Galgo Romero goes to his forever home – another incredible survivor of the horror of Spain

Romero is another incredible galgo, abandoned as a puppy, severly ill and injured, terrified of humans, who found his way into the home and heart of an English couple in Murcia and has now joined his forever family.

This is the link to the original story of Romero with Gaynor, Tina and the creation of Galgos del Sol. His journey towards life as a companion dog continued with a move to Malaga and the home of Lisa, friend of Charl del Rio of 112carlota galgos AGPE, and Charl tells the story of his life with Lisa and animal family.

Romero came to us during the winter months, from Gaynor and Tina, a further home where he was safe and free from harm. Whilst he was happy with his life at Gaynor’s, he still could not trust other people. So, in order for him to help to adapt to a home life, Tina and Gaynor took the decision and asked if we could take Romero. So Dioni and I went to collect him.

He came home to the residency area where we have our galgos, but within 24 hours we could see, it just wasn’t what he needed. No sooner than we spoke with our friend Lisa in the morning, he was in the car and on his way home to her house.

Here he met his foster brother Jake, a reliable steady and noble Labrador. He also met Hero, an old Galgo with a lot of wisdom and a depth of understanding to which a human will never relate, it’something only Galgos have between themselves. He also met Cookie,a here there and everywhere little Yorkshire Terrier, once unwanted by a neighbour, but was wise enough to choose Lisa as a mama.

His days of recuperation into a home began here. At first, you could not look at Romi, for he would look away. Ashamed of himself for being a galgo in Spain. Unsure of his new surroundings, but there’s a peace in Lisa’s home where each dog can just find themselves. Lisa works all day, so the set up is that they have the morning to chill; at lunchtime Sebastian, my eldest son, takes the dogs out for a walk.. this is a great set up for it introduces damaged galgos into a “male” environment and routine. Then in the afternoon I go and let them into the garden and then Lisa comes home and does her evening routine.

In the early days I would spend time there with Romi, walking him while Lisa was out while Sebastian walked the other members of Lisa’s family. He would walk behind.. ashamed. Too scared to wee, to poop, to do anything. To even walk on the lead.

Lisa would arrive home and sit with Romi on his bed, he had a massive duvet to lie on and make himself comfy. There were times where Lisa would devote just quiet times with Romi and never imposing herself on him, for eventually his own curiosity would win him round. Here steps in Jake, Hero and Cookie. It was amazing to see how Hero knew he had another galgo in the home.

Days passed and Romi still insisted on leaning towards fear. I would sit with him through the middle of the day, just having a chat. At night Lisa would spend time on his bed, just sitting and having a chat.

It’s a win win situation, for a quiet routine, where a dog can find themselves and see routine will only make them come around eventually. It’s here where they can take their time and we will wait. This is how it was for Romi, days passed, weeks passed and little by little there were changes.. he began to get up of his bed and “check things out” chew the table.. go to the bin, but if we looked at him, he would go back to his bed. His safety net.

Slowly, slowly, bit by bit, routine wins. Seeing the other dogs he just fell into the routine and saw that this is actually ok. He began to step out of his fear which he had held inside.

He began to play, it’s something when you get excited when the galgo you are walking wees, or poops. But we were elated when this breakthrough occurred. Each day there was progression, and each day we fell more in love with him. His improvement was such that even Sebastian could take him out. Again, an introduction to a male world, a male of almost 16 years old, but not quite a man. It works well introducing Sebastian to our galgos as they see he is gentle but he just does what he has to do and takes them home. No fuss, just routine.

Romi progressed so much in the last few months that he began to show signs of a happy galgo. He played, he loved, he was still scared at times, but he wandered the house like it was his, he shared his bed with ALL the foster brothers. He ate, he drank, and he loved.

For Lisa and I, he touched our lives. He will be in our hearts forever. And in this way he found a forever home and travelled to Belguim on Friday, and we were sad to see him go. Yet we know that his real forever will start there. He blocked on the trip but it’s natural, and these galgos are very adaptable. Knowing he has come around once, he will do so again. For he learnt trust and love, he knows now what that is and how it feels. When he sees and feels it again, he will relax and enjoy the rest of his life in his forever home.

Good luck Romi, we love you, we miss you.. but the future is yours. You have touched a part of our lives that will always be lived and relived when we think of you, – and we love you more than words can say.’

A million thanks to everyone who had the patience to take this galgo into their hearts and homes. You have helped him on an incredible journey to a wonderful ‘rest of his life’.

Romero in Belgium, what a beauty.