Spain update sept 2025
Monday, the 8th of September 2025
After the last update, work continues every day from morning to night! At least 3 or 4 workers, or even one or two more, depending on the workload. Since the beginning of the work, two full containers of waste, gravel, and plant debris have been left every week, only to be replaced by empty ones the same day. A Sisyphean task that seems endless. Dirk does everything he can to help, walking around from morning to night like Black Pete, or am I even allowed to say that anymore? With my stiff, arthritic bones and weak muscles, I do what I can too. In any case, every day, in every hidden corner and corner, you see more the extent of the damage and the corresponding work needed to undo it. Sometimes I wonder if it is even worth rebuilding everything and making it better than it was. For what, for whom? With everything happening in the world, fewer people are interested and sympathetic to the plight of galgos in Spain, but even more to their own… The number of adoption applications from people who are "interested" and do not respond when I call them from Spain that same day is mind-boggling. I have never experienced anything like it. If I do manage to reach the person in question after some urging and/or trying to get through via the regions, I am given an excuse. They are not sure yet because someone is against it, they want to see the dogs before adopting, they already have another dog in mind, or they suddenly must go abroad for six months for work, or they are undergoing surgery—you name it. Sometimes I get "candidates" on the phone who, after just three minutes, I sense are not going to adopt, but they keep me talking for half an hour, either with their life stories or with the most unimaginable questions, which sometimes make me wonder if it is a game or malicious intent. In any case, I always remain diplomatic. However, if it gets out of hand, I sometimes hang up because such people can be very frustrating, tiring, extremely disrespectful, and very rude. But so be it, all for the sake of giving a galgo a good home, right? Or is this the end of the story, I sometimes anxiously wonder… Fortunately, we have our loyal supporters whom we can always count on. People I have known for 20 years or more, some of whom always participate in walks and events, and come to adopt a second, third, fourth, or fifth dog on adoption days, to take the place of their deceased galgo so that him/her did not die in vain. People I have unwavering faith in, and hopefully, they too have faith in me, GINB, and all its staff.
Thursday, the 11th of September 2025
After Dirk picked up his co-driver, Dirk B, at the airport on Tuesday and they then got everything ready for departure, I waved them goodbye at 9:18h today, and they are now on their way to Belgium with 16 dogs on board. Because my back made it impossible to travel to Belgium, I will stay behind with little Titabah after the doctor's advice, and I will try again next Thursday to be present at the "Flemish Ardennes" walk in Nukerke. After the adoption day, Dirk will return to Spain on Sunday morning with Yolanda’s Luc as co-driver, and we will fly back to Belgium together on Thursday. After Sunday's walk, we will return to Spain because the owners of our dog hotel are going on leave on Monday, and we must pick up the dogs immediately after our arrival. So, there is a lot to look forward to. Anyway, apart from the fact that I was not there, everything went as planned. The adoption day went smoothly, and because I had provided a note with my apologies for my absence to all the adopters, my peace of mind was somewhat eased. After everyone had left with their new housemates and the birthday cakes were finished, Dirk and Luc d'Artagnan went to De Pinte. After a short night, he and Luc returned to Spain a day and a half after their arrival, arriving at Casa Belgica at 10:00h after an 18-hour drive. After a day of rest, Luc flew back to Belgium. After his departure, we still had a good week to get everything ready and store up supplies for the arrival of Tasch and Kristien, who came to Spain on October 3rd, 4th, and 5th for a "reality check" on the cause they are so passionately committed to. As always, I wondered what it would do to them, because talking about it and seeing photos are not the same as seeing, feeling, and smelling so many rescued souls waiting for a glimmer of hope.
