The South German GPI-team cheers together with the initiators of the dog-info-day, Ms Tanja Späth from garden center Späth and Ms Annekathrin Ebsen, about this great success. It was already the third time the garden center from Villingen- Schwenningen in Baden – Württemberg ran a “day of the dog” in support of an animal welfare organization. In autumn 2007 they decided in favor of Greyhound Protection International, thanks to the efforts of Mr. Benzing.  Thanks to untiring efforts more sponsors could be enlisted for that day and the South German action team of GPI which are the couple Benzing, couple Schulz and Mrs. Renate Noppel with daughter Stefanie and boyfriend Albrecht Müller, was very busy. They demonstrated the misery of the Spanish Galgos and racing Greyhounds all around the world by word and illustration to the considerable number of visitors. The endeavors of the involved people lead to a record taking of 2134.95 Euro. The complete amount has been transferred to the Scooby shelter to support the work that's accomplished there.

Many thanks again to all involved people,

The Greyhound Protection International Team

From the feft: Galgo male Sultan, Annekathrin Ebsen, Hartmut and Marianne Benzing and Tanja Späth handing over the check.

3. Dog-Info-Day in Villingen-Schwenningen

On 14^th of October the third Dog-Info-Day in Villingen-Schwenningen took place. In jolly weather conditions more than twice as much visitors compared to last year were welcomed (app. 500-600 dog interested people)! The 4 hours lasting event included many interesting and varied program items. Outside there was a fitness course for dogs, dog dancing, a playing meadow and the performance of a rescue dog group as well as the showing of several dog breeds. On the garden centre's gallery the opening of the exhibition “Dog Photography” by Dieter Marx took place.

These fantastic photos were a crowd puller and all the visitors were enchanted by them. Of course our Galgos and Greys had acted as models. Since the exhibition's opening their photos can be admired at garden center Späth. We'd like to especially point to the “Liveliness” of these pictures!!

Images of the photographer Dieter Marx

In the seminar room I introduced our organization to plenty of visitors explaining our aims and the intentions of the work we do. Like usual the listeners were very dismayed  and shocked about the situation of the Spanish Galgos and the Greyhounds in Ireland/England and all Anglophone countries which was plainly visible by the listener’s attention. During the day I was often spoken to it and more questions were stated.

Hartmut Benzing while reporting about the fate of sight hounds in Spain and the Anglophone countries.

Subsequent to my descriptions the vet Karl Sewastianiuk, who is supporting the Scooby shelter already for many years voluntarily with his skills, gave a lecture about the so called Mediterranean diseases. On this topic a lot of questions had to be answered to the audience.

Dr. Karl Sewastianiuk giving a lecture about Mediterranean diseases.

During the whole day our information desk produced a brisk interest which showed the concernment of the people. We were overwhelmed with the generosity of the visitors. Also the spontaneous enrollment declarations recompensed our achieved work. At this point we want to say thank you especially to the initiators of the Info-Dog-Day, Mrs. Tanja Isabel Späth and Mrs. Annekathrin Ebsen, who enabled us to introduce our organization and work. They supported us by organizing the advertising, by showing our Galgos and Greys on the playbill and posters and looked for sponsors. There was also advertising for the cake donations in order to let GPI have the benefit of it!!! Cordial thanks!! We wish both of them many following events will be as successful as the one from October 14^th.

GPI´s information desk

Not only due to the height of the unexpected pleasant gains but also because of many amicable conversations it was a successful day for us. Again we could bring the suffering of the Galgos and Greyhounds near to the people who were completely clueless. This shows blunt that there's still an information deficit existing also with dog interested people.

Therefore such events should be challenge and incentive for all of us.

We also want to say thank you to all who helped us with the information desk: Siggi and Egbert, Renate and Albrecht, Renate's daughter Stefanie, plus Renate H. And of course our helpers on four paws, which once more put across  the charm and the friendly character of these lovable breeds to the people.

Hartmut and Marianne Benzing

Greyhound Protection International