3/7/2008 -  photo's in the gallery 2008
 

Hi Sally & Kevin,
                        It's Groovy Tears now known as Ruby.  Just a quick note to let you know how I'm getting on, I have settled into my forever home really well, the whole family love me ,it wasn't long before Chris my new dad fell for me. He couldn't resist my cheeky charm, we are best of friends and go out jogging together, I go out for 2 walks a day, over the fields where its safe to be let off my lead , so I get a chance to have a good run about. I get on with everyone I meet and they all comment on my shiny coat, even the vet said I was in great condition. My Mom sometimes takes me to work with her, where I get fussed by all the old ladies who live at the residential home. I've sent you some photos so you can see for yourself how great I look.

Thanks for finding me my forever home, you do a great job.

PS I like the video on the web site.

7/2/2008

Sorry it's took so long to contact you but I have been settling in to my new home, it has taken me a while to settle and its been touch and go especially when I chewed a three piece suite and two venetian blinds oops, I just didn't like to be home alone without my mum. I love my family and we have lots of fun, I go for long walks in the woods everyday and run and run and run. I sneak onto my mums bed every night and take up all the room he he but mum can't resist me because I'm so gorgeous and cuddly. Well I've got to go now as mum is taking me out for a run its such a hard life,  love to all and I hope you all have a lovely xmas.   

 lots of love and kisses Deano xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
16/11/2007  Piccies on Photo page.

3/11/06

Love my new home get lots of cuddles, also a mad house with 4 children but I love it! I have 2 friends Tibby and  Smudge (kittens). Well I say they are my friends but they hiss at me sometimes. Oh I chewed my mum new boots, she wasn't happy, she gave me that look said noooooooo but I couldn't help it they were soooooooooo good to chew. So now I got chews etc ( don't think that stop me though hehehe) oh and a toy not sure about it though. Kittens play with it more. Enjoy my walks but I'm getting a bit cheeky when I wanna stay where I am I wont move hehehehe. I'm soooooooo proud of myself the stairs are not a problem my mum proud of me too, tells me I'm a good boy gives me a cuddle :).

When its bedtime I sleep upstairs when mum asleep Conna, Zoe, Ami Calum open their bedroom door let me in what fun! But I'm a good boy I don't go on their beds, mum said its ok for me to sleep in their room :).

Well got to go now have my nap (yawns) will send photos in soon.

Bye for now Dingo :) xx

29/8/06

Love and licks from Lady. (They won't call me Bad Lady 'cos I'm being so good)

Tigger here,  just wanted to say thanks for letting Jack my husband come stay here with me. It's nice here. The strange people here love me to bits (who can blame them!) I get lots of treats and haven't made a mess at all...always tidy my crumbs up after me!
I was missing Jack so I made sad eyes at my new mum and dad and they knew what was up! I know they can understand me as I always get food when I am hungry and cuddles when I was lonely. And it worked! Jack likes it here too. He is always grabbing the attention as he is a typical boy and not afraid of anything! But, I have started pushing him out they way now and that seems to work! They have 3 little people here so that keeps us busy out in the garden. Me and Jack are keeping up with our racing, I chase him around the garden, don't want him to get fat! The little people laugh at us! (Very strange!) They have a little white thing that keeps on turning up but I can't get a close enough look to see what it is! They keep calling me and Jack back, but, one day I will find out!! Anyway just wanted to let you know that I am settling in well and they take us for walks over a big field full of nice smells!
Jack wants a word.
Hi Pat, Thanks for letting me come stay with Tigger, she has been telling me that they are nice here and this is our new home. I have made myself right home here, foods good, entertainment great! But bit concerned about this fluffy thing walking around! Not that bothered though as it seems friendly enough and doesn't nick me dinner! Think I will check him out as soon as I get a chance! Gotta go in garden now, gotta check the birds out, hehe. Don't think they are gonna get that bread before I do! do they!!

