Galgo News

Category: Rehoming stories

  • Galga Renata – her journey to a forever home

    This is a story about galga Renata, but it could be about thousands of galgos in Spain.

    Last winter she was found in agony with a cord around her neck. Luckily volunteers of Fondation Benjamin Mehnert in Seville took her in and, with the help of their vet, she was nursed back to health. She was taken by the French association Levriers sans Frontiere (Galgos without Borders) into foster, and the family very quickly decided to adopt her!

    All year LSF work to help the galgos but so many of them end up in perreras, in misery, with little water and food, the symbol of their suffering, in silence, anonymous…

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  • Update on galga Yuki – now in her forever home

    Lidia did a wonderful job of rescuing Yuki from the streets, in terrible condition. She and the vets have healed her body and given her the chance of a forever life in a loving home. See the video here (5 1/2 mins)

  • Djimba in France and the story of blind galgo Maik

    Djimba Maik blind galgo 250 1 2 2014This is the story of Maik, a blind galgo who arrived at Djimba, Betty’s sanctuary Djimba in France. Here she tells his story as far as is known.

    ‘We think he has been used as a hunting dog till he got problems with his eyes. He was dumped on the streets, but somehow managed to survive till some brave ladies caught him (the video is here).

    He went into a fosterhome and they went to a vet for his eyes. On one eye he is completely blind, on the other he has 10% “sight” (shadows), he needs special care 4x a day to treat his eyes. (They make no tears) eventually he will loose sight in this eye too.

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  • Galga Ishtar – from Cordoba to Finland – working through the fear

    Ishtar 2 heads 190Tanja tells her story

    ‘I am a veterinarian and have always wanted to work with rescue dogs. For years I have wanted to adopt a galgo and after my elderly dog died I had an opportunity to finally offer a home to one. Since I have a lot of rescues as patients I was able to spread the word that I am willing to adopt a galgo who might have physical/emotional problems.

    After a few months I got an email from Espanjan Koirat, a rescue organization in Finland adopting dogs from Spain. In that email was a picture of a black and white galga, lying on a concrete floor in her food dish. She was emaciated, full of scars and looked very traumatized. And within an instant I had made the decision, this would be my family member.

    It was only after a while that I was able to track down the recent history of my Ishtar.

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  • Happy ending for an Argentinian galgo

    Recently a teacher in New Mexico contacted me about my book on the Spanish Galgo as she wishes to use it with her class of children. She herself has a galgo and you can read the story of it’s rescue and rehoming here. I’ve asked for some photos.

  • Polar’s diary – first day at school!

    Polar tired 250 15 9 2013With 4 other dogs, it’s not easy training Polar, as he always wants to be with them. He’s learnt the basic sit and down but really needs to socialise with other dogs and people. So today was his first day at ‘doggy school’ and a whole new experience!

    We had some crying in the car as I drove away from home. We very definitely had a tail touching tummy when we arrived and he was confronted by a dozen strange canines who had plenty of ideas about ‘behaving badly’!

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  • Polar’s Diary – checking up with the vet

    Polar's perch 250 1 9 2013Pesky pup Polar is definitely making his mark in our home – in more ways than one! Here he is practising the Polar Perch – left cheek resting on a nearby chair! The dogs aren’t allowed on the chairs in our living rooms – they have their own chairs in the adjoining barn – so this is Polar’s statement of ‘I’m not actually sitting on the chair!’

    He is into everything, including things he shouldn’t be into! His worst misdeed happened when we were out with friends for the evening.

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  • Galga Suki – from Spain to Canada forever

    It’s now August, hunting with galgos starts again in a couple of weeks. And yet there are still hundreds of galgos in perreras, the holocaust has not stopped. Here is a video about a galga who was rescued and is now living happily in Montreal, Canada.

  • Galgo pup Polar – enjoying life in France

    1 02 7 2013 250Polar continues to give us lots of pleasure and wins the affection of everyone he meets.

    He’s well into the household routine and starting to learn a few manners! He has to be fed first, otherwise he has his head in everyone else’s bowl and they stupidly let him. His big buddy is Bracken – they play together and often share a bed. Bracken has earned a lot of gold stars, he has endless patience. His ears get pinched, his jowl, his leg – come on, mate, I want to play – and only once has he snapped back that he’s had enough of playing for the time being!

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  • Polar’s Diary – settling in

    Polar buddies 250Polar is settling in well. His favourite buddy is Bracken, they play together and Bracken seems to understand that he has to be a bit gentle with the baby! Especially Polar gets frustrated that he can’t walk the meadows with David, Floyd and Bracken – the grass is too long for a little boy with a bad leg. After they cut the hay – when the rain stops! – we’ll take him. There are no rugs on the floors, he doesn’t quite understand that piddles and poos are done outside! And yesterday he ran off with a crucial piece of the new swing hammock David was putting together for me! He’s not saying where he’s hidden it!

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