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----- Original Message
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From: Halie Hovenga
To: jmaznar@presidencia.gob.es
Cc: ester.fernandez@gpp.congreso.es ; grupo.popular@gpp.congreso.es
Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2003 4:44 PM
Subject: Americans Clean Up After Animal Cruelty in Spain
CC: Teofilo de Luis, Secretario
Tecnico del Grupo Popular
Government's Group at the Spanish Congress
November 19, 2002
Dear President Aznar,
I write you today for the sake of the galgo. A beloved animal
used for hunting in Spain, the galgo is treasured for speed,
and both the man and boy love them. I know, because we've adopted
un galgo, and walk her among the streets of Rota, Cadiz, where
we live as members of the American military at El Base Naval,
Rota.
Wishing to adopt a greyhound from the kennels on the base, we
arrived too late to find her already adopted. We then turned
to Spain to see if there were "greyhounds" in need.
What we found was horrific--these very same, beloved and gentle
creatures are regularly disposed of at the end of hare coursing
season. An endless number of galgos are abandoned, beaten, tortured,
hung, drowned EVERY year at the end of hunting season! President
Aznar, we were stunned to discover that this atrocity goes on
right underneath your very nose. Surely, you don't condone this
disgusting and shameful behavior in your own country?
Researching further, I discovered that Americans and Europeans
alike are desperately attempting to rescue, fund, support and
send aid to the thousands of dogs struggling to survive in Spain
on a yearly basis. Greyhound rescue organizations such as the
American-European
Greyhound Alliance are attempting to raise money to fund
the cleanup of your problem at this very moment.
Shelters such as a rare no-kill shelter in Villa Martin and Scooby in Medina del Campo
struggle to do what you and Spain have not the courage for, to
change a broken system, a system of condoned torture. But, they
have little hands and little money, and count on support from
the United States and elsewhere in Europe to afford the expenses
associated with operating a rescue shelter. They're fighting
a long, uphill battle, a battle against the blindly accepted,
longstanding traditions of cruelty and animal torture in Spain.
This battle can end with your help, President Aznar. I ask you
to be accountable for this problem. Only you have the power to
create solutions for your country. Will you use it to continue
this heinous problem, or will you take the lead, and establish
a nation kinder to animals?
I'm sure you agree that Spain has much more to offer world tourists
other than bloody animal sacrifice. My short stay here has brought
much pleasure in visiting old white towns, beautiful rolling
countrysides, the beaches of Costa de la Luz y del Sol, mounting
biking the Vias Verdes, meeting the beautiful Spanish people,
drinking sherry and feeling the rythm of flaminco--and we look
forward to so much more. Not once in the year I've lived here
have I been to a bull fight, and certainly hope not to see a
galgo hang.
Spain's traditions of animal cruelty are a an embarrassment to
your people and your country, President Aznar, and have no place
in our world of the future. Please, bring Spain into the 21st
century by outlawing animal cruelty in your country, and punishing
those who continue to commit these horrific crimes against galgos
in Spain.
Sincerely,
Halie S. Hovenga |