Benny was born on the 15th November 1997 so he is is just 7 years old. He is a fawn/red, male Greyhound weighing 69lbs but now 3 weeks later he weighs 72lbs. He has a lovely face and doesn't look his 7 years. He has a toe missing on his front left foot, which doesn't affect his walking or running, indeed he's won races that way. He is very laid back and hasn't been inside a house before. Benny came into Rescue on the 11th December 2004 - SADD Day (Save A Dumfries Dog Day) when a large number of Greyhounds paraded through Dumfries Town Centre. He walked well on the lead next to Bobby, Indi and Flash during the walk and got on well with them from the outset. Other dogs didn't bother him and he was happy for children to stroke him. He travelled well in the car on the journey home and settled happily with the others when we stopped for something to eat.

11th December 2004
As soon as we arrived home, toileted him in the garden and showed him around the house we gave him a bath, which he accepted gracefully. He seems a very happy dog with a lovely face and friendly eyes. He's been wagging his tail most of the evening and settled quickly in the living room but he thought the kitchen much more interesting, especially the fridge, which he tried climbing into.
12th December 2004
It took him a while to settle into his bed last night and he woke us at 3.30am so we let him out. He went out again at 6.30am. When out in the car this morning he loved watching everything around him and enjoyed his walk. He's very food orientated at present and never had a pig's ear before - but he enjoyed it once he realised what it was. He's settled in really well and follows Stuart everywhere. This evening we took him into the local pub where, after a few minutes, he just settled down with the others - a couple sitting next to us were amazed that we'd only had him just over 24 hours. We also discovered he will give you his paw to shake.
13th December 2004
He wouldn't settle in his bed next to Indi and Bobby at all last night - still suffering a bit from 'new boy nerves' so we let him sleep where he wanted, which was on the rug at the end of our bed where he happily slept all night.
15th December 2004
Benny still insists on sleeping in our bedroom so we moved his bed in there because he scratches the carpet during the night, which wakes us up. He's absolutely fascinated with cupboards and what's inside - everything is so new and interesting. Tonight we took him to Bay Dog Training at Cartmel Village Hall where he got on well with the other dogs. He enjoyed the fuss made of him but it was a
strange new environment and he wouldn't join in the exercises because he felt too unsure of his footing on the wooden floor.
16th December 2004
Benny is now house trained (fingers crossed). He is a really happy dog with a lovely character and enjoys going for his daily walks. He loves sleeping on the floor of the office whilst we are working and is so laid back we feel as if he's been with us for ages. He's learning the command 'leave' very well especially as we are training him with his daily pigs ear, which he now leaves until we pick it up for him to have - he's doing very well. He doesn't snatch tit bits from us as much, his coat is beginning to shine and he's putting on weight. When we are sitting down he comes up to us and gives us his paws to shake. He's really sweet because if you ignore him he nudges you with his nose then gives you his paw again until you shake it and cuddle him. Giving you one paw isn't enough at times because he gives you them alternately to shake - its really cute.
19th December 2004
Spent the day delivering Christmas presents and Benny loved being in the car, watching everything . Mum's house was only the second one he's been in and he soon acclimatized to the new surroundings and all the new people who were coming and going most of the afternoon.
20th December 2004
This morning Benny went to the vet to be neutered and received his first injection. Although we have been feeding him up for the past week he weighed in at 69lbs so he still needs more weight on him. The vet said his teeth were fine but his ears were full of wax that went very deep down so gave us some drops to loosen it. The operation went well and he is now home again recovering. He has been confined to lead exercise only whilst the stitches are in but as soon as they come out we hope to let him off in the garden on his own.
22nd December 2004
This evening was the Bay Dog Training Christmas Party where many dogs and there owners all gathered. We took a single duvet and lay it on the floor as Benny's not too sure of the shiny floorboards. He sat on it beside Bobby and Indi all evening watching the other dogs - it was a mad house! Some were very noisy and lively but our three did us proud as they just sat on the duvet watching all that was going on. Even when other dogs got a little too close they never bothered. Benny was fascinated and loved watching all the dogs doing their 'party competitions'.
