Post by silverfish on Jun 15, 2005 12:18:12 GMT -5
Little Jack had been living with an elderly lady who had trained and raced him, it seems, then kept him on as a pet. She called him Lucky, but I'm not sure that was very apt because for one reason or another, she had neglected his medical needs as you will read in a minute.
Sadly, when Lucky was nine, his owner had a major stroke and was unable to care for him so he ended up in rescue kennels. None of her relatives wanted him, so eventually he found his way into the care of Greyhound Gap. When Lisa requested his records from his vet, it was discovered that his owner had been told he needed a dental nearly three years earlier, and also a tumour removal, neither of which had been done. And also that he'd been accidentally let out and hit by a car some weeks earlier ...
So the poor little soul went in to have his late dental and lost a lot of teeth. By then, the infected teeth were affecting one of his eyes. He also had a full check up following the car incident - and the pesky tumour was removed at last. And he was renamed 'Jay'.
I heard about Jay through this board, and yes, I was looking for an oldie because I'd lost my beloved oldie Jim and his companion was grieving. I called and talked to several people about several dogs, but something about Jay caught my interest and I arranged to go see him.
When we arrived at Lisa's house, Renie began growling at poor Jay before we even got through the gate, and continued to growl at intervals through the next couple of hours while we chatted and let the dogs mix. I was very unsure about taking him, with her grumbling like that, but we decided to go back next day and take them for a walk together to see how they were away from all the other dogs and on neutral territory. And I'm so glad we did!
Outside they were fine, and we brought Jay home with us. On the way home, he surprised us by going comfortably to sleep and not stirring for the whole journey. He looked completely happy, and while Renie was a little surprised to find him with us, so did she!
My husband really did not like the name Jay, so we had a little talk about what to call him. We discovered that despite his all his troubles he was a really happy little dog - yes, he's quite tiny for a male greyhound. He is bouncy, cheeky, and totally irrepressible. If he does something wrong, he gives us The Look as if to say 'Oh, you don't like that? Well, fancy! Never mind!' and off he toddles. He has a funny little dancing run, and can't pass the toybox without carrying something off. He's a pretty boy, and a sparrow's-weight. So - we call him Jack! And it suits him.
He has been with us for nearly two months, I think. He has quickly learned the ropes, and has fitted in so well it's as if he's lived here for years. We had a tiny puddle the very first night, but nothing since and that's really about the only thing he's done 'wrong'. He's good on and off the lead and runs over the meadow with such joy that I wonder how long it's been since he had a good run. Oh, he did bark with wild excitement at any other dog he saw at first, but he's improving fast. He will now just look and grumble under his breath at most of them - and only bark if they bark first!
He does have some ongoing medical issues, and will almost certainly be going in for another dental soon, on the advice of an eye specialist. He probably has some creaky joints, too, but some glucosamine/chondroitin should help with that.
But as my husband said a couple of weeks after we took him on, 'if we only have him six months I won't regret taking him. He's such a joy.'
Renie? She loves him. She loves to play 'chase Jack up the garden' and they happily share a raised feeder for mealtimes.
And the lost look has completely disappeared from her eyes now she has another friend.
Thanks, Lisa, for letting us have him. He's a beautiful little dog! ;D
Sadly, when Lucky was nine, his owner had a major stroke and was unable to care for him so he ended up in rescue kennels. None of her relatives wanted him, so eventually he found his way into the care of Greyhound Gap. When Lisa requested his records from his vet, it was discovered that his owner had been told he needed a dental nearly three years earlier, and also a tumour removal, neither of which had been done. And also that he'd been accidentally let out and hit by a car some weeks earlier ...
So the poor little soul went in to have his late dental and lost a lot of teeth. By then, the infected teeth were affecting one of his eyes. He also had a full check up following the car incident - and the pesky tumour was removed at last. And he was renamed 'Jay'.
I heard about Jay through this board, and yes, I was looking for an oldie because I'd lost my beloved oldie Jim and his companion was grieving. I called and talked to several people about several dogs, but something about Jay caught my interest and I arranged to go see him.
When we arrived at Lisa's house, Renie began growling at poor Jay before we even got through the gate, and continued to growl at intervals through the next couple of hours while we chatted and let the dogs mix. I was very unsure about taking him, with her grumbling like that, but we decided to go back next day and take them for a walk together to see how they were away from all the other dogs and on neutral territory. And I'm so glad we did!
Outside they were fine, and we brought Jay home with us. On the way home, he surprised us by going comfortably to sleep and not stirring for the whole journey. He looked completely happy, and while Renie was a little surprised to find him with us, so did she!
My husband really did not like the name Jay, so we had a little talk about what to call him. We discovered that despite his all his troubles he was a really happy little dog - yes, he's quite tiny for a male greyhound. He is bouncy, cheeky, and totally irrepressible. If he does something wrong, he gives us The Look as if to say 'Oh, you don't like that? Well, fancy! Never mind!' and off he toddles. He has a funny little dancing run, and can't pass the toybox without carrying something off. He's a pretty boy, and a sparrow's-weight. So - we call him Jack! And it suits him.
He has been with us for nearly two months, I think. He has quickly learned the ropes, and has fitted in so well it's as if he's lived here for years. We had a tiny puddle the very first night, but nothing since and that's really about the only thing he's done 'wrong'. He's good on and off the lead and runs over the meadow with such joy that I wonder how long it's been since he had a good run. Oh, he did bark with wild excitement at any other dog he saw at first, but he's improving fast. He will now just look and grumble under his breath at most of them - and only bark if they bark first!
He does have some ongoing medical issues, and will almost certainly be going in for another dental soon, on the advice of an eye specialist. He probably has some creaky joints, too, but some glucosamine/chondroitin should help with that.
But as my husband said a couple of weeks after we took him on, 'if we only have him six months I won't regret taking him. He's such a joy.'
Renie? She loves him. She loves to play 'chase Jack up the garden' and they happily share a raised feeder for mealtimes.
And the lost look has completely disappeared from her eyes now she has another friend.
Thanks, Lisa, for letting us have him. He's a beautiful little dog! ;D