Exciting times. Earlier this year my wonderful lurcher Frankie died. She was 11 years old and for all of those 11 years, I've had the same two thoughts every single day. The first thought, as Frankie disappeared into the distance was 'I will never ever get another lurcher', and the second thought, as she came back to me, was 'I can't imagine life without one!'
So, when she died, followed 4 weeks later by my other oldie Nickel (who also used to encourage Frankie to travel far and wide) I was 'free' to do all the walks that hadn't been 'lurcher-proof'. All summer I've been walking over the East Yorkshire Wolds with my 3 remaining dogs, who being collies like nothing more to remain at my side. As much as I love these dogs there was something missing and my walks felt flat. The scenery was beautiful, but it meant nothing to me and I couldn't believe that I'd been longing to do these walks for so long. As happy as I've felt going about my life, setting up our agility club, walking, training and competing with my dogs, I've felt an underlying sadness and it didn't take much for me to burst into tears.
Finally, two weeks ago it dawned on me. I needed another sighthound in my life and almost instantly I found Grace. She is a 4 month old Galgo - a Spanish Greyhound. Spanish Greyhounds often have terrible lives - thousands of them are killed every year when no longer needed for hunting but there are rescue centres in Spain trying to do what they can. Grace's mum was rescued not long before she gave birth to 12 pups and not that I know who the rescue people in Spain are yet, but they have done a fantastic job - not only finding the funds to send these pups far and wide to good homes, but raising them so well. I've had Grace for 4 days and she is a pleasure to be with. I already cannot imagine life without her. She is one funny little girl who already seems to have everyone wrapped round her little paw. Last night she fell asleep on my knee in that gangly cuddly way that only greyhounds and lurchers have. All my other dogs seem to love her and our home feels alive again and it made me wonder - who rescued who?
The video below was about ten minutes after bringing her home.
So, when she died, followed 4 weeks later by my other oldie Nickel (who also used to encourage Frankie to travel far and wide) I was 'free' to do all the walks that hadn't been 'lurcher-proof'. All summer I've been walking over the East Yorkshire Wolds with my 3 remaining dogs, who being collies like nothing more to remain at my side. As much as I love these dogs there was something missing and my walks felt flat. The scenery was beautiful, but it meant nothing to me and I couldn't believe that I'd been longing to do these walks for so long. As happy as I've felt going about my life, setting up our agility club, walking, training and competing with my dogs, I've felt an underlying sadness and it didn't take much for me to burst into tears.
Finally, two weeks ago it dawned on me. I needed another sighthound in my life and almost instantly I found Grace. She is a 4 month old Galgo - a Spanish Greyhound. Spanish Greyhounds often have terrible lives - thousands of them are killed every year when no longer needed for hunting but there are rescue centres in Spain trying to do what they can. Grace's mum was rescued not long before she gave birth to 12 pups and not that I know who the rescue people in Spain are yet, but they have done a fantastic job - not only finding the funds to send these pups far and wide to good homes, but raising them so well. I've had Grace for 4 days and she is a pleasure to be with. I already cannot imagine life without her. She is one funny little girl who already seems to have everyone wrapped round her little paw. Last night she fell asleep on my knee in that gangly cuddly way that only greyhounds and lurchers have. All my other dogs seem to love her and our home feels alive again and it made me wonder - who rescued who?
The video below was about ten minutes after bringing her home.