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Last updated 2002 - Whittingham Kennels does not run many events, and most are the same each year except for the amount of money raised. The list at the top of the page gives an idea of them. If you wish to attend an event send me an e-mail and I'll give you details near the time. We publish a Newsletter (I'm the editor) roughly four times a year (but only two can be sent by e-mail) one is shown below the list - the preface is written by Johanna - It tries to contain tips, stories and some photos of greyhounds at home - there is also a memorial section. I also send e-mails to a US Greyhound List describing some day to day events at our UK NGRC kennels - these appear at the end and give some idea of the trials and tribulations of a greyhound adoption kennels
EVENT: Easter Parade WHEN: Easter
We meet at the Kennels and have various competitions such as "Best Bonnet" - "Dog of the Show" - "Dog most like it's owner" etc. Food and drink is supplied - A raffle is held to offset costs. The dogs can go for a walk in the adjoining forest afterwards. The kennel dogs join in the walks and food!
EVENT: Picnic WHEN :July
We meet at the Butlers Retreat (by the Royal Forest Hotel) Rangers Road Chingford. This year 60 greyhounds and 100 owners attended. They enjoyed a walk round Connaught Water (a lake just behind the Butlers Retreat ) and then a slice of celebration cake and lemonade, with sausage cake for the dogs. The massive celebration cake was baked by the catering staff at Walthamstow Stadium. This informal "get-together" enables like minded people to chat to other greyhound lovers. It is enjoyed by all and it has been decided to make this an annual event!! Each dog leaves with a chew toy! A small raffle raises enough to cover expenses (about £60 - $90). The main purpose is for adopters to meet each other with their dogs.
EVENT: Charity Race Meetings WHEN :August and November
Originally we ran the charity meeting annually at Walthamstow Stadium for the Walthamstow Homefinding Scheme. Now it has been taken over by the Owners Association. All of the proceeds go towards Walthamstow retired greyhounds The indications are that the Owners are better fund raisers - Well there are more of them than us! They are running two meetings a year
Each of the 14 races is sponsored for about £250 ($400) each. Each of the six dogs per race is sponsored for about £25 ($40) each. Sponsors included the betting companies. The normal appearance and place money still applies for the owners.
There are raffles, auctions and girls going around with collection boxes.
At the end of each race the winning dog, the winning dog's sponsor, the winner's owner, and the race sponsor all gathered at the winners podium for photos. On two occasions last time this caused some amazement as *all* the waiters and waitresses at the stadium had sponsored *two* of the winners!! :-) So thirty of them trooped down to have their photo taken! The service was later than usual as a consequence!
One point of interest (and delight) was when one of the runners escaped from the holding area by slipping his leash! :-) He ran onto the track tail wagging - then galloped into the centre of the track which is fairly dark. The crowd roared their approval! A couple of officials tried to head him off - one of whom tripped over when jumping over an obstacle! A bigger roar *and* applause greeted this feat! :-) Incidently I've never seen that happen before the race before!
In the middle of the meeting homed ex-racers and their adopters paraded around the track - with four dogs looking for homes heading the procession. There were over sixty dogs and a hundred adopters!!! This was a *very* impressive sight. By far the best turnout we've had so far. We did get some enquiries about homing dogs and two resulted in a dog on parade going home - after a home check of course.
The first meeting run by the owners association raised about £35,000 ($50,000) which is nearly twice the amount we raised on our own.
EVENT: Meet 'n' Greet WHEN :Early December
We have our one annual Meet n Greet in early December. Roughly
seven dogs and nine people participate each year. We walk the length of
a local street market which is about a mile long rattling our
collecting boxes and giving out pamphlets about the joys of greyhounds.
The dogs always behave impeccably. It is incredibly crowded being
around Christmas time. Ben never even thinks of lifting his leg! :-)
Ben often enjoys himself as he normally has new bitches to get to know.
The only problem he has had was when I gave a lift to one of the
bitches who growled at Ben because he had the temerity to want to share
the back seat of my car - being a perfect gentleman he didn't insist!
We raise about £200 ($300) in about an hour and a half -
we're not allowed to stay more than two hours.
EVENT: Annual Grand Raffle WHEN: Early December
This is our main fund raiser for those dogs we house that fall through the cracks in the system - Rescue Greyhounds and sometimes Lurchers from pounds. Dogs returned many years after adoption (usually through death or terminal illness of the adopter) that were adopted before the change of the Owners Association Policy - This now covers the kennel keep of returned Walthamstow dogs after 2001. Most of the prizes are donated by adopters. We seem to raise about £1500 ($2350) with this. Tickets are £1 ($1.50) each.
EVENT: Fund Raising WHEN: Anytime
There are a number of adopters who work very hard raising money for us. One major one is a Car Boot Sale which raises £300 ($450) roughly. This in fact is becoming more successful as the organisers become more experienced!!
Dear friends,
Another lovely year is drawing to a close and it has been its usual
mixture of happiness and heartbreaks in a kennel, but, a remarkable
year in the increase of help and support we have received from
fund-raising and extra volunteers coming to help at the kennels.