Saturday, the 26th of September 2025
As always, the ample time I thought was still left, flew by because I was constantly receiving
"bad and fake news" which constantly preoccupied me. Yet another "failed hunt" victim had been delivered to the shelter, a starving, young, terrified white-black male who, like so many before him and many more to come, had been dumped there by the galguero. Meanwhile, I spent hours on the phone while the workmen were still busy laying bricks, grinding, turning concrete, and so on. I was literally and figuratively sick of all the infernal noise and all that dust-eating that had been going on for over a month and a half. But do not worry, things were moving along. Not so with the adoptions... Just last Friday, I received a call from a French-speaking, bossy lady who absolutely wanted a young wire-haired galgo. She could not find one on the website and asked if I could send her some photos if there were any! No, we are not going to do that, so I politely told her I could not fulfill her request. Thus, I asked Marie-Carmen to send me all the photos and information about the wire-haired dogs that were ready and called the woman back to say she had to check her computer regularly because we were going to put the wire-haired dogs on the website this weekend. Apparently, she did not have much patience, because being authoritarian she called me back four times. When I let the woman know the next day that the dogs were on the website, I did not hear anything back. On Monday, a prospective adopter canceled his adoption after a home visit, and the next day I received a negative response from the regions after a home visit. Unbelievable, what are people doing? Shopping? Sharing their made-up stories? Pretending to be interesting? No respect? One thing is certain: the mentality has changed terribly.
Friday, the 3rd of October 2025
It is barely 7:00h when we receive photos from Tasch and Kristien on board the plane. The ladies, both eagerly anticipating their visit to GINB's "hotspot" in Spain, need to be picked up between now and three o'clock. So, after breakfast, Dirk calmly gets ready and leaves, as it is rushing hour for the airport, as always. Meanwhile, I get ready to start lunch and prepare tonight's copious "plat consistent," which they will be able to enjoy, as they are visiting the shelter this afternoon.
An hour and a half later, our curious dog children shower them with kisses and hugs that are literally and figuratively overwhelming privileges that not all visitors appreciate. These ladies certainly do, as it is part of the inevitable welcome procedure. After being shown to their rooms, which also elicited the inevitable ego-boosting oooohs and aaahhs, they were given the usual tour of the clinic and were able to admire the new version of the half-finished recovery room and discover the mountains of work that had been done since the fire. The culmination of all the work was the 100-meter-long "Belgica wall," which once again separated us from the neighbors on the left side and guaranteed our privacy, and especially that of the dogs. We had not yet found a permanent solution for the right side, pinning our hopes on the modest fronds of ivy cautiously trying to make their way upward. It was a long-term undertaking, as the new neighbor did not care about anything, did not water, and did not weed the burnt branches.... We were running out of money to put up an extra 100-meter fence ourselves, and there was still so much to be done. Anyway, if we remembered that the neighbors higher up were constantly looking down on us and our curiously barking dogs, something might get done sooner than anticipated, money or no money. After getting acquainted with "our life as it is in Spain," Tasch and Kristien sat down for lunch with gusto, keeping an eye on their watches because they were expected at the shelter at 16:00h, the "Highlight" of their visit!! When they left after the pleasantly animated lunch, I watched them go and wished I could spend the next two hours inside their heads; unfortunately, "AI" had not progressed that far yet. Anyway, it had to be this way, I would not even think of using it!! I hate it. I am many things, but I am not a robot; I still think for myself.
About two hours after their departure, they arrived "home" with a sea of emotion. The fact that a galguero had dumped a scrawny, young female dog with a deformed leg during their visit had been a real confrontation with reality. They knew it was a daily reality for us, but there was a stark difference between knowing and experiencing it firsthand. During the much-appreciated aperitif, they thoughtfully processed their impressions, and I noticed that, like many previous visitors, they were less talkative than before. It was not unusual when your preconceived notion of a situation was transformed into stark reality, and you were face to face with about 200 galgos all waiting for a home. I completely understood, because after all these years, I still sometimes panic when I sit in an enclosure among a large group of poor souls, my throat constricted and tears streaming down my cheeks. Then I am always confronted with the immense responsibility of finding a good home forever for everyone. Now Tasch and Kristien might know what I am feeling. Next week the big influx will start again, with dozens and dozens of abandoned and injured galgos arriving because hunting season is starting, so... If we can just keep funding all this, I sometimes worry, because with the declining adoptions, membership, and participation in our festivities, etc., you never know where it will end. Anyway, let us hope, because it often keeps me up at night. In the conversations that follow, they slowly regain their calmness, and we hear that they did not know it was such a big project. They tell us about these and those who were so sweet and adorable, and Roxy, the wire-haired boy who immediately fell in love with Kristien and vice versa, and that sweet black girl who had a crush on Tasch. After the aperitif, it is time for the delicious mushrooms and pasta, and the ladies, despite being up from 3:00h in the morning, cannot stop talking until late at night. After a final coffee, they finally go to bed, tired. After preparing for tomorrow's breakfast, we also go. There are more activities planned for tomorrow. Activities that involve finding photos for upcoming projects. Analog photos though, can be found and searched for in many boxes containing them. Loads and loads, sigh, fortunately I have help!!
