Show in Firgas (Gran Canaria) - ElPresa.com

It took place on Saturday June 18th, 2005, in the town of Firgas, Gran Canaria, a get-together of Presa Canario “aficionados”. The event was not meant to choose a winner, but to let it possible for these people to meet. Also Clemente Reyes Santana, that does not need any introduction for those inside the Presa Canario world, was present at the show. The photos were made by Antonio Griñan Santana, form Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, and that was kind enough to answer some questions for us.

ElPresa.com: Antonio, who organized the event?
Antonio: The organizator was Francisco, a guy that lives in Firgas and that is dedicatine himself to collect old photos and informations about the breed, and that with the collaboration of Clemente Reyes Santana and Juanito “El del pozo” managed to get this people together.

ElPresa.com: Was it difficult, according to what the organizers said, to get these aficionados together?
Antonio: No, the problem was that many of those that are inside the Presa Canario world did not know nothing about this event and therefore the partecipation was not so high. Anyway, considering that it was a “last minute” thing I think it came out pretty well.

ElPresa.com: What was the aim of this event?
Antonio: The objective was to show the breed to the public, just as it was used to do many years ago through all the towns of the island. It was not a competition, but just a get-together and therefore nobody got any award as each dog that was there was just meant to be there to show how the breed looks like. Anyhow, besides the Presa Canarios, there were also speciments of autoctone breeds like the Perro de Ganado Majorero, the Podenco Canario and the Garifian Sheepherd.

ElPresa.com: Wich were the main arguments that the breed enthusiasts talked about?
Antonio: Above all about the actual situation of the breed, about the specimens of the moment and also about the events and shows that will take place in the next months. But also about the future litters of various bloodlines that are being expected.

ElPresa.com: What do you think, in general, about the specimens that you saw?
Antonio: I liked the ones that I saw, the only negative aspect was that the partecipation was not so huge as the new was not spread enough, but I am sure that there will be much more dogs and people at the next events. Juanito “El del Pozo” is going to organize the next one.