This is the story of galgo Rey (King of kings), abandoned on the streets of Seville starving, thin and weak, he lay down one day and gave up on life; his galguero no longer valued Rey’s life. For at 7+ years he has surely given his best to his master. Bred from, run and hunted, he was probably the prime galgo of the group and caught the most hares. To get to his age is a credit to his survival.

He’s got two disadvantages – he’s all black and he’s male. What is it about black galgos, that people turn away; when their coat recovers in good condition, they are stunning!

The mornings come and we open the barn doors, he greets us with a wag in his tail, as they all do. He Has a habit of pooping and then eating.. and then searching out the others poohs. This will take time for it’s clear Rey has spent a long long time on the abandoned side of life, feeding whatever he can, smart enough to eat his own pooh when the chips were down, for anything will do for an empty hungry stomach. Not wanted and certainly not loved. Rescued miraculously by 2 amazing carers who spotted him in sevilla, he went home with one and he then later came to us at 112 carlota galgos.

He’s a quiet guy, he follows everyone and his personality is just beginning to come through. His coat is beginning to shine and he is very slowly gaining weight. When he knows the gang are going out, he begins to shake, adrenalin pumping. This is an interpretation of him seeing the pigs which wander the farm loose or the 2 ponies which do the same. Rey feels he has to hunt these animals, he has no idea why,for his stomach is full. An instinct high and doing what he has been bred to do.

He also has a bad paw, and so, “was he dumped after he damaged his leg?” Or “did he damage it while abandoned?”

Rey has a long way to go, he needs a very special home. His hunting instinct is strong, and so he has to be walked in a galgo muzzle. He doesn’t understand that now he has a full stomach, he doesn’t have to look for smaller moving ‘prey’. He is trying so hard, sweet and loveable but can’t understand why its not right anymore to hunt to kill. He is a strong boy, he doesn’t mind wearing his muzzle, he seems to wear it as a badge ‘ look at me, I was king of the hunters’.

He cannot live with small dogs, nor cats. He is happy with other larger dogs – he loves our galgos and podencos, and also people. He’s caring and affectionate and needs someone to love him, a quiet life because he is an older galgo but somewhere he cannot hunt. He will always have to be walked on the lead.

Can you offer Rey, peace and tranquility, freedom of this past life which has him enchained? We cannot reprimand him for something which is instinct to him, but we can remedy where he is and how he is cared for so he isn’t under such tenseness.

Rey, King of survival. You are safe and well, and until your forever steps forward your bowl will be full, your neck hugged with love, bathed in shampoo and cleansed, all your needs met. Your paw treated. One day someone will love you for you, not scold you for what you have done or not done, and you will not be set up to fail – you will be happy.. to just be!

If you can offer Rey that special home, contact 112carlotagalgos

NB We have a lurcher and 3 galgos; even after 3 years with us, we never walk our galgos off lead outside of our courtyard. Our meadows abound in feral cats, hare, wild boar, herons, the occasional deer! Paradise for these hunting hounds. Their freedom is in our enclosed courtyard and garden, where they play quite happily. Please don’t be put off by Rey having to be muzzled when outside of his home, please someone give him a chance.