Simply The Best

We are the black beauties,
Part of the elite,
Graceful, lithe,
So fast on our padded feet.

Coats look so glorious,
They gleam and shine,
We are a vision, look so groomed,
So fine.

Our bodies so muscular
And so sleek,
Kept by Romans, Egyptians,
Even by the Greek.

Kept by you? Maybe,
Who knows, we shall see,
Will you win my heart,
Be the one chosen by me?

We’ve belonged to royalty in the past,
Raced through history, we are never last.
A breed changed so little from so long ago,
Our popularity as pets continues to grow and grow.

We are loving and gentle, patient and loyal,
Fairly lazy, not made for a day of hard toil,
More suited to snoozing away hours of the day,
Owning a black greyhound is great, nothing more to say.

Patience

I was told when to race,
Told when to run,
Told when to eat, to sleep,
To have fun.

Told it was over,
I was not very fast,
This life I was bred for is over,
It’s gone, it’s past.

I wait in the kennel,
I wait for my day,
Wait for when I am picked
And am taken away.

Wait for the car ride,
To take me home,
To find all about things,
that are yet unknown.

To learn that not all dogs
In life are like me,
That I cannot chase
After everything I see.

To learn of love,
To feel like someone’s pet,
To mean more than something
On which people bet.

To be played with,
To have a teddy bear or two,
To be shown where I eat,
Sleep and go to the loo!

To have a comfortable bed,
Upon which I sleep,
These are the things in life,
I wait to keep.

To belong to a family,
Who makes a fuss of me,
To have my own bowl,
From where I eat my tea.

To walk with no muzzle
And sniff fresh hay and grass,
These are my dreams,
That help the waiting pass.

The Racing Life is Not For Me

I was bred for my speed,
But did not want to run,
Chasing the lure
Just unappealing, no fun.

I would rather just be,
A dog and play
So I ignored the lure,
Turned the other way.

My racing career never started,
Was over in a flash,
Not interested in running,
Or making them cash.

I’m not very keen,
So could live with a cat,
Curl up on the Sofa
And listen as you chat.

Be a family pet,
Without any racing,
Unless of course,
It’s a ball I am chasing!

I could run round the garden,
At my own pace,
But stop when I want to,
Not in any race.

I could give you lots of licks,
Love and Loyalty
If you will take me home with you,
As a pet to be.

We could go for lots of walks together,
Up the country lane
You and I each day,
Come snow, wind, sun or rain.

We can stroll along,
So slowly by the stream,
Of this life I am thinking,
As I lay and dream.

Retired Greyhound Trust Kennels

When for whatever reason we can no longer race,
It’s to a kennel we go to take life at a slower pace.

We stay there till we find a home, the right one is a must.
Looked after by people from the Retired Greyhound Trust.

We come in different sizes, different colours as well,
Ask any owner, life with a Greyhound is just swell.

Our colours are white, fawn, black, brindle and blue,
I wonder which colour dog will choose you?

There are so many of us waiting, you can take your pick,
We are a most healthy breed, happy, friendly and quick.

We can’t all live with small fluffy things or cats,
We come with a pedigree, you can look up our career stats.

We love to run about and play a game of chase,
But we must do this in an enclosed, empty space.

A walk or two a day and then a really good, long sleep,
We really are incredibly easy to look after and keep.

If you are a family or a couple living on your own,
Our dogs suit all situations, the best companions known.

If you are a pensioner we could still find a dog to fit,
We can suit each person’s needs, we are sure of it.

So subject to home check to ensure all is well,
You may just make a new best friend today, who can tell?

Retirement

I used to race, could run so fast around the track,
Concentrated on the lure, not the dogs at my back.

I was a top athlete, in my prime I was so fast,
But I knew in heart these glory days would not last.

My trainer I knew, when the time came would be,
kind and good, took me to a kennel to find a new home for me.

I had raced hard and well, I was repaid in kind,
Taken to a kennel, so a home I would hopefully find.

I had to adjust, to learn how to be a pet
Learn my name, became more than a gamblers bet.

Saw inside a house for the first time, quite a surprise,
It was all so new, seeing it the first time with my eyes.

I did not know what I was allowed to eat and chew,
Where I slept, where I ate, where I went to the loo.

My family had to teach me every little thing,
But my love and my loyalty their patience did bring.

They did not get cross or shout, they knew and understood,
I was trying to get it right as hard as I possibly could.

Blackhounds

My days at the track are behind me now,
I wait in the kennels for my life to change somehow.

I am fed, given water, taken for a walk each day,
Yet always the people just walk on past my way.

You see, like so many other dogs I am black,
we all look the same once we are off the track.

People cannot tell one of us from another,
We all look as alike as sister and brother.

I shall be patient, one day I know I shall be picked,
The hand of my owner shall be gently licked,

My tail will wag, I will learn to play a game,
I shall learn to do stairs, I shall know my name.

I will have a bed of my own, a warm fireside,
I shall become a pet, someone’s joy and pride.

Returned

I had a home full of care and love,
But had to leave when push came to shove.
A job was lost, finances were hit so hard,
so I, the family dog was the first thing to discard.

I hold no grudge, I bear no one any blame,
All I know is my life shall never be the same.
With a kiss and a hug, some tears, I was sent away,
so now in the kennel, I wait and I stay.

I miss my comforts, my bowl and my bed,
They sent me here with my blanket and my ted.
They smell of my home, where I want to be,
Back where I belong, with my family.

Greyhound Lifeline

The folks at the Lifeline take in as many as they can,
The ex-racing greyhounds, the best friends of man.
They give up their spare time to try and find a home,
To each greyhound, time, care and kindness is shown.

Where would the dogs go if they were not there,
doing all they do, providing all of their care?
I hope they know that people are grateful for what they do,
I am very sure the dogs are, I’m certain this is true.

Because of them I gained Jade, Navajo, Jim and Lucy;
They are my lovely greyhounds, so glad they are with me.
Nav is gone now, but I’m so glad he was here,
“Thank you” Greyhound Lifeline for my four legs friends so dear.

Just Too Slow

I could not go quite fast enough when I was in a race,
I was just a bit too slow, could not keep up the pace,
So I was retired at the grand old age of three,
Placed in a kennels, to find a home for me.

Many of us come here, all hopeful for the same,
A family of two legs, of our very own to claim.
Life at the kennel is not really all that bad,
But to end my days here would be rather sad.

To not know a family’s love, never know a home,
Never have a regular place where I walk and roam,
Not to feel a tender hug from that very special one,
Never to stretch on the garden lawn beneath the warm sun.

Not know a run around the garden with my teddy bear,
Never to lay my head on your lap as you sit on a chair,
It’s of these things I dream as I lay here fast asleep,
Please give me these things that I may always keep.

Greyhound

My life was so structured, so organised was each day,
Told when I could eat, exercise, train, toilet and play.

This is the only life I’ve known, it’s always been the same,
Then on the track, suddenly the end of my career came.

I was running fast and hard, coming out of a bend,
Then this awful pain, hit the floor, my racing days are at an end.

A broken hock, an operation to put in a pin;
No more races left for me to run, no races for me to win.

The Retired Greyhound Trust have kennels to where we go
When our racing days are over, I’m in one now you know.

I’m fed, walked, cared for, all of my basic needs get met,
You can read all about me on the internet!

I’m waiting for a home, I’ve never put a paw in one yet,
I don’t know what a family is, or how to be a pet.

All I’ve ever known is waiting for the thrill of the race,
The trap went up and away I went as fast as I ever used to chase.

But those glory days are gone now, over and done,
Not to race anymore, now someone’s heart must be won.

I am learning my name, I will come if you call,
I will even play fetch with you, I like a game of ball.

I love to sit on the grass and enjoy the warm sun,
I am good with children, I play gently and am lots of fun.

Please come and visit me to take me for a walk,
Strolling along together I shall listen to you talk.

Maybe you will like me and want to take me home,
Give me all the things in life that I have never known.

All poems are copywrite of Tracy Errington and published here with her express permission. Greyhound Lifeline 29.01.2012.