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Quality Bed & Breakfast in the English Lake District
STUART STOTT
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 tel: 015395 52394
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About Our Diaries
OUR DOGS
Indi, Sandy , Solo , Freddie *, Bobby *, Penny * and George *

IN MEMORIUM
(Those no longer with us)

Coping with Fireworks Night
Our Present 'Foster' Dogs looking for a new home
Roy
Duke
Pop (Duke)
Pebbles
New dogs arriving soon, and available for adoption
Our Foster Dogs
that have been
Re-Homed
Hamish
Jenny
Dandy (Molly)
Cooper & Kilty
Sam (2)
Cassie
Husky (Merlin)
Sam (Sames)
DCGR dogs re-homed (July 04 to Nov 09)
Peggy
Thunder (2)
Max
Barry
Flight (Lennie)
Izzy *
Mandy
Kane *
Lester and Lester's diary in his new home
Jack *
Baby May (May) *
Tina *
Blue
GREYHOUNDS AS PETS
BOOK 'CARING FOR YOUR RESCUED GREYHOUND
by Jenny Stott - - - £10.00 - - - BUY BOOK

FOSTERING GREYHOUNDS
IN CUMBRIA FOR
GREYHOUND RESCUE

Below is one of the 82 dogs we fostered for Dumfriesshire & Cumbria
Greyhound Rescue between July 2004 and the 5th December 2009.
On the 9th December 2009 we became the SOUTH LAKES branch
of the Retired Greyhound Trust for whom we are now fostering.
Jack(2)
Arrived with us on Saturday 15th April 2006
Went to his forever home on Tuesday 6th June 2006
Jack sadly died on Tuesday 3rd February 2009 following an operation to remove an
internal testical with a tumor along with an accompanying ovary.
He was 6 years 4 months 11 days old
(Rest in peace darling Jack - you won the battle but not the war)

Jack's arrival and a brief history
Jack in the garden the day he arrived
Jack is a fawn or red Greyhound who was born on the 23rd September 2002 making him 3½ years old. He weighs 79lbs (35.9k) and is a happy dog who is house trained, inoculated and neutered.
When Jack first arrived into 'Greyhound Rescue' he went into kennels until a foster home was available. During this time it was believed he had arthritis in his front right leg and shoulder so would need a home where exercise was minimal. However, from the kennels he went into short-term foster care where he was seen by a chiropractor who discovered two twisted muscles were causing the problem. These were put back in to position and he had a period of gentle activity for ten days to allow things to settle before he came to us.
Jack's Diary

15th April 2006
We collected Jack during the Greyhound Awareness day at Carlisle City Centre. He was fine with our dogs and we believe he loved all the people paying him attention. After walking back to our car he jumped in, had a drink of water and lay down with the others for the journey home. He travelled well in the car and we never heard another sound till it was time for him to jump out at the other end.
Upon getting home we kept him on the lead for a while because he was very anxious. We fed him, which he ate ravenously then took him for a walk and settled down for the rest of the evening. It took Jack a while to settle and kept whimpering, however, by the end of the evening he was laying on the carpet in the living room, much more relaxed and watching us.
When it was time for bed he didn't want to stay downstairs but then he didn't want to go up the stairs either. It took us a little while to coax him up but once up them and with the help of the water spray he settled into his bed and went to sleep.
16th April 2006
This morning Jack refused to go down the stairs and he became very anxious, pulling and thrashing about uncontrollably on his lead as we led him to the top step. To stop this we decided to simply carry him down so he could go into the garden to do what was necessary and use the rest of the day to teach him to go up and down the stairs properly. You might say why! We work from home and our office is upstairs so most of the working day we are upstairs and likewise the other dogs spend most of the day upstairs and sleep there at night. Jack wanted to come upstairs to see us but didn't have the confidence so just stood at the bottom and whimpered.
By lunch time we had him walking upstairs quite happily but going down, well that was another problem. The first few times I held his collar and walked him down in such a way that he was leaning against the wall for security. Some dogs we've had lean against the wall as they are going down to help make a brake to stop their back end getting to the bottom of the stairs before their front end! For the first couple of times of going down Stuart had to guide him to the top of the stairs and push him till momentum meant I could lead him down. After a couple of times of doing this Jack decided it was much better leaving that top step of his own accord so Stuart's presence was all that was needed. By the end of the day he was happily running up and down the stairs on his own along with the other dogs.
17th April 2006
Jack gets very excited when its time to go for a walk and insists on walking out the door before us, which isn't allowed (pack order rules). He nearly pulls us out the door and he takes some holding back in order to negotiate our going out first and him following. We will be working on this so he understands that he follows us out.
Every time we go into our bedroom we find him on our bed so over the past few hours he's quickly associating being on the bed with the word 'off' and a squirt of water.
18th April 2006
We have to supervise meal times because Jack eats his food so fast and when its almost gone he dives into Lester's dish to eat that as well - and Lester lets him! As soon as he moves towards the other's food we hold his collar and make him stay at his dish to lick it out properly and once Lester has finished we lead Jack out into the garden making sure he doesn't dive back in again to get Bobby's and Indi's food.
Jack loves playing in the garden and happily runs around with the others, however, at the moment he's not a one for cuddles for every time we try to cuddle him he pulls away. This may be nerves as its taking him a while to settle down or it could be he's just not used to it. We've not found him on our bed once today so we think he got the message yesterday that being on it was not the 'done' thing.
19th April 2006
This afternoon our model and her partner arrived with their five month old boxer pup Millie. She was very lively and Jack wasn't too sure what was going on and became a bit stressed so we put him on the lead, especially as we weren't sure what he was like with other dogs. At one point we thought he tried to lunge for her. She wasn't overly bothered and just came back for more but we put a muzzle on Jack so he could meet her safely, and, still on the lead we let him get close to her to investigate and sniff her properly. We kept the muzzle on him for about ½ hour and once we were sure all was okay we took it off him. From that point onwards it was a case of 'me and my best mate' for they were always together and Millie was constantly trying to get the others to play with her. This evening Jack spent a couple of hours having his photograph taken in readiness for one of the 2007 calendars.
Jack on the 15th April 2006
Jack on the 15th April 2006

