Galgos del Sol

HOW WE BEGAN

In 2007, Tina Solera, her husband and two young children moved to Spain to escape the infamous British weather. Little did Tina realize, upon moving to Spain, that she would make the decision that would change her life forever. In addition, she changed the lives of thousands of dogs desperately in need of help.

Always an animal lover, Tina could not tolerate the treatment of the Spanish galgos, a traditional hunting dog breed, and decided to devote herself to their rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming. The galgos with their indomitable spirits, needle-noses and spider-legs, completely captured her heart. One galgo rescued, gave way to another and another until it became clear that the Solera household was vastly undersized for the number of dogs that needed help. There were nights that Tina slept in her car with a newly rescued galgo simply because there wasn't any more room.

With no prior experience in running a non-profit organization, Tina taught herself Spanish language and established Galgos del Sol (GDS), a legal, licensed Spanish charity. With the generous offer of the use of their property, the home of Gaynor and Les Davies become the first site of GDS. Les built the kennels and Gaynor provided care for the dogs. Without their initial help, Tina acknowledges that GDS would not be where it is today. Murcia, the area in which the Soleras reside, is a prolific hunting ground making the demands on GDS relentless. Because of Tina and Team GDS, thousands have been rescued, rehabilitated and rehomed.

THE CENTER

Thanks to the generosity and support of our donors the Galgos del SoL Centre is fully functional and growing! After years of having the dogs in three different locations at one time, they are now housed in one protected and legally approved facility. The 200+ dogs reside in multiple kennel blocks with indoor/outdoor access, running water bowls and piped in music. There are multiple exercise areas, a quarantine block, puppy block, birthing and mum with new borns block, several smaller kennels for dogs that do not adapt well to big kennel life, a sensory walk for stimulus, a memorial garden for respite and agility areas for training. There is a reception building, two residences for full-time onsite volunteers, sleeping pods for short-term volunteers, the education building for school age programs, a free standing kitchen and multiple storage areas. Granny Pants Place houses the vet clinic, including an Operation Room, a grooming salon and a storage room.The GDS local and international volunteer program has proved a great success for socializing the dogs. GDS strives to provide the very best for the dogs while they are waiting to be adopted into forever homes.

THE GDS CENTRE — ALMOST FINISHED!

TINA’S JOURNEY

THE BEGINNING

APPRECIATION

GDS would be nothing without all of you! 

GIN UK (Greyhounds in Need UK) have supported GDS almost from the beginning. Founded by the late Anne and the late Arthur Finch, Anne is an inspiration to Tina. GIN UK is run by great people who are complete professionals.  They have been instrumental in the way that GDS  functions and we cannot thank them enough for their support and financial help. GIN has made, and continues to make, a huge difference to the galgos in Spain. There are also a number of volunteers, local and foreign, who have been with us through thick and thin — floods, mice, pooh, flat tires, rivers of urine — who have never strayed from their commitment to the dogs. You guys know who you are and we love you!