Saturday, the 4th and Sunday the 5th of October 2025
After a productive and lively Saturday filled with stories and photos, and even more photos and stories, interspersed with a pleasant lunch and dinner, they will depart for Belgium on Sunday after the very last lunch and a long series of thank-you, with a barrel full of GINB knowledge and many plans. I hope these days were productive and informative for everyone involved.
Thursday, the 9th, Friday the 10th and Saturday the 11th of October 2025
After dropping the dogs off at the dog hotel yesterday, we are also leaving for Belgium, with the necessary delays. At the border control, where things get worse every trip for people in wheelchairs, I must take off my open shoes, and they search from my head to toe for drug possession! At Zaventem airport, much to the annoyance of a grumpy Dirk, we must wait behind a line of arguing tourists, some with valid driver's licenses, for half an hour to get our reserved rental car. The result is a never-ending traffic jam, while Dirk curses every saint he knows, sighs, and it takes longer from Zaventem to De Pinte than from Madrid to Brussels, and sighs again. When we finally arrive in De Pinte, it will be good after 18:00h, and we still must do some shopping to have something to eat that evening. I am exhausted and fed up with all the flying back and forth, and especially with the airport politics, but I cannot get rid of it. Besides, if I must travel to Belgium, I have no choice but to take the plane and experience everything as calmly as possible, which sometimes works better than others.
The next day, Dirk spends practically the entire day on his bookkeeping and cannot be disturbed in his bubble. I resign myself to it, not tired of my life yet, and while he is still busy with numbers, I prepare frameworks for tomorrow's GINB meeting, because all participants receive a number in their folder that corresponds to one of the prizes. Meanwhile, I wonder how the dogs are doing, especially Hyppolythe, who is in the dog hotel for the first time. When we inquire, the owners send back a video with the news that he is doing well. He is just a little timid and overwhelmed but feels supported by his family. A great relief. We both work until late in the afternoon and do not feel like doing anything afterward. We just eat and then watch TV with half an eye whilst I get everything ready for tomorrow, check my outfit again, and go to bed, knowing I will be up far too early because I have a lot of work. Especially with applying my war colours, because since the fire I have had a hard time physically shaking off the effort and worries, so I need a lot of camouflage.
An hour and a half later, Raymond and his wife welcomed us to the restaurant in Vilvoorde, where the first co-workers had already arrived. As in previous years, they have taken care of the preparations for the meeting and the dinner afterwards. The meeting begins promptly at 10:00h. I welcome everyone and start with the topics submitted to me by the regions and co-workers. Once that is done, Tasch and Yannick can present their social media ideas. Once everything is finalized, "kitchen princess" Inge Mariman, who has been a kitchen presence for years, is honored. Raymond Vandeput and his wife Claire, like R. Buekenhout, are also not forgotten for their years of dedication. After the formalities, it is time for an aperitif, after which we sit down at the table, where we enjoy a delicious meal and lively conversation.
After the "award ceremony," everyone says goodbye, and Dirk and I head back to Zaventem where we will spend the night. The next day we will travel back to Spain to pick up the dogs, as the owners of the dog hotel are going on vacation. That concludes our trip to Belgium...
Tomorrow, back to reality, back to noise, workers, dust, and more, as the work still is not fully completed. The "laundry" still needs a new roof, the dog patio needs a roof, and Dirk, after painting everything outside, also needs to paint the clinic... Plenty of work to be done! Still a lot to do before Anne and Fred come to operate from November 27th to 30th.