Jack on the 15th April 2006
15th April 2006
In the living room on the 16th April 2006
In the living room
on the 16th April 2006
Click this image for a larger view
Fawn Greyhound
16th April 2006

The shoot was for the amusing calendar and once Jack settled to the idea of what we wanted, we managed to achieve some good pictures of him with the model and a chainsaw!
20th April 2006
It was an early start this morning for we wanted Jack to be the star of our 'lifestyle' calendar shot at Haverthwaite Railway Station. Before we left for the station Jack was out in the garden with Millie, who was now his shadow. The station was a busy little place for people are attracted to the steam engines so we were advised to do the photo shoot for the train's first run of the day because it wasn't as busy as later on. Jack was really good walking on the lead up and down the station practicing his walk in readiness for when the train arrived. When it did, he wasn't bothered about the noise or steam hissing from beneath the train. The engine driver spoke to June, our model from the engine during the photo shoot and we have a lovely picture of Jack looking up at him as the train is about to leave. We managed to get quite a lot of nice pictures and quickly found that if we wanted to attract Jack's attention and make him look in a particular direction all we had to do was position Millie there for him to watch - it worked well.
22nd April 2006
This morning we attended the greyhound training day at Carlisle and Jack joined in with some of the exercises. Some of the dogs undertook the Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme Bronze Test in the afternoon but we didn't enter Jack as he would have failed walking through a doorway after you and wouldn't have stood still unattended on the command of 'stay' for a full minute. It was a pity but we've only had him a week so didn't really expect him to. However, working through the exercises during the day will have been very beneficial to him. One of the members brought their Collie along with their greyhound and Jack happily mingled with it with no problems.
23rd April 2006
Today we took a trip over to see my Mother and Jack came with us. He happily walked into her house and soon settled down on the living room carpet with the others. After lunch we took them all for a walk along the canal bank as it was such a lovely afternoon, which Jack enjoyed
24th April 2006
Jack has shown no inclination to steal anything up until this evening when a loaf of freshly baked bread was accidentally left unattended for a few minutes. We came into the living room to find him tucking into it, having already eaten most of it. He knew he'd done wrong because he skulked off to his bed and was very quiet for the rest of the evening.
25th April 2006
Jack decided last night he should be a guard dog - All the other dogs had retired to their beds for the evening and I was in my office working late, as usual! The house was very quiet and Stuart started walking upstairs having watched something on the television. Whether Jack thought he was already upstairs, we don't know, but when he heard the kitchen door shut and someone walking up the stairs he shot from his bed barking and growling until he realised the intruder was Stuart and stopped. Stuart said had he been an intruder he wouldn't have been too happy to see him there at the top of the stairs. Some greyhounds are so laid back towards strangers that one who looks after you is not a bad thing.
Jack doesn't like being pulled by his collar or lead to make him go somewhere he doesn't want to go. If he gets into this situation he will jump in the air and thrash around trying to escape with no concern of what is around him or if he will get hurt. He did this when we first tried to entice him down the stairs, this time we wanted him to go into our dining room, which has been converted to double as a photographic studio for his picture to be taken. Over Easter Stuart laid a new wooden floor and although Jack walked well on the hall floor at the dog training day last Saturday he was having none of this one. Whether he didn't want to go in the room or whether it was the floor we don't know but he thrashed about. It may be a thing of his past but it happened so suddenly - one minute he was fine the next not, so we just let go of him and he immediately stopped and backed out of the doorway. Thinking about the two instances there are early warning signs that he's not happy about doing what he's being asked to do. It starts as a gently swaying motion of the front half of his body just before he leaps in the air so next time it arises we will approach the situation differently to reduce this concern of his - now we know about it we can work on it!
29th April 2006
Jack is slowly learning the word 'wait' and that his lead isn't put on until all four feet are on the floor and he's standing still. He's also getting the message that at walk times he has to be last out the door. We still have to hold him firmly in order to get out first but he is getting easier and will wait a couple of seconds before wanting to dash out after the others - we will be persevering with this task and we will get there!
30th April 2006
We had a bit of a fright last night. It was 3am when Lester and Jack 'had words''. Stuart vaguely remembers a noise before it happened but as he was half asleep couldn't place the noise. By the time we had the light on both Lester and Jack were out on the landing with Jack screaming. Lester scuttled off to his bed in my office and we tried to calm Jack down whilst searching his body for cuts or damage. We couldn't find anything but Jack was leaning against the wall crying and trying to keep away from us touching him. All the dogs came charging in to see what was happening but when asked to go back to bed they went and left us alone with Jack. We wondered if he'd twisted the muscle in his shoulder again because we couldn't see anything else. He wanted to go outside so we let him and Lester promptly followed but Jack wasn't too keen on him being near him. When outside Jack relieved himself then we stood and
watched them both carefully. Lester was really distraught at what had happened and was showing a great deal of concern. He kept trying to get close to Jack and in the end he let him. Lester nuzzled up to him as if saying sorry. He then started sniffing Jack's ear, trying to lick it and Jack allowed him to - now we knew where he was hurt. Back inside Lester, still looking very sorry for himself went to his bed in my office and we tried looking in Jack's ear but we couldn't see anything. We all went back to bed but Jack awoke at 6am crying again so I took him downstairs, let him out, tried to see what had happened to his ear and gave him a dose of 'Metacam' on some chicken to help ease the pain. He then settled again until we got up later for breakfast He ate his breakfast ravenously.
Reviewing the whole situation we think because their beds were next to each other they may have moved too close in the night, perhaps Jack stood to turn and trod on Lester or one of them had a dream. If Lester was dreaming perhaps Jack disturbed him and Lester reacted from his dream or if Jack was dreaming perhaps he kicked Lester whilst dreaming and Lester reacted accordingly. As we can't see any puncture marks we wonder if Lester kicked Jack in the ear, head butted him or went to bite him but didn't leave any marks. It's a mystery, but one thing we know for sure is that it was an accident and Lester was very, very sorry. Jack was very quiet all day, kept very much to himself and was in obvious pain. He wanted us to cuddle him, which was a first. However, if anyone went too near his ear or accidentally touched him he cried out. He refused to let us examine it and we removed his collar so it didn't rub and irritate it. Lester was most concerned all day and kept sniffing his ear and trying to lick it. When out for our walks Jack never pulled once and we had to make sure the lead hung down the other side of his neck so it didn't touch his left ear. We kept a very close eye on him all day and in the afternoon he started putting his head to one side, his ear looked swollen and when he tried to shake his head it made him cry out so we rang the vet for advice. He said we did right by giving him the 'Metacam' and suggested that because it wasn't bleeding we not touch it for twenty four hours to allow it to settle. If it started weeping we were to see if he would allow us to bathe it so it didn't become 'crunchy' as ear problems sometimes do and to ring him believe it was here that was hurting because it looked swollen and red and he didn't like me touching this area. I couldn't see any damage other than a slightly red area and I think he appreciated me trying to clean it for him. As the day wore on Jack became much more happy and when it was time to go out for a walk he was almost back to his usual bouncy self. This made it difficult putting his collar and lead on without hurting his ear. He still cries out if he accidentally touches it against anything and puts his head to one side occasionally but nothing like yesterday. This evening he let me give his ear another clean but I had to be very gentle around the area of his outer ear, which is still quite swollen.
