here and there but doing nothing. Although it wasn't raining it wasn't a morning I felt like walking round and round the garden for hours so, in spite of what Stuart said about letting him off the lead, I did! He immediately ran to a bush and did a wee, then another and another. He was so much happier and much more relaxed being left on his own to find his own places to explore and have a wee where he wanted to do it. The big test would be to see if he would follow me back into the house, but then they say they are not daft and know a good thing when it comes along! I need not have worried because by the time I'd reached the door he was there behind me and came in with me. If you stand over him he comes close then backs off so in order that I could give him a really good praise I knealt down so I was at his level and with a high, happy voice spoke to him - and he came and lay next to me so we had huge cuddles and praises and he lay his head cradled in my arm for a cuddle before going back to his bed with the others - and another sleep.
This afternoon we took Thunder to the vet, had him weighed and he was given a thorough examination as we do with all new Greyhounds who come in to us. We asked about him pulling away and yelping if his ears are touched and the vet checked them saying they were okay but he did need a dental because he had some loose teeth and there may be at least one at the back causing him pain. However, they wouldn't know that until he was under the anaesthetic and it would be best if they were checked fairly soon. When the vet checked his heart she though she may have heard a very slight heart murmour but wasn't too sure so he may have the beginnings of one or he may not, so this is an area to keep an eye on.
We had only been back from the vets a few minutes when we received a telephone call from Thunder's owner asking if they could come and visit him around tea time - the house was so quiet without him and everyone was so sad. Some people may say we should have said no because some believe that once a Greyhound has been transferred over to a Rescue Centre then that is it with regards the original owner's involvement. However, We think each case should be treated individually and we don't believe that ruling should always be the case.
All the Greyhounds were in the living room when his owners arrived and I was in the kitchen. I knew they had arrived because Thunder started barking with excitement and charged with the others through the kitchen into the conservatory to greet them. He was bouncing about all over the place with excitement. Once they came in he was all over them and they him and we knew what was going to happen next! It took a while before his owner admitted she had made the biggest mistake of her life and it took loosing him for them to realise just how much they loved him. So much so they would do anything to get him back.
We all had a serious heart to heart talk about committment and loyalty and, struggling for a way forward with a very unusual situation and with Thunder's best interests to heart we came up with the idea of starting a fresh. As the Transfer of Ownership form had been signed making Thunder the property of Dumfriesshire and Cumbria Greyhound Rescue we decided to treat the whole incident as a new person coming to us looking for a Greyhound. Our Homing Co-ordinator was away on holiday for a few days so we would have to get his agreement before proceeding further, but if he said all was okay then we would do a home check and complete the adoption process back to his original owner. Doing it this way will protect Thunder because he now falls under the 'wing' of Dumfriesshire and Cumbria Greyhound Rescue. He becomes part of the family and we can keep an eye on him. When Thunder's owner and her daughter left I walked with them to the door and Stuart stayed with Thunder. Stuart said Thunder was very distraught at them going and wanted to go with them - he loves them and we knew his owners, like all the Greyhounds who come into Rescue needed a 'second chance'.
4th October 2008
Thunder is getting used to our routine now, is much more settled and we are having less accidents in the house. It's very unusual to have so many accidents from a dog who's been living in a home for eighteen months and we believe he is telling us something. He's mastered the stairs so is able to join me in my office and goes running down them with the others when they go down. Since being on the Complete food we feed our Greyhounds he's began to fill out a bit and is looking a little less ribby so it's obviously agrees with him.
5th October 2008
This morning we received the okay from the Dumfriesshire and Cumbria Greyhound Rescue Homing Co-ordinator that Thunder could be returned to his previous owner after we did a home check. If all was okay we could do the adoption then and there. Thunder's owner phoned a little later and we arranged to go over this.afternoon and do all the necessary paperwork etc. Thunder was happy to see his owner, went behind the settee to check if his bed was still okay then went in the garden to check that out before going to his bed for a sleep. We had a long chat about Thunder and what the vet had said about his teeth and heart and his owner said she would book him in to have his teeth done. We warned her that with the problems he had when he first arrived not to be too worried if the vets took a few out. It is much better to remove the bad teeth and encourage healthy gums than to have a mouth of unhealthy teeth.
13th October 2008
Heard from Thunder's owner today letting us know that Thunder is going to the vet tomorrow for a dental and that she is pleased because he seems a much happier dog. She says it's almost as if he knows he is now wanted and that she is much happier now he is back with her and her happiness is reflecting upon him. When he came back all his food and belongings went back with him but they are now feeding him the same complete food that we gave him whilst here because she says he seems to like it much better than his other food and he's putting some weight on, which is good. His owner was telling us that when Thunder first came to her as well as everything else he also had a very bad attack of worms which necesitated treatment from the vet because of the severity. As Thunder is a tall slender dog we suggested she keep a constant watch on his weight because if he's eating but looking ribby again it may mean they have come back.
Since being back home there have been no accidents in the house, which was one of the main problems before he came to us and since being home his owner has started the regime we suggested by starting from scratch again. Treat things as if he's just come to them as a new dog and start the house training again to remove any habits he's picked up.
One of their cats must have missed Thunder because he's started going for walks with them around the block and if he dawdles Thunder looks over his shoulder to see where he is. The same cat has also decided he wants to join Thunder eating his dinner and that Greyhound food is tasty. He stands in between Thunder's front legs and eats from his bowl - poor Thunder looks at his owner as if to say 'is he supposed to be doing this?'
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14th October 2008
Received a call this evening to say that Thunder had just arrived home from the vet having had his dental. They collected him at 8.00 pm and he was currently laying on his bed with a blanket over him to keep him warm as his ears were cold, which indicated his body was cold as a result of the anaesthetic. He was still very sleepy and his mouth was bleeding quite a lot. His owner was quite shocked and upset because the vet removed 21 teeth. I explained we thought they might because he was in pain, which showed by him looking so sad at times and he didn't like you touching his face or below his ears. I explained about our
Ruby, my little '
Ruby Do' , what she was like when she first arrived, how we handled her aftercare because Thunder's will be identical and how having 28 teeth removed changed a very sad, ugly, sorry looking little girl into a beautiful, happy one - a little girl who was very thankful because we'd removed all her pain!
2nd November 2008
Today was the annual Greyhound Awareness Day at Carlisle Racecourse. We would like to have gone but with
Bobby being 13½ and becoming more frail and prone to getting cold along with the pressures of running the bed and breakfast we never went. I would like to have gone because Thunder and his owner went and the Homing Co-ordinator, who met them for the first time said they both looked well and relaxed. Thunder met many other dogs and enjoyed the day. His owner had the chance to chat and get to know other Greyhound owners. His mouth is apparently healing well but not there yet, but then it takes a while for stitches to disolve and the cavities to heal where the teeth were removed especially the large back ones and his owner mentioned she realises he may have to have more teeth out later on.
10th July 2009
Thunder and his owner came over to visit this evening and brought us some cow's ears that he'd got fed up with before the box was empty. He looked well and very happy, gave us a lovely greeting then went off with the others to explore the garden while we sat outside in the sunshine and had a drink and a chat. His owner was saying that since his bad teeth have been removed his remaining teeth and gums are much better, his breath smells more fresh and he's much happier in himself.
6th March 2010
Thunder and his owner came to visit this afternoon and brought us some dog chews that Thunder had got fed up of because he found themtoo difficult to chew now he doesn't have as many teeth. I was upstairs when they arrived and as I walked into the kitchen he greeted me with a huge smile, a smile that we've only ever seen Thunder do. He looked well and happy and it was lovely to see him again.
