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Alex and Cervantes on A Big Adventure

October 21, 2007, 2:22PM MT

By Michael G Rodrigue

Alex and Cervantes are two of the many thousands of sad stories that happen to helpless dogs in Spain.

Alex and Cervantes are two of the many thousands of sad stories that happen to helpless dogs in Spain. But these two have a very happy ending! They come from different parts of Spain, but they presently find themselves as temporary roommates, and have quickly developed a friendship with each other.

Alex is from Almendralejo, in the province of Badajoz, (Extremadura). She was a little stray puppy who roamed the streets at a very young age looking for food and trying to survive.

One day she had the great misfortune of crossing paths with a very angry and aggressive truck driver. At an intersection that was under construction, a workman held up a stop sign. Alex seemed to understand the meaning of the sign. Across from her was the truck driver, also stopped and waiting impatiently to move on.

As the workman lowered the sign, the truck driver watched little Alex. As if he had been provoked by the devil, he began to rev his motor loudly, never taking his eyes off of the little dog on the opposite corner. At that moment Alex stepped out into the intersection and the truck driver raced his engine and released the clutch. In a split second it was over and little Alex lay unconscious in the road.

A crowd gathered, and the truck driver drove away as if nothing had happened. Witnesses couldn't believe what they had seen.

Alex was taken to Mada Sanguino who runs the organization, RECAL. Mada took her in and immediately sought treatment. Alex needed two operations on her hind leg, but she would live.

After her surgery and her recovery, Alex spent the next two years at the dog pound, being cared for by RECAL. Nobody ever seemed to want to adopt her. Her beautiful lilttle sky blue eyes should have won the heart of nearly anyone. But it was never the case.

Cervantes, has a much different story from Alex. He is a little podenco from the town of Chiclana de la Frontera, in the province of Cádiz (Andalucia). Cervantes was one of several podencos who belonged to a local hunter.

One day while the hunter was out hunting with his dogs, Cervantes suddenly found himself caught in a trap. He had stepped into a trap and his front foot was amputated. Since he would no longer serve as a hunting dog, the hunter then abandoned him, and with only three feet.

Cervantes roamed the streets of Chiclana trying to find food and trying to cure his wound alone. Some volunteers from Refugio Kimba happened to spot him one day, and they were able to pick him up and take him to Kimba.

The volunteers at Kimba saw to it that Cervantes received immediate medical treatment, although he would never get back his missiing foot. He spent the next few months at Kimba where Maria José worked endlessly trying to find a home for him.

Three days ago, Alex and Cervantes met each other inside of a pet transport van in Madrid. The organization GRIN (Galgo Rescue International Network) in Colorado learned of these two little dogs. Abby Christman, founder of GRIN, says that she is a "sucker for all animals, not just Galgos".

The stories of Alex and Cervantes touched the hearts of the volunteers of GRIN, and Abby got busy trying to find a solution for both dogs. Within a matter of weeks she had found homes for both of them in Colorado. And as if that weren't good enough, Abby also found a veterinarian who is willing to fit Cervantes with a prothetic foot.

Both dogs left their pasts behind three days ago and were put into animal transport vans bound for Madrid. They joined each other, once in Madrid, and were delivered safely to the home of Elena, who will foster them for the next few days.

On the 24th of October Elena will drive both Alex and Cervantes to Barajas International Airport in Madrid and introduce them to their flight companions, who are GRIN representatives. The two will then fly to Denver, where they both have homes waiting for them, and where they will both finally get a chance to have the life they deserve.

A special thanks to GRIN for helping these two little guys. Thanks to Abby Christman who worked very hard to make this possible. Thanks to Judy Greenfield, who was so touched by Alex's story that she found a foster home for her. And a special thanks to our friend Elena, who is fostering them both in Madrid for the next few days, and who will deliver them safely to the airport for their big adventure. Now we'll all await their arrival at Denver International Airport this week.

Written by: Michael Rodrigue

For more information about GRIN, please visit their website

http://www.galgorescue.org

Comments

Posted October 21, 2007, 5:29PM by PamelaB

Both of these stories, given the nature of things for homeless animals in Spain--or most anywhere, for that matter--are utterly astounding.

Now I will check out GRIN. I'm exceedingly curious to learn how Galgo Rescue International Network turned up in Colorado! Now that's an example of true networking--one of the positive aspects of globalization, and those are pretty rare these days!

Now I've been to the GRIN website. Everybody needs to meet these fantastic people! My horizons have been expanded today by your story, Michael. Thank you from a grateful reader.

Posted December 19, 2008, 12:0AM by pjevans

i am the "adopted mom" of Alex-now Lexi. we have had an interesting year with her. she was a foster, and didn't want much to do with humans. after 15 minutes in our house, we let our other two dogs out for a meeting.Pepe is a papillion-mix and Mooch is toy manchester terrier.Lexi immediately bonded with Pepe and immediately learned about the doggy door. only two accidents (on paper) in the next couple of weeks
she did have a problem in that she had been pregnant, and the puppies had mummified, causing an infection.She is lots better now.
In fact, unless you really look at her leg, you would never know that she had a broken leg. she sits up,
can keep up with the other dogs, and has managed to capture and kill an adult squirrel.
she is still skittish around people, but is slowly getting better.
thanks to michael for making this sweetheart a part of our family.

Posted October 22, 2007, 4:34PM by sharonstjoan

Two beautiful stories! Thanks, Michael!