See you soon..Jack x
Tigger here, going to join him, can't let him have all the goodies!! See you soon x

16/5/06 Photo's on the Photo's Page

Hi All Greyhound Lovers

Bruce and Ollie here, with an update on life in Ipswich. Has it really been 8 months since we came into Carl and Sally’s lives? So far things are going really well and we have them both wrapped around our dew claws. We still get plenty of our favourite foos, chicken with Pasta and tuna in brine or vegetable oil (it helps keep our coats in top condition), other things we get are spaghetti bolognaise, KFC, Chinese (love those prawn crackers) and as our Dad is a trained chef, he does a wicked roast dinner. So on Sundays it’s a roast with all the trimmings, ( he won’t give us sprouts) can’t think why.

We still get up to our usual tricks and our four walks a day which means our dad has lost over a stone in weight. Perhaps he should have got sponsored, anyway in 6 months time we will have him down to his racing weight. All of their friends think we are wonderful, many of them wish they could retire like (Ollie) at 2 yrs old. We have done 7 church walks all of them about 4 miles, all starting and finishing at pubs. The last one was the best at Rendlesham Forest, where they had a BBQ. Other church members brought their dogs so we had to be on our best behaviour and as our dad was doing the BBQ, we all knew what that meant, as he had cooked extra sausages, burgers and chicken we all got some as well. In August our mum &dad went on holiday and as we could not go we went to the kennels at Ockendon and had a great time, telling all those other greyhounds what it was like being a family pet and being spoiled rotten, Well we are worth it and what a weekend we had at Pat and Dicks, thank-you for having us while they went away to see the lights at Blackpool.

We still get to go to Leiston and see the boys ( met their social worker ). She was impressed with us, said what we already knew, how wonderful we are. We are now allowed off the lead at Sizewell beach, and have a good run around, we always come back when called  (well sometimes) eventually. We had our first experience of fireworks, they did not bother Bruce but I was (Ollie) a little bit scared at first, but got used to them.

We are still both honary scouts and go with our dad, doing our talk all about us, mum has now joined the scout movement as well and when time permits comes with us. Anyway it will soon be Christmas, mum and dad say wait till Christmas, by the way what’s Christmas. We’ve had our first pressie new coats with our names on them, can’t think why as we know our names (but still they are fleece lined and lovely and warm).

If it means one of dads roast dinners, then we will wait and on Saturday 12/11/05  we did our sponsored walk, only 5 miles our dad said...... try nearly 9 miles .Jimmy came on the walk with his mum and boy. They plan to do the walk next year so please make a note in your diaries, as there are other small dogs about muzzles must be, worn only as a precaution. The Saturday before Remembrance Sunday, hope all you greyhounds out there can bring your families. Still if it raises some money for our friends waiting for homes it was worth every step and we had a lovely sunny day for it, hoped to have raised about 250 pounds, so as you can see we live life to the full.

Who said it was sleeping all day, 45 mile couch potatoes (dream on). On a sad note though one of our friends (Samson) has gone to the big kennel in the sky they have said that they will get another dog and when they do it will be a greyhound. So it best behaviour at the kennels it could be you they pick we will come with to help them pick.