2nd May 2006
To be on the safe side we took Jack to the vet this afternoon who confirmed his ear was okay but very dirty. It took him a while to find the cut, which was only small, but in a delicate and obscure area near where I noticed it was red. When asked how it could have happened the vet thought It could have been caused by a claw scratching him, a tooth scraping past or just a bang - so we still don't really know. The vet put some drops in his ear to clear out the 'grot' and gave us antibiotics to help resolve everything. After visiting the vet I nipped into town and left Jack on his own in the car in the multi-story car park. It was the first time he'd been left in the car on his own so I was a little concerned that all would be alright when I came back. When I did I found him fast asleep in the back and all was well.
4th May 2006
Jack is feeling much better today and back to his normal happy self. He's much less nervous and more settled, eats his meals at a more sedate pace and when finished will have a look round to see if I am about before quietly walking past Lester who will still be eating his in order to go outside - he even waits if I tell him to before going to lick out the other dog's dishes. However, he still gets very excited at the thought of going out for a walk. Because I am taking four dogs out at the moment I decided a couple of days ago to hook his lead over the coat hook in the hall so he has to stand still and wait until the others go outside. Bobby and Indi wait patiently in the drive along with Lester who has his lead over the top of the gate, which means I can go back into the house and bring Jack out the correct way on his own. When I go back in he is now standing quietly behind the door waiting for me but as we walk around the door and he sees the others there is a bit of a pull to get out until he realise's he can't. I make him 'wait' at the entrance until I am past him and he follows me out - he's getting better, I don't have to restrain him quite as hard until I get past him and he is beginning to understand that 'wait' means stand still and don't move until I say 'walk on'. He sits quietly and waits for his dinner, is coming to us more for cuddles, loves sitting in the garden in the sunshine or following me around whilst mowing the lawn. He still barks if he hears a strange noise or if someone rings the doorbell, which isn't a bad thing and he is becoming quite 'talkative' if we are taking a bit too long getting ready to go out for his walk.
9th May 2006
Since getting Jack we've been watching him carefully when we meet other dogs because he's fine with greyhounds and some other very quiet ones he ignores whilst others he pulls on the lead, barks and does his best to lunge at them. His behaviour isn't consistent and we realise we must get to the bottom of this before he can be re-homed.
10th May 2006
This evening we took Jack to the training classes and asked Kevin to assess him for us. His assessment confirmed our suspicions that Jack doesn't know that other dogs are the same as him but a different shape. The other dogs are 'hairy things' that frighten him so he won't allow himself to allow them into his personal space and he lunges at them because he thinks he has to get them before they get him (fight or flight). If he allowed other dogs into his personal space they would be near enough for him to smell and realise they are like him but a different 'style'. During the assessment the only dog he wasn't bothered about was one with long legs and short hair similar colour to his, so Kevin thinks that Jack thinks it's a funny shaped greyhound. Kevin wants us to bring Jack to classes each week and to just sit and watch the other dogs so he can see they are nothing to fear. In the meantime, if we see a dog whilst we out that is distressing Jack, we are to walk him round in a large slow circle in such a way as to minimise his eye contact with the other dog until its gone past. If we can't do that, then we are to stand still and turn him away from the dog until the other dog has passed by, then say 'walk on' and march him off in the direction we want to go.
17th May 2006
This evening Jack attended training classes again where he stood and watched all the other dogs coming and going during the class. Part way through the class a lady came over with her collie to meet Jack so we carefully introduced them. Our hearts were in our throats to begin with but Jack and the collie began to sniff each other then the collie wanted to play with him and Jack ended up wagging his tail with him. We are very grateful to the owners of the dogs in the class because each time one walked close to Jack they slowed to allow Jack to see this 'hairy thing' was another like him but a different shape. During the evening and under very close supervision he said hello to two collies, a terrier and two spaniels. We were just so pleased but appreciate it is very early days.
20th May 2006
For the past week Jack has had a friend to play with as Thunder came to stay for a few days whilst his owners were away on holiday. Jack couldn't make out this 'new' arrival to begin with because Thunder wasn't on the lead in the garden as he was when he first arrived and just settled in - even sleeping on the settee - something Jack has never tried to do. Jack loved playing in the garden with Thunder and the twosome made good guard dogs for they both barked and raced to the door every time the bell rang. They also did it every time they thought they heard a strange noise so for the past week we've had early starts to the day with no hope of a peaceful 'lie in'.
23rd May 2006
Over the past week since his training class we've met a few dogs out and about and we are pleased that each time Jack, being carefully prompted by ourselves walked past them without pulling on the lead or barking. Once, when we stood talking to a lady with her dog he gave one bark but I just pressed his head next to my leg touching his mouth and saying 'hush', which was enough to make him stand quietly next to me.
24th May 2006
This evening Jack attended training classes again and seemed much more content with the other dogs coming and going around him. Each time we let him approach and sniff the dogs and more often than not it ended with both dogs playing and wagging their tails. We did have a moment when he went for a Spaniel but as we were carefully watching him no harm was done as Stuart pulled him away. The little boy with the Spaniel came bouncing up in front of Jack and it took him by surprise and didn't allow Jack to sniff him so he reacted as he did - this was worth noting for the future because we know how his reaction will be determined by the way the dog approaches him. The little boy was quite startled at what happened and kept his distance from Jack. Most of this evening's training session was out on the lawn where we were doing agility tests - jumping low hurdles and weaving between a row of sticks. Jack really wanted to go and say hello to the Spaniel but this time on his terms so Stuart allowed him to wander over. I noticed the little boy was wary of Jack being so close so I knelt down next to where he was sitting and explained we worked for Greyhound Rescue and that Jack gets frightened because he doesn't know what these other hairy things are so we are here to help him realise they are just dogs like him and nothing to be frightened of. I really didn't want the little boy to go away misunderstanding why Jack did what he did and with the wrong impression of Greyhounds. Upon hearing this the little boy relaxed and before we knew it Jack and the Spaniel were happily sniffing each other.
25th May 2006
Jack now understands that when he's eaten his dinner he goes outside and doesn't touch the others'. He knows that if they are at their dishes they are a 'no go' area but if they wander away he can go and lick out what's left. Life has become a lot easier now he's learnt this rule. He's a happy, playful dog who warns you when someone is at the door, walks well on the lead once he's settled down from the initial excitement of going out for a walk and knows to wait for us to go through the front door first, however, we still have to remind him and be in full control of his lead whilst we are doing it. He's not yet at the stage where he plods out behind us. He loves going out in the car, travels well and plays with our other dogs. He's slowly beginning to learn that cuddles are nice and doesn't throw his head about quite as much as he used to do when we try to put our head next to his. He loves being stroked and having his tummy tickled and when the alarm clock goes off in the morning he stands next to the bed to say hello. Each day is showing an improvement when meeting other dogs but its early days and we still have to be careful and in full control of each encounter to ensure a slip up won't make him go back a stage.