Tuesday, the 14th of October 2025
This morning at 8:00h, I met for the first time the very young female dog, whose owner had abandoned her like trash with a deformed leg. Dirk, along with the regionals Tasch and Kristien, witnessed this to their dismay during their introductory visit to the shelter on Friday, the 3rd of October. No one knew whether the leg was broken or not.
Because we were leaving for Belgium shortly after the regionals for the annual meeting, I sent an email to Dr. De Frutos with the necessary explanation. He replied that they were expecting us at 9:00h on Tuesday, the 14th of October, which is today. After several hours of waiting for the blood test results and the scan, it was confirmed that the leg was not broken but deformed due to extreme food shortages. He will therefore have a 3D bone made to replace her deformed one and will let us know when the bone is ready and when the surgery can take place. On the way home, she wets her pants just like she did on the outward journey and cries heartbreakingly, so we are holding our breath for the introduction of our dogs…
No need, because as desperate as she was during the trip, she is just as thrilled when she sees our "peloton." She immediately senses she has nothing to fear from them or from us. When we bend down to pet her, she crawls fearfully on the floor, her history speaking for itself. Meanwhile, she briskly walks in and out, keeping watch next to my chair while I write her short story, which, I fear, could become a long one. I have named her JULIETTE. Now, whether it is Romeo or not, Hippolythe, our tripod, is very interested in her. Two days later, we received a message from Dr. The Frutos said that after analyzing the scan, they saw that one bone was broken. The second is still flexible due to her youth, so it is not necessary to break it as well. The surgery can be done sooner, and we can take her to the clinic next Wednesday, the 22nd of October at 9:00h.
Wednesday, the 22nd of October 2025
As agreed, we leave for Talavera with Juliette at 8:00h, ask Dr. De Frutos if it is possible to sterilize her at the same time, and return to Casa Belgica because they will call us when we can pick her up. In the afternoon, we received a message that both surgeries went well and we could pick her up at 19:00h. Before Dirk leaves, we receive photos of the major surgery on her left leg, which, as far as the X-rays show, is perfectly straight. Spectacular, considering what it was like. It is 9:00 PM when Dirk returns home with the sick girl, and we curl her up in a donut in the living room. She spends the rest of the evening quietly moaning and crying, still asleep. You would be for less. My heart overflows with pity, but the worst is yet to come. Rehabilitation begins tomorrow, once the painkillers wear off. While Juliette bravely, sometimes too bravely and too enthusiastically, begins her recovery in the days that follow, we receive a message that a man wants to give up his two eight-year-old dogs as soon as possible and immediately due to a divorce. Things are not going well because he refuses to fulfill his contractual obligations, and the woman claims she does not care anymore. Despite everything, he drops them off at Hof Rosa Canina, where they discover that neither the male nor the female has seen a vet since their adoption. I am angry, disappointed, and everything in between, but what good is it? When people throw their dogs out in such unscrupulous ways without adhering to the signed contract, you cannot expect much from them, only trouble. In any case, our first concern now is the poor dogs. Then it is the owner’s turn. We will not let the dogs or us be messed with.
Friday, the 24th of October, Friday, the 31st of October 2025
Today we leave at 8:00h with Juliette back to Talavera, where she has an appointment with Dr. De Frutos. A little over an hour later, we arrive at the clinic, and Dr. De Frutos takes us first into his office, where, with the help of an assistant, he removes Juliette's bandage. She is not exactly thrilled with the outcome, acting like a real diva. Regardless, the doctor is very pleased with the results, so he sends her home with a light bandage and insists she wears an "Elizabeth collar" to keep her from licking her wound. If all goes well, she must return for a consultation in a few weeks. Today is a week later, and we have had a hellish time with Juliette. She refused to wear an "Elizabeth collar"; all she wanted to do was hysterically bite, scratch, lick, and so on. It was a nightmare. After trying everything, we finally put a beanie on her. However, because the scar was healing and constantly itching, she could not keep her paws off it, even with a muzzle. To our dismay, her rubbing loosened a thread, and the wound started to leak. Despite her collar, she took off the bandage faster than Dirk could apply it! So, the collar was bandaged as well and attached to her neckband to prevent her from taking it off.