You may recall we re-kenneled "Ebe" with old "Fred", who came in at 11
years old after losing his home. The sad news is that Ebe had to be put
down when her back legs completely gave way late this summer, but, old
Fred has been rehoused with an elderly gentleman in North Weald and is
really well and happy, a young lady and her family go in to help out
with walks etc, and will take Fred to their home should the need arise.
A really happy ending.
The "Butler's Retreat" in the summer seems a long way back, we had good
weather with a vengeance it was so hot! But luckily being in the forest
we had shade, a wonderful turnout of dogs (approx 80) and owners and a
great afternoon was had by all. Thanks to everyone who helped. In
particular John and Faith (Duke and Trilby's owners) and to everyone
who brought the "kennel dogs" along for an outing, they loved it.
"Desi" who won handsomest dog in the Enfield Show went home later that
month and shows off his good looks at his owner's hairdressing salon!
"Geoffrey" (a bitch called Geoffrey!) Found a lovely home with
"Cracker" and the Cathorn family, and we have a family of volunteer
walkers for Sundays!
Most of our greyhounds stay in the homes we find for them until they
pass on, but, some through no fault of their own have to be returned to
kennels and the new home found for them. Earlier this year it happened
to "Timmy" and "Frank", and luckily both found kind loving homes and
are very happy.
We had a request from the Greyhounds Trust Head Office to take in two
older bitches "Betty" aged 11 and "Sweep" aged seven. Their owners had
moved house thinking the dogs could go with them, only to find this was
not the case. For months Mr and Mrs Murrell tried to move again so that
their girls could go back home but, with no success. Then a couple of
weeks ago old Betty had a partial collapse in the kennels and had to be
rushed to the Animal Hospital at Wanstead where she underwent an
emergency tracheotomy, she is back with us in the kennels now, still
rather Poorly, unfortunately her breathing problems are now permanent,
and lifespan limited. She is happy and trots about (she cannot be
walked on a collar and lead) we would like her to have another home,
even for short time. She needs a very quiet stress-free atmosphere, but
it would be nice to think of her ending her days on someone's sofa.
Her companion Sweep has been lucky enough to find a wonderful home in
Sawbridgeworth with "Emmy"and "Davy" both similar ages to herself and
all three of them black and going elegantly grey!
The last of the bitches that we took in from Tia (the Yorkshire
Greyhound Rescue) a white and blue called "Cher" (now renamed "Dolly")
melted the hearts our Sunday helpers Linda and Bryan. Rosslyn was also
smitten by a nervous little bitch she has called "Poppet" and both have
settled down with all the rest of their four-legged families.
By the end of November we will have found ninety two homes (and five
re-homes). It would be nice if we can get up to 100 by the end of the
year, it is not impossible, although it is not usually our best month
for homing.
"Charlie" and "Missy" who were two really long-stay residents in the
kennels and eventually went home to Chris are now on the move to Spain.
They are at present packing their bags and we wish them "Bon Voyage".
Faith and John have passports for their dogs ("Duke" and "Trilby") who
now holiday in France (and love it!). Faith would be happy to give
anyone information and help if they need its re: rabies injections and
papers needed for passports if you give her a ring on a 0208 348 8878.
We have some lovely dogs and bitches in the kennels still looking for
homes. Poor old "Star" is still with us but we haven't given up on
finding him a home, he'll get one eventually.
A big brindled called "Teddy" is really lovable but inclined to put
prospective adopters off because he often growls at strangers, and
"Blackie" is a lovely spayed bitch slightly older at six years but
backs away from strangers, she would be fine if someone gave her time
to settle in.
"Hal" is a seven-year-old black dog who was homed with a disabled
gentlemen, but Hal unfortunately became just too protective towards him
and became a problem not letting any person or animal come anywhere
near the wheelchair, so he's back in kennels and looking to be
re-housed.
The kennels are open every morning 10am to 12 noon but Sunday is still
our special visiting day and the best day for a new prospective owners
to come up and see the dogs. Do come up and see us with your dogs we
love to see them again.
I cannot write an end of the year newsletter without a word
of thanks to our staff Sylvia, Gill, and Sue who work so hard to keep
our dogs fit and happy, and I just do not know what we would do without
our volunteers, not only walking the dogs but helping with home-checks,
transport, cooking all the "goodies" for the Sunday buffet, helping
with the laundry and cleaning and through the summer evenings
paddocking -Jim and Avril, Pauline, Sue, Rosaline, Ken and Selma, Dave,
Bryan and Linda, Carol and the Bentley family.
Young Kim who comes to help in the school holidays and the ladies and
gentlemen from the Epping Forest Volunteer Bureau and of course what
were we do without Richard, organizing our website, taking photographs,
doing our printing and endless maintenance work at the kennels he has
become a major part of "Whittingham".
Thanks to Dave at the Greyhound and Whippet Shop and very special
thanks to Nigel and Sue at the Broadway Pet Stores Muswell Hill for
their continual support with free sacks of food, dog treats, leads, and
all the goodies are go into our doggie lucky dip bags.
Everyone on the cleaning staff at Walthamstow Stadium who so kindly
sponsor dogs and give us a regular supply of towels, duvet covers,
duvets, blankets etc.- Andre for all the beautiful hand-knitted dog
coats, and everyone who regularly drops in with towels, sheets, dog
treats, and tuna, thank so much for thinking of us.
