Spain update 10th of July 2025
Thursday, the 10th of July 2025
As promised, I would keep you updated on the events, so...
Yesterday we left for Talavera with two black galgos. The young female with the "broken" leg who was starving to death in Calypo, and the terrified male of unknown age with a crushed foot who could barely walk on—it was a sight to behold. Both had ended up in the shelter after the hellish ordeal. She had been found, and he had been dumped by a beast of an owner, because there are no worse animals than humans. Anyway, we had an appointment with Dr. De Frutos at 9:00h, so we left for Talavera at 8:00h. The girl I was going to call Joséphine (in 2025, it is in Casa Belgica with a J, otherwise I will never know who came and when...) was attentive and curious. The tyrannized male had huddled in the furthest corner of the box and did not dare to move. "Poor, poor thing," I said to Dirk, "what must that animal have suffered." It was exactly 9:00h when we arrived in Talavera, and two minutes later Dirk was already parked barely 100 meters from the clinic. A stroke of luck for the dogs. I went ahead to the clinic. Dirk followed with Joséphine, whom I took over while he went to fetch the male. Meanwhile, the registration forms were being filled out, and as always, I had to write down the dogs' names, estimated ages, etc. Those names are always a tricky situation, because in Spain, they only know Spanish names, sigh... So, to make things easier, I always write them down on the documents myself or on a cheat sheet. To protect her from anonymity, I named her Joséphine. To save the poor devil from his misery, I gave him the fancy name John-Jack at the last minute. Who knows, maybe he will become a second Jack Sparrow someday... As soon as we are in Dr. De Frutos' office, Joséphine is examined and then given an X-ray. When it is the next dog's turn, we struggle to get the terrified John-Jack out from under the desk. He is not afraid for nothing. After a thorough examination, it turns out that the nerves in his mutilated leg have been affected. The bone higher up in his leg is very weak and unsuitable for a prosthesis, so a prosthesis is out of the question.
After a long conversation about the options to help him, Dr. De Frutos asks my opinion. It is the same opinion as the doctor. The only way to save him and spare him from eternal, excruciating pain is a total amputation, Dirk agrees. So, we agree to bring him in for the procedure on Tuesday… Meanwhile, Joséphine is back, and it turns out her leg is not broken, but it has not healed properly due to malnutrition. There is room for improvement with good nutrition and rest, but her leg will never be fully straight again. So far… Otherwise, the blood tests for both are good. As we drive home, my head is full of worries. Total amputation for one, improvement for a leg that will never be fully straight again for the other, I worry. I tell Dirk aloud, those two will never find a home; they are not all like blind Hannibal’s “parents” who thanks to their love and patience, lives a full and happy life. There will not be many "amateurs" for those two, I continue bitterly. For the next few minutes, with a lump in my throat, I curse the galguero who mutilated and beat the male, deprived him of food, and used him to produce puppies. I curse the brood of vipers who left the female, starving, in the streets of Calypo. Luckily, it was close by, so she eventually ended up with us.
When we arrive at Casa Belgica, the black female dog is turned over by our dogs, inspected, and accepted, and after half an hour, he is already walking in and out through the dog door. We have set out food, water, and a soft bed for John-Jack on the veranda and in the courtyard in front of the clinic. Only when we take off his collar do we realize how bad his condition is. If you approach him and try to touch him, he hides in the hedge, pushes himself as far away from us as he can, and turns his head away to avoid eye contact. He does not dare to eat or drink. What they did to that animal must have been terribly awful. The beasts, psychopaths, and power-hungry people who mutilated him, beat him, starved him, and did so much more to him that we do not know, but can read from the miserable little dog they left behind, should burn in hell. That poor animal's life must have been a horror. The price he must pay is the amputation of his front leg. After his surgery, he will come to us, and we will try to make up for what was done to him. We will lovingly care for him, teach him to walk on three legs, and do everything we can to restore his confidence. If we succeed, he might just become the beautiful galgo he once was. We will keep you updated. Thanks for reading.
Sincerely,
Mireille