29th May 2006
Over the past couple of days we've noticed Jack walking up to the conservatory door and using his nose to ring the bell hanging on the door handle asking to go out the same way Lester does.
31st May 2006
This evening we took Jack to obedience classes again and arrived early so he could meet the dogs from the earlier class as well as his own. We arrived to find them all doing 'recall' and for some reason Jack became a magnet for theyall, in turn, insisted on running up to greet him. We were a little concerned at first because a Spaniel did this last week, which upset Jack but we needn't have worried because this week he took it all in his stride and insisted sniffing each one as they came bounding towards him - we were really proud of him! This week the Kennel Club Good Citizenship Bronze Award examination was being held and it was suggested we entered Jack as he couldn't loose anything by trying. To say he's never done any obedience training in the hall as all the other dogs had then he was very good with everything except the recall. We've never done recall with him this way and it was the first time he'd been let off the lead in the hall so needless to say as soon as he was off the lead he ran towards Stuart then stopped short and veered off to one side to explore the hall - oop's not what he was suppose to do and he didn't get his certificate because of it but the rest he did perfectly.
4th June 2006
This evening we visited Jack's potential new owners so they could see him and see how he got on with a whippet who stays with them whilst her owner is at work. Millie the whippet was a bit growly, growly and pushy to start with but Jack did us proud by ignoring it. She was on the lead to begin with and probably laying down the ground rules but when she was let off the lead and after a few more growls she settled down with him. Jack just wandered around the garden exploring and at one point towards the end of our visit he tried to get Millie to play, which despite her growls took her by surprise and caused her to dart back and hide behind her owner's legs for safety!
6th June 2006
This morning we took Jack to his new home where he will be living with a lady, her two grandchildren and Millie the visiting whippet. We hope he will be cuddled and spoilt rotten for he deserves it and that he has a long and happy life with his new family.
7th June 2006
Last night we received an email letting us know Jack was fine - he'd been a good boy all day and went for a walk in the fields in the evening and didn't bother about not being let off his lead when Millie was running around off hers. He's been sitting on his bed at the bottom of his owner's bed watching her on the computer and the workmen building the extension didn't bother him for he just sat on the grass at the other end of the garden and watched them.
This morning following a phone call we found Jack had avoided eye contact with Millie most of yesterday but this morning gave her a lick when she arrived. He was okay last night and this morning when his owner was feeding the birds he drank all the water from the bird bath despite having a bowl of his own.
26th July 2006
As I was close to where Jack is living this evening I called in to see how he was. When I arrived he was fast asleep in the garage because it was the coolest place and didn't come when he was called so his owner went to get him. As he came walking round the corner of the house he recognised me and came bouncing to greet me. I got the other dogs out of the car and Jack could hardly wait to say hello to them all. Once we were all in the garden they ran around together and Jack kept running up to me to say hello but he still insists on bouncing up to lick your face and doesn't do it gently so he nearly breaks your nose everytime he does it if you aren't quick enough. Millie was there and I thought she might get growly with the other dogs but she was very good because apparently Kanga and Todd often meet them and she is used to them so doesn't bother the same as she once did.
Jack looked well and is a strong happy dog who, when off the lead enjoys running which can be a bit disconcerting to anyone walking towards him. However, from what I gather Jack is beginning to be known in the area and people are learning to realise that when he comes charging towards them its only to say hello - but he has to do it at speed!
He and Millie get on well and if she wants her dinner and he is in they way she just walks underneath him to get it.
He still can't get used to the wooden floor in the living room but his owner isn't too bothered at the moment because it's a room they spend winter in and once they start going in there hopefully he will follow them.
He is now used to the children wandering about during the night and no longer barks when he hears them especially as they now tell him its them.
When the new tiles were being laid on the kitchen floor Jack would only go on the section without them and when they were all laid he wouldn't come in the house. His owner tried all ways to temp him in that first evening but he wouldn't entertain walking on the tiles. She tried titbits and even shutting the door on him only to find him pushing his head through the cat flap asking to come in. Eventually he was persuaded with a pig's ear positioned in the middle of the floor - once on the floor he gained more confidence and now he runs in and out of the kitchen with no problem, so there is hope for the living room floor.
He is a very good guard dog and warns his owner if anyone comes to the door. He doesn't like her son taking a short cut by jumping over the fence into the garden rather than using the gate, which he's been doing for years, however, Jack thinks he shouldn't be doing it and barks at him every time. His owner is going to try and 'train' her son to come in the gate because she feels if he did Jack would regard him as a friend rather than an intruder and stop barking at him each time he visits - we will wait and see!
September 2006
Received a call from Jack's owner saying he has settled in well and is now part of the family, he no longer bothers when the children wake during the night and wander to the toilet as he knows its them, he's put a little weight on over the summer because the children keep feeding him titbits - he loves the occasional humbug but they sometimes get stuck in his teeth and he asks for help in again if we thought it wasn't getting any better.
23rd September 2006
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK - 4 TODAY
1st May 2006
We split all the beds up last night so there was no chance of anyone accidentally disturbing another. Jack slept all night and this morning Stuart caught him trying to poke his foot in his ear and rub his head along the side of the bed, which indicated it wasn't as painful as yesterday. We gave him more 'Metacam' with his breakfast and after about an hour I tried cleaning his ear with cotton wool and ear cleaning drops as the vet suggested. Jack just lay on the floor and let me. There was crusty 'grot' down inside his ear but as he never bothered about me cleaning it I decided it wasn't there where he was hurt, which was a relief. The ear flap itself was a bit crusted up so I went to hold his ear to clean it of - he wasn't having this and cried out. A very gentle examination and cleaning of the ear flap led me to getting them off before biting them again but now they are back to school that will stop. He's made friends with a labrador in the park, he loves playing and running with Millie the whippet, enjoys his visits up to the allotment and his owner now has a larger car that accommodates him better. They had one little scare when he jumped a fence during a walk one day when he saw a cat the other side, however, the cat got away and Jack looked really worried as he couldn't work out how to get back to his owner and didn't want to do the return jump back - let's hope he learnt a lesson and won't try it again! People passing by the garden are getting to know him and say hello as they walk past and the postman has started talking to him as he delivers the letters as he realises that Jack bouncing towards him is a happy Jack coming to say hello.
28th April 2007
Today we all went to Barrow in Furness for our very first Greyhound Awareness Day in the town centre and were so pleased Jack and his owner was able to join us for a while. Jack came over to say hello, which was really nice as we hadn't seen him for quite a while. He looked really well but loosing a couple of pounds wouldn't go a miss and he enjoyed meeting all the other dogs there.
Jack and Millie on the 20th April 2006
Jack and Millie the Boxer pup
20th April 2006
Long Legged Beauties
Collection
'Greyhounds & Lifestyle'
2007 Calendar
Jack with JuneC at Haverthwaite Railway
 This picture of Jack was taken with June C at Haverthwiate Railway Station in Cumbria on the 19th April 2006 and is in the inside cover of the 'Lifestyle' calendar.