Lots of love and licks

Bruce & Ollie

P.S. hope our mum and dad do not find out we have written to you

14/11/05

I chose the Bonds mum ,dad, Nathan 13 and Liam 11 in May 2005. They are very nice and I have a great big bed all to myself under the stairs .Already I have been on holiday to Wales where there was lots of nice walks and new animals for me to discover squirrels, moles and foxes. How I wish I could chase them but mum and dad said I have to try to forget this now but it is so hard especially as we have lots of cats near where we live and they seem to tease me when we walk but I am trying my best !!! I have settled in quite nicely now I have only eaten the fly swat,  2 kitchen utensils and mums oven gloves, those pesky fly's mum loves catching them but I am not so sure I did not like it so I ate the fly swat and got carried away, mum was worried I might have got a bit stuck in me but I was not that silly.  I am so lucky not only do they feed me twice a day but I have my own out door take away called the bird table!) I wander around the garden (my favourite place )and pretend to sniff the flowers then when nobody is looking I can just help my self yummy .If people read Sally's web site they will know a little bit about me all ready. I let myself down last Saturday I am ashamed to say we were all looking forward to seeing Sally ,Kevin ,Belle and her new friend Smokie to get some more food and for me and to have a play ,but when I went in something said in my head be top dog and off I went showing off trying to impress Smokie (wow he is handsome) but Belle was having none of this and she told me off ! I tried to ignore this voice and at the end I played nicely , mum said I was very rude especially in someone else's house I will try harder next time .Also mum and dad were getting a bit cross with me because I had ruined the hall carpet and they have had to buy a new  wash down floor. I got in to a habit over the summer holidays going out in the garden when ever I wanted but now mum has been back at work it has been tricky and I keep on weeing on the floor  I tried to stop but it was hard mum does click and treat before she goes out which I have now got used to so I go for a wee before she goes out in stead of when I want to (I am very stubborn you know ). Sally also said they may be giving me too much water on my food and they were right, I just could not hold on but it was not all my fault ,I now have only half a pint of water over it instead of the pint and a half they were using (they measured it .), They were shocked it was so much and now feel very sorry I have been dry all week and we are all happy so hope fully we have cracked it , but I forgive them because I like it here I get lots of tickles (HEAVEN) and three walks a day and I think I have succeeded in them falling in love with me (it was easy!! ) mum said to tell you that it is very worth while rehoming us greyhounds and to thank Sally ,Kevin, Pat and Dick for all their good advice and kindness . I must go now it is biscuit time life is so hard you know.

 love from NELLY XXXX

6/11/05

Hi I'm Wise Effort,

 Wisie to my friends but I have a new nickname, 'The Wise One'! I moved to London in May but have something called a cemetery behind where I live and I have lovely walks around that. There are red things called foxes running around and funny grey things with long tails called squirrels, which run up trees. I've tried chasing them - but I haven't learnt to climb trees yet!

I've got what they call toys, they make a lovely noise, I like that especially when they are watching telly. I also have chewy things which I can chew (without getting into trouble). My favourite is a ball I'm learning how to throw it, but it doesn't go far and my mum keeps interfering picking it up and throwing it, but I want to do it.

My pictures are of me with water either in it or by it. I like going to the seaside because I love my car and sleeping in it.

At present I'm doing the garden, digging holes. The other day mum tried to dig a hole, call that a hole, as she went to get something, I showed her how to dig a hole, now that's what I call a hole! She wasn't impressed apparently she was planting a plant not digging a pond. We have a pond which I drink out of.

Where we go shopping ( I love shopping, always looking in the bags) they have a stadium called Walthamstow, people always ask if I'm retired, or do I still race. I do race around the garden to keep fit otherwise I sleep on my settee in my front room. Sometimes mum sits with me when I let her.

I am enjoying myself and mum keeps saying wait until Christmas. Apparently I'll enjoy it.