Everyone at North Weald Market for all the burgers, bacon, and
sausages, special weekend treats, always enjoyed, and Steve, Pauline
and Sue for collecting it.
Thanks again to Chesvale Dog Training Club and Enfield Chase Dog
Training Club for making our kennels their charity this year.
Thank you for all the gifts given for Raffles Tombolas and for the
first time this year our car-boot sale.
Jim and Avril raised £240 for us with their first Car Boot
Sale a fantastic effort.
Many thanks to Walthamstow Owners Association for their
£4,500 received via their bonus scheme for dogs homed for
their Association. This helps towards our every day running costs, and
they also presented us with 20 much needed new feeding bowls.
Special thanks to Trainer Linda Jones who celebrated winning the
trainer's championship with a party that included fund-raising for
greyhound charities, we were so grateful to receive a quarter share for
our kennel, and the magnificent sum of £823 enabled us to
repair and renew all our broken and "chewed up! bed boards.
But now we're asking for your help again - we rely on our raffle to boost our always flagging funds at the end of the year - PLEASE sell the enclosed tickets for us and if possible more (available on request) it does help us so much. The draw will be at the kennels Sunday 22nd December.
Thank you in advance - love and best wishes to you and your four-legged family.
KENNELS KORNER
Hello All,
Well! This time I must say that things are looking up! Not
only did my story about Bambi and the dog door appear in the RGT's
summer newsletter "Scene" - But - the web site and my name appeared in
The Sunday Times Nov 3rd issue in the "Culture" section by the efforts
of Julia Brooks!!
The article appears below for all those that missed it - and is an
excellent advertisement about the joys of adopting a retired greyhound!!
MY BEST BUY : RACETRACK RESCUE From the Sunday Times November 03, 2002
When Julia Brooks, 41, decided to adopt a retired greyhound, the internet helped her to find the perfect pet, as she tells James Knight
When our youngest child started school recently, we decided we wanted a family dog. We had quite a troublesome puppy a few years ago, and I posted questions on internet message boards asking for advice on how to handle him. Eventually, we even found him a new owner through the web.
I had heard that retired greyhounds make good pets, and an American site, www.greyhoundgang.org told me a lot about then, -- in fact, they do not need much exercise. It was also obvious that owners of retired greyhounds really love them.
Once my husband had agreed that it was time to adopt, I began to browse sites for retired racers. I found a list of all the rescue kennels at www.greyhoundrescue.co.uk. The Whittingham Kennels (http://homepage.nttworId.com/greyhounds/mission.htm) near Waltham Forest has a terrific site, set up and run by Richard Lobb. The site provides a warm welcome, lots of information, and pictures and profiles of dogs that need homes.
When I visited the kennels, I settled on a beautiful two- year-old fawn coloured bitch called Dungarven Breda. It turned out that this was one of the kennels' first online adoptions. We brought her home in June and, through www.rescued-racers.org.uk found details of her breeding for £15. We now know her birthday, and have details of a cousin who was also a racer. I have obtained a copy of her race card from the British Greyhound Racing Board site (www.thedogs.co.uk), and was delighted to see that she had won a couple of races. We call her Breeze now, and she is perfect docile and affectionate, but a bundle of energy.
She is still "keen", which means that she wants to race. When
my husband and I are out with her and nobody else is about, he will
send her sprinting across the park. It is thrilling to watch her run.
THE LOSS OF A SOCK AND A GLOVE:
Dear Richard, thank you for the latest newsletter, there's always something in it that touches the heart - Dear Paddy
I have an account below of what happened on the first Christmas Day (2000) walk with my greyhounds. Best wishes, Sheila Cahill.
We had an incredible time Christmas Day. Off we went early Christmas morning for what was supposed to be a really special walk for Bex and Tinkerbell. As the parks were closed we went to a place that someone told me about. What a nightmare it turned out to be!
I called into my daughter's house on the way with the presents for my grandchildren and what with remembering all the bits and pieces I forgot to pick up their leads. We parked on a lane and had to walk just 5 yards to get off the road. I looped a couple of carrier bags through their collars and off we went. The ground was real stubbly and I was worried about it digging in their pads but they seemed okay. Then tragedy struck. We took a short cut to disaster. The ground became a bog. I could just about see an inch or two of the top of my wellys. Panicked about the dogs getting stuck so constantly was calling to them to follow. I then got to the point that I couldn't move!
I had visions of calling the fire brigade out (how
embarrassing that would have been); it was slightly comforting that my
mobile was in my pocket. Nothing else for it, stuffed my gloves in a
pocket and took off the wellys, lost my balance and had mud up to my
elbows, picked up the boots and proceeded in my socks, still calling to
the poor dogs. When we got to the edge of the field where the ground
was firm, I took off the mud soaked socks, four of them, and put my
disgusting feet in the wellys and carried my socks. Bex then found a
hole in the hedge and went through to the road. I was beside myself
until I got her back. The carrier bags went back in the collars to get
them back to the car. I can't tell you how relieved I was when they
were in the car and safe. I then realised that I had lost a glove
but there was no way I was going back for it. When I got home I found I
had only 3 socks. So all in all, apart from losing a glove and a sock
while walking the dogs, it didn't turn out to be as I had hoped. My
poor dogs when I got them home, the mud…….
