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Adopt Iowa

Mixed Breed · Female · Puppy · 4 months

Iowa is a beautiful, dark-sabled, two-year-old (as of 09/2021) Galgo. She has a loving and affectionate nature - and anyone who meets her would never believe the story that this trusting female dog carries with her. Iowa was probably a hunting dog, like most of our Podencos and Galgos, who was simply discarded after the season. Young dogs on the streets would normally never mate, since the survival of the puppies can only be secured in a strong pack, but accessible trash bins and containers make food search in the city easy - and where there is food, there are also young animals. The wild breeding of strays is therefore just as human-made as the flood of running dogs observed every year in animal shelters and Perreras. Iowa's story is therefore one of cruelty, training on a quad, food deprivation, and then being discarded like an old piece of furniture. As soon as she was on the street, Iowa had puppies and lost the entire litter to the nightmare of all unvaccinated dogs - parvovirus. At least the little ones died under the care of Arca, they were still able to experience what it is to be loved. Bringing Iowa and her puppies to Arca was a real challenge. The quick-tempered female dog did not let anyone approach her, resisted all food offers and avoided all corners where she could have been cornered. Ultimately, only a live trap helped to take the frightened female dog with her dying puppies to the animal shelter. Our running miracle has healed from the loss of her puppies and now, in the loving hands of the animal welfare workers from Seville, she reveals her wonderful, curious, and open-minded character. Quickly, Iowa understood that she could leave her past behind and now enjoys every affection, every attention, and of course every extra biscuit. No trace of shyness or mistrust, the elegant female dog is an example of sociability and cuddles and plays with great enthusiasm. Naturally, Iowa remains a typical greyhound, her basic character is calm and she moves carefully through the world, almost as if she doesn't want to break anything. This calmness and caution, which almost all greyhound breeds show especially indoors, fascinate enthusiasts. They contrast sharply with the wild unrestrainedness of these fast four-legged creatures, who often develop a very pronounced prey drive. On a leash, however, most Galgos are simply show dogs who act in perfect harmony with their owner. Iowa doesn't care what the expert literature says about her breed, she simply wishes for a real home. She would like to go long walks with her own two-leggers, play lively ball games, and snuggle and cuddle in absolute security. Please consider whether you might just be the person Iowa wishes to have by her side...

Read original (de)

Iowa ist eine bildhübsche, dunkel gestromte, erst zwei Jahre alte (Stand 09/2021) Galga. Sie hat ein zugewandtes, zärtliches Wesen – und wer ihr begegnet, würde niemals glauben, welche Geschichte die vertrauensvolle Hündin mitbringt. Iowa war, wie die meisten unserer Podencos und Galgos, wahrscheinlich ein Jagdhund, der nach der Saison einfach entsorgt wurde. Die jungen Hunde auf den Straßen würden sich normalerweise nie verpaaren, weil das Überleben der Welpen eigentlich nur in einem starken Rudel gesichert werden kann, aber leicht zugängliche Mülltonnen und –container machen die Nahrungssuche in der Stadt einfach – und wo es Futter gibt, gibt es auch Jungtiere. Die wilde Vermehrung von Streunern ist also genauso menschengemacht wie die eh schon jedes Jahr zu beobachtende Flut an Laufhunden in den Tierheimen und den Perreras. Iowas Geschichte ist also eine von Quälereien, Training am Quad, Futterentzug, um dann wie ein altes Möbelstück entsorgt zu werden. Kaum auf der Straße gelandet, bekam Iowa Welpen, und verlor den gesamten Wurf an den Alptraum aller ungeimpften Hunde – Parvovirose. Zumindest starben die Kleinen in der Obhut der Arca, durften noch erfahren, wie es ist geliebt zu werden. Iowa und ihre Babys in die Arca zu bringen, war eine echte Herausforderung. Die blitzschnelle Hundedame ließ keinen Menschen an sich heran, widerstand allen Futterangeboten und vermied auch tunlichst alle Ecken, in die sie hätte eingekesselt werden können. Letztlich half nur eine Lebendfalle, um die verängstigte Hündin mit ihren sterbenden Welpen ins Tierheim zu verbringen. Unser Laufwunder hat den Verlust ihrer Babys gut verwunden und nun, in den liebevollen Händen der Tierschützer von Sevilla, offenbart sie auch ihren tollen, neugierigen, weltoffenen Charakter. Schnell hat Iowa verstanden, dass sie ihre Vergangenheit hinter sich lassen darf und beginnt jetzt, jede Zuneigung, jede Aufmerksamkeit und natürlich jeden Extrakeks zu genießen. Keine Spur mehr von Schüchternheit oder Misstrauen, die elegante Hündin ist ein Beispiel an Kontaktfreudigkeit und schmust und spielt mit großer Begeisterung. Natürlich bleibt Iowa trotzdem ein typischer Windhund, ihr Grundcharakter ist ruhig und sie bewegt sich vorsichtig durch die Welt, fast, als wollte sie auf keinen Fall etwas kaputtmachen. Diese Ruhe und Vorsicht, die fast alle Windhundrassen vor allem im Haus zeigen, faszinieren Liebhaber. Sie stehen in krassem Kontrast zur wilden Ungebremstheit dieser pfeilschnellen Vierbeiner, die auch oft einen sehr ausgeprägten Jagdtrieb entwickeln. An der Leine wiederum sind die meisten Galgos einfach nur Vorzeigehunde, die in perfekter Harmonie mit ihrem Besitzer agieren. Iowa ist es egal, was die Fachliteratur über ihre Rasse sagt, sie wünscht sich einfach nur ein richtiges Zuhause. Sie möchte mit ihren eigenen Zweibeinern gern lange Spaziergänge unternehmen, ausgelassen Ball spielen und in absoluter Geborgenheit kuscheln und schmusen. Überlegen Sie bitte, ob Sie nicht vielleicht genau der Mensch sind, den Iowa sich an ihrer Seite wünscht…

