use the whip). They are still operating when I convince Dirk to ask Marie-Carmen to bring the terrified young male who has been in quarantine for weeks. Maybe he can learn something among all those women...
When he arrives, the first thing he does is look for a way out and take off running to get over the wall, thankfully, it is a vain hope. In any case, he is in terrible emotional distress and must have been treated terribly in his young life.
After the first 10 ladies dream of a new future, Anne and Fred savor my "succulent" vegetarian spaghetti with vegetarian mince. Meanwhile, we reminisce about wonderful memories and funny anecdotes. Because Anne and Fred have been up since 4:00h this morning, they will give the 10 patients a final checkup at 22:00h and then go to sleep. Tomorrow they will be up at 7:00h to care for the dogs, and at 9:00, Marie-Carmen will arrive with 10 "new" ladies. Dirk goes to check on the scared black man I have named Julius. Despite the presence of the ladies, he refuses to come inside; he absolutely wants to sleep outside, so we let him sleep outside in a warm basket with a warm coat. Forcing him would be a hopeless task and would destroy his "trust," if he even has any. My last thoughts before falling asleep are for Fred; I am so glad he is back and doing so well.
Friday the 28th of November 2025
It is not even 7:00h yet when Anne and Fred check on the dogs to see if everything is okay. Five minutes later, Dirk follows to clean up and hose down the garden, and Julius is all right. At 8:00h, Marie-Carmen arrives with the next 10 ladies, and we are forced to interrupt breakfast. Lady's first, right? Six more follow in the afternoon. Once breakfast is cleared away, I start my update, which I interrupt fifteen minutes later to check on the new arrivals. It is all doom and gloom again. Discarded, very scared, tyrannized females fresh from hunting, and so on. Among them is an old breeding female with a piece of her tail missing and a nasty head wound that apparently caused the loss of one of her eyes! Most likely her punishment for not producing enough puppies, because the wound and the loss of her eye are certainly not due to accidentally bumping into something. When I take her head in my hands and speak softly to her, she looks at me searchingly with one eye, and I instantly lose heart, even though I had promised Dirk and myself I would not. But just try keeping your promise when you look into that one eye, where you can read how much she has suffered during her horrific life and how much she has suffered under the atrocities her owner was capable of. After the 10 from yesterday took their first steps outside where it is cold, but the sun is shining generously, and we are on the green, the "green" lunch, the next 6 baby proof candidates arrive.
Among them is an elderly female dog with a gaping wound where her leg meets her buttock, so Anne and Fred immediately get back to work and take the elderly female dog first. Just like yesterday, after a few hours, I treat them with fruit while I check on the patients, twelve of whom are already warmly covered in the stalls, recovering from the life-changing surgery. When they came upstairs for dinner a few hours later, I made "tropical" rice with fresh peppers in all colors, zucchini and eggplant, onions, etc., during the update. It is very much enjoyed after the usual aperitif. Just like yesterday, we stayed at the table until Anne and Fred check on the patients around 22:00h and then go to bed. After that, Dirk stays to watch the (excuse me)sometimes long-winded Masked Singer. Out of sympathy, I am watching. In the clinic and the new "recovery" area, 26 galgos are happily enjoying their rest, well, 27 including Julius, who has now found his place among the ladies...
Saturday the 29th of November 2025
On the last day before their departure, they get up at 6:45h to visit their patients. Dirk follows them outside, goes around with his "what else" poop mobile, sprays them down with water, lots of water, and collects the night sheets to put in the washing machines. Meanwhile, I make the bed and rush to the kitchen, just in time for breakfast, which, as always, is interrupted by the arrival of Marie-Carmen, who brings the last eight galgos to be sterilized. Once these ladies have had their surgeries, have pearly white teeth, and an "S" tattoo in their ear, all the galgo residents at the shelter (about 200 of them) are baby proof thanks to Marianne and assistant Dirk Buffalo, and Anne and Dr. Fred. The big question is how long it will last, because unfortunately, there will be plenty of hunting again tomorrow, and more injured and starving galgos will be left behind and find their way to the shelter. Anyway, after the sterilizations, there are a few extra treatments today and a mixed-breed female to sterilize. Plenty of work for their last day. As soon as I am alone, I start updating my update and then go downstairs to check where it is quite crowded now, because both the warm clinic and the well-heated recovery room are all occupied. A few females are strolling relaxed outside in the sun. As always, the ever-scared Julius lies in a basket among the females and allows me to fiddle with his ears and pet his head, but there is still a lot of work to be done, sigh. We will see. The young females who arrived yesterday are more peaceful.
Despite this, there are still a few scared little ones who have not yet processed their trauma and flee when we get too close. It is so frustrating that we cannot convince them that we do not need them to be afraid, that it is all behind them. After a late lunch, they go back downstairs to clean up the clinic and leave it spic and span. Dirk puts the last of the toilet towels in the two industrial washing machines. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, I start preparing cauliflower in white sauce with potatoes and veggie burgers for later and slowly continue writing my update. In the evening, after an aperitif, they enjoy my cauliflower supper proving I am capable of more than just spaghetti (just kidding). Afterwards, it is inevitably time for memories, the exciting stories we experienced and survived together. Above all, there is incomprehension about the fact that, apart from a few, no one seems to realize what is happening to the world, nature, and the animals. That we might be the last generation to see tropical and other animals and whales in their real life before they are all wiped out. They should not count on humans, because most of them are only concerned with themselves. Anne and Fred go to sleep after a final visit to the dogs, and we, of course, stay to watch one or another movie, even though I am completely exhausted and worn out, and a few other superlatives…
Sunday the 30th of November 2025
After the last visit to their patients and the last breakfast together, we say goodbye, hopefully not for long. After the traditional photo, Fred reassures me that I need to take good care of myself and think of the dogs; I do nothing else…While Dirk takes them to the airport, I sit downstairs and philosophize among the 35 galgos.
In the afternoon, my husband, who was on his way to Spain last Sunday, watches the cross-country race. I fall asleep and dream of a better world. Not so…