Even though she could not get it off, she kept violently rubbing against everything, especially me. Like a battering ram trying to take me down, it is extremely frustrating and exhausting for everyone involved. When she went outside to pee with the other dogs, Clothilde made it an honor to free her friend from the annoying thing, pulling and tugging at it to get it off. I had my hands full because Dirk was painting the new recovery area in the back, so I was on my own. It was extremely tiring because I cannot bend down without falling over, I have no strength and cannot stand on my feet because my balance is not what it should be. Otherwise, everything is fine... Anyway, we do not know how things will go in the coming week; hopefully, she will have come to terms with it by then. Although, she has a strong will, one to be proud of. As I write this, she is sleeping like a little angel on the couch next to me, albeit with one eye open to keep an eye on me… As soon as I get up, she runs after me, thumping her muzzle relentlessly like a true boxing champion, into the crook of my knees, against my legs, the couch, the doors, basically everything. A sign to remind me that she does not appreciate what we are doing to her, sigh… What will next week be like? Meanwhile, Dirk applies a fresh bandage three times a day, and the wound, aside from the ever-shrinking hole, looks fine…
Saturday, the 1st of November 2025
Because I had persistent symptoms and remained exhausted after the fire, I finally decided, after much protesting and Dirk's insistence, to make an appointment at a new clinic in Navalcarnero. They had all the necessary facilities, such as scans, X-rays, ultrasounds, etc., and performed blood tests and consulted with various doctors in various specialties. Communication was not going well because both secretaries at the reception desk only spoke Spanish. To my surprise, one of the secretaries asked if I spoke French. When I confirmed, she said she had a colleague who spoke French and would call me back! Indeed, after just a few minutes, the nurse in question called back, asked what the problem was, and said she was so happy to be able to speak French for once. After an animated conversation, she said she would arrange everything as quickly as possible and called back shortly after to say I was expected at 10:20 h on Monday, the 3rd of November, with a general practitioner who would decide what to do.
Wednesday, the 5th of November 2025
It was exactly 10:25h when the general practitioner called me into his office. My first question was if he spoke English, and his answer was a little, so I summoned my best Spanish and tried to explain my problem. It was not easy, but I managed, as it was a young, friendly doctor named Angel, so what more could you ask for?
After Dirk, who was much involved, assisted me and explained my minor problems to the best of his ability, I received three prescriptions for three different days. One for blood and urine analysis, one for abdominal and spinal X-rays, and one for an ultrasound. I groaned to Dirk about dog-sitting Juliette for three days. When we got home three hours later, I received a call from the "French woman" who had arranged everything in one day! The day after tomorrow, Wednesday, I was expected at 8:55h for the blood and urine test, half an hour later for the ultrasound, and another half hour later for the X-rays!
Once everything was done, and on time (!), I got an appointment with Dr. Angel, who would see me the following Wednesday at... Fantastic, I thought everything would be handled quickly.
When we got home, the Venezuelan doggy sitter said Tito had not been feeling well for a while. He had vomited a little, but only water. As she explained, the weather grew darker, and ominous purple-gray clouds raged over Casa Belgica. Even as she was telling her story, Tito started gagging again and had difficulty breathing. We were so shocked that we did not want to wait, so Dirk immediately took him to the local vet. Shortly after, a storm started blowing, lightning struck, and the first claps of thunder resounded. Half an hour later, Dirk was back without Tito. X-rays had been taken from his lungs, and they did not look good. We were both devastated. Tito had never been sick in the nine years he had been with us, not even yesterday!
I immediately thought of Leopold II and Amadeus, who had both died after experiencing the same symptoms after never having been sick, and I shared my thoughts with Dirk. An hour later, we received a call from the vet that he was unconscious, completely blue, and would not make it. They asked if they could let him go.
Dirk went there alone, I could not. I could not grasp the fact that I would never see him again and never be able to give him a cookie. Tito had suddenly left us out of the blue and had gone to heaven. My bitter tears would not help. That evening, Leopold III lay thoughtfully in Tito's donut, as if he still wanted to smell and feel him; he clearly missed him. So did we... The last of the Mohicans departed for the eternal hunting grounds. Now the oldest is Loulou, and she is only 5; the remaining are two, three, and four years old. They will all outlive me, I sometimes think...