27th December 2004
We've had visitors staying over Christmas so there was a lot of coming and going. Benny got on well with anyone and took all the upheaval in his stride. He enjoyed his walks and visits to the local pub and one of his Christmas presents was a smoked bone, which he unwrapped himself. However, Benny being Benny was fascinated with all the food around him and took every opportunity of trying to sneak some, which he finally managed on Boxing Day evening when he ate the remaining Christmas Pudding. He still insists on sleeping in our bedroom and if we put him on the landing with the others he pushes past the blockade to our bedroom and gets in where he happily settles. The second night after Matthew and Sarah arrived they stayed up later than us and when they came up to bed Benny thought they were burglars and did his guard dog bit by standing at the top of the stairs and barking at them - At 2 in the morning it was a bit of a shock to the system but nice to know he is watching out for us. After that he got used to them coming to bed after us and just greeted them at the top of the stairs with a tail wag, which relieved them no end! Our last guests went this morning and this evening everything is back to normal with Benny sleeping on the rug in the living room.
30th December 2004
We came into the living room yesterday to find such a commotion going on - Indi and Benny were playing tug of war with the large piece of tinsel, which had been wrapped round the base of the Christmas tree. There was also a cracker torn to shreds in the corner and bits of tinsel everywhere. We think the ring leader was Indi and she obviously felt Benny should join in the fun.
2nd January 2005
Benny has settled into our routine very well and his true character is beginning to show through. He now stands at the back door if he wants out and if he can't get your attention that way he gives you his paw, until you get fed up and stop to think what time he last went out and you take him. He also gives you his paw if he wants a cuddle, its walk time or dinner time, so the reason he gives you one can take a little working out at times. He sleeps well during the night although he still insists on sleeping in our bedroom. Apparently, he always slept on his own when in kennels so this may be why he won't sleep with the others. He's still a bit of a thief when it comes to food, especially things in tin foil, such as meat joints, fortunately, the tin foil makes a noise, which gives an early warning so he's not actually got the meat yet - but he's a trier. Now he's up to his correct weight his insistence on eating everything in sight might, hopefully, soon stop. He's started taking things to his bed - anything he can chew such as rolls of paper, cardboard boxes books and even a computer mouse, indeed anything that takes his fancy - perhaps he's going through his long lost puppy hood or perhaps he's just very curious about his new surroundings. He understands the command 'leave' and he is beginning to lie down on command using a technique Kevin from Bay Dog Training taught us to use along with the words 'go down'. Benny's has now reached the point where he will go down on his own occasionally with just the words ' go down', so we are getting there.
3rd January 2005
After the dogs had their lunchtime walk and whilst eating their pig's ear I took the opportunity to sneak out and do some shopping - on my own! When I got back Stuart said Benny had sulked for a while when he realised I'd gone in the car without him (he does love his car rides) then he went to his bed. Yes, he'd gone to his bed but with the toilet roll from my bathroom, which he tore to shreds as a protest of me going without him. When Stuart was cleaning it up and reprimanding him Bobby disappeared into the other room - it was his favourite trick when he was younger but he wasn't going to be blamed for it this time. I got a lovely welcome when I got home.
4th January 2005
Benny went to the vets this morning for his stitches out and his second injection. He still has some wax in his ears so we were asked to continue with the drops for a few more days. He weighed in at 72lbs, so he's gained more than 4lbs since being with us. The vet complimented him on how well he looked since his earlier visit - how nice his coat was and that it had gone a darker colour. This afternoon he pawed the back door asking to be let out, which was a first.
8th January 2005
Benny has really enjoyed his few days of freedom off the lead wandering round the garden and exploring on his own. We were going to take him to his new home today but it was postponed because of the storms, which knocked our electric off, caused havoc on the roads north and his new owners had been up all night looking after the caravans on their caravan park. As the storms north were forecast to continue tomorrow plans have been rearranged for Monday.
10th January 2005
Benny's trip to his new home was postponed again today because last night he somehow cut his back right leg when walking past a low wall in the garden. He was only walking along and I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw what he had done, so today, instead of going to his new home he visited the vet who cleaned the cut and inserted four stitches. He was glad to get back home and soon crashed out on the settee for the evening. We discovered the storms had loosened some of the stones in the wall and one had a sharp point on it, which has now been broken off and the loose ones temporarily knocked back into place until we can get the cement mixer out to make the area safe again.
12th January 2005
This morning we took Benny to his new home in Dumfries and Galloway where he will be living with the owners of a caravan site. He will have a couple of months to settle in whilst the park is closed then he will, knowing Benny enjoy the hustle and bustle of the visitors arriving. We hope he has a long and happy life there.
27th March 2013
Following our email asking how Benny was we sadly heard that Benny died from lung cancer about 2 years ago. His owner said he was a great dog and a loyal friend to them all - he was a blessing to them all.


Rest in Peace my handsome Benny,
Go run with the angels and free of pain,
You may be gone, but you will never be forgotten.
It was an honour to have known you
and God be with you.