Last week I had to say farewell to another of my galgos. Carmela came to us as a foster at 4 years old, rescued from a perrera and with behaviour problems. It was a good 2 years before she had the trust and confidence of a 'normal' dog, by which time of course she became a failed foster and joined our canine family. Dementia took hold 18 months ago but with medication we had more time to share with her and at 15 years old, she finally gave up and crossed the rainbow bridge to join Sahara, Karmel and Floyd under the oak trees in a quiet corner of the garden.
I recently heard from a reader who had to say farewell to his podenco. Here's the story of Gil. 'My Ibizan, Gil, came to me at four years old, nervous, horribly underweight and hysterical whenever he met another dog. He used to rear up on his hind legs and vocalise...a terrifying sight as he was a big dog. Most other dogs fled. After a year or so, he had calmed down considerably, but he was never really comfortable around other dogs. With people, he grew into the gentlest and sweetest dog I have ever known.'
It's never easy to lost a friend but we can rest happy knowing that we gave our rescued hounds all the love and comfort they would never have known at the hands of the Spanish galgueros.
RIP Carmela and Gil.
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