Love Wisie

Owned by Heather Attwood

Dear Kevin, Sally, Pat, and all the gang

Hello and greetings from Ollie

I thought it was time to let you know how I am getting on in Ipswich in my new home with Bruce (the old timer) Carl and Sally. Well I am very pleased to report that I am very comfortable here and very lucky to have come to a good home. After my uncertain start in Ipswich which nearly resulted in me going back to the kennels. (Thank you Pat for alerting them to my need of a new home) Carl came over with Bruce, and there and then said yes, he took me as a companion for Bruce. I soon found the weak spot...... Carl' wife Sally, as soon as she saw me.... that was it, love at first sight. Well, I am young and good looking, when she heard my story, and that I was due to go back to the kennels. All she said was no way..... He’s here to stay. So now there are three men in her life. That is Carl.... Bruce..... and me. I soon learnt from Bruce about the early morning 4:30am walks and that it did not matter about it being their day off or not. Plus all the other little things the old timer gets up to, I have too admit to a couple of accidents here, but this was due to me being in a new home, I was very nervous and I had to adjust to a new set of circumstances. My mum and dad were very understanding and just took it as part of the process of settling in, but with Bruce there to help me I soon learnt the routine. We have our own bed under the stairs, to share a nice comfy single mattress, with duvets..... doggy heaven. So we have our own chill out area, I also had my (MOT) from the vets and lost the family jewels. As Bruce mentioned in his letter that lovely chicken and those sausages they get from jimmy (makes my mouth water just thinking about them). One thing I did was to learn to go up and down the stairs all on my own (who’s a clever boy?) wrong!!
As soon as I had made myself at home, Carl and Sally said it was time for my bath!!!!!!!!!
So like the good obedient dog I was I followed them upstairs (what a big mistake). They led into the bathroom and shut the door. My escape route had been sealed then they lifted me into the bath (what was this big white oval thing) then I was sprayed with this wet stuff (water) and I thought it was for drinking when I was thirsty, next they put on this bubbly stuff, and I was covered nose to tail in bubbles (shampoo). When this was finished they rinsed it off with that wet stuff again finally they opened the door and I made my escape. Who was sitting at the bottom of the stairs.......Bruce!
With the biggest..... smuggest ... silly..... grin on his face. I think he knew what was going to happen. He could have warned me, that’s the last time I go upstairs...
I have also done my first church walk, it was just like Bruce said it was, but meeting all of Carl and Sally’s friends, and all them making us big fuss of me saying how lucky I was to come to such a good home, making friends with Robbie, the vicars dog (Border collie I think). Being able to walk in the country side to be able to enjoy all those new smells, it was worth every step. The best bit was when they said that we’re going to Harlow for a retired greyhound only dog show (that’s where I first raced). What’s a dog show I thought (still I will play along) but first of all we had to go to Leiston to pick up Mathew and Martyn, Carl’s two sons who are in foster care.
Like Bruce I hope that one day they will be able to come home again maybe if Bruce and I work together this could happen (who knows) so it was to be a 7:30 a.m. start. Before we left dad put this box thing on the back of the car (I found out it was a trailer). I am not going in there I thought to myself. No need to worry it was to carry down some bits and pieces they said they would take down. We arrived and soon we were put into kennels to settle after the journey while they went for some liquid refreshment. All to soon it was my turn to enter the ring with all the other dogs in my class, the judge came along and checked me over, while my mum told the judge all about me, how they had got me, and how they saved me from going back to the (kennels) and when I was called forward with another dog for third place my heart was in my mouth. What had I done? But alas it was not to be (fourth) but what an achievement; I was beaten by a whisker. So watch out I will be back next year, and boy were my mum and dad proud of me. It only goes to show that a bit off t.l.c. can go a long way but as my dad said it’s not the winning that counts but taking part.
But best off all is that all the dogs are winners. Why? ........ Because we all share one thing in common, families...... who love us and care for us.
So from Bruce and myself and all the dogs who have found homes thank you.... thank you.... thank you...... for without us there would be no show and without you no future for us dogs.
Like Bruce I have joined the scouts (Honorary capacity) and we go around the different scout groups telling the scouts about the breed,  about ourselves, our racing history so more people can hear about us and if a scout parent takes one of us on then it’s all worthwhile.
One idea I have, would it be possible to have a local get together for all the dogs that have been homed in Ipswich and surrounding areas say a b.b.q. at Rendlesham forest there are some lovely woodland walks there I know as I have done a couple with Bruce.  I will send some photos soon of myself and Bruce in our chill out zone and to all those greyhounds waiting for a new home.
Keep you’re muzzles up your day will come, mine has and when yours comes if you’re as happy as I am now ... it’s worth the wait.

That’s all for now folks lots of love and licks                                       

                                                  Ollie and Bruce

Hi Sally,

This is Frankie, I thought I would just check in and tell you how life is treating me.

I don’t have any photos at the moment, but my new mum said she will forward them on to you soon. 

Well life, it’s a doddle, I have been here for 5 weeks now and its the best thing that has ever happened in my life, we have had some funny incidents and I always make her laugh, the day I arrived I didn’t know what glass was so tried to walk through the patio doors, and then she let me in the garden and there was this thing called a pond with this things called fish? tried to fish them out with my paws she thought that was so funny, the first night I spent in the living room on a quilt thing she bought me huh wasn’t having a lot of that, so managed to push her bedroom door open and sleep on the floor next to her bed.  The next day a lot of people came to see me and spoilt me with presents, didn’t know what toys were really for so I hid them all in her washing basket including a big marrow bone.  The next night I started on the floor but decided when she was asleep to gently jump on her bed, I was really quiet and curled up in a ball, what a fantastic nights sleep, when she woke up she just patted me and kissed me, never had attention like this....

 Things are a little strange, I race down the garden and have now made a track in her grass, she just laughs at me, 2 weeks ago she took me to the seaside for 3 days and we stayed in a caravan, great laugh, I chased these things called seagulls, paddled in a big pond, went to the pub, what a great time!.  The  only thing that worries me is in her bedroom she has this thing called a mirror, well guess what in it is this brindle greyhound that looks like me, so I growl and lunge at him but he won’t go, he keeps looking back at me, again she just laughs at me, what am I doing wrong?

 Another good game is to get her mobile phone, run off with it down the garden and throw it in the air, excellent one that one, she runs after me but never tells me off!....... B.A.T.H.S.  well she was in it the other night and I decided I would join her, oh yea jumped in on her there was water everywhere wish I had never done it as she covered me in shampoo and made me smell all girly. What would the boys say? 

At the moment I heard her on the phone talking to my new Grandmother saying that she is thinking of getting another brother or sister for me, oh dear I won’t be number one anymore, but then again it would be company for me.  She also said she has always had some breed called a rottweiler and never thought she could accept another breed, but think I have proved to her, that I am very gentle, very loving, very laid back and an excellent pet. 

Well I had better sign off, the pizza delivery man is on his way, and boy do I love pizza never had them before until a week ago, they are delicious. 

By the way I will be entering the Dog Show, got to have a bath though she said, its my birthday that weekend so will be getting loads of pressies.

 Give my love to the boys and girls.

 Frankie of Upminster  xxxxxxxxxxxx

Dear  Sally and all at Harlow

 Just a quick letter to let you know  that I have settled into my new home in Ipswich with my new family, they are my mum Sally and my dad Carl, although they like to think that  they are in control of things, They are not really as I am now the center of their lives, my Mum works in a poultry processing factory, in the K>F>C> dept working on 12 hour shifts so I get lots of lovely chicken to eat and when they go to Jimmy’s farm they get me some lovely fresh meaty sausages.

As my Mum has to get up early when on shift I get me first walk at 4:30 a.m. When my Mum is not working on her 6 days off or on Sundays, I still get her up at 4:30 a.m. for my walk, later on my Dad gets up about 7:15 a.m. and I get my second walk, he works in retail selling tiles, and even he has to get up on his days off.

Every Monday off so we go to Leiston and see my extended family, Karl’s two sons. I think that since I came here  to stay , I have brought  joy and happiness back into their lives, I think there is a chance we could be all live as family again. Both Mum and Dad go to church and everyone there think what a wonderful chap I  am. The church organises family walks on the first Sunday of every month , the first being April, they said it was only a short walk! 3 3/4 miles I did across fields (saw my first sheep &lambs , and a cow) along farm tracks, being lifted over styles, (boy was I tired ,who said retirement was easy!) We finished at a pub where the nice landlady got me a bowl of water to drink, