Accommodation in Malaga? Greta has found an excellent place!

This is a story about a rescued galga who is in the care of Charl and Dioni in Malaga. She was rescued in Alicante and is now in Malage for rehabilitation. Greta's story in Charl's words.

'Introducing Greta!

It's taken me time to write about Greta, its common when we receieve a galgo to write about them, but Greta .. Greta while all galgos have a story Greta drew me in and needed to be understood before I could write anything about her.

It's a fact that in truth we will never know what happened to Greta in her past, we can only make an assessment on what we see now. She cannot talk, she cannot tell us.. but pain she has felt, and that she can show us.

It's been a week since she came from Galgos del Sol, and she draws you in. If you saw her you would instantly be attracted to her, her nose is as long and thin as anything I've seen, her lower jaw slightly cut below the top one, and thin. A typical way in which an abandoned galgo is found. She is going to be an amazing galga. I've told her to hold on, 'cos one day soon she will shine.

Her eyes sad, sadder than sad, ashamed of herself and all she has been through. For being a galga in Spain, it's hell, sheer trash. Here in the photo you see Dioni collecting Greta in his arms, for this was her way of getting from one place to another, being carried. Her legs just wouldn't work. Her fear just made her freeze and the possibility of more pain for Greta was too much to bare.

You want to draw close to her, you want to hold her and embrace her and tell her its all ok now, but she cant believe you, she doesnt know how. It's common to see a galgo "blocked" in fear, holding off wee-ing for what will happen to them if they do such a simple natural act.. but Greta, she has withdrawal on her - from the world, and rawness of her past scars her eyes.

Too much at just 18 months of age. A beauty of a galga, but robbed of that treasure. For the simple reason of her just needing to find herself, it's has no effect to her to be cuddled right now.. routine and seeing the group in the kennels here go for their walks can do more for her than hugs to a rigid body. To a body shell of a galga.

Over the week she has been quietly left, allowed to "just be" - she showed absolutely no interest in walking, and hid in the corner as if she was not there. Every now and then Henrietta and the other galgos would come close, put their nose to her as if to say, "It's ok here, you've made it". Then they would walk away and leave her. Her food although put there, she wouldn't eat. The others who know their routine would walk over to it, but it's as if between them her pain showed and not one of the other dogs went to eat her plate. She has an inner feeling about her.

I've watched Greta carefully and she has had several days of watching the other galgos go out for their walks, the routine can offer far more to her than anything else at this time. During the course of the week, when she cowered down in the corner we would gently pick her up and place her on a bed.. "This is your bed Greta" not a cold floor.

Again and again this process would take place. Towards the end of the week, I felt a nose, to find Greta there. She had managed to move and that was something. Lisa (volunteer with 112carlotagalgos) has fallen for her head over heels, you know, sometimes there's that special "pull" and we cant help it.

2 days ago I made the decision it was time.. it was time Greta faced the outside world. It's hard to see them so ashamed, but putting on a lead has meant hell on earth for Greta, it has meant punishment and pain. This is clear! She would freeze and pull back with all her strength, but sometimes I feel they cannot live in their fear and at the right time they have to come out of it. Otherwise we can't help them. So the lead goes on, the pack get ready, their daily routine of walking out and gettig ready at the door.

With all on the go forward, Greta pulls back, she just can't do it, she just can't. For Greta what would it mean what exactly? Where are they all going with leads on...
So I had to pull her, she must walk. At times again I'd see Henrietta go back and touch her nose, as if to say "Greta, our walks are fun, it's ok". We would go step by step. Wait, she needs to catch her breath since her fear makes her lose it but we have to carry on.

Now at just over a week with us, we've spotted her with the others, having a little jump onto her bed,.. eating her food in her bowl. And while she struggles with the concept of a walk, she doesn't run to the corner and pretend not to be there. It will take time for Greta to become normalised but she will get there, and the promise I made to her to shine will transpire. She will not only be a galga who is stunning, but maybe one day, she will touch the nose of another to give that one hope too.

I'm no expert, and I'm no psychic, but the reactions I've seen from Greta towards the lead and sheer fear.. makes me wonder 'how can a dog come to this.? Being beaten so many times by a lead, it's possible. But my thoughts sway to her actually being "dragged by her lead" by her neck.. perhaps trained from a motorbike, somehow to this effect she has been dragged. She has been forced beyond her will to do something which has inflicted pain and shame on her, and now it's our job to show her a new life, a new way and one which will never ever again hurt her.

I've seen some small tiny steps already with her and will send you photos when we get to the stage of her being a stunning galga who has overcome her previous fear and will jump up at the lead, for it means her walking time is due.

For the hunter, who thinks these animals are no more than tools, no more than trash, may your come upance be strong, may you meet your equal, may you learn a better way and if God cannot help you, may you rot in hell!

Sr.Galguero, you have blood on your hands.

Hang in there Greta, you are free and will know a new life which offers hope and love.

For sure, we will keep you informed of her progress.