To add insult to injury, a couple of
days later I was told that had I taken a different turning we could
have had a really nice walk on a golf course!
ROMEO & PATTI by Kenneth Leary
Dear Richard , Johanna and all the other people at the top of the hill just a short note to let you know how we are getting along with the Leary family in Welwyn Garden City, we had a nice smooth journey to our new forever home in the back of Ken's estate car (Romeo) Patti was well keen to get to her new home and jumped straight into the back of the car but although I was looking forward to the journey I needed a little help to get my slightly heavier body into the back so human hands came to my aid and helped me in.
It was a nice journey back and Ken was very considerate to us and didn't swing the car about too much, in fact it was so smooth that we were both able to have a little doze but we soon woke up when we had to stop in the Sunday traffic jams, still it gave us both a chance to see some things that we had never seen before. When we got home we were taken out to our new garden and I had a sniff around with Patti, she watered the grass and I watered everything that was vertical.We then went into the house for a sniff around and in their hall was a long reflective thing that I had never seen before l thought we would be the only dogs there but every time I went up to this reflective thing I saw a dog just like me looking back at me, that dog seemed harmless so I didn't bark at him and the novelty of looking at the other dog soon wore off, Patti didn't bother to look in it anyway.
The Leary's are a nice family but they have some plants in their house like they have in the garden so I thought I would help them out an water them for them once or twice, everyone ignored me for a while after that but I got a cuddle a bit later and then saw something in the kitchen that looked like a short lamppost so I thought I would help it grow by watering that as well it turned out to be a waste bin in the kitchen everyone ignored me for a while again. I get the feeling that I shouldn't be helping them with the watering because every time I do they ignore me for while but at least any other dogs that might come around will know it s my/our house won't they?
We have been taken to the Vets for a check up and me and Patti were Ok except for our teeth which needed a good scale and polish, I have had mine done and had a tooth removed which has made it much easier for me to give my dog chew a good old chew , Patti tells me that my breath is much sweeter now as well. We have both been Chipped just in case we ever get lost .Patti hasn't had her teeth done yet as she had the op last week so that she can't have puppies, its a shame cos I fancied her as well. Once Patti has got over the op and a couple of weeks have passed she can go and have her teeth done as well but regular brushing by Vicki is also helping.
Patti must be getting over her op as she had a mad half hour
zapping around the garden tonight I gave her a head start and then went
after her we played catch me if you can.
Our beds are nice and comfortable, we have a duvet type each so we can
stretch out and lye upside down with our feet up the wall or up the
radiator its dead cushy.Our beds get taken into the downstairs hall at
night it sjust as well really because I quite fancy having a bit of a
sprawl on the leather sofa I haven't tried it yet because I get the
feeling that I might get ignored like I do when I help with the
watering. We both sleep very well at night and when the familt get up
at about 6 for work and school I get very excited to see them all and
want to bark out my pleasure but as its early I bark quietly and
everyone is happy.
We have a wood beside the house where we go walking and life is a breeze, we will write again soon to let you know how we are getting on and if we have got time after our dog training classes on Sundays we will come back to see some old mates both doggy and human, you never know we might have room for some sausages and pasta as well. Keep us up to date with events please because we like to be sociable.
Lots of love Patti and Romeo.
Don't forget! I'd like to be able to
print photos, letters or short articles from you, our supporters,
related, however loosely, to your greyhounds.
The sort of articles could be Funny stories - Medical Information or
Dog Tips - it could even be that you would like to join another
greyhound on walks or need to know if there is an enclosure close to
you that is suitable to let your dog off for a run . The choice is
yours!
The new e-mail address is -- greyhounds@ntlworld.com
The Kennels web site address is --
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/greyhounds
That's all for this time!!
Richard
Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2001
Hi All,
The foot and mouth problem is easing - we are allowed to walk the dogs
on the roads rather than confined to paddocks. This makes the Open Day
visits more fun for the volunteer walkers. But forest walking is still
banned because of the deer.
The weather is still *very* wet and cold though - our 'radio-active'
grass doesn't care and is growing at it's normal 4 to 8 inches a week!
:-) This means a fair amount of my time is now spent cutting grass -
the trouble is an enormous amount has to be cut with a strimmer - well
over a mile in distance - edges of paddocks etc. "Luckily" much of the
paddocks have been reduced to mud due to the incessant rain! :-)
Bon, our geriatric old lad, caught his foot in the paper straw again
and damaged his leg again. So now the straw is in a duvet cover - I
think you would call them comforter covers - which stops the problem.
However the more traditional kennel hands don't think it is necessary -
(aka more work) which means coercion is required to ensure compliance!
Geoffrey, our black and white *bitch* was seriously injured this week!!
:-(. One of our $!!"**^& newer volunteers decided to throw a
couple of juicy bones into the kennel that Geoffrey shares with Frank!
We do *not* feed kenneled dogs together ever.
When the fight started instead of shouting and opening the door - the
volunteer ran for help. The fight that ensued resulted in Geoffrey
sustaining a serious throat injury causing internal bleeding with
damage to her windpipe and a deep thigh injury. These injuries required
emergency treatment (on a Sunday) - the cost being $825. She came back
on Tuesday wearing an Elizabethan (Buster) collar which she will need
to wear for some weeks as the thigh wound is missing some skin. She is
happy but not eating very much. She is looking comfortable on her
flowered straw filled duvet. Hopefully she will recover rapidly. Frank
sustained a cut ear. One problem which possibly contributed to the
start of the fight is with so many bitches in season, some of our dogs
are very hyper.
