Luna (Shika)
Somerset, 01/07/2010
Hello Everyone!
Long before I homed a dog with GRWE I loved to read about the hounds who have found their "forever home". So I'd like to introduce you to the very lovely Luna (Lulu).
I was looking for a companion to my little lurch, Inca; I have two other dogs; Murron, my fifteen year old Blue Merle Collie-x & Inca, nine year old brindle lurcher.
Luna (originally Shika) came from Ireland, handed in to a Pound, and estimated to be between two & three years old. Nothing else was known. She was very thin, weak, bald in places (mange), with dodgy guts & pretty unresponsive. She however got on well with Inca particularly from the outset, they had a little play at the kennels; Luna was so weak she managed a couple of circuits & collapsed exhausted.
She bonded very quickly with Murron & Inca & looking back now, was so quiet initially because I suspect she was a little shell-shocked from the amount of change that must have happened quite rapidly for her. Then followed getting a routine sorted with her nervous toilet habits (there is no longer a carpet at the bottom of the stairs....!
Three weeks in & out came the fear aggression...The early signs were the fear of traffic. She went on to develop incessant barking - traffic, dogs & people - this effected all three dogs & I now had a "pack" of reactive dogs... Call in the troops!! Carol arrived within a day & clicker training insued....
I have had Lulu for almost four months now & wanted to have a trip to the Lakes before adding her Story... although I was apprehensive about how she would react on a campsite, how she'd be in the tent, would we get kicked off the site for continual barking... Well, she certainly surprised me! I had a model dog.
Luna is now fit enough to tackle the Fells, which she did with gusto. It was a real gift seeing her investigate & enjoy everything after having such a bad start in life.
Once again, my repeated THANKS go to the fantastic Somerset Re-homing Team. Homing a dog in need is a rewarding & positive thing to do, whatever you give out to these wonderful dogs they return 100 fold.
I have laughed every day watching her play, "necking" with her best buddy Inca, she's incorrigable, affectionate, beautiful, she's on occasion hard work but Luna is now part of my family & for that I'm thankful.
With the very best regards,
Sue - known as "SuewithDogs" in Glastonbury...
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Friends across the sea
Lancashire, 24/06/2010
Our homing relationship with the Isle of Man continues to grow – with a new link in the chain being forged today. See our beautiful teddy bear of a dog, Josh (now Monty) with his proud Dad getting ready to wave goodbye. Doesn’t he look happy? Also, see him arrive at his new home and meet his gorgeous new sister Angel - and then, as you can see, the day has all been too much - and all a guy can do is sleep. It's all that sea air you know!! Special thanks to Jo, our marvellous co-ordinator on the island whose help is invaluable to us. X
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Belinda
Lancashire, 09/06/2010
The last time we owned a dog was 20 years ago - a wonderful Dalmatian called Perdy. We had her for 15 years and said we would never replace her. That was until our friends Tom & Jackie along with Sonic (a rescued Greyhound) introduced us to Greyhound Rescue West of England (GRWE). After a couple of visits to awareness days we decided to rehome a dog but it had to be parrot friendly because of our resident parrot called Colin. This is how we ended up with Belinda or Bel for short. She has two other names, eeshesagranddog & ohshesagoodgirl !! We’ve had her since the 9th April and it seems as though we have never been without a dog. It took a week or two for her to settle in, but she is learning to play and become a pet. We have not had any trouble with Colin our parrot and Bel - they get on famously together. We went to a collection, awareness day at Golden Days Garden Centre & Bel loved all the attention given to her by anyone who stopped to talked to us. We have just come back from a Greyhound Gathering at Boggart Hole Clough. What a wonderful sight – about forty greyhounds walking beautifully together. With thanks to Lesley & especially to Lucille for spending the time to find such a super dog for us. Alan & Janet Evans
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Hello from Yuti
Yuti's Mum, 06/06/2010
Hello everyone! My name's Yuti and I’m nearly 9 years old. Although I was born in Ireland, I spent many years racing in Manchester and then ended up in the pound near Liverpool – I still don’t know why as I tried really hard to please my owners. I was rescued by GRWE and now live with my new family in Hereford. I’ve been there since 5th November 2009 – admittedly not the best night to move house as I was scared enough as it was even without the fireworks and loud noises. (Apparently I caused a lot of nasty pongs when I first moved in but I put that down to nerves which is understandable. I now have greyhound food for my main meals and that seems to have resolved their problem – it was no problem for me I have to say!) Anyway, it’s now nearly 7 months since I moved in with my new family and life is good! I have two younger whippet sisters that I wasn't too keen on to begin with but we get along ok now, and two young human sisters who love to cuddle and brush me. I could lie there all day being smoothed and patted! My new Mum and Dad also love to give me hugs and kisses all the time. I did hear them saying though that they need to cut back on the treats as I seem to be getting a bit chunky – what a cheek! But I admit I do love my food. Mmmm, I’d do anything for a bit of cheese, my favourite… My family say I am totally marvellous! I tell them when I need the toilet and they seem to think that’s really clever. I’ve taught those whippets a thing or two as well – I’m sure their manners have improved since I came on the scene. I don’t climb all over the furniture or sneak into the human’s beds like they do and I am very chilled when I travel in the car, unlike them. They also don’t pull so much when out for walks and it makes me so happy to hear my Mum say I’m a dream on the lead. I don’t chase cats or small furry animals when we’re out and about as I really can’t be bothered at my time of life. My Dad says I’m just wonderful (despite the halitosis, whatever that is?) I could get big headed if I weren’t so modest! Well, I need to go now to do a bit more sunbathing – it’s so nice to be able to spend all day relaxing or snoozing under a shady tree if I want to. My Mum and Dad say I’ve had a really hard life and I deserve every comfort. I have to agree with them and I’m so happy to be safe and warm, with my own comfy bed and lots of love. I just wish all my greyhound and lurcher friends could be as happy as me.
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