Rescuing a Greyhound and How it Started
Nearly 5 years ago, I decided to get a dog. As I worked full time, some rescues said I couldn’t have one. However, one said, “Have you thought about greyhounds? They sleep lots and don’t need lots of walks — just 2 x 30 minutes a day. As long as someone can pop in at lunchtime, it may work.”
Well, to my mind then, greyhounds were skinny and dull, but I took it on board and went to meet one. When I met ‘Spice’, that was it. If I wanted a dog, she was the right temperament. Gentle and easy-going. So she came home and I never looked back. Everyone loves a breed and this is the one I love. Often overlooked and the most common comment, “I bet she is lots of work and needs lots of exercise.” Nope — couldn’t be easier. Yes, she is nervous, doesn’t like fireworks or sudden sounds, and yes she had to adjust to life within a home, but she is so easy.
As she had only been in a kennel with 100 dogs all her life, at the age of 3, she needed adjustment. And all it needs for you, if you are considering a greyhound, is love, commitment and understanding. My guess is there will be something. With Spice, it was stopping — yes! No other greyhound owners I met at the time had this funnyiosity. The world outside was so new to her — bikes, trains, cars were all scary, so she stopped. But then I realised she didn’t ‘stop’ in woods so started by taking her in the country more and now and for a long time, she LOVES walks, no matter where. I tend to keep her on a lead unless the area is enclosed and safe, as greyhounds have been trained to chase, not come back — and I feel is safer for her. But in our local places, that are safe, she is off lead and fine now — but I gave it a year or so before doing so — she doesn’t mind. She gets up and grabs a squeaky toy when the lead comes out. As greyhounds are usually in the racing industry, they have been trained to walk well on the lead (once they walk, in Spice’s case!). And because of the industry, once they have finished racing or are not fast enough, they are often put down — unless a rescue has space to pick them up and find them homes. So there are thousands out there in the UK needing homes — 8,000 a year get ‘retired’ but about 3,000 find homes… so many more are needing your home, if you are a responsible, caring dog owner. And they will love you back for it.
I will be writing more blogs, on my experiences, as since then I have started fostering some. So I’d love to share more on what I learn about the whole world of rescue that was completely new to me, as well as experiences as a fosterer and a bit about the dogs in foster. We’re based outside of London in the UK.
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