This is our first kennel fight in five years.
Date: Mon, 07 May 2001
Hi All,
Weather still coldish - so our spring Grand Bath has been postponed
until the end of May! :-(.
The effect of Foot and Mouth disease is getting better - but still the
fields and forest are out of bounds.
Sadly Dolly our 13 year old had to be helped over the Rainbow Bridge
last Friday as she suffered a massive stroke leaving her paralysed. She
had been diagnosed with cancer three years ago and given a few months -
six months ago the vet refused to treat her any more - yet she was in
no pain until the end. Enjoying her owner's visits and living happily
with old Paddy. Now Paddy has a new kennel mate Jackie, and is somewhat
livelier with his young companion. Paddy is also 13 years old.
Geoffrey is healing nicely from her fight. She has a large piece of
skin missing - more than an inch across - but everything seems to be
fine.
Our kennel crisis of having 8 bitches in season at the same time has
ended. All are back with a dog giving us slightly more room - but
honestly the number of inquiries have virtually dried up - since the
owners association took over the advertising - so we are full to the
brim.
Hopefully as the weather improves and the foot and mouth problem goes
away - we will start to get more visitors. The Owners Association are
trying hard to raise awareness by adverts in the race card and a "Dog
and Bitch of the Month" screening on the TV displays at the track. We
feel the old advert we ran was slightly better by being more appealing
- and the TV display one needs more emphasis on the contact number
rather than a big picture of the dogs. But early days! :-)
We're also having a larger display cabinet at the track with photos and
notices. As it is a holiday period it means I've had to do everything
myself which is rather tiring to say the least! :-)
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001
Hi All,
The Foot and Mouth disease is getting better with new daily cases in
single figures nationwide. This has meant more people turning up to
view our dogs. Our adoption rates are still low but showing some signs
of improving! :-)
If you remember - last month I reported that Geoffrey our black and
white bitch had a fight in her kennel with Frank caused by a volunteer
throwing two bones into the kennel. Geoffrey has made a remarkable
recovery so far - she sustained a 3 inch gash to the throat and a *8
inch* deep dangerous gash to the right thigh with about 3 inch diameter
circle of skin completely missing!!! Now the throat wound has
effectively disappeared - just shaved fur left - this will heal without
a noticeable scar - but the thigh is fantastic!! :-) The hole in her
skin is now only about 1 inch long 1/2 wide oval! - two weeks ago it
was a 2 inch circle with the thigh muscle bulging out of it!! With luck
it should close completely in a couple of weeks!! :-) :-) She now
shares her kennel with Bon our black geriatric dog.
Sadly I have to record that Ginny our 12 year old brindle bitch has
crossed over the bridge due to a serious hip injury. She was a return
last year because her 92 year old adopter went into a retirement home.
Johanna decided to take her home - where it was found that she was not
house trained,- would only eat cat food,- and suffered a serious degree
of arthritis! After a few weeks of intensive training she turned out to
be a lovely old lady who enjoyed the daily trips to the kennels and
lots of fuss. My lasting memory of her is of her wandering freely
around the kennels - completely indifferent to being barked at by the
other greyhounds who had been locked up!! :-)
Johanna has now taken one of our other geriatric dogs home. This is
Jack also 12 years old and brindle - but a dog. He is happy but very
puzzled at the moment - this being his first time away from the
kennels. He is in very good condition - but only has two lower canine
teeth left. Hopefully he will settle as happily as Ginny did.
Date: Mon, 04 Jun 2001
Hi all,
Foot and Mouth disease has flared slightly up again but is being dealt
with more effectively. This is still having a bad effect on visitor
numbers and adoptions - but we're still managing about 2 a week - about
half our usual number at this time of year. Geoffrey our black and
white bitch who was severely bitten is
amazing! :-) The hole in her skin which was nearly 2 inches across a
couple of weeks ago has now completely closed without further treatment
- so to those who wondered if greyhounds were fragile the
answer is No! :-)
She now shares a kennel with Bon our geriatric black dog - they argue
about duvets (comforters) they 'share'. Because Bon keeps damaging his
leg/hip he has had a comforter instead of paper straw for some time.
Geoffrey was given similar treatment because of the open wounds.They've
become attached to them and won't let each other sleep on 'their' bed!
:-)
We had our "Spring Bath Day" last week on holiday Monday!
Fifty greyhounds underwent their spring ritual. Nearly all our
volunteers turned up for the job - all six of them! :-). A production
line was set up. Two lifted the dogs into the bath in which we prepare
the food and applied the shampoo under the
watchful supervision of Johanna. I rinsed them off (and got soaked) -
and four dried them off before being put into paddocks to be "aired
off". Paddy and Amber of course decided to roll in grass! :-) Luckily
the weather was kind!:-) Grumpy old Solo - of course - did not like
this infringement of his rights and growled ferociously during the
entire operation - but he submitted as he wore a muzzle! Only one other
needed a muzzle - that was Smiler - he is also always indignant if
'interfered' with!
