Gito aka Chango, aka Changito, officially known as Bev’s Murcia Milagro
12/10/2013 – 9/12/2024

Our Gito earned his wings a few days ago, though he was an angel on earth too. He was such a wonderful and perfect boy.  Gito was a rescued Spanish Podenco from Beverley Farmer in Spain. She posted a video in April 2014 and I saw Gito (fka Rio) and just knew he was meant to be part of our family.  I contacted Bev and she informed me that he was slated to be adopted elsewhere.  She called me in late May as his adoption fell through and I jumped at the chance.  His NY aunties helped: Bonnie getting him from the airport, Deb fostering him, and Diane housing me.  I flew home with him on my lap and the remainder of his life he traveled by car, visiting 48 states.  He loved traveling, happily hopping on the bed at every hotel and building his pillow fort.  He went to dog shows and Aunt Robin would watch him while I showed his brothers.  He went to coursing and barked at anyone who got too close to the car but happily walked around and made friends with everyone.  He was loved by everyone who met him.  He was a playful and loving companion to all the dogs in our pack.  We joked he thought he was a Pharaoh Hound, but in his heart he was.  Even our vet clinic identified him as such.  He was a fierce backyard hunter, easily dispatching of squirrels, mice, voles, and rabbits. The neighbors’ cats avoided our yard after many near misses.
We tried coursing and agility, but those weren’t his things.  He wanted to be with his pack of dogs and hunting live critters.
A few times he got loose at lure coursing trials, but he wouldn’t dare go on the field – plastic was boring – so he’d walk around and visit all the people, waiting for me to return.  Except the fateful day he chased a jack rabbit that was bigger than him — oh what joy he had!  A few years ago he took himself to the park to hunt rabbits, after a worker left our gate open.  Matt found him carefully walking on the sidewalk!   He was quite smart and relished stealing candy from the kitchen counter, his favs were jelly beans and peanut butter m&ms.
His favorite spot was curled up or being held by me.  When I judged coursing, I’d walk the coursing field with him and he’d find holes that needed to be filled in.  He loved to eat and patiently waited his turn, usually bouncing into place and sitting politely.  He taught all our puppies proper dog behavior and would play with them endlessly.  Cuddling, soft beds, pjs in the winter, chasing squirrels, going anywhere in the car, leisurely walks in the park — he had the most amazing life.  His favorite thing in the world was to go outside.  We spent the last few days basking in the sun, soaking up all the love.  

He was adored by so many people but especially his Grandma Cyndi and Auntie Kayla.  Thank you for loving him as much as we do.
I’m so glad it was meant to be and we shared this life.   We love him so and will miss him terribly.

Cayper and me, at the start of lure coursing for the 50th Grand National – Colorado Lure Coursing Association’s premiere event.  It’s the longest running lure coursing event in North America.  A challenging one at that!  The Best in Event run features a 1400-yard course, with a required 3 runs prior to that on that day.  It’s grueling, and exciting.  

I always kiss him for luck and tell him to be safe and come back to me.  I adore him beyond words.  He’s wearing his signature purple slip lead made by Hamilton Hounds.  Thank you Megan for capturing me and my sweet boy.  It means more to me than you know.