Sunday 26th December 2010
Week 3.
Dear Greyhound Lifeline
I told you in my last letter about my big run-around with the young boy in the snow, I was very tired, when John suggested going for ANOTHER walk in the afternoon, I just flopped over on my side and closed my eyes and went back to sleep, it takes ages for him to take a hint. I could hear them both sniggering! Huh!
A friend called and stood talking in the kitchen, I squeaked by the lounge door, John thought I wanted to see who it was. After she went I did a wee on the lounge carpet. So whilst Joan mopped it up, John took me out, it was FOUR o’clock and cold. Brrrr! They’ll learn, I hope, with a bit more practice.
Monday 20th
I chased another dog today! Oops I’m not allowed to say things like that, I got a good talking to by John and he put on the lead for a while, when he let me off again I behaved myself. By afternoon the snow, where it was compacted, had become ice, was covered by water, I must have slipped I was limping later. John massaged my shoulder. They bought me some ‘Pedigree Joint Care’ today for my joints because they noticed that I am stiff when I get up after sleeping. John said it was noticeably helpful to ‘Great Aunt Molly’, as John calls my predecessor.
The old folk went shopping and due to the bad weather they took another old lady. I was left at home to make more room in the car for all the shopping. They give me a tasty chewy when they leave me. I don’t mind its warm and comfortable, I can walk about and go where I like while they are out.
Before we go to bed John takes me out into the garden so that I can make myself comfortable for the night. That darned fox really winds me up at night, I complained again tonight but John told me it was OK so I lay down again, did I tell you? I have a cuddle with John when he goes to bed to read, but they have to lift me off the beds, I make it as difficult for them as possible, I’m not giving in and getting down myself, they don’t seem to realise I want to stay with them up there on their sleeping platforms, you know there really IS room for me up there.
Tuesday 21st
Joan kept me on the lead because it was so icy, I couldn’t chase Barney (Westie) so I had to walk with him, he’s not really any fun because he’s too old, poor little thing.
Later when I took John out he let me off the lead, we met more of his doggy friends, a couple with their TWO Labradors, I wasn’t too sure but he persuaded me to go and ‘speak’ to (sniff) them and then we all walked together, Mrs (he doesn’t seem to know any names!) made a big fuss of me as she had heard about me on their grapevine. I went to explore behind some gorse bushes. Mr & Mrs were worried because they couldn’t see me, when John whistled and called ‘Lady Come’ I went to him straight away, as I always do, [almost always] they were sooo amazed, and impressed with me. John started telling tales out of school, I was so embarrassed! He was making them laugh about things I had done. I didn’t know they were wrong, did I? How could I know? What a rotter he can be at times! After all the love and attention I give him.
Our neighbour told Joan that there were two foxes that came to feed last night. They don’t understand how I know when the fox/es comes.
Wednesday 22nd
Last nigh they slid me off the bed sideways onto my feet, I gave in and laid down on my own bed, d’you know I was given a tit-bit for lying down and told how clever I was! Talk about ‘food for old leads’! [Money for old rope.]
When we came back from John’s walk he let me off inside the front gate, instead of going into the house he went to open the garage, so I went sniffing down the side of the garage, then I couldn’t turn around or back out, so I climbed through the hole in the neighbours fence, I discovered next door’s interesting garden, so I ignored John’s calls and explored the garden. I bet you can’t guess what happened next?
He stepped over the low wall and came to get me, he clipped the lead onto my harness, except it wasn’t the lead, sometimes he is a bit daft, it was his house key, I thought that was my cue to go to the extent of the lead but I found that I was free to explore again. What fun running around the neighbours house until I thought I had better go to him, that was one of my rare uncooperative times. The neighbour came out to see what all the shemozzle was all about, so we were introduced, he didn’t seem to be very concerned about my examination of his property. He’d not long been home from Cyprus.
Thursday 23rd
They were crafty last night and enticed me off the bed with a tit-bit, then I got another when I lay down on my bed, as soon as the light was out I went and checked everything was OK before returning to MY bed and going to sleep. I’m not daft, I knew the pot was on the bedside table with MY TREATS in it. And I know how to get them don’t I?
John told Joan that it was a ‘total disobedience day’ today. I had to exert my individuality, D’you know how? I was following him off the lead as usual, we overtook a woman with a black Lab and a Jack Russell and they eventually went down a different track so I followed. I heard her shout “Can you come and get your dog” in a loud voice. I tried to evade being caught, I wasn’t falling for the reward nonsense, but in the end I didn’t want to push my luck too far. She was very taken with me especially when he, y’know J, told her some of my history. She called me a ‘Couch Potato’ and after talking to him, said she will rescue a greyhound when she gets older, I thought she WAS old! When we passed the next dogs I behaved, before going and looking at the horses in their meadow, I stopped at the fence.
During the afternoon they took me to see the Vet to have me registered and get me on their records, he gave me a tit-bit for being a good dog. I was admired by two lady vets too, and afterwards by the lady from the local Pet Shop. I had a good nap afterwards.
Friday 24th
I played my trick today, I ran away from John around the thick bushes. Do you know, he didn’t follow or even come my way. No, he hid and I had to go back and look for him, I was very worried at first. Then to my relief he stepped out and so I found him. I met a few more dogs today, morning and afternoon.
Saturday 25th
John tells lies! When they came to your place to see if I wanted to choose them, he promised me that Father Christmas would bring me a Stocking. Well he didn’t. John said he thought the rawhide things and silly toys were unsuitable for me – how does he know? I ask you, I bet you’ve already guessed, he really isn’t a mind reader you know. All I got was a bag of doggie chocolate drops and some Jumbones. They invited an old lady for Christmas dinner, she brought me a bag of something, I’ve not seen them yet it was whisked away, that can’t be right ¸it was MY present, I hope they don’t eat it.
There were lots of dogs about today, I never knew there were such shapes, sizes and colours – the same with their human pets. I went to investigate a fluffy ball with a dog minder to run with it, it just lay on its back and wouldn’t run, not much fun for me. The minder was interested in greyhounds, she knew my Great Aunt Molly.
John was ecstatic, one of his granddaughters [the author with a Great Dane] gave him a book for Christmas called ‘GREYHOUND’ it was full of big pictures of rescued greyhounds in the USA, all taken by Barbara Karant, a famous [apparently] artistic photographer and against a white background to emphasise the beauty of our breed. He told Joan it was a book for the coffee table of ever rescuer of a retired greyhound. Some money from the book goes to Greyhound Rescue’ Around 20,000 from the 35 tracks in the US and Mexico are adopted every year but more homes than that are needed there, it’s tragic.
Sunday 26th
I had a few wonderful wild moments racing about grabbing and shaking things. The stupid poinsettia plant fell over when I grabbed the ivy. Shoes and bags were taken off me, talk about spoiling my fun! I got their attention I lay at the top of the stairs and cried loudly, surprising myself, of course I could easily walk down but John came and talked nicely to me and I strolled nonchalantly down past him, at least, it got him out of his chair. What fun. I was exhausted after the chase and had a good nap before having to go out with John a bit later, when I gained a couple more admirers.
Lots of Love
Lady
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