Veloz

Kunta, my 14-year-old female German Shepherd mix, has been struggling with arthritis for quite some time, which we have been able to control well with medication so far. At the beginning of summer, she also started breathing very heavily on walks. This worsened over the course of June, so much so that she was panting heavily even at rest. I started suspecting heart failure and water on her lungs, so I took Kunta to the vet. He could not find anything abnormal, however, and attributed the panting to her age combined with the warm weather.

So, I was reassured for a while, but still suspected Kunta would not make it through the summer. Now, I have always had several rescue dogs at home over the past 30 years (I currently have six left) and I believe that when one dies, there is always room for another. I have had very positive experiences with GINB in ​​the past; for example, about six years ago I adopted Lima (Verbena), a 9-year-old female dog whom I sadly had to put to sleep at the age of 14. At the end of the coronavirus pandemic, Eyra joined us, and to replace Lima and act as a sprint partner for Eyra, I adopted Amelie, a beautiful 8-year-old brindle female dog, in November of this year. All three are wonderful dogs.

So, expecting a spot to open soon, I looked at GINB's adoption website. My attention was drawn to Flecha (4 years old), Fafi (5 years old), and finally Veloz, 7 years old. At first glance, the previous owner, who had given her up to the shelter, had regularly treated her like an ashtray and put out cigarettes on her body. In any case, the photo on the website made it look like she had several scars. If Kunta did not survive the summer, she would become one of those three.

When Veloz, along with several other, slightly older galgos, appeared on the adoption website as "Galgo in the picture," and I read that she had already been staying at the shelter for a year, I decided not to wait for Kunta and adopted her anyway (after all, what difference does it make: 6 or 7 dogs?). So, I dutifully submitted the adoption application and because I had already adopted a few galgos before her, it was just a formality to be approved. So, I was invited to pick up Veloz on September adoption day. Despite having had several adopted and foster dogs in my home before, this still feels a bit nerve-wracking. Will she look like the photo and how will she react to me are always questions that race through my mind the day before.

I should not have worried. Veloz was a bit intimidated at first (how would you feel if you were torn from your familiar surroundings, had to spend hours in a van without knowing what was going on, and then had to meet a stranger in unfamiliar territory). But after a few minutes, the trembling stopped, and she willingly let me take her picture. She stood patiently beside me while I filled out the adoption papers. Veloz also looked much better than in the photo; the year spent at the shelter had clearly done her good. It remains strange that galgos are apparently treated better in shelters than by their previous owners.

The trip to Borgerhout also went without a hitch. Veloz obediently let herself be put in the car and watched with interest through the back window as the unfamiliar world passed by. Miraculously, even the Kennedy Tunnel cooperated this time…for once, no traffic jams. Back home, it was, of course, a matter of waiting to see how my dogs would react to the newcomer. The normal/safe way to introduce a new dog to the pack is to let them meet each other on neutral ground. I use a slightly different method. I would advise everyone: do not try this at home! It probably only works for me because my pack is used to strange new dogs regularly arriving. What I do is this: first, I let the new dog, in this case Veloz, wait in the car for a while, then I go inside and greet my ever-excited dogs, who are happy to have their owner back home. Once they have calmed down, I close the doors to the hallway so I can safely enter with the new dog without being immediately attacked. Once I am inside with the new dog, I open the connecting doors and give the command "LUNCH"; this is the signal for my dogs to inspect the "odd one out."

And indeed, Veloz was immediately accepted. Only Tuca, a 12-year-old Spanish shepherd dog who always has a bit of a hard time with unfamiliar dogs at first (read: she barks like crazy at them), endured it for a couple of minutes, and then she was okay too. No pain whatsoever.

The next few days went by just like I have experienced with all my adopted galgos. The first day: getting used to the dog door to the garden (and immediately house-training them); then, off to the dog park with the other new friends; walking there on a long leash; coming home, having a nice meal; choosing a cushion, and recovering from the busy day. Veloz was already off-leash in the dog park on day two. She is so focused on her owner that she never took her eyes off me for a second. She is also unafraid of other dogs and even strangers are greeted by her immediately. Everyone gets licks and nibbles from her. The cushion has now been transformed into the sofa where Veloz lies butt-to-butt with any dog ​​who is okay with it. Eyra and Amelie, the other galgos, are perfectly fine with it.

Galgos have stolen my heart, and the older ones among them radiate such peace and “joie de vivre” that there is little chance Veloz will be the last one I adopt.

LOVELY dogs, those galgos.