The rest were totally superb. Patti a small black bitch did try to swim
when it was her turn!:-)
Unfortunately Bon slipped in the bath and hurt his leg again - but
recovered in time for his meal. When all were finished - our volunteers
went home - I prepared the food - fed the fifty - and paddocked them
for the final time. I departed an unusually silent kennels - soaked but
tired - thinking the next time it will be Autumn (Fall)! :-)
Date: Sun, 17 Jun 2001
Hi All,
As foot and mouth disease is easing - the restrictions have now
disappeared locally which means that I have been able to cut the
"grass" next to the farmer's fields. It hadn't been touched since last
October!! :-) It was over 6 ft high complete with shrubs and heavy
weeds. It took several days! :-)
We've started to receive more inquires thankfully - so hopefully the dogs will start moving faster. as we are full to the brim due to unexpected arrivals. Someone wanted a 'cat-safe' bitch to go with her dog - so we obtained one from another group - Guess what! It wasn't cat proof and they don't want it back! So Blondie who is a small sweet light fawn bitch is here to stay! :-) She's actually a bit of a pain because she often plays 'catch me!' and won't come back to the paddock gate to be put back into the kennel. So we have to bring a dog to the gate - she ,being curious, comes to the gate and a collar is slipped on! :-)
We also have Kerry - another small sweet light fawn bitch - who arrived through a failed "pre-adoption" through a trainer. She is a complete live wire and wanted to chase the adopter's other dog. So here she came!.
One of our adopters lost their bitch Miriam because the dog field she was going to was not completely dog proof. Apparently she was the first dog to find the hole and off she went! Search parties and posters were organised - After a week a dog was reported as sighted so operations moved to the area but it was not Miriam but a dark Lurcher. So a rethink was required and a new area was suggested - more posters were posted. This time - a result! A lovely lady saw her - called to her - and she came. She took her home and she was happily reunited with her very worried adopters. She was a little thin but otherwise fine after her 10 day escape! :-)
Finally, we heard of a problem which involved loosely one of
our dogs. The full inquiry is still going on.
A trainer had adopted out a pair of greyhounds - without homechecking -
to a person who gave the address of one of *our* adopters as his own.
The adopter (his) phoned him to say he had lost the dog - Meanwhile a
dog was found by the RSPCA in appalling condition - but the RSPCA did
not release the ear marks - and the media became interested - so did
the NGRC. So the trainer contacted the address given. Our adopter
denied all knowledge of the dogs and said their dog Lucy was still at
home!
The "adopter" has not yet been traced. However the RSPCA dog was not
the dog concerned but a different one - origins unknown - we found out
by the "underground". The NGRC has issued a severe reprimand to the
trainer.
To put it into perspective the trainer has been adopting out
successfully for 23 years (about 1500 dogs) and this has been his first
"foul up".
On Mon, 04 Jun 2001
Further to my previous post about the Charity Night at the track. The Owners Association actually raised $25,000 to benefit retired greyhounds - which is excellent - but we have to wait to find out *exactly* how *we* will benefit!!! :-)
I forgot to mention that over half of the dogs on the parade
were black - the majority of which were males.
We seem to have no real colour preferences - but we always try to match
the prospective adopter's wishes - as we find the greater the match the
greater the chances of the "forever home"
Finally Kerry - a pretty small fawn bitch - who was here as a result of a failed pre-adoption has now a home to go to. One of the adopters on the parade fell in love with her!! :-) She was one of the "homeless" dogs on the parade!!
17 July 2001
Hi All,
A couple of reports on two of our inmates. If you remember Geoffrey the
black and white bitch who had a serious fight a month or so back. She
is now completely back to normal with absolutely no scars!! :-) She had
a 4 inch wound on her throat - a 3 corner tear on her back about 2
inches long - and a horrendous 9 inch tear in her behind which also
lost skin. The 9 inch tear was sewn together but still had a round hole
about 2 inches in diameter where she had lost the skin. Over the last
month I've watched her skin close over the exposed muscle with a sense
of amazement as no dressing was applied - she had an elizabethan collar
initially.
Now the only way to tell that she had the wounds is the new fur is
shorter and newer looking - which will go when she moults in the fall.!
:-)
Magic one of our old residents has had recurrent fungal trouble with
her toes for a year or so. She is about twelve and a half but her feet
became so bad it was decided to amputate one toe from a front foot and
three toes from a back foot! I am very pleased to report that she has
started to walk on all four feet again after just two weeks!! :-)
The numbers of dogs adopted has started to reach more normal levels after being depressed due to the foot and mouth crisis.
The Owners Association have agreed to buy us a Kennel Maid which is a very expensive excrement emasculator out of the Charity Meeting fund raising. This machine will save us about $45 a week as at the moment such deposits have to collected by truck monthly!!! :-)
The Retirement poster has gone up at the Stadium - Unfortunately it isn't as large as they had planned but it *is* there. It is about 20 yards long and 6 feet high with the message "Can you give an ex-racer a home?" emblazoned on it. It was going to be visible from both stands - but they decided to only advertise to the "executive" stand!! :-)
We are praying for good weather for our Grand Picnic next
Sunday - It was a great success last year with over 100 dogs attending.