If you would like to help with Greta's care and food allowance we would be extremely grateful. She is already tested, sterilised and vaccinated. It's the residency cost food expenses which we need help with. Click on this link to order food delivered direct or Paypal [email protected] to donate in any currency.

" We are all routing for you Greta, because we believe in you!"

Charlotte & Ambo Ambasadog! http://112carlotagalgos.blogspot.com

"Que todos los galgos tengan un rayo de esperanza!"
"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing!" A.Einstein.

"El mundo es un lugar peligroso, no por esos que hacen maldades, si no por esos que miran y no hacen nada!" A.Einstein.

Comments

[Galgos del Sol]

We have had an enquiry for Greta which sounds promising so all the details have been passed to Charl. Fingers crossed. She had also been offered a foster home in Germany but we felt she wasn't ready to go on a Journey like this so would be better going to 112Carlota. A beautiful galga who had to be tranquilised during her rescue as she was just so frightened. Fingers crossed!

[Galgos del Sol]

p.s she still wouldn't be ready to leave for a few months due to her being so scared so any funds for Charl would be welcome.

[kim]

I work with rescue greyhounds and when we have one that is scared we sometimes find that a harness works better than a lead. Thanks for all the hard work that you do to help the galgos.

[Toni Collard]

Poor little soul
thank god for people like Tina Gds and you wonderful people
Greta will shine one day may the hunters all be struck down where they stand
Have you tried Greta with a body wrap the same type people use for dogs that are terrifed of fireworks
Toni

[Marion]

Reading Charl's report on Greta is one of the most moving things I have ever read. Heartbreaking........ Poor, poor creature -how horrific men can be sometimes.

Hoping this beautiful girl will have a future full of love and hope, to make up for all the wicked things done to her in the past.

Hugs to you Greta - all will be well in the end.

[Galgos del Sol]

I think Charl is letting the other galgos help her along at the moment. She told me that Henrietta would go back for her when she froze to help give her confidence. It's not that she can't walk, she just freezes solid but bit by bit Charl will help her come out of it. When we had her we had to carry her everywhere, she just wouldn't move, not at the vets and not outside whilst trying to walk her. Even getting her out the car took 3 of us and a muzzle. The vet had given her something to calm her down which worked alittle. She liked the kennel at the vets and didn't want to leave, even after being poked and prodded. Bit by bit you can build a picture of her previous life..... I think Charl is right, I think she has been dragged behind a vehicle at some point!

[Marion]

The more I read about this sad girl, the more horrific it gets.

My heart goes out to her - thank goodness there are wonderful people out there that care - bless you all. You give me hope.

[Beryl Brennan]


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sadly there are hundreds more like this every
year. most of them make good with the right understanding.

Amities

Beryl

http://www.thisfrenchlife.com/deuxsevres/
Read
about life in Deux-Sevres

[Marion]

Yes, far too many aren't there.

Always hope though, and as you said, most of them go on to be OK. Such a shame they have to suffer so much in the first place though.....................

[Galgos del Sol]

Marion, if anyone can do it Charl can. She will be fine now, she is in great hands :)

[Owen Davis]

so sad to read about greta. may she find love and joy in life. and she will. somewhere far away, just around the corner. somewhere a long way from spain. or not. there are kind people in all kinds of surprising places.

[Janice White]

Such a sad account but Greta at least is safe from harm.

[owen davis]

It's now may 2012....and greta (now isobel, bella, the beautiful one) is curled up on the dark red velvet sofa right behind me. she has a turquoise cushion at her back, and a pink one. if i look carefully, i can see her heart quietly beating. i have often read and re-read charlotte's words, above - and am always very moved.it seems so mysterious and amazing that greta has recovered her natural galga joy so completely. it's true, i am humbled by her strength! by the inner strength of her love for life. she can dance, yes, it's true, she can run like the wind, she loves everyone she meets and every dog, large and small. she pushes herself forward, to be the first of my three to have a collar placed on her. hers is the red one. she leaps into the car. she likes best to sit next to me, on the passenger seat, looking proudly out through the windscreen, one paw lifted and resting on the curve of my elbow. my wife annie calls her 'our jolly girl'. greta's story is far from over, she's young, she has far still to go, like each of us. but now, due to charlotte's help, and her other rescuers, too, she has reached, here in england, by the ocean, her rightful happiness! think of her, please, and do whatever is possible to bring the same happiness as greta's to every lost, starving and terrified galgo in spain. i am reminded of the last lovely lines of 'mary had a little lamb' - which, strangely, is not often included in books of nursery rhymes: "why does the lamb LOVE mary so, the eager children cry? why, mary loves the lamb, you know, the teacher did reply". OK, i admit it, i've got tears in my eyes, yet again.

[Beryl Brennan]

Lovely, Owen, and so proud to have played a small part in contributing to the blossoming of such a fabulous hound -so proud to have played a small part in her blossoming into such a star.To the bastardwho hurt her - his loss - Gretas and our gain. Run on and run free on the beaches of England, dear Greta/Bella. Thanks for sharing. Beryl xxx