Size
Small
Age
Puppy · 4 months
Location
🇩🇪Gernsbach
Shelter
Tierschutzverein ARCA e.V.
Living with Iowa
  • Vaccinated
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Cared for by Tierschutzverein ARCA e.V. · GernsbachLearn about Mixed Breed

Listed 3 weeks ago

Bringing Iowa home

What you'll need for Iowa in week one.

Hand-picked · prices indicative

  1. 01
    Required by most shelters

    Trixie Transport Box

    Sturdy plastic carrier — what most shelters require for pickup.

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    €35–45
  2. 02
    Editor's pick

    Folding Wire Crate

    First-week safe space. Shelter dogs settle faster with a crate.

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    €50–80
  3. 03
    Legal · EU

    Car Seatbelt Tether

    Legally required in most EU countries for transporting dogs.

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    €8–12
  4. 04

    Adaptil Calming Spray

    Dog-specific pheromone diffuser. Worth it for the trip home.

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    €18–25
  5. 05

    Orthopaedic Dog Bed

    Worth the upgrade — rescues often have joint issues from kennels.

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    €30–60
  6. 06
    Safer than a collar

    Padded Y-Front Harness

    Escape-proof for spooky rescues. Safer than a collar in week one.

    View on Amazon
    €20–35

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About Iowa

What life with Iowa looks like

Iowa is a small puppy/kitten mixed breed dog waiting at Tierschutzverein ARCA e.V. in Gernsbach.

Puppies need routine, gentle socialization, and roughly two short outings a day for the first year. The first six months are the formative window — house-training, leash work, and quiet exposure to traffic, other dogs, and unfamiliar people happen now or not at all. Expect early-morning wake-ups and a few months of chewing.

🇩🇪Adopting from Germany

German rescues typically require an in-person home visit (Vorkontrolle) or detailed video home check before approving adoption. Animals leave the shelter sterilized, microchipped, and with a valid EU pet passport. Adoption fees usually fall between €250 and €450, covering veterinary preparation.

Gernsbach, Germany browse more dogs in Germany.

Frequently asked

Adopting Iowa, answered.

How do I contact the shelter about Iowa?
Use the phone, email, or website link in the sidebar of this page. Tierschutzverein ARCA e.V. handles screening and the adoption contract directly — TailHarbor doesn't broker the conversation. When you reach out, mention you saw Iowa on TailHarbor so they know which animal you're asking about.
Can I adopt Iowa if I live in another country?
Yes, in most cases. Rescues across Europe routinely place animals abroad — Tierschutzverein ARCA e.V. will tell you what they need (EU pet passport, rabies titer, transport coordination) and whether they handle transport themselves or refer you to a partner. Plan for an extra €100–€350 in transport costs depending on distance.
Is Iowa already vetted, vaccinated, and chipped?
Most dogs on TailHarbor leave their shelter with sterilization, current vaccinations, microchip ID, and an EU pet passport included in the adoption fee. The vet status on this page reflects what the shelter has reported — ask them directly if you need details on specific vaccines, recent bloodwork, or chronic conditions.
What happens if Iowa isn't the right fit?
Every reputable rescue accepts an animal back if the adoption genuinely doesn't work — that's part of the standard contract. Talk it through with Tierschutzverein ARCA e.V. early rather than rehoming privately; they know Iowa and can place them more successfully than a second-hand listing can.
Why does the description sometimes read awkwardly?
TailHarbor translates shelter descriptions into English from the source language (DE). Translation is imperfect — names of streets, donors, and shelter-specific terms occasionally slip through unidiomatically. For the cleanest read, click the source link to see the shelter's original page.
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