Spanish Greyhound
The Spanish Greyhound is an ancient breed of dog, specifically a member of
the sighthound family. The Spanish Greyhound inhabited the Iberian Peninsula
400–600 B.C.E. This dog breed was probably a result of the dogs brought by the
Gauls on their migration through the peninsula mixed with dogs brought by
traders who did business with the Gauls.
In the intervening centuries, it is likely that other sighthound breeds were
interbred to produce the Galgo that we know today.
Despite being called a "Spanish Greyhound", the Galgo is not a true Greyhound.
The lineages of the two breeds are different. However, in the last century or
so, some breeders have cross-bred Galgos and Greyhounds in order to produce
faster Galgos.
The Spanish Greyhound are unfortunately bred in large numbers by unscrupulous
breeders, who then kill them in the most barbaric ways possible- hanging,
burning, battering, shooting, or throwing them from a moving car. It is
estimated that about 50,000 are killed each year, although some sources say
100,000 is the more likely number.