Long Legged Beauties
Collection
'Greyhounds Sexy & Safety'
2007 Calendar
Jack with model June C
 This picture of Jack was taken
with June C on the 20th April
2006 for the sexy 'health & safety' calendar and is the main August
picture in the calendar. Jack is
saying "Somethings not quite right
about the safety gear here"

Jack in April 2006
In the field
21st April 2006

Long Legged Beauties
Collection
'Just Greyhounds'
2007 Calendar
Jack
 This picture of Jack was taken on the 21st April 2006 and is the main eptember picture in the calendar.
View Calendar
Long Legged Beauties
Collection
'Just Greyhounds'
2007 Calendar
Jack
This picture of Jack was taken on
the 21st April 2006 and is the June supporting picture in the calendar.
View Calendar
Long Legged Beauties
Collection
'Greyhounds Sexy & Safety'
2007 Calendar
Jack with Michelle Monroe
 This picture of Jack was taken
with Michelle Monroe on the
25th April 2006 for the sexy
'health and safety' calendar and
is the January supporting
picture in the calendar.
The wording with this picture
says "Jack's sure Michelle hid
the biscuits in there"

Long Legged Beauties
Collection
'Greyhounds Sexy & Safety'
2007 Calendar
Jack and Indi with Sarah
 This picture of Jack was taken with
model Sarah on the 6th May 2006
for the sexy 'health & safety' calendar
and is the October supporting picture
in the calendar. The wording with
this picture says "Jack and Indi say
they make a fine pair"

Long Legged Beauties
Collection
'Greyhounds & Lifestyle'
2007 Calendar
Jack is second on the left
 This picture of Jack was taken with
Rukhsana near Arnside in Cumbria
on the 13th May 2006. He's with
(from left to right) Lester, Bobby,
Indi, Jack and Thunder and is the
back cover of the 'Lifestyle' calendar.

Long Legged Beauties
Collection
'Greyhounds Sexy & Safety'
2007 Calendar
Jack with Kaz
 This picture of Jack was taken with
Kaz on the 18th May 2006 for the
sexy 'health & safety' calendar and
is the May supporting picture in
the calendar. The wording with this
picture says "Jack's an experienced
model see houw he steeals the light
from Kaz"

Long Legged Beauties
Collection
'Greyhounds & Lifestyle'
2007 Calendar
Jack with model Kaz
 This picture of Jack was taken with Kaz on location in Cumbria on the 18th May 2006 and is the July supporting picture in the 'Lifestyle' calendar.

