CHICA’S CHALLENGE: One dog and her man walking across Spain to raise money for their Podenco friends

Chica loves to walk and Tom, her man, loves to walk too. So they’ve teamed up to hike the whole length of Spain, from Tarifa to Andorra, a distance of around 1,900 kilometres for two Spanish dog rescue charities.

Tom Day, from Somerset in the UK, and Chica are aiming to cover around 20 kilometres a day, weather permitting, on the GR7 long-distance path and camp out en route to help support their four-legged friends.

Secret Serrania caught up with them in the pretty pueblo blanco of Jimera de Líbar towards the start of their adventure.

Chica is a podenco that was rescued in Spain. She’s now a very happy, healthy dog now but it wasn’t always so. Many like her suffer abandonment at the end of the hunting season so they hope to raise money to improve the situation for these gentle loving dogs along the way.

Why Spanish dogs?

Tom’s partner and support team member Gill Crane said, “I know some people will question why we are choosing to support dogs in Spain when there are many needy dogs here in the UK.

“Rest assured that over the years we have rescued and fostered dogs here, as well as donated our money and time to UK rescue organisations. But when Tom decided to walk across Spain with our Spanish rescue dog, donating to Spanish charities seemed the most appropriate.

“In particular, we wanted to help fund the fantastic education programme run by Galgos del Sol. Podencos are seen as utility dogs in Spain, not as pets, so they are not treated too well and are hard to rehome.

“Changing attitudes, particularly with children, is the best way to effect permanent improvement in the lives of these dogs that make such gentle, loving pets.”

Facebook

Chica’s Challenge: https://www.facebook.com/chicaschallenge.dog/

SOS Podencos Rescue: https://www.facebook.com/sos.podencorescue.7/

Galgos del Sol: https://www.facebook.com/Galgos-del-Sol-175718192447988/

Website

Chica’s Challenge