One rescue dog's terrified demeanor after being taken to a shelter has broken hearts after video footage of it was shared online.
The dog, named Braveheart, a Spanish Greyhound or Galgo Español, arrived at the Galgos del Sol shelter in Spain in a state of extreme fear.
Braveheart's journey was first shared on the @galgosdelsol TikTok and Facebook page a week ago, quickly amassing hundreds of thousands of views. An initial video showed the dog in a terrified state, whimpering and shaking with fear in the corner of a kennel. The caption reads: "He's so scared."
"Braveheart was spotted living rough, our trap was set up in the vicinity that he was keeping to and then it was hours of waiting until he entered the trap, lured by a trail of food," Marylou Hecht from Galgos del Sol told Newsweek.
Braveheart's demeanor in the video prompted an outpouring of empathy and even tears from viewers, with comments expressing concern and a desire to comfort the frightened canine.
One user, Merel, commented, "Aw that poor baby," while Eva expressed her sorrow, saying, "Poor dog. It's heartbreaking to see how he is shaking."
Joanne Wilby empathetically wrote: "Ah I so want to give him a cuddle."
Hecht explained that traumatized dogs like Braveheart often arrive at the shelter.
"It is not unusual for abandoned dogs to come in his state. They have been living rough trying to survive and are scared. There is always the exception of course, with some dogs seemingly waiting for help, and the relief on their faces is visible," she said.
In an update shared six days ago, the Galgos del Sol team showcased Braveheart's progress. The footage revealed the once-frightened dog gently wagging its, signifying an improvement in his emotional state.
Galgos del Sol was founded in 2007 by Tina Solera after she and her husband moved to Spain from Britain. It is a legal and licensed Spanish charity dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating dogs—particularly the Galgo breed.
The Galgo, or Spanish Greyhound, is a breed that has been historically used for hunting hares in the Spanish countryside. Sadly, according to the Galgos del Sol shelter's website, they can be subjected to inhumane treatment, including being kept in poor conditions and fed inadequately.
When the hunting season ends, many Galgos are abandoned or disposed of in cruel ways, such as being thrown into abandoned wells, shot, or even burned to death. Activists estimate that upwards of 45,000 to 100,000 Galgos are killed or abandoned in Spain each year, making them the most abused dog breed in the country.
It was this mistreatment that prompted Solera, who has no prior experience running a non-profit, to learn the Spanish language and establish the shelter, turning it into a haven for thousands of dogs in need of help.
With more than 500,000 followers on their TikTok page @galgosdelsol, the team share updates and the latest from the puppies and adult dogs they rescue and re-home.
Thanks to the shelter, Braveheart's future now looks a lot brighter, and he will soon be available for adoption.
"When Braveheart is settled and comfortable with people, he will be ready for adoption to an experienced sighthound home. We adopt to the USA, Canada, U.K., Belgium, Spain and Italy," Hecht said.
UPDATE 12/20/2023, 04:34 a.m. ET: This story was updated with a new video, photos and comment from Marylou Hecht of Galgos del Sol.
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