How it Began
On the day Leena, our Galga, adopted through Magnificent Mutts, was no longer needed by her owner. She was to be hung from a tree as the tradition of the Galgueros. On that day, evil was not going to win! A woman overheard what was about to happen and stepped in to save Leena’s life. The woman brought Leena to SOS Galgos in Barcelona Spain and that is where her journey to the U.S. began. The woman in Spain most likely never thought about how that one single act of kindness would change the lives of so many people and in turn save many more Galgos.
and Love, Hope, Believe Galgo Adoption Inc. was born
Leena is one of the lucky ones, 45,000+ Galgos are killed every year in Spain. Galgos are hung from trees, dropped in abandoned wells, shot, set on fire or abandoned on the streets. LHB Galgo Adoption aim is to support the galgo rescues in Spain to end the cruel treatment of Galgos, find loving homes for rescued Galgos, and to bring light to the plight of the Galgos.
LOVE of the Galgos,
HOPE for their forever home,
BELIEVE in a better future for the Galgos.
MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Travis Patenaude
“I always knew I would end up in a padded room one day,
I just never expected it to be made out of dog beds.”
In 2012, my wife and I were blessed to be rescued by a Galgo named Leena. This scared little white Galgo inspired my wife and me to start Love Hope Believe Galgo Adoption in 2013. I have been around animals my whole life. From age 10, I worked on a farm with horses and doing petting zoos. Before we started LHB, Amanda and I volunteered with Greyhounds Only for 10+ years. Outside of LHB I work as a Sr. Systems Engineer for the McHenry County Government and I'm also a proud member of HeartsSpeak.org.
Amanda Patenaude
I started dreaming of adopting a Galgo when I first read an article about their plight in Spain. In 2012, we made that dream come true when we met Leena! She was a little white Galga, so afraid of the world that she hid behind her foster mom the whole time. Adopting Leena changed the course of our lives forever! We decided to start Love Hope Believe Galgo Adoption in 2013 so we could help change the lives of other Galgos in Spain. We currently have four Galgo kids of our own and have brought over almost 100 Galgos since our start in 2013! Watching the Galgos start their lives over with so much love has been so rewarding for me! I remind myself every day that “saving one Galgo may not change the world, but for that one Galgo, the world will change forever!”
Catalina Salley
Catalina Salley joined the LHB Board of Directors in 2014. After volunteering for over 10 years in greyhound rescue in the US, Catalina made a visit in 2008 to Barcelona to see a friend. She was interested to see if "greyhounds" were in Spain as well and met with the Director of SOS Galgos Anna Clement. It was there she learned about the Galgo and its history and the immense cruelty perpetrated on this breed of dogs. She adopted her first Galgo in 2014 through LHB, Rosendo.
She has been to Spain several times to volunteer at various shelters including Fundacion Benjamin Mehnert, Baas Galgo and 112 Carlota Galgos. As an amateur photographer, she uses her photography to highlight the dogs in need who have experienced unspeakable cruelty and the beauty, grace, comedy and transformative nature of the Galgo. Catalina lives in Chicago and works at Mikva Challenge as their Chief Operating Officer. She nests with her 2 dogs, Rosendo (Galgo) and Ana (Galgo x Podenco mix) who create mayhem, happiness, contentment, smiles and peacefulness every single day.
Bud O’Connor
Bud is an almost-retired commercial real estate broker working in Chicago. He is married to Mary Jane, and they have a grown daughter, Emma.
He became interested in LHB when Nemo, a Galgo, joined the family in early 2015.
In addition to helping out at LHB, he has been active for over 25 years raising funds for Watoto wa Lwanga, a street children’s project in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya. He and Mary Jane also do pet therapy with Tom, their greyhound, and hope that their newest Galgo, Frani (aka Vista) can be certified as a therapy dog, as well.
Bud is a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, and struggles to play the fiddle, runs and swims when he can.
Bud and Mary Jane have volunteered at the FBM shelter near Seville twice, and have seen how these dogs suffer quietly and how hard the staff works to make them healthy and happy. All dogs have a name.
We have also seen how hard LHB works to bring these dogs here to begin a great life.
We have Nemo, from Toledo, Frani, from Olivares, Tom, From Daytona Beach, Charlie, Holly and the fish.
Mary Jane O’Connor
Mary Jane is retired from the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County; she is married to Bud, and they have one grown daughter, Emma.
She has been involved with LHB since adopting their first galgo, “Nemo”, in 2015. She assists Bud in fundraising for their Nairobi street children program, “WaToto wa Lwanga”, and has volunteered at Brookfield Zoo for over 25 years. She and her therapy greyhound do pet therapy for a variety of organizations including hospice programs, hospitals and nursing homes, and Ronald McDonald House. She volunteers at the Willowbrook Wildlife Center, Marianjoy Rehab Hospital, and Friends for Therapeutic Equine Activities (an equine assisted program for disabled children and adults).
Mary Jane’s interests include reading, playing bridge, and gardening.
Mary Jane became interested in galgos upon first hearing about their plight in Spain. They are such wonderful dogs, and their current treatment is an injustice. The focus of Love Hope Believe Galgo Adoption, and the incredible dedication of its members, has been the inspiration for Mary Jane to become involved in galgo welfare. Mary Jane and Bud have traveled twice to Spain in order to volunteer at the FBM rescue and rehab facility.
Pets include: galgo “Nemo” (sweet and shy); greyhound “Tom” (certified therapy dog); and galga “Frani” (aka “Vista”), the latest arrival, enjoying her new life with a home and family; housecats “Charlie” and “Holly”; and pond fish.
Lisa Jo Clark
Lisa Jo is a Global Communications Manager and Software Technologist who has been active in animal rescue for many years working with dogs, fostering, transporting and facilitating adoptions. She has served on non-profit Boards and currently volunteers in the kennel at a local shelter. While involved on-the-ground at Puppy Mill rescues and hoarding incidents she developed a keen interest in helping dogs with emotional issues caused by trauma.
She became drawn to the plight of the Galgo after meeting several at a local rescue event. After staying at the FBM shelter in Spain and working directly with the Galgos, staff, and volunteers she was inspired to combine her love of dogs with her professional skillsets to join the fight to end the abuse of this magnificent breed through education and adoption.