Long Legged Beauties
Collection
'Greyhounds Sexy & Safety'
2007 Calendar
Jack with model Yazmin
 This picture of Jack was taken with Yazmin on the 24th May 2006 for the sexy 'health and safety' calendar and is the main June picture in the calendar. Jack is saying "There's more than one accident waiting to happen here"

Fawn Greyhound
6th July 2006
Long Legged Beauties
Collection
'Greyhounds Sexy & Safety'
2007 Calendar
Jack with Yazmin
 This picture of Jack was taken with Yazmin on the 6th July 2006 for the sexy 'health and safety' calendar and is the December supporting picture in the calendar. The wording with this picture says "Jack and Yazmin wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year"

23rd September 2007
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK - 5 TODAY
13th November 2007
Received an email this evening letting us know that Jack has a chest infection.and the vet came out today as he wasn't himself. He didn't even get up when his owner got his lead. He wouldn't budge and she couldn't get him to the car so she got the vet to him. The vet gave him 2 injections and he is to have some tablets tomorrow. His owner said he just doesn't want to be bothered with anything or anyone bless him. Even his favourite pilchards wouldn't get him up and she missed him knocking her over this morning as he usually does when she gets up.
23rd September 2008
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK - 6 TODAY
Recieved an email today letting us know Jack is getting on well and now has a new friend whom he plays with and when he's not at play he sits in the window looking for her across the road hoping to see her in her house. It is another Greyhound called Faun!
14th January 2009
Received some upsetting news this morning from Jack's owner letting us know he hasn't been well the past couple of weeks. Just before Christmas his owner phoned because she was disturbed at Jack's behaviour but her partner had been admitted to hospital suddenly and stayed in a few days so we put it down to the upset of the household and to him missing him and everything should settle when he's home again. However, during Christmas Jack started to loose some hair on his tail and where his collar lies, then he began to drink more water and two small swellings appeared under his stomach where he urinates. He went to the vets straight after Christmas where he was examined and put on antibiotics but they didn't seem to have much response. He went to the vets again at the end of last week where the vet examined him again and took a sample of his water. As there was blood in it the vet wanted to see him again today where, under anaesthetic he had X-rays, blood tests and an examination to try and determine what was wrong with him. Although the X-rays showed no large visible tumor masses it was believed Jack may have testicular cancer. We were all quite shocked at hearing this because we all thought he'd been neutered. The vet seemed quite sure because of all the symptoms and he needed an operation to remove the growth. However, the blood tests showed no new baby white or red blood cells were being produced and his platelet count was very low making it too risky for his vet to operate as he had a high chance of bleeding to death and they didn't have the resources to cover this. As a result, he was referred to the Liverpool University Small Animal Hospital who asked that he be brought to them first thing in the morning. Because of transport and logistic problems his owner's friend will bring them both here first thing tomorrow morning and I am going to drive them down to the university where we hope he will receive the treatment he needs. We are all hoping and praying the vets at the university will be able to help Jack and that in no time at all he will be well again.
15th January 2009
When Jack arrived first thing this morning we made sure we kept all ours behind the safety gate at the end of the kitchen so they didn't over power him and then said hello to him. He gave us a nice greeting and to see him, apart from the swellings under his stomach you wouldn't think there was anything wrong, although I later commented to Stuart that he didn't really look like Jack - his face seemed different. Stuart thought it was because we hadn't seen him for nearly two years but when I looked at his pictures on my site I realized his face had a different look about it, but I wasn't sure what.
Jack jumped happily into our car and we drove him to the Liverpool University Small Animal Hospital arriving shortly after 10.30 am. A little later than we planned because of the traffic and because we stopped twice because Jack asked to empty his bladder. Jack looked very frightened in the vets and after discussions with the vets and an examination, which included an internal to check his prostrate Jack was admitted and we came home. It was a very hard day but Jack is where all that can be done for him will be done for him. He is having a number of X-rays today along with more blood tests and bone marrow tests, the results of which his owner hopes to receive later this evening. The vets laid everything on the line to us and it didn't sound good. We came away thinking this was going to be the last time we saw him.
Just after 6.30pm Jack's owner phoned to say the results of the tests had come back. Things didn't look good and they gave him a 10% - 20% chance of surviving the operation due to the low platelet count and the risk of him bleeding to death. Although termination was an option his owner felt she owed it to Jack to give him a chance even though the odds were stacked against him she felt that even 10% was better than the other option, so they will operate on Jack at 10.30 am tomorrow morning. The operation should take about an hour unless there were complications and if there were they would phone to ask if they could just let him pass away, otherwise, they would phone about 5pm to let his owner know what happened. They indicated that in this instance no news would be good news. They could only find one testicle on the X-ray and on that was a tumor which needs to be removed. However, it is very risky because of the suppression symptoms caused in his bone marrow and the very low platelet count. Despite the risks the operation is going ahead and we are all praying he will be okay. The vet said Jack had settled in nicely into his kennel area and when he went into the grounds to empty his bladder they said it was hard to believe anything was wrong with him.
16th January 2009
Today was even harder than yesterday, clock watching, wanting to be alone yet keeping busy. 10.30 am came and went - he would be on the operating table. It was 11.30 am and still no news then 12 noon, still no news - the operation must be over now or are they having problems? Whenever, one of our ex-foster dogs is ill we always find it very upsetting because although we only have them a short while we still love them as if they are our own and get extremely upset when anything happens to them. Normally I try not to mention this too much when I write about our Greyhounds as I don't want it to appear I have favourites when I don't because I love them all but somehow today I feel I must. I was on pins all day, possibly more so because I'd taken him to the vets yesterday and they gave him so little hope. 1pm arrived then 2pm and still no news - was he okay or were they still battling with him? When the phone rang at 3pm Stuart picked it up and when we realized it was Jack's owner on the phone I thought I was going to collapse - I had geared myself to receiving bad news and here it was. As Stuart walked up the stairs with the phone he looked at me and gave me the thumbs up - I had to sit down. Jack had had his operation and survived. We were so elated it was unbelievable because the odds of that happening had been so slim, needless to say no more work got done today - we just couldn't concentrate, couldn't believe he had survived despite the odds stacked against him. Jack had come round from his operation and just had a drink. Despite what all the blood and bone marrow tests said about him bleeding to death if he was cut when they came to operate they found his blood clotting as normal as they were doing the operation, which they were very surprised about but also very pleased so no additional blood was needed - to that end it had been a normal operation - However ! ! ! !
The vets found one testicle that had a tumor, which they think is benign but has been sent to the lab to be tested and one ovary, which has also gone to the lab for tests. JACK HAD BEEN BORN WITH ONE TESTICAL AND ONE OVARY!!! I couldn't believe my ears - I'd never heard of this before but hearing it now makes all Jack's problems of the past and symptoms over the past two or three weeks all fall into place.
The testicle with the tumor was causing the prostrate problems whilst the ovary with its surge of oestrogen was producing the feminization signs of his mammary glands getting bigger and filling with liquid along with the appearance of his penis getting smaller, the changes to his bone marrow, platelets and blood count and possibly to the changes I noticed in his face. Both together were causing the hair loss and the need to drink such a lot of water. Jack was going through a sex change and because of what was happening to his bone marrow, and the speed at which all this was happening, had he not been operated on he would have died within a week or two. The frightening thing is that his owner said that had his mammary glands not began to swell she wouldn't have realised he had anything wrong until possibly it was too late. It will have also had a bearing throughout his life because his body wouldn't have known whether he was male or female and this is bound to have had an effect on his behaviour.
The vet said things had gone fine but he's not out of the woods yet and they are hoping we can bring him home on Monday.
Poor Millie, his companion has been missing him something shocking and their owner had a difficult time settling her last night because she won't eat properly, ignores her chews and wouldn't sleep in her bed. I bet when he comes home there will be a wonderful welcome for him !!!
Jack it seems was a Hermaphrodite, which is very rare and can be genetic or more likely the pregnant mother was treated with hormones especially if there was no supervision from a vet.
Jack, whilst we fostered him had not been the easiest of dogs and his new owners had a few problems with him with other dogs a well. They couldn't let him off the lead around other dogs and really had to watch him. They often said he seemed confused and did strange things sometimes that didn't add up. I'm not at all surprised, what with having both an ovary and a testicle, bless him, he didn't know whether he was male or female, his hormones must have been playing havoc with him and with having an ovary he would have been having 'seasons' hence other male dogs wanting to try and ride him, which led to his retaliation. I wouldn't be surprised if we found that 95% of his behavioral problems were as a result of this and that once he's recovered from his operation and given a few months for his hormones to settle down along with some re-socialization training he'll be a different dog.
Because Jack was born looking like a dog it was because the male side of him took prominence with the female side being in the background. With the tumor forming on the testicle it may have been that this male prominence reduced thus allowing the female side to take over, which started just before Christmas with the hair loss and over Christmas with the swelling of the mammary glands and other symptoms.
I haven't seen Jack for a couple of years and then only for a few minutes at the 'Meet and Greet a Greyhound Day' in Barrow-in-Furness but I kick myself for not working out the connection. When I talk of my foster dogs I often put them in groups - the rock solid laid back ones, the pretty dainty ones, the nervous ones and the ones who have been somewhat difficult. I have often mentioned Jack in the same sentence as Paddy and Sandy, both of whom had behavioral problems, both had been born with no scrotum, both had operations to remove the testicles still inside them, both, once the hormones settled changed their behaviour and became nice dogs. Why didn't I connect Jack had the same problem? Maybe it was because we all thought he'd been neutered, maybe because we hadn't been fostering very long so were not as knowledgeable and maybe it was because we hadn't seen him much since he'd been re-homed.
Whatever the reason we are so proud of Jack's owner for sticking with him, for not giving up on him and for giving him the chance despite being told all the odds were so much against him.
17th January 2009
The University Hospital phoned Jack's owner this afternoon to let her know that Jack was holding his own but they were a little worried that he hadn't eaten anything. They didn't say, but we think he may be on a drip because they said they didn't want to take him of the fluids until he was eating properly again. Jack's owner mentioned that he doesn't have a big appetite at the best of times and not keen on tinned dog food so they are going to try him with some chicken or scrambled egg this evening, which he has at home to see if they can entice him to eat. He's had an anaesthetic three days on the run which may also be affecting him and if he's on a drip he may not want to eat because of this. It may be he's also homesick because he's never been away from his owner for more that 3 or 4 hours. If the vet thinks he is homesick and they feel he is well enough to come home Jack's owner is going to ask if we can come and collect him.
18th January 2009
This morning Jack's owner received a call from Liverpool University Small Animal Hospital saying that because Jack ate his food last night and this morning he could go home. We arrived at the Hospital just after 2 pm.
It was quite an emotional time when Jack walked through the doors of the waiting room because deep down neither Jack's owner nor I ever thought we would see him again. He was quite quiet, which was understandable but his eyes looked bright and he came for a cuddle. We were given a sheet of instructions along with a lot of medication for Jack. Jack has been given two sorts of antibiotics, which he has to be on for the next month or so to protect him against infection whilst his platelet count is so low. He's also on medication to try and 'kick start' his bone marrow production into working properly again. There is also an injection his vet is to give him in three weeks time to help his bones because of the high level of Oestrogen he received from the ovary. We were told it was going to be a very difficult time for Jack and his owners because he must be kept calm and away from things that causes him anxiety. He mustn't get an infection and he mustn't injure himself to give his body the time to get better and the medication for his bone marrow to work, however, we have been warned that quite often the bone marrow doesn't repair itself and we are to be prepared for this. Therefore, Jack is still a long way from being well again and will need a lot of love and looking after to help him through this difficult stage.
As soon as we got outside the building he cocked his leg against a waste bin and urinated - it lasted ages! ! !
He soon settled in the car for the journey home and we stopped at Charnock Richard Service Station on the way so he could have a short walk and relieve himself again, which he did.
On the way back to his house we called in at ours so Stuart could see him and, although Jack wanted to say hello to our Greyhounds he held back. They were very good as they stood with their heads over the swing gates in the conservatory and watched him.
When we finally arrived at his home Jack jumped out the car and walked inside the house where his owner gave him the first of his medication in with some chicken pieces. His owner said he was looking a lot thinner, which isn't surprising to say what he's been through the past few days (three anaesthetics in three days) and, as he was beginning to look a bit tired and weary I said my goodbye's and came home.
19th January 2009
Received a call from Jack's owner today letting us know Jack had a good night last night. He was a bit subdued this morning but ate his breakfast and by mid morning he looked a bit happier. He climbed onto the settee but when he came to get off he yelped so now there is a huge pile of duvets on the floor so he can stretch out on them in comfort.
The vet from Liverpool University Hospital phoned to see how he was and arranged for him to go onto Metacam to reduce his post operation pain and hopefully make him feel a bit better.
20th January 2009
Received a call from Jack's owner today letting us know that with having the Metacam last night Jack looked a bit better this morning and wanted to go for a walk. Although his owner only intended letting him in the garden he wasn't having that and wanted a walk so she took him around the block. He didn't think that was enough but his owner thought it was so soon after his operation.
He had an appointment with the vet this morning who was very pleased with his progress. He took off the large bandage to find Jack has been stapled not stitched, therefore, it will be 14 not 10 days before they are removed.
21st January 2009
Received a call from Jack's owner today letting us know he seems much happier and must be feeling better because he was barking this morning to go for his walk, but again to his dismay it was only round the block. However, he did two lots of stools, which is superb news as they are the first since just before he went to Liverpool University Hospital and the lack of them was causing a bit of concern.
22nd January 2009
Received a phone call from Jack's owner today with some good news. The vet phoned from the Liverpool University Small Animal Hospital saying the tumor they removed was benign and, as a result they've signed him off so he is back with his own vet again as before.
23rd January 2009
Received a call today letting us know Jack visited the vet today who was very pleased with his progress. His anemic gums seem more pink, which is a good sign and maybe his blood count is beginning to correct itself again. The vet was very pleased and said he has defied all the odds against him because by rights he shouldn't be here. His next visit is scheduled for Friday when he has his staples out.
29th January 2009
Jack's owner phoned this morning to say she is as pleased as punch because Jack is chewing a pig's ear again, which is the first he's eaten since Christmas. She also commented his gums looked more pink and his coat appears to be going darker in colour and more like his normal self. Today he's been laying on the settee on his back with his legs in the air - the first time since his operation so she's had a good look at where he was stapled. Some appear to have fallen out already and some are becoming loose so when they go the vet tomorrow he won't have to have as many out.
Although this is all good news they've had one or two scares over the past few days. For nearly three days he wouldn't eat anything and Sunday night Millie their whippet came charging upstairs barking in the middle of the night and jumped on her owner's bed barking and licking their face to wake them up. Millie was in such a state they knew something must be wrong downstairs and immediately thought this was the end for Jack they had been warned might happen. When they got downstairs they found Jack on the floor unable to stand up and quite distressed. He'd looked a bit shaky a couple of days before this and he seemed weak on his back legs, shaking and not eating so the following
morning (Monday 26th January) they took him to the vet who said he had no temperature and thought all seemed okay and that maybe a loose staple had stuck in him or perhaps he'd suffered a bit of cramp. That was three days ago and now he seems fine and as mentioned happily eating his pigs ears again for the first time in a while.
30th January 2009
Heard from Jack's owner that the vet took out his remaining staples today. He had healed well, his gums were nice and pink and also agreed his coat was going a darker colour. The vet said all seemed well and things were looking very good. Next Friday he is to see him again for the blood test and injection Liverpool University Small Animal Hospital said he was to have because of the high level of oestrogen in his body.
3rd February 2009
Jack took a turn for the worse yesterday. He seemed quite weak and couldn't eat his food whilst standing up so his owner took him to the vet in the afternoon where they examined him and took a sample of blood. He didn't bleed at all when the needle was removed but the vet did comment how watery his blood looked. The vet phoned later to say the condition of his blood was far worse than before he went to Liverpool University Small Animal Hospital 2½ weeks ago so an appointment was made with the vet who had most involvement with him for 12.30 pm today.
His owner stayed up with him all last night as she has done the past couple of nights and this morning she phoned explaining her deep concern. She said he seems to have no strength and although he wants to eat and drink he can't stand up to do it, when he stands and puts his head into the bowl he falls over because he can't seem to put any weight on his front legs so his owner fed him off a plate laying down and has been syringing liquid into him, which he is appreciating. She said he seemed bright enough and pricks his ears up when she comes in the room but his body is so weak and looks as if it has given up so they propped him up with pillows to make him more comfortable. Middle of this morning his head started twitching occasionally and he would yelp then he would pant heavily.
His owner took him to the vet at 12.30 pm today and the vet checked him over. Before Jack arrived the vet contacted Liverpool University Small Animal Hospital asking for advice and if anything could be done for Jack. The examination showed he was suffering from massive internal bleeding, there was blood forming behind his eyes and when his front paws were put on the floor upside down they stayed there, which is quite serious and was the reason for him falling over. In view of everything Jack and his owner cuddled into the bed together and the vet put Jack to sleep. Had they not done so he would have died from a massive hemorrhage within a short space of time.
It's so hard to take all this in because it was only last Friday the vet was amazed at his progress and almost gave him the all clear. It's too painful to speculate what may have caused this internal bleeding or how long it has been going on, but he was a fighter was Jack and certainly hid the severity of his illness from everyone till he could hide it no longer. We shall sorely miss him, bless him and God be with him always.

[ a moment Jack's owner remembers with a smile was the day her grand daughter cut a hole in her new school shorts so Jack's tail would go through. She remembers looking out the kitchen window and there was Jack showing off in a pair of red school shorts walking around the garden. What a pity he didn't take them off before he cocked his leg!]

In loving memory of Jack
To our precious fighter who won the battle but not the war.
Your strength and courage shall remain with us forever and you may be gone but you will never be forgotten.
Rest in peace with the angels darling Jack.
Click this image for a larger view
Millie - Christmas 2008
Millie, Jack's companion
Christmas 2008
Click this image for a larger view
Jack - Christmas 2008
Jack during Christmas 2008
as his illness began to take hold
Click this image for a larger view
Jack' last picture
Jack's last photograph taken a couple
of hours before his visit to the vet.
3rd February 2009
Fawn Greyhound
6th July 2006
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