255 Days
In December 2025 we started to receive calls about a terrified white lurcher girl who was constantly moving along the busy roads of Galway City. Despite numerous efforts she remained at large often covering many miles, making her difficult to track, and often on motorways/dual carriageways. How she survived the cars and lorries we will never know.
But she did and finally hunger and desperation led to her making a mistake which resulted in her finally being caught in an enclosed garden. Swilly arrived just before Christmas. Traumatised by our every move, our presence, our touch and even our words. We knew that this was not going to be a quick fix but we soon found Swillys love in life - other dogs. So we made sure to pair her up and involve her with as many as we could. In the early days these were the only moments where we got to watch Swilly completely free of all her worries and stress as she ran around our fields with her friends. But we had to get her to believe in us and start trusting humans. So the hard work began.
Weeks turned into months and while Swilly made all round progress, we still knew we would need an extra special home and person that would continue the journey with her that we had started. When an application came in from a lady called Marie for Nya our three legged lurcher, our kennel manager took one look at it and thought "Swilly". Everything Marie could offer along with her own 3 legged lurcher Jenny was all that we wanted and needed for Swilly. It was still going to be a learning curve but we felt that Swilly was ready and we also felt Marie and Jenny were the ones to bring her along beside them.
Lots of chats and calls were had until the day of Swillys meet and greet. We made sure that Swillys favourite human at work, Emma Clarke, was there to give her confidence and with Marie understanding that there would probably be very little interaction from Swilly, with her, we all held our breath. Marie fell in love instantly with the sweet but unsure Swilly and Swilly in true form fell instantly in love with the 3 legged Jenny. Jenny took it all in her stride.
Saying goodbye to any of our dogs is always a moment of mixed emotions. We are delighted that they are now heading off to start their new lives and a little sad that we will no longer see their faces each morning. And then there are those that, as you say your goodbyes, look at you with scared eyes, eyes that look into your heart and make you question the choice you have just made to let them go and Swilly did all of that.
It has been over a month since Swilly, now Gladys, headed home with Marie and Jenny. Under Maries experience, love and care Swilly/Gladys has blossomed way beyond all our wildest dreams. It didn't happen overnight but it happened a little bit every day, and Swilly is living a life she could never have believed would one day be hers. But it is and it's all because of teamwork, passion, dedication, hardwork and love.
The photos of Swilly/Gladys in her forever home are photos that made us all a little teary eyed when we saw them first. But at GalwaySPCA we never stop believing that dreams really do come true. A special thanks to Marie for opening up her heart and home to a girl who needed her more than Marie will ever know. We wish Marie, Jenny, Gladys and all their furry friends many years of fun and adventure together.
