A Journey: Adopting a Galgo: Dear Polka, I loved you before I ever met you...

Fell in Love with this Galga at Scooby in April
Read here how the story unfolds!

When Darrell and I visited Scooby Medina del Campo in April 2012, I fell in love with a sweet, long-haired blonde galga in one of the paddocks that I cleaned. Every time I turned around, or reached out to pet the beautiful galgos in this paddock, this little girl was first. She stood beside me and waited for a pet or a kind word. I gave her lots of love, and she gave that love right back. My heart soared thinking about who would be lucky enough to adopt this lady. So gentle and kind, I knew she'd be the perfect pet.

All of the galgos at Scooby who are wearing blue collars, with the initials LSF, Lévriers sans Frontières, a French Galgo Rescue Association, will be going to France for adoption. It was bittersweet, wishing I could take this galga home, and knowing that she was destined for a wonderful life in France. Once I left Scooby to return home to California, I just couldn't stop thinking about her -- wondering where she went and who had adopted her. I wanted her to be happy, and hoped to find out more about her new life.

This is the Galga's Adoption Photo - I love her! |-)

I tried to wash her with a warm cloth,
but I just couldn't get all of the dried mud off of her lovely face.

It snowed and rained on this day in early April, so I put a nice warm coat on her.

She got along well with the others in the paddock, and she had a blue LSF collar,
so I knew she was going to France to be adopted.

There she was, along with all of the other lovelies,
coming to visit me when I sat down for a moment.

How could you not love this sweet, loving girl. She's truly someone special,
and I'm not the only one who noticed. :-) Read on for the Happy Ending!

I could not rest until I learned where my dear galga had gone. "Where for art thou sweet galga?" First, I posted on my own Facebook wall to see if any of my many Scooby peeps could advise regarding the galga's whereabouts. No one knew.

Then I had an idea! I am connected to Levriers Infos Adoptions Ingrid on Facebook, and maybe she or someone else connected to her would know where my galga went. All of her postings are in French, and I don't speak or read French, so I decided to try Google Translate. I entered my inquiry posting in English and it translated to French. I then posted my French inquiry, along with a photo of my galga, asking if anyone knew of her whereabouts. God bless the Internet! :-) I found her adoption family within 24 hours.

Karine Le Goff- Tanguy and her family in Tourlaville, Basse-Normandie, France adopted her, and her name is --- ta da --- Polka!!! Here is Karine's sweet story about how she loved Polka before she met her:

"It all started with a click on the internet. Here I am on the site "Sighthounds Without Borders", I read and reread all the articles, I look at the pictures of these martyrs galgos and I weep to see all this suffering and I am aware of the cruelty of which man is capable ! My decision is made, I will adhere to the association and try to help with my small means. I look every day of the new Pomeranians and I decide to click on pictures of dogs to adopt and there I came across the photo of Polka so sad, so beautiful and right away I knew it would, this little princess will be part of my family, I love her already without knowing her!! So I contacted the association to recognize the various stages of adoption and then everything starts up. I look forward to know if my application is accepted and finally the big day comes, I'll be able to adopt Polka. I am so happy! I'm still waiting for Polka must go in foster care for cats be tested because I have three but I confess that deep down I knew that everything going to be alright, it's made for me and for come live with us, our destiny was to cross. 1 week after I learned that everything goes well and so I decided to go get her. The meeting was wonderful, she is immediately came to me and cling to my leg, we just loved her. A week ago and she is part of our family and this is happiness!! She's a ray of sunshine, a precious stone and see épanoir, and plays with my children and my other dogs. She just filled me with joy!"