OLDIES
BUT GOLDIES & SPECIAL CASES.
This
page was prepared just prior to the
passing of our dear Gunner, we haven't
altered the content and dedicate this to
his memory and all our other 'oldies' and
'special cases' who are no longer with
us.
Those of you who
follow our site will know that Mal and I
and Alison try to take on an 'oldie' or
neglected dog each year.
With the
onslaught of Winter and Christmas, our
thoughts are always with the older dogs
laying cold and unwanted in kennels,
those with medical conditions that are
overlooked time and time again and those
who are out goodness knows where
experiencing neglect and abuse.
We know that it
will inevitably lead to heartache when we
take the 'senior' ones but I can't tell
you how satisfying it is to give a little
old dog warmth and love in his twilight
years. Yes of course it is dreadful that
you may sometimes only have them a few
months, but the rewards far outweight
this.
We are also very
aware with vets bills escalating, as they
have especially in the last year, that it
is not always possible to do this as most
of the time insurances will not cover an
older dog or the amount is just through
the roof, but we would ask that if you
are in a position to take a dog in their
latter years please do get in touch and
discuss this with us. We would stress
that this is not something to be
considered lightly.
We often speak
to people who are of a mature age and say
they couldn't take another dog because
they feel it is too late in life, if the
circumstances are right we do encourage
them to consider taking on a more senior
dog who may have spent all their life, in
a kennel. There are always greyhounds of
every age looking for a home.
We would like to
share with you some of our oldies who
have graced and still grace our sofas.
At the Sanctuary
at the moment we have Gunner who most of
you will know about through logging on
but if not, he is a 12 year old boy,
neglected all his life, who we have had
since last November. He hasn't got a lot
of time left but we are so pleased to
have given him love and a soft bed to lie
in after spending all his life in a shed
starved of any kind of affection or
medication to help his crippled body.
All the love in
the world can't take away those sad eyes
that say it all.
We also have
Dilly, she is 13 years old and quite fit
for her age. She does have a lot of
arthritis so doesn't really go for walks
anymore but is quite happy to potter
round the house and the garden. She eats
up well, despite having no teeth, and
gives the big guys a run for their money.
No bad looking
for an 'old broad'.
Next is Arrie,
well Arrie came to us when he was 10 1/2
years old, he is now 12 and such a happy
old bloke mind you totally 'off the
wall'. He eats up well and just has a
short potter in the mornings as he has
extremely bad ligament damage on his
front leg which gives him quite a lot of
pain but the tablets he's on keeps it
under control. He had spent all his life
in kennels, it is just such a waste.
Kennel, what
kennel!!!!!!
Eccles came over
with Gunner, he is now 10 years old and
quite a fit dog, we call him 'the fraud'.
But having spent the majority of his life
in kennels, he most certainly deserved a
sofa of his own. He has some arthritis
but many of them do, remnants of their
racing careers.
Sun glasses and
a cold drink would be good!!!!!!
Then, of course,
there are our dogs who we took on 6 or 7
years ago in their younger years who have
grown older with us. Turk, he's now 11
1/2 years old with a few problems in his
back legs and his back through age and
racing. Flynn at 10 1/2 is also quite
stiff and recently had the complete
muscle in his back leg removed due to a
serious tumour. So, of course, we know
that in the years ahead there will be
losses and a great deal of sadness but
the love and laughter we have with these
dogs means we wouldn't change what we do
for the world.
Turk such a
handsome boy in his younger days
Our Flynn also
as a youngster - always such a shy lad
We would also
like to include our past 'oldies' those
whose passing made it possible for us to
rescue more of this lovely breed.
DARING MISSION
GUMMIE BEAR
SEPTEMBER 1987 -
JULY 1977
Our first oldie
Gummie Bear, picked up from a kennel
together with twenty odd other greyhounds
all suffering from mange and total
neglect he was nearly 10 when we took him
on. With the removal of all his teeth his
name seemed so apt. We only had this poor
little mite for a few months as bone
cancer had set in on his shoulder and we
had to let him go - this was the start of
us taking on the 'senior greyhounds'
SANDY GATE
PONGO-PONGO
OCTOBER 1988 -
MARCH 2000
We remember so
clearly this timid little black bundle
covered in fleas and too terrified to
come any further than the porch - it took
days before he actually came and sat with
us in the lounge. This shy little bloke
came out of his shell and we had his
company for 4 years.
