RGT South Lakes, Cumbria Greyhound Rescue - Retired Greyhounds make great pets

GREYHOUND RESCUE
Fostering Greyhounds in the South Lake District, Cumbria

Meg

Meg arrived on Monday 18th July 2011
Went to her new home on Friday 19th August 2011

Meg's arrival and a brief history
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Meg is a black ex-racing greyhound who was born in 2003. Having been in the Rescue kennels for some time and everyone passing her by she has come to our branch of the Trust so she can be fostered instead of kennelled. This way, Pat who is fostering her along with her other greyhound and whippet can show her the joys of family life and help her on her way to finding her forever home.
Meg has a lovely gentle nature, is okay with children and travels well in the car. She is house trained, speyed, inoculated, microchipped and has recently undergone a dental.

Meg's Diary

18th July 2011
Stuart collected Meg this morning and she lay down nicely in the back of the car for her journey back to our house. Upon arriving here she said hello to all our greyhounds who almost mobbed her because they all came out the conservatory at once rather than one at a time as is normal. Meg took the fuss in her stride and never bothered.
We walked her round the garden on the lead until she did a wee, got a huge praise then she wanted in the house with the others. Inside we tied her lead to the hook by the side of the kitchen fire. Coaly and Blue promptly lay on the bed we put down for her so she stood by the side while I made her some food. She enjoyed that, then it was back in the garden for another tour until she did what she needed to do, huge praises then back in the house and back on the hook.
While we were waiting for Pat to arrive I sat at the kitchen table and did some paperwork to find Meg standing by my side wanting a stroke, satisfied all was okay she then lay down on the carpet near the kitchen fire because the dog bed we put down for her was again covered by other dogs.
To say she has only just come from kennels she quickly relaxed in our kitchen. She knows her name and when Pat arrived she went to greet her for more cuddles.
We checked all the paperwork she came with, double checked her earmarks and discovering she wasn't microchipped we did that as well. When the time came for her to leave she walked to the car and jumped in the side door and by the time Pat was ready to leave she had laid down on the duvet ready for yet another car journey.
In the evening Pat phoned to say Meg was a little treasure. Upon arriving home she took Meg, Remy and Hendrix for a walk together so they could get to know each other. Meg pulled a little on the lead, but that is probably nerves with her coming from the kennels to a new foster home, new companions and a new environment and we are sure the pulling will stop once she feels more settled. She wasn't the least bothered with the traffic noise, met a little boy and enjoyed him stroking her and when they walked past a fence with chickens the other side she simply sniffed them then walked away and ignored them - to Pat's amazement!
Back home she had something to eat, strolled around the garden then settled easily in the house, found her bed and just lay there watching everyone.

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Meg in our garden
18th July 2011

. . and again.

5th August 2011
Although Meg has been in her new foster home with Pat for the past couple of weeks or so not once has she attempted to climb the stairs, and with Pat hurting her back she didn't feel able to show Meg how it was done, that was until today. Today Pat started to show her how to do the stairs and Meg just walked up them as if she'd been doing it all her life. Likewise, coming down. Therefore, tonight she will be joining the others in Pat's bedroom. Meg has been having one or two accidents during the night so we will be interested to see if, by sleeping in the same room as Pat whether this stops. If it does, then Meg has been waking in the night, not knowing where everyone was and having a little panic.
Pat has been helping a friend with some gardening recently and each time she goes she takes all the dogs with her who either sleep on the lawn or mooch about. Meg has got quite used to seeing the chickens the other side of the fence and doesn't bother with them. The small Bantam cockeral chick is now much larger and the last time Meg visited the garden it did a 'cock a doodle doo' at her for the first time making her jump back from the fence in fear. Pat said she was funny to watch.
18th August 2011
While Pat was taking Remy to the vet for a check up she had Meg weighed. She weighed in at 26.0k.
19th August 2011
This afternoon Pat brought Meg here because a family whose home check was a pass wanted to come and see Meg with a view to adopting her. She was a little nervous at first, wondering what was going on and when they arrived she met their other dog Levi, who is an 11 year old female whippet cross. along with the labrador who comes to visit every day. They all got on well, everything was fine and once all the adoption paperwork was complete she jumped in the back of the car with the other two and off she went to her new home where we hope she has a long and happy life.
20th August 2011
We heard today that Meg wouldn't eat anything last night and and looked quite frightenend. This morning there was a little tussle between her and Levi because their feeding bowls were a little too close together and to avoid anything happening again until they get used to each other the bowls were moved to each end of the room. Levi was nipped on her nose and Meg had a nip under her chin. Her owner phoned Pauline and Colin who did their home check and they went round to see them both. It was thought best Meg visited the vet to be on the safe side in case she needed any stitches, but the vet didn't think they were necessary, but to keep an eye on it and she gave them some antibiotics for her.
Later in the day Pauline nipped round and bathed Meg's chin and Levi's nose again and took her new owner a harness for Meg until she could get one for herself. This is because Meg is quite nervous and unsure at the moment and because she walks better on a harness it was thought the sooner she was in one the better. When Pauline put the harness on her to try it she was so excited Pauline decided it was cruel to just take it off again so took Meg for a little walk, which she enjoyed.
21st August 2011
Heard today that Pauline nipped round to see how Meg was and gave her, her tablet and bathed her chin. There was no fresh blood from the wound, which is a good sign and she seemed fine. She ate all her food and is beginning to learn that its best to keep away from her new owner's mobility scooter wheels when they come back from their walk and whilst going back into the house.
29th August 2011
We received an email from Pauline today saying they called in on Meg yesterday as they were passing her new home. She says she's really found her feet now and is happily walking around the bungalow with the others. Her new owner said she accidentally dropped the lead yesterday while out and Meg realising she was loose decided to have a couple of runs round the Green. That was a bit scarey, but when her new owner called her back she came. As a result, the next time they are all up the field they are going to let her off for a while so she can have another good run if she wants to.
21st October 2011
Meg's owner went away for a few days and while away Pauline offered to look after her as her owner didn't want her going into kennels. Meg settled in well with the other greyhounds and whippets and Pauline emailed to let us know her owner is calling to collect her shortly.
Pauline said she would miss Meg because she's been no bother at all. She's a little beauty, no trouble at all and sits amongst the others and smiles a you. She was quite timid when she first arrived, but was really coming out of her shell by the time she left. She is so quiet and took a liking to Pauline's bedroom where she will often lay as it was quieter and out of the way of the hustle and bustle of the other dogs, the rest of the family and people calling with car boot items or wanting to buy things. Although Meg likes it in Pauline's bedroom she does come down when called to go for walks, to do her toilet and at meal times. One morning when Pauline woke at 4.00 am and went to the loo Major, one of her other greyhounds who always sleeps on her bed moved and while in the loo Pauline heard a little jingle. When she returned to her bedroom Meg had jumped into her space next to Major and because she didn't have the heart to move her decided to start her day a little earlier than normal!
When Meg's owner came to collect her she stood in the hall and called her name. Meg was upstairs on Pauline's bed and when she heard her owner's voice she came charging downstairs to welcome her back. After a lovely welcome they both headed back home.