Griffith

Dog name: Griffith         Nicknames: Griffy, Griffle-pants and Boy-o

History: Rescued from a greyhound owner in Palencia who has been reported to the Civil Guard. He was kept confined in a tiny enclosure made of scrap metal, old bed frames, and sheet iron, exposed to direct sunlight; as a result, temperatures were extremely high, and the stench of accumulated faeces and urine was unbearable.

Uk arrival date: 02/08/2026

Breed: Galgo

Colour: Grey and white

DOB: 01/07/2021

Height: 68cm

Weight: 23.7kg

Neutered: Yes

Mediterranean disease: Clear

Health condition: Blind but otherwise healthy

Character: Griffith is an extremely affectionate, gentle hound who loves attention and being close to his trusted people. He arrived very nervous and hypervigilant, frightened by people, traffic noises and unfamiliar sights and sounds. He follows his people around the house for reassurance and can settle when the environment is quiet and a trusted person is nearby. Despite his fears, he is learning quickly and has already made encouraging progress with household routines.

Likes: Affection and attention, being close to his trusted people, his monkey toy, cheese and little sausages, car rides, Classical Italian Opera, and a fan blowing on him on hot days. He also enjoys food-scattering enrichment in the garden.

Dislikes: Being left alone, traffic noise, unfamiliar people and voices, and some bright or fast-moving images on the TV. These can make him cower, back away or seek safety.

Special talents: Griffith responds very well to his name and is an exceptionally gentle treat-taker. He loves travelling in the car and is learning useful words including “bedtime”, “step”, “dinner” and “outside”. His housetraining has also shown good early progress.

Specific needs: Griffith needs a calm, patient and understanding home experienced or prepared to support a very anxious, visually impaired hound. He currently needs a trusted human in the house and cannot be left alone; separation causes whining that can progress to barking within a couple of minutes. He is not yet ready to walk outside the garden because people and traffic noises frighten him. His confidence will need to be built very gradually and positively, at his pace, with predictable routines and plenty of reassurance. Sensible management around high-value chews is also advisable, as he has shown one instance of guarding a dried beef skin from another dog.

Cat workable: Not tested

How long they can be left for: He cannot currently be left alone and needs a trusted human in the house with him. Alone-time has to be introduced very gradually as his confidence develops.

Current area: Surrey, UK