Rosy
Lesley Jolly, 13/11/2008
Rosy, The Dog Wonder
Unknown – 16.10.2008
After a telephone call from her foster home telling me she had long nails and could be destructive but was otherwise clean in the house, I collected Rosy from GRWE. It was late November 1997 or early December. She and I got off to an unpromising start. She fouled the house and got shouted at. She ran off and hid under the bed for three days. She only came out to the sound of a ring-pull can being snapped open and the rustle of a packet of crisps. Later that week, she became convinced that dog food was a better option, and got stuck in. She promptly got the runs. The only vet open that Sunday night was at Belle Vue next to the dog track. Ironic that.
1998 saw her blossom wining a whopping trophy from Sir John Harvey-Jones for GRWE’s own “best rescued greyhound cross”. 1999 and I nearly lost her at the Great Yorkshie Show. We were in a crowd and I turned to look at her only to see an empty collar attached to the lead. When I looked ahead my fawn-and-brindle streak was heading for the hound area. She sat down next to the beagles’ white van. Only then did I put two and two together – loved going out at night, especially if I took a torch with me, loved builders’ vans, always tried to ride in the boot of the car, got very excited if hunting was on News at Ten, liked beer. All I needed was a cloth-cap and a Jack Russel.
In 2002, I went to stay with a friend in Walton-and-Thames. This friend and I went off to an exhibition –mine- and her sons were told they could take the dog for a walk but not let it off the lead…Retracing her steps, Rosy left the woods, crossed the main road, went through a supermarket car-park and was recaptured on her way back to a house we had only stayed at for one night. This proved, beyond any doubt, she was the brains of our partnership.
Then we moved to France. Rosy had cancer and chemotherapy in 2003, was attacked by a terrier in 2006, fell from a first floor balcony in 2007…I called her many things. Clever dog, Good dog, Action Dog, The Dog Wonder, the dog with the Princess Diana eyes. She died in my arms on 16 October this year. Her ashes are buried in the orchard at home.
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In memory of our Harry Pickles
Canny, Ben & Milly, 28/10/2008
Harry came with a reputation for barking constantly, being crazy in the kennels, manic when people came to visit and aggressive when you tried to touch him, especially if you were a vet, and to top it all he pulled like a stream train when he was on the lead! The loss of his elderly owner and elderly doggie friend plus nearly 12 months in kennels by the age of three hadn’t really helped.
Harry was a handful, and in addition to the other issues he loved to chase anything and everything. His great enthusiasm for life created the habit of getting himself into a bit of a pickle and he would often become jammed between the car seats or the furniture in the house, and so the name Harry Pickles stuck. Harry was the reason that we decided to invest in a van, as he would hurl himself at the car windows when we were driving along in an effort to chase and bark at anything outside that was moving!
But………in return for our understanding he gave everything back, his eyes reached into our souls and talked to our hearts. His bravery soon allowed him to be handled all over, and two patient years later he finally became vulnerable enough to lie on his side and raise his leg in order to indicate chest tickling was acceptable. He learnt to say please by sitting, and used it at every opportunity to ask for whatever he wanted.
Now, without warning on 25th October '08, and at just 6 years old, he is gone and our hearts are broken. As he died in our arms, a part of us went with him leaving a hole in our lives that is indescribable. We remembered the words to a song written by a mother with terminal cancer for her daughter, “the hardest part of living is giving up what you’ve been given.” How true this is.
Harry may have gone from this world, but he will never be forgotten. He has touched our hearts in a way we never knew was possible and we feel blessed to have known him.
Run free sweet boy, wait for us at the bridge x
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TIGGY
The Hilton Family, 13/10/2008
Unknown - 10th Oct 2008
Many of you may know Tiggy from GRWE Emergency appeal when she came in 30th October last year in a terribele state from the streets of Bristol. She was diagnosed as having mammory cancer and a very poor heart indeed and vets gave her a month to live.
What a year she has given us defied the vets, even though her condition had deteriorated over the year until the stage where her heart didnt have a beat only a whoosh, and her lungs were not filling fully. But believe me she was able to fly across the fields, and enjoy her life to the full. She was closely monitored by the vet, and had to have regular medication. The vet still does not know how she has managed it!
She was a gal full of life, always had to be in charge and at the front. She bought us such joy this past year, such spirit and determination. She left to the bridge with dignity but im sure she is kicking her heels up and sorting everyone out, she cant help herself. Tiggy was such a loving dog to all people and loved nothing more than to have her tummy tickled, and ears scratched.
It meant so much to us to be able to adopt Tiggly Wiggly, but your support also meant we could keep her and ensure she had her medication. She thanked all of you everyday by living it to the fullest and from the bottom of our hearts thank you for that.
You have left a footprint of memories on our hearts Tiggy and for that thank you, run free at the bridge you will be remembered alwaysx Mom Dad SW
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NIKKI HILTON
Jackie Hilton, 31/08/2008
31 May 1997 - 21st July 2008
It was love at first sight when I saw Nikki stood in the kennels looking so handsome but forlorn. He had just been returned from a home, not his fault just another change of circumstances. He came home for a week as a foster but stayed on the pretence of our anniversary gift to one another. A gentle giant, who would nudge you to let you know he was there, and a quiet sense of humour. He was a handsome black dog and even at the end only had a few grey whiskers. He did many a street collection and always drew people in. We had him such a short time but it was his time to go. Thank you Nikki for sharing you last years with us. You are missed and forever will be.
The Hilton Family - Somerset
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Tap (Leemount Tap) 22 Nov 1994-18 March 2008
Fran Brown, 04/08/2008
Tap was our first greyhound and quite a change from our sheepdogs. She soon settled in well with her new hairy friends and particularly enjoyed her holidays by the sea where she would act like a hooligan, barking and splashing about in the sea!
Tap had a hard racing career, running 100 races at Reading and Oxford. We are not sure what happened to her after that but she may have run on flapping tracks as she was rescued from the North East of England. At some point she suffered an injury to her right leg which caused her problems later in life.
A few months after she came to live with us we were invited to help at local street collections and, later, do the occasional home check. As she got older, Tap became a dab hand at this fundraising lark and would quickly settle down in a comfy spot and go to sleep. 'I love a fuss and cuddle but don't expect me to stand up or stay awake' seemed to be her motto.
Tap always behaved impeccably when she was 'working', showing no signs of the loutish behaviour she could display at home, such as chasing birds, low-flying jets and racing full tilt down the orchard last thing each night - all accompanied by loud barking!
Tap continued in her habits right up to the end and when I hear the RAF jets coming over I still find myself waiting for her to see them off.
Sadly missed.
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