NIGHT DEGREE
DOUGLAS
SEPTEMBER 1990 -
NOVEMBER 2004
Our Douglas,
what a rogue he was, we always said if he
had been a person he would have been
another brother to the Kray twins - just
as well he had no teeth - but once again
a sheer delight for all his wickard
ways!! Our Douglas spent 4 wonderful year
with us.
FLAT OUT FLOOSIE
FLOOSIE
DECEMBER 1993 -
MAY 2007
Our little Flu,
it took us six weeks to take delivery of
her, she should have been with us at
Christmas 2006 but was in such a dreadful
state she had to remain in foster care
until she was strong enough to make the
trip. She had been found in a wardrobe
and it was estimated that she had been
there for a couple of weeks. The previous
owners had been evicted and just upped
and left. This took it toll and our
feisty little girl only had a few months
with us.
MISTY REFLECTION
MR. PADZ
OCTOBER 1994 -
NOVEMBER 2007
Alison took on Mr. Padz
as her Christmas Special in 2006. He had
been in kennels all his life and had a
lot of health problems. He was the
happiest dog despite everything and
always had a wonderful greeting for you
and the biggest grin on his face. He gave
Alison and John such a happy year.
THE 'SPECIAL
CASES'
The following
lad was by no means old and sadly will
never see old age. A medical condition
meant that he was firstly returned to
kennels and then overlooked time and time
again.
SCRUFFY HOOLIGAN
SONNY
OCTOBER 2000 -
SEPTEMBER 2006
One of the
saddest losses - Sonny had epilespy and
came to live with Alison and John in 2006
aged just 5. He was a gentle, loving dog
whose life was cut short just seven weeks
after they adopted him. A massive fit
ended what should have been such a lovely
retirement.
Then there's the
younger dogs who sadly experience abuse
and neglect, but the story ends with 'a
happily ever after'. With age on their
side these dogs have every chance of
making a full recovery and leading a long
and happy life.
HARLENAS SALLY
HARLEA
Harlea when she
arrived in Jersey
Harlea after a few months
of T.L.C.
Harlea now
Harlea was
picked up in Wales weighing a mere 9
kilos in weight. Alison just happened to
be looking on the site of a dog home
called Chiltern. When you see a dog as
abused as this you can't help thinking of
the massive amount of cruelty there is,
not only in the greyhound world, but with
animals overall. She was 4 years old at
the time and I think being such a young
dog helped with her survival. Hopefully
those terrible days are behind her now.
She is a favourite at the school
assemblies and fetes a far cry from the
trauma she suffered back then.
BALLYMARTIN JACK
WIZ
These photos
were taken a couple of weeks after he was
found so imagine how much worse he was
then. This was only 2 months after he
finished racing so bear this in mind
before you place your next bet at the
bookies or the dog track!!!!!!
Another cry for
help from Chiltern Dog Home. An email of
this dog reduced us all to tears and we
knew he just had to come and live with
Alison (Mal and I have no room at the inn
at present). Magic as they called him at
the home was found at the pound suffering
from horrific sores and abscesses.
Further investigations showed this dog to
have been a top racer in his time and one
of the loveliest natured greyhounds. He
had obviously served his time on the
track and when his racing skills were no
longer required had been tossed out and
ended up in this unforgiveable state. We
hope that we can name and shame but the
racing fraternity are such a closed door.
Magic now Wiz will share his life and
indeed a sofa with all of Alison's crew
and hopefully, like Harlea, will blot out
the abuse he has suffered.
You may think in
reading these cases and learning of our
losses that it was all doom and gloom but
you would be so wrong. All of them have
given us the greatest of pleasure during
their time with us, now matter how short
and we would do it all over again and
do!! We would ask that maybe the next
time you are considering taking on a dog
that you bear in mind the less fortunaate
and maybe enhance your life with an
older' guy' or 'gal' who has never known
comfort, warmth and love.
IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF
TAKING ON AN OLDER DOG PLEASE DO NOT
HESITATE TO CONTACT US.
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