Hope for Podencos - 2023 you have been both incredible and real!
What a year you have been 2023! There were moments when we thought we would never find a way through for Steve to keep the charity running exactly the way we all envisioned and dreamed - for both the pods and the stretched team. But we also had shared moments of absolute joy that we will remember forever.
Asher, our first pod with the incredible Galgos del Sol
The wonderful Asher rescued and rehabilitated by Galgos del Sol and re-homed by Hope for Podencos - he is our first official joint podenco and is already adopted and in his new home!
Working with our Spanish network means pods will be rescues and rehabilitates as before in kenells and we will re-home the pods and provide all the ongoing advice, support and rescue back up. So it means very little change for our adopters past, present and future. It’s still Hope for Podencos and it’s still Steve and the team
What does this mean for the centre? It is now being run by another independent charity (not GDS!) so Steve can come home. All funds from the centre will be transferred to our new UK charity (in progress) and owned by the foundation and the pods as always. Steve will take a well deserved break, but once back we will plan out the future for the charity - be that sharing funds with other podenco rescues that need it or for a smaller centre in the UK to bring the tricker pods to before rehoming.
To celebrate and to share our plans in more detail we will be launching our new website in early 2024 with the help of our very talented friend and artist Snootography.
Its a huge undertaking for the team but it feels like the right time, we have always been and will always be open and honest with our amazing community and supporters.
We are super excited to include in the site launch our new webshop full of HFP merch and items made by our partners - Settling Blankets for training by Genna, Martingale Collars by Hound Heart Collars, Pet Portraits by Snootography and anything else you can suggest - just pop us a message using the suggestion box at the bottom of this page!
Stop The March, a peaceful protest with NAC and partners Free Spanish Hounds
In 2024 we will also be showing our support by attending a peaceful protest on Saturday 3rd February 2024 in London to give voices to the pods that we care so much for. Part of a wider movement started by Spanish animal rights movement Plataforma NAC, similar protests take place all over Europe on the same weekend. The UK has never taken part before but it’s time we lend our voices. We are part of the organisation team and will be in attendance with our pods on the day with our boss man Steve! A celebration of him coming home and a reminder of everything him and Irene have been fighting for over the last 15 years, and will continue to do so.
We would love to see as many of you there as possible. You can visit the website and register for your spot with your dog so the team can get an idea on number of people attending. You can also share your dogs story from rescue to re-home to be handed to The Spanish Embassy on the day and shared on Instagram and Facebook to promote the event and the breeds.
The very talented Hound Heart Collars are making special martingales for the day that can be purchased on their website to show solidarity for the cause!
So thats what we have planned for 2024, now lets take a quick look back at the joys of 2023!
We were incredibly lucky to be involved in the Faithful Hound Project, Podencos in Scotland book.
The amazing An Di Prima came out to visit and interview Steve, what a read, it still brings a tear to our eyes just thinking about it. The pictures of the pods and words of our boss man Steve, this is the very real life of rescue and Andi captures it all. To then see the breed we work so hard for so celebrated and loved, living the dream - it really captures their spirit and what truly wonderful dogs they really are. We loved seeing all the charities together with their rescues in the one book.
This led to the front cover of Wunderdog magazine and an interview with Andi on pods and her beautiful book, which can be purchased on her website using the link above with proceeds going to all charities involved - its raised over £1000 so far!
Last but not least, we were so thrilled for Andi to hear she won International Pet Photographer of the year in the Documentary category for her picture of Steve and Santos - such an incredible dog who found his forever home this year with the help of Galgos del Sol. Thank you everyone for being such a big part of his story and happy ending.
And finally, last but by no means least as we said goodbye to the centre and home of our boss lady Irene we did it together, as a team - our new team. We will never forget our Spanish family - Vanessa, Bea & Miryiam you have been a lifeline in hard times, but when we return it will be to raise a glass and enjoy your company.
We welcome Cara, Gemma and Genna to the HFP family. We couldn’t have done this year without you and we are so excited that at a time when it felt like this would be our last year, we pulled together and managed to ensure Hope for Podencos will continue and will grow again to fight the good fight.
The last visit helped us plan to get all the pods out of the centre and into new homes, which we are so close to completing before Steve comes home. Thank you to everyone of you that followed, shared, sponsored, donated, fundraised, adopted, fostered, made collars (thats you Elaine!) and volunteered at the centre - or in the UK, thank you Claire M for all your advice and support for the pods.
What a way to end the year with our last transport being Mama Irene, adopted by the infamous Granny Grant! Her first Podenco, and one so dear to us from our incredible friends over at Podenco Pack.
Thats enough from us, go enjoy the holiday season as we take a well deserved break from Saturday 23rd December through to Monday 8th January.
With much love! Steve, the pods and HFP team xxx
If you would like to adopt a podenco you can see our available dogs here!