Finally I've been trying to persuade our supporters to accept our
newsletter by e-mail to save us money - at last I've started to get
responses!! :-)
23 July 2001
On Sunday 22nd July we held our Annual Picnic! :-)
The weather was cool and overcast. Over 100 dogs attended with some 130
or so adopters - slightly more than last year.
We decided to bring some of older inmates from the kennels along too.
So Solo our total grump came along as did Paddy, Bon and Belle.
Not a muzzle to be seen - not a growl to be heard - from anyone!
Charlie barked at this *very* large dog (called a horse!) Solo barked
at me - because he wanted to have a cuddle!!! :-) That was the total
noise level! :-)
The picnic was started last year because we wanted to have a meeting
where we all just gathered and chatted with a walk around - no trying
to raise money - just promoting the greyhound as the ultimate laid back
dog by being there.
It started at a forest side cafe where all of us gathered in an area no
bigger than 30 yards by 30 yards - dogs all happily sniffing each other
- the dogs behaved impeccably. Beauty was duly admired as being a
beautiful colour and Ben impressed as the friendliest dog around!
The thing that really surprised me was the number of dogs that
recognised me and were enthusiastic about it!! :-) Even (or especially)
the spooks that came for cuddles much to their adopter's amazement (and
mine)!!
We then started on our 4 mile stroll around a lake - dogs
walking quietly at our sides just sniffing around - chatting with each
other - and impressing the other visitors with the superb behaviour of
the dogs - getting exclamations of amazement from the children.
A few of the other dogs rushed up to our lot but every dog ignored the
"intruders" - one or two of the intruders actually turned and ran away.
It finished back at the cafe with Lemonade and Cake for the humans and
Sausage Cake with watered milk and a cuddly toy for the dogs. We had a
little raffle to cover the costs of the food and drink.
The cafe had lots of orders for ice cream and we checked that no litter
was left as we went home
My two zonked out on the back seat of the car with not a peep out of
them on the way home.
A beautiful day being surrounded by beautiful dogs and beautiful people.
24 July 2001
Hi All,
I thought I'd just report that the final figure for our charity night
was a massive $54,000!!! :-)
All this lovely money will go to benefit retired greyhounds from
Walthamstow Stadium. I'm not certain when or how much we will get as
the Owners Association do need to build some capital. But hopefully the
next one in the fall will be as successful!
To put it in perspective it costs us $1,650 to keep a dog at our
kennels for a year.
I actually carved a new front sign for our kennels last week and put it up today - it was duly admired. It looks really quite good from 50 yards!! :-) I did it because I found the chap next door was including our 5 acres in his 1 acre holding to impress visitors! :-)
14 August 2001
Hi All,
The weather is hot at about 80 to 90 degrees - which is too hot for the
dogs - most just go into the paddock do their business and stand at the
gate panting to go back into the much cooler kennels.
Of course, with the hot weather the drains had to pack up! So
I duly spent many smelly hours clearing blocked pipes! I found that the
filter system had been allowed to collapse over the years. An estimate
for replacement parts was $150 for each filter - there are nine!!! Plus
lots more money for the actual work involved in fitting them. Being a
poverty stricken charity we couldn't afford it. So I decided to make
new ones from scratch and repair and refit them myself. Today we have a
complete new working filter system and it cost all of $15!!!!! :-) :-)
To cap it all - the local Water Authority wants me to do the same for
the other four kennels!!! :-)
We are very full at the moment due to the "holiday dogs". We normally
only cater for greyhounds as many kennels find them too difficult or
cannot cope with them - but we do have the odd non grey dog who lives
with a grey and so comes in at the same time. At the moment we have Max
a very small mongrel who looks like a grey puppy with very short legs!!
:-) He is quite lovely but big dog aggressive! It is a laugh seeing him
barking at the greys - who can't make him out! :-) He has Gina the grey
completely under his paw!! The kennel hands are asking for 'danger
money!! :-)
Magic one of our senior bitches is now a very happy girl - She had a
fungal foot infection that wouldn't heal - so it was decided to
amputate the toes. She lost four from one foot and one from another. At
the same time she had a dental - she now has one tooth!! During her
convalescence she had been separated from her life long partner Louis.
Both of them were miserable until she was reunited last week. Now they
are playing all the time and are forever asking for cuddles!! :-)
The number of dogs being adopted out is still lower than normal - but we have a few that are "Reserved" for homing next month.
We have had a sad bounce back. The family broke up and the adopter has moved into a very small apartment with Wills and four cats. Unfortunately Wills is not very cat safe and the adopter decided to return Wills at 9 years old. Wills had separation anxiety so badly at the kennels that it was nearly decided to put him down to relieve his total stress! We tried to foster him but all avenues seemed closed. But thankfully Malisa one of our home checkers took him in even though she had just had a stray pregnant cat also thrust upon her! We're still looking for a permanent home.
With much sadness I have to report that Smiler one of our permanent residents had to be helped to the Bridge today. He was a lovely large white with black dog who had a happy smile for everyone. He was almost 12 years old but had bone cancer which had developed rapidly and was causing him a great deal of pain that medication could not relieve. His owner came to help make the journey more bearable.
