Fantasma

Female

Adult

Black

TBD

Since late January we’ve been on the trail of an extremely elusive black female greyhound with a green collar in South Texas. She traveled all over the Rio Grande Valley in Brownsville, Harlingen, San Benito area – trekking well over a hundred miles in the last several weeks.

Linda Force, our intrepid volunteer in Brownsville, tracked her when messages came in and even saw her a few times, though never got quite close enough to attach a leash to her collar.

We decided to call her Fantasma, Spanish for ghost, because she’s been everywhere and then vanished. Every time she was sighted, Linda received several calls and text messages about her location, each time she drove out to look to no avail.

Finally on April 2nd, there were several sightings of her in Long Island Village (LIV), which meant she crossed a drawbridge. It seems like everyone in LIV saw Fantasma! She was among a quiet community with very nice people who were all looking for her.

Good Friday turned out to be the day several of us hoped for. Some residents of LIV were able to get her into a fenced area. It was there that a very nice gentleman earned her trust and was able to get a leash on her. Secured at last! A wonderful couple was in LIV to help in the search, they called Linda and offered to take Fantasma to their home over the weekend. As of Good Friday evening, Fantasma was cozy in a nice large enclosure, enjoying the best sleep in ages and eating good food rather than having to forage for it. The best is yet to be!

All this was possible because Linda made connections everywhere she went and never gave up on Fantasma!

Fantasma has quite the story about how she came to GALT. This petite little black “ghost” was spotted all over the Rio Grande Valley between January and April. It’s remarkable that she has no serious parasites and that her paws aren’t rough from trekking more than 120 miles in 75 days. Her journey says so much about her resilience, and now she’s ready for a safe, loving home of her own.

When she arrived, we expected her to be feral and wary of everything around her. It became obvious early on, though, that she actually wanted to be near other dogs and stay within sight of people in the house while still keeping a safe distance. She happily follows my pack outside and does whatever they do. Fanta came in weighing about 40 pounds and was delighted to get regular meals and treats! She continues to show that, with patience and consistency, she settles in and enjoys being part of a home.

There is nothing like seeing a dog discover toys for the first time. One night around 10:30, just a few days after she came to our house, she picked up a toy that squeaked. She was gobsmacked! The look on her face and the little noises she made were priceless. My pack wasn’t thrilled that she was disturbing their sleep, so I took the toy away for the night. Moments like that have made it so fun to watch her personality come out, and it’s clear she takes real joy in playtime.

Over the first few weeks, she blossomed from a quiet, observant little beauty into a girl who quickly learned to make her needs known—loud and clear! Some of this may have come from watching our pack, and it also made us wonder if she had been in a home before. She has three distinct barks: I have to go out, I’m hungry, and play with me. When she barks during the day, she absolutely has to go potty (A+ for this one). At mealtime, she is very demonstrative and will paw at me to hurry up (super cute and a little painful). In the evening, she gets a little bored, and I think she wants me to interact with her toys. Apparently, I don’t fully understand this one—she keeps barking at me. She is expressive, smart, and increasingly confident, which has been wonderful to see.

Fanta is an early riser and does a happy dance to greet the day. We do not crate her, and she has been very respectful, with just a bit of counter surfing—which isn’t an issue as long as things aren’t within reach. She is still apprehensive when we reach for her collar so we can go for a walk, so we are taking it slow. We haven’t tested her with cats or small dogs yet because we haven’t introduced her to a muzzle. She is making progress at her own pace and will do best with adopters who appreciate gentle, steady wins.

Her ideal home will have a companion dog or two for company, LOTS of toys, a yard to explore, and loving people who will continue helping her navigate the world and blossom. For the right family, Fantasma will be an incredibly rewarding dog to watch grow and thrive.

Fantasma's Foster Family

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The special medical treatment cost needed by Fantasma is why the The Dr. E. Kelly Nitsche Veterinary Care Fund was established. If you would like to help with Fantasma‘s care, please take a moment to make a donation to the fund. You WILL and CAN make a difference in Fantasma‘s life and the lives of other greyhounds in need of special medical care. Your help and support will make a difference – one greyhound at a time.

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Greyhound Adoption League of Texas
3400 Carlisle St, #430
Dallas, TX 75204

Please note The Dr. E. Kelly Nitsche Veterinary Care Fund/Fantasma on your check.