Mila Moo

Congratulations to Mila Moo – 2021  SuperDog Survivor Award Winner!

This is the story of my rescue Spanish Galgo,  Mila Moo!

From a certain death 5 years ago, to the Crufts carpet in 2019 & 2020 and after surviving a devasting blow to her head,  our little girl is a true survivor!  At the end of the annual hunting season (Sept ~ Feb) in Spain, Mila was discarded, like rubbish, with a huge open fracture to her entire head, inflicted on her by her hunter owner. She was just 8 months old.

Saved by two kind people out walking their own dog, Mila had crawled over to them & she was taken to a nearby refuge, covered in blood. Maria, who runs the refuge, says sadly she has seen some horrific injuries inflicted on dogs, but Mila’s injury was by far the worst she’d ever encountered. She was rushed to a local vet. The vet said he thought the injury was about 5 days old and her wound was also heavily infected.  She would not have survived another night.  With youth on her side, both Maria from the refuge and the vet wanted to give Mila a chance to live, and that, amazingly, is what our little fighter did! Her tenacity and her will to live was incredible!

Once she was well enough and fit to travel, Mila arrived in the UK in April 2016.  From day one we had followed her story shared on Facebook by Kerry Lawrence, Founder of Greyhound Protection (GP) and Candy Cane Rescues. We wanted to adopt her, give her a forever, safe home and through GP, who took her into their care in the UK, she joined our family on 15/4/16!  We are very hopeful that no neurological signs will arise in the future, but if they ever do, we will tackle any problems that come our way. Our vet is pretty confident she will be just fine though ❤️

Since arriving here with us, Mila’s outlook on life, seizing every opportunity that comes her way and just having fun, is nothing short of amazing. She LOVES everybody! Her achievements so far are outstanding. She has passed her Good Citizen Bronze Award, she loves to swim, she is fearless at agility and she loves to help at fundraising events, often drawing people over to us with her quirkiness & funny antics!

She stood side by side with me when I had a breast cancer scare three years ago. She helped me dispel the “what ifs” & the occasional panic attack when the reality of it caught me off guard.  She knows just how to take my mind off any worries, by making me laugh, acting the clown or simply dropping her head on my lap for a snuggle! It’s as if, she just knew what to do & what I needed at that worrying time! Thankfully I was given the all-clear. We are blessed and able to continue on with our journey together!

In 2018 at Marc Abraham’s PupAid, Primrose Hill, London, Mila Moo won the “Bravest Dog” award judged by Dave & Finn, (winners of Friends for Life & one of the BGT Finalists and nominated for a SuperDog Campaigner Award)  Mila then went on to win Best In Show. It was the most amazing, humbling day. We are so so incredibly proud of her!

During our day to day life together, Mila Moo has visited my friend’s young son who has a genuine fear of dogs & with her happy go lucky, friendly nature, she has helped him realise that dogs are actually ok! She also likes to say hi to the preschoolers on their dinner break & she adores them all, it’s heartwarming to see the children’s beaming faces as they stroke her or give her a treat!

Back in September 2020, I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. I decided there and then for the sake of our future (mine & Darrin my husband) and without a Shadow of a doubt, our dogs, I was going to kick it into remission! With the worry of an uncertain future health-wise, long walks with Mila Moo by my side was the order of the day & together we sent diabetes into remission! Losing 3 stone to boot!

We are hoping that this year we can apply for Mila to become a Therapy Dog too! After her Crufts visits, she proved to absolutely love the attention! She brought happiness & smiles to many a person that day! Mila is an amazing ambassador for her breed & lives happily with our 3 other Rescue Dogs!

She has an awesome sense of humour, making us laugh each & every day! Mila Moo really is our warrior princess & our bond is unbreakable 💖  and we march on, together, through this wonderful life ❤️

Thank you
Fay & Mila Moo McCallum