21 August 2001
Hi All
I'm very pleased to say that Wills the senior bounce back I
talked about in report #12 has been rehomed to a new forever home - we
hope!!! :-) The adopter's old dog had just died and they needed another
dog to keep their bitch company. He fitted in as though he had been
there forever! :-).
But poor old Bobby is still without a home - An potential adopter came
along with her son. The son fell in love with Bobby - who needs such a
family - the family passed our home check except that the fence wasn't
really high enough. However when the family saw the Landlord they
discovered they were not allowed to keep pets! :-(. So Bobby a 3 year
old black dog with striking amber eyes is still making our lives a
misery!! :-) Actually the girl who walks him is also in love with him -
but her mother hasn't given in to our persistent blandishments!! :-)
14 August 2001
Hi All,
The weather is still too hot (about 80 degrees).
A potential adopter came to obtain a dog a few days ago. They left with
*two* bitches!!! :-) What happened was that the woman really wanted a
dog and a bitch - but hubby wanted a bitch. They saw and walked two
brindled bitches Shaky and Lil and they couldn't make up their minds!
They then started talking about taking one and coming back for the
other later. But we pointed out that this could cause problems and
suggested it could be easier if they took both home at the same time as
they would both be on new neutral territory when they arrived home. The
two bitches had been very happy together on the walks and in the
paddock. Reports so far are that the two are happily living together!
:-)
The President of the Owners Association (they supply most of our
finances now) came to 'examine' our kennels today for the first time
since they had taken over the funding. He was *very* impressed with the
condition of the dogs and kennels - and was very surprised how happy
all our dogs are!!!! :-). He's talking about getting some of our
cosmetic outside painting done for free!!!! :-)
Unfortunately I'm still involved with our smelly drains!!! :-( I've
made, fitted and painted all new drain and sump covers as the old ones
had either disappeared or were very broken. I also had to clear and
empty one of the main sumps which was quite disgusting!! My own dogs
hardly recognised me when I arrived home - because of the dreadful
smell still clinging!!! :-) Still the kennel dogs benefit from a
cleaner environment. The filters I made and fitted last week work but I
had forgotten how much loose dog fur is around - So I'm going to modify
them slightly to cope with the fur.
21 August 2001
Hi All,
A fairly cheerful report this time!! :-)
First we've had a couple of adventures with greys -
One concerns the fact that an ex-kennel hand of ours dropped dead a few
days ago (he was only 61) and his lovely blue grey that goes everywhere
with him escaped - We think he was trying to find him. Luckily
yesterday the dog was spotted and captured - he will live with the
family.
The second started 10 days ago - a long way away from our kennels. A
kennels was broken into and a dog and a bitch stolen!!! Yesterday an
adoption kennels called "Mutts in Distress" that trawls the local dog
pounds mainly for GSD's called us about a greyhound on death row after
7 unclaimed days. (We do 'swaps' with them and so they look out for
greyhounds for us) We accepted it - and when we examined it's ear marks
- it was the stolen dog!!
Because we then knew the area it had been found - extensive inquires
resulted in the possibility that the bitch has also been found! :-) The
bitch is the right colour and one ear tattoo is the same - other ear
unreadable. so chances are high!!! :-)
Now we have to find out why this particular dog pound did not report
the ear tattoos to the NGRC when the dog was found.
The next part is that "Evil Eye" Bobby may be going to a new home!!! :-) Bobby is a 2 yr old large black dog with light amber eyes. He looks quite evil peering out of his kennel amber eyes aglow! He actually walked with the potential adopters without sitting down and refusing to move as he usually does!! So signs are good! :-)
The final part is about the Barbecue Auction. One of
Walthamstow Stadium's trainers runs this entry fee event every year.
All the profits go to our kennels. :-)
The food and drinks are free - there is a bouncy castle for the
children - a Tombola (raffle where everyone wins a prize - I ran that)
- a raffle with good alcoholic prizes - and an auction.
The weather was slightly disappointing as it rained - but a marquee
kept the rain off while we scoffed the food and became merry.
Hopefully it will raise about $3000 for the dogs.
The only fly in the ointment was my 15 year old shoes decided to
disintegrate!! (They don't make them like they used to!) Luckily I had
a spare racing muzzle with me and managed use the strap to hold the
shoe together until I arrived home!!
23 August 2001
Hi All,
Well we had a little adventure yesterday - We had a group of gypsies or
travellers try to obtain a bitch by fraud. Four people with six
children turned up when Sylvia our kennel hand was on her own. Saying
they had come "to get a bitch" and had been told "by the lady" that all
they needed was a cheque for Twenty Five Pounds ( $37) and they "could
take one away".!!!
Luckily Sylvia managed to persuade them they had come to the wrong
kennels and they were directed to another. When they left - very
reluctantly - she phoned and alerted the other kennels. They did not
get a bitch. We've sent messages to all the local greyhound groups to
be on the alert for these people who fairly obviously wanted a bitch
for breeding. Sylvia was just deciding to let Bubbles our massive Bull
Mastiff guard dog "persuade" them to leave when they did!!
Sadly Blue the grey whose owner had dropped dead last week was brought
in for re-homing as the family cannot look after him. He is a beautiful
blue with a lovely personality. Hopefully we'll find a new adopter soon.
I'm in the process of more painting of the Kennels. It does look nice
and clean with the new paint on the outside! :-)