Dumfriesshire & Cumbria Greyhound Rescue

Your letters

17th June Hi Al and Judy,    Just to let you know that Blackie is still on top form.  He now has us fully trained, and is enjoying life in Morayshire. He has decided that the best place to sleep is by the grandfather clock (tick turned off) in the hall, and supervises the removal of his bed from the sitting room to the hall each evening.    His daily routine is as follows :- He gives us a call (cold nose in ear) about 7.30 in the morning , then returns to bed until we have had breakfast, when he comes through to the kitchen for his breakfast (biscuits and and sometimes an egg). We then have a 50 minute walk in the country, a chat with the next door dog, and a long lie down until a light lunch (biscuits and a sardine are the favourite at the moment).  We then have a 20 minute walk and a check on the spaniels  at the end of our lane. If the weather is nice we have an afternoon  rest in the garden, if it's wet we rest in the conservatory.  High tea is 5.30 to 6, with a few biscuits and something tasty on top.  It's then time for a romp in the garden, before cuddles and a long nap, prior to bed!!!   Blackie is an absolute star with people, and makes friends with everyone he meets.  He likes all the dogs he sees on his travels and ignores most of the birds in the garden (even a baby blackbird that jumped out of a bush and landed on his nose), but keeps our resident pheasants on their toes.  He hasn't yet quite worked out what our red squirrels are, but spends a lot of time sniffing around and hoping to catch one on the ground - some hope!!!   Unfortunately he has had a few trips to the vet with a poorly toe, but seems OK now.  He started to lick it, I noticed it was inflamed, and the vet diagnosed a nail bed infection.  Two weeks of antibiotics failed to work, so the vet recommended amputation!!!  He had it done straight away, barely noticed the difference, and has just had the stitches out.   One of our Afghans had the same thing, and eventually lost two toes, so we thought it would be sensible to have a lab report on the toe .  That is yet to come, but the vet thinks all is well.  True to character, he loves visiting the vet and has made friends with all of the staff!!!!   It seems as if Blackie has been with us forever.  Thank you for letting us have him.  We'll keep you up to date with the saga of the toe, but we've been with the same vet practice for forty years and have every confidence in them.   Kindest Regards,   Brenda and Laurie   3rd June 2010 Hello Margaret/Graham After several weeks having a track record of coming in second on the weekly quiz night at the Cross Keys in New Galloway, we are proud to announce that last night GAT (Greyhound Appreciation Team) finally won by a nose.  A total of £35 for the DCGR! Chris N Tango and Sox 24th April 2010 Hi  Thought you would like a picture of Tango and her friend sox.We got Tango from you 4 years ago and at first she thought the cats were for chasing about the garden but as you can see by the picture she thinks sox is a pillow .A few people say cats and greyhounds do not get along this picture proves thats not true. I would once again like to thank you for giving us Tango as she is a great pet.   Liz Macdonald 18th March 2010 Dear Margaret Here is a wee contribution to DCGR’s running expenses – mostly from the sale of my home made cards. Please Gift Aid it Best wishes Sheila ( Edinburgh ) THE CONTRIBUTION WAS A WHOPPING £300 28th February Dear DCGR Just a little note to let you know how well Jippi (formerly Jip) has settled in with us. Poppi and Jippi love their walks together and Maxine the cat, also loves Jippi.  He is a joy to own and is a very sweet boy. With thanks again for your help and support Regards Rosemary and John 12th February 2010 On behalf of the Ae Allsorts, I would like to thank you most sincerely for your interesting talk at the Woodmans Bar, Ae Village yesterday afternoon.  Your account of the excellent work that you do in rescuing and re-homing the greyhounds that no longer meet the requirements of the racetrack was an enlightening and heartwarming description, recounting a sad situation with a happy ending. Our members very much appreciate your talk and humorous stories which kept them laughing until the close of our meeting. Secretary Ae Allsorts Mysti with new companion Jack, in her forever home 19th January 2010 Hi there Al and Judy, it's Lisa here, Mysti's new mum! I wanted to send you a few photos of our girl, and she is also keen for me to give you the highlights of our first 4 weeks with her! So, here goes... Our first week with Mysti was strange and wonderful! we all had a lot to get used to-a second dog, a bitch, much bigger than our Collie Jack, and so much more sedate! I really enjoyed having a full fortnight off to get to know Mysti, and for her to get to know us. Christmas was a lovely time, and began well for Mysti when she opened and inhaled a full bag of chews in the space of 30 seconds (I was caught off guard!). A full-and legitimate!-Christmas dinner later, Mysti's inner thief hadn't been quelled, and she snaffled a toffee and some coconut ice, and even had a go at nosing my Maltesers open (at which I had to put my foot down!). Since then, despite constant vigilance, she had the nous to help herself to ginger cake from the (closed!) cupboard, and also enjoys rooting around the grass when we are out to see if anyone's left her a foody gift! Mysti (or Noodle, or Mysti Moo Miff!) is a lovely girl, very affectionate, loves cuddles, kisses, and leaning on you! Whenever people come to us or we go to them, she is complimented on her sweet nature and playful air. She has found her bark, and certainly knows how to use it! We enjoy daily walks in Kingmoor nature reserve and The Sidings, and have also visited Gelt Woods. Invariably Mysti comes back exhausted and ready for her bed, and Jack dives around wondering when the next walk'll be! Mysti likes to get us up on the morning by standing next to the bed and chattering her teeth, something she also does when excited and happy (so a LOT!). When you realise there's no return to dreamland, she headbutts you in the bum and wags her tail furiously with delight! We walk and then have breakfast, and feeding time sees her at her liveliest! She is an absolute honey, and we are thrilled to bits to have been given the opportunity to welcome her into our home and our hearts. She sends big licks and waggy tails, and hopes to see all her doggy friends again soon! With all best wishes, Lisa, Steve, Jack & Mysti 19 December 2009 It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of one our  more unorthodox members. Rosie, a beautiful white fluff ball lurcher went to sleep on Saturday 28th November. She was well known by members in the Dumfries & Galloway area and over the years has been quite a crowd puller, raising funds alongside all her greyhound friends. She belonged to my mum Dee who had her for 11 years, so we reckon she had to be least 14. On one of my mums numerous trips to the vets with her pack (I think she had a lurcher, a whippet and a staffy at the time) the vets paraded Rosie out past my mum, knowing full well she wouldn't be able to resist (they had done this many times before). Rosie was hairless, skinny and had terrible head injuries, she had been found tied up in a garden with the worst mange imaginable. Mum recalls she had one strip of hair that ran down the centre of her forehead which was sprayed blue (due to all the antiseptic spray). In fact she resembled the doggy version of a punk!!! Oh and did I forget to tell you, she was looking for a home!!! Need I say more, Rosie became number 4. Once back to health what a beauty she was, long flowing white hair, striking face with one brown/one blue eye and the sweetest most placid disposition considering all she had been through. One by one she outlived all her friends and became my mums solitary companion. Two years ago while attending the greyhound Christmas fair my mum met and feel in love with a beautiful greyhound called Tess (now known as Tizzie - boy does she suit her name!!! and yes I agree all greyhounds are beautiful) she introduced her to Rosie and they became firm friends. Rosie adopted a new lease of life and remembered how to bound along with a friend even though Tizzie was sometimes just a blur and Rosie's eyes not being what they used to be would lose her until Tizzie cam round for another lap. In fact just a few weeks before she died Rosie, Tizzie and our greyhound Nellie (the accident prone Drama Queen one) were running in the field in front of our house. Rosie was bounding along and then jumping around in circles as the other two sped past, two ladies that were passing remarked aaah look at the puppy..... How old is it? To which my mother replied she's about 14. So it's quite safe to say she enjoyed life to the end. She will be greatly missed by my mum, Russell and I and of course Tizzie and Nellie and all her greyhound friends. Emma DuRose-Nelson 26th November 2009 It was with very great sadness that we had to announce the sudden and unexpected death of our much loved Sally.  She had shown absolutely no signs of being unwell.  However, we realised how much Sally had persuaded us that greyhounds make good, loving, fun and gentle pets and we were told by many sympathetic folk that she had had a good home with us for the last two and a half years.  There are always other greyhounds that need our love and that need rescuing and so it was not long before we phoned Al and were introduced to Carys.  We changd from a black greyhound with white markings to the complete opposite.  Carys has settled in very quickly.  She loves her walks, is good with horses, loves travelling (cars and horsebox) and socialises extremely well with both humans and other dogs (and even put up with a less than friendly cat).  She was so laid back at the recent DCGR Fun Show and clearly loved every minute of it. She is different to Sally and has already won her way into our hearts.  Thank you for bringing her into our lives. David and Helen Kerry 23rd November "The Harraby Brownies and Guides who meet at the Community Centre have asked me to send you a very big thank you for your visit on the 17th.  They really enjoyed it and would like to see you again!!! A thousand thanks and good wishes” Mrs M Colecliffe 1st October 2009 Hi Everyone, No news to report of any Chloe sightings, I'm very sorry to say, but we press onwards ... On Richard's suggestion, I've added more photos onto our Facebook group to give a look at Chloe from different sides. Maybe if you do see Chloe, you might feel more confident that it is her. On that: I'd also like to start spreading the word that if anyone has actually found Chloe, and is looking after her - we'd really like to them to contact us. All we want is for Chloe to be safe. Dumfriesshire & Cumbria Greyhound Rescue does still technically/legally 'own' Chloe (as much as anyone can own a hound!), and would need to at *least* visit to check all is well. And, as so many people throughout D&G (and well beyond) have taken the time and effort to look for Chloe – there are literally hundreds of people desperate to know that Chloe is safe. I will be doing another ring round all vets in the region, but if anyone is at their vets over the next while (whether you’re in D&G or beyond) - maybe you could just ask them if they, or any of their colleagues, have treated any greyhounds recently for a bad back paw. As the toe was completely removed, it’ll be very obvious: and as Chloe is so distinctive, they will remember her. I have no specific news that Chloe has been seen with another person. I’m just checking all possibilities. And as always – any possible sighting, please call me on or the DCGR. Remember that you can download posters from www.mcvicarmarketing.com  *and on a slightly more positive, note: I’m delighted that Bev and I have felt finally able to take in another foster. We collected Darcy from her trainer last week, and she’s a large happy girl, full of confidence and fun! You can see Darcy on the Homeless Gallery http://www.dgrescue.org.uk/id3.html  (though we need to catch her when she’s vertical to get a better picture!).  Unlike Chloe, it’s obvious that Darcy has always been treated with care and attention. She doesn’t stop wagging, loves meeting new people and is always demanding a cuddle. Although she does have her issues (she needs to spend more time around smaller breeds – is not cat friendly – and needs a firm hand to stop her getting away with blue murder!), Darcy is a good example of how the majority of trainers treat their hounds. She’s going to make someone a superb companion. We’re obviously never going to proactively stop looking for Chloe, and I won’t pretend it was easy taking in Darcy, but we couldn’t step back from being able to offer a foster home to hounds who desperately need one. Having Darcy has given us even more hope and drive to find Chloe. We’re not going to let her story end up a sad one. Cheers Inga   9th September Hi everybody Thought I would write and tell you of my woes. I understand many of you have been asking after me. For those of you that haven't heard, I inadvertently impaled myself chest/neck first while playing at the Galloway Country Fair. I have always been accident prone - but mum says I really outdid myself this time!!!!! I had quite a close call, only just missing my jugular. In fact I wouldn't be here without the quick reactions of Al and Graham (my hero's) and Margaret's fabtastically driving (should have seen the speed she took those corners at on the to Lockerbie Vets - GO MARGARET!!!! Luckily dad was cuddling me very tight and lovely Judy who supported and looked after my mum (mum says she makes a mean cup of coffee) and Kimberley my new friend who was a helper at the fair. Also my saviours Jo and Gareth (from the Ark Veterinary Centre in Lockerbie) the two Vets who performed life saving surgery on me (well after their bedtimes). As well as Mum and Dad popping in Jo kept me company at times over the weekend....... I have to admit I was alone at night and a little scared. But she was a great comfort. Mum and Dad fetched me home on the Monday night (got let out early for good behaviour). The lady that released me gave Dad my bag of treats (my favourites that Nana Dee had left for me) saying that I wouldn't eat them - I promptly took the bag out of Dad's hand, emptied them out onto the bench and scoffed the lot in record time!!!! (Well I'm always wary of strangers). Arrived home - BLISS!!!! Talk about mollycoddling - I milked it for all I was worth!!! I had double decker beds (like Princess and the pea!) clean flannelette sheets (delivered twice daily) wall to wall treats (who needs ribs on show anyway, I have always felt that it was overrated - they don't call me 'Nellie The Belly' for NOWT!!!! Do they Al!!!! And obviously loads of hugs and kisses. Nana Dee has looked after me every day as I couldn't be left and Mum and Dad had to work. She really falls for the Doe Eyed look and is always armed with bags of goodies and as an added bonus Tizzy has only walked on me about three times (quite a feat for her!!) Silly DOG BOT!!! Last Wednesday I had my staples and stitches out and a booster for good measure. It didn't hurt so I didn't make a sound. I am now sporting a bit of a hole - but it's healing nicely and soon I will have the 'Mother of all scars' to show off to my pals (wait till MAGIC sees it he'll be putty in my paws!!!). Currently I am sporting a 'aut couture' doggy jumper in fashionable pink stripes, which enables me to be seen in public without that ruddy great lampshade thing on my head, which to be completely honest was ruining my street cred!!! I am as ever completely gorgeous (as Dad would say). Anyway I am off for a walk now with Tizzy (Rosie's already been, unfortunately she can't keep up with us now). I hope to be foot loose and fancy LEAD free very soon (you should see the bunnies round here!!). Love to all my friends. See you soon. Nellie xxx 21st July 2009 “So disappointed about the cancellation of the Cumberland Show and concerned about all the revenue you will have lost.  Enclosed is the amount (£14.50) I set aside for entrance to the show etc. – it is very little, but all that I was going to spend.  I sincerely hope other summer events will prove more satisfactory” Ann Finlay Recipe for members - Doggy Liver Cake   200g Self raising flour 200g Wholemeal flour 2 eggs 200g Lambs liver - you can use Pigs liver 2 cloves garlic Enough milk and water to mix to a batter - maybe half a pint Mix together the flour, eggs, milk and water, adding the liquid a bit at a time until it is a batter of medium consistency. Add the chopped garlic and chopped liver and mix well. Pour mixture into a greased dish - mine is an oblong pyrex dish about 10 inches by 8 inches by 2 inches deep. Cook at 180oC for 30 minutes.   I do double the recipe, use only self raising flour and put the garlic, liver and a couple of chopped carrots in the food processor, and bake for around an hour, it fits in a big roasting tray. The dogs adore it!! Claire x 20th March 2009   Picture of  Faun, Major, Lily and Lucy enjoying  praise for walking well together on there leads. All the dogs live within 4 doors of each other and often go for walks together ending in my garden while we have a brew and they have a treat.   Pauline Jackson Sally doing her bit for Red Nose Day! 20th March   Helen and David Kerry's greyhound "Sally".   David took Sally to work at Cumbria Highways in Penrith on Red Nose Day.  They raised £40 in a quick "bucket" collection which helped bring the office total to £451.02.   Sally had never been in our offices before.  She confidently marched in, placed both paws on the visitors book and then did the rounds of the offices with me.  She had loads of people talking to her, stroking her and immediately throwing money in the bucket.  One of our engineers asked if he could take her for a walk around the office and was amazed at how nicely she behaved (we may have converted him to greyhounds).  He was gone over 10 minutes - making me wonder whether she'd been dog napped.   Sally is such a different dog to how she was when she first came to us.  Much more confident, happy to meet people, cheeky, good appetite, very well behaved, and so very very affectionate.  Any evening when I do manage to sit in front of the tv, it's now on the floor cushions with Sally.  When the programmes are particularly boring we have been known to fall asleep together.  Nobody told me that greyhounds make such excellent mobile radiators.  We think we've been so lucky to get her and she obviously thinks she's "landed on her feet".   David R. Kerry FIRSO, MIHT, MAIRSO, DipASM   Senior Road Safety Officer Cumbria Highways Skirsgill Highways Depot           4th March 09   Dear DCGR I enclose a cheque for £100 with a short explanation as follows:- My father, John Fletcher Graham (of Carlisle ) died on the 6th of February 09.  He was 85 years old and yet at this early age!!!!! still managed to go to Gretna greyhounds every Friday night.  Yes he liked his little flutter on the dogs - and it was said that if my mother died on a Friday, he would still have gone to the dogs! Anyway to the point of the donation.  At his funeral we asked people to donate to their own favourite charities and my Auntie Margaret in America thought dad would have liked it if some money went into the aid and help of greyhounds.  She asked me to donate on her behalf £100 and having searched for a charity close to home, and finding the DCGR site, plus seeing what a fantastic job you do, I have much pleasure in enclosing this cheque. John D Graham ( Carlisle )       28th February   Hi   Just a note to update you on our dog.   Ruby - formerly known as Secret has settled into our home very quickly and with no problems at all.   Ruby and Skye (my grand daughter) are becoming inseparable - what a pair of rogues!!!   They spend most of the day following each other around, where you find one you will find the other.   These photos were taken the day after we got Ruby.   I'm sure Ruby is very happy here with us and we are without question very happy with Ruby.   Thank you very much for allowing us to adopt her.   Jennifer   11th February 2009   Dear Al and Volunteers Please find enclosed with this note, a cheque for £50 made out to DCGR.  I know you will use it to best advantage, but not on “thank you” letters. Keep up the good work. Kindest regards. Lynn     23rd December   I just wanted to send a note to wish you all the very best for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.   Millie, who we collected from Al in June this year, continues to develop into a really wonderful dog and is a hugely loved member of the family getting on perfectly with all 2 and 4 legged members. One of my happiest memories of this past year is of playing with her in the snow we had a few weeks ago, watching her speed and joy as she tore round like a lunatic rolling over and over with excitement ... I wish I had half her energy!   Thank you for introducing us to such a lovely and loving companion.   Nicola (Freeman-Wallace)   Ps photo attached of Millie with one of her new friends. 18th December 2008   I would just like to thank you for the Rockcliffe do – I couldn’t stay to the end but saw most of the classes and parades. I’m trying not to be patronising and flowery but the afternoon was splendiferous, very well organised, fun, exciting etc you name it you’ve got it – even the T shirts!! and a very good venue, particularly the loos!!!!   Hermoine Humble   Northumberland         2nd December 2008   Hi Graham, wow! thats an amazing total, well done to you and everyone who organised the show. We all had a great time yesterday, young Jack loved his little trip on the truck and the goody bag he got from them was amazing! You had lots of lovely Greyhounds on show, it was really difficult to choose but I hope I made a good choice, what amazed me even more was all the black dogs on show, you must have rehomed a lot of them which is really good, I always struggled with the black ones! I'll watch out on the website for the piccies and also for your Moffat events next year, we'll defo try to make it down! If you need any help with anything up this neck of the woods just let me know (and I'll let you know if I ever get those kennels at the bottom of my garden finished!) Best regards Dave   1st December 2008 I would just like to congratulate everyone concerned on the organization of an excellent and enjoyable show. This was my first visit, and I was most impressed, not least by the wonderful behaviour of the dogs in such crowded circumstances.  Having been to many ordinary dog shows I can confidently say that Greyhound behaviour is exemplary in comparison with the vast majority of breeds!  And they are so friendly to everyone, not just to their owners.  A great afternoon, and thankyou!  I hope it made a lot of money for the charity. Best wishes, Ann Finlay.   5th November   Looking out of The Shed on the sunny day that was our summer, I thought it was about time I went for a run on my motorbike. Annan Athletic football club had just gained entry to the Scottish Third Division so that would be the excuse, to visit all the third division grounds. After discussion with the owner of The Shed (its a pub) it was decided to give patrons the chance to win a bottle of whisky by guessing the total mileage it would take to visit all the grounds. All proceeds would go to Dumfriesshire and Cumbria Greyhound Rescue,from whom I got Fergus, a 3 year old greyhound, two years ago. 50p a guess was all it cost and my colleagues at work supported the idea by donating money and Carlisle conductor Brian Foskett offered to come along for the ride, as did Ally Patterson (a Shed dweller).   8am on Tuesday 21st October wasn't like the sunny summer day earlier mentioned, but we said we would do it and off we went. Starting at Annan Athletic we headed to Berwick Rangers, then on to Stenhousemuir. Killed two birds with one stone here because East Stirlingshire ground share. From there into the Kingdom of Fife and to Cowdenbeath. Out of Fife and onwards to Forfar and then Montrose. To end day one we reached that glorious temple to football excellence that is Borough Briggs, home of the mighty ELGIN CITY. I cannot deny I am a fan.   Day two was not such plain sailing. For a start Brian and myself secured the bikes with cables and chains but didn't take the keys to release them. Oh how we laughed. Guest house owner to the rescue and we were on our way south. By the time we reached Glencoe my Honda Varadero had developed an electrical problem. Flat battery. Entering Dumbarton it gave up the ghost completely, at a suitably busy junction. AA to the rescue and 45 minutes later we reached Dumbarton FC. One to go and off we went to Albion Rovers. From there we headed back to Annan Athletic arriving at 5pm. Total distance covered 691 miles.   Five people had guessed 690 miles so the draw was made in The Shed on Tuesday 4th November. The winner was Carlisle conductor Martin Robertshaw who donated the bottle of whisky to  DCGR. The total money raised was £440.   In ending I would like to thank everyone who contributed and if anyone has a motor bike battery they are not using give me a call.   Steve Dunbar, train driver, Northern Rail. 24th July   “Thank you for a lovely afternoon.  It was very kind of you to invite me to open the kennels and your beautiful flowers have given me so much pleasure.  The kennels look extremely cosy and I think it is wonderful what you have achieved in such a short time. With thanks again and best wishes to you all” Lady Mary Mumford – following the official opening of the Kirkgunzeon kennels. 5th July   Dear DCGR This is me in my new forever home with my new mum, Samantha. I live in Cornwall now and my name seems to be Finlay. I have been introduced to lots of new things: - the sacred blue crisps which seem to be called Ritos, something else with green fur and teeth called a Geen Trocatile !?! and an even stranger thing called Macca Pacca It's sunnier here than in Cumbria - life is very good for this huggy  hound xx 27th June   Dear Graham, Thank you very much for your fantastic talk this morning. I thought the way you pitched it was superb and I have been inundated with questions in my lessons. Please thank Margaret for all her hard work too. I will post a cheque to you in the next few days and I also intend to ask a student to write a brief report on the chapel so it can go on the school website. I will forward it to you when it is complete. DCGR does superb work and any time you need a roof for the night or temporary accommodation for a rescued dog in Edinburgh, please feel free to get in touch. Many thanks for all your hard work, hopefully Hazel and I will come and see you in Moffat in a couple of weeks. Kind regards, Hugo Battersby May 13th 2008   Hi my friend wrote this poem for me i thought it was wonderful and would like to share it with you my friend has 2 greyhounds Jet and Tina.                      JOSH          I'M A HANDSOME RACING GREYHOUND          YANKEE RANGER WAS MY NAME,          I RACED AT BROUGH PARK, NEWCASTLE           'TILL I FINISHED MY RACE LAME.           GREYHOUND RESCUE TOOK ME IN,           A HOME THEY SAID THEY'D FIND           NOT JUST ANY HOME WOULD DO           BUT ONE WHERE FOLK WERE KIND.           I WENT INTO A FOSTER HOME           BY THIS TIME MY NAME WAS DON,           WHEN ROSE AND STEVEN SAW ME           THEY NEW I WAS THE ONE.              SO NOW MY NAME IS JOSH           I RUN THESE DAYS FOR JOY           MY MUM IS ALWAYS TELLING ME           I AM HER SPECIAL BOY I really hope you enjoy my poem i just think it is lovely    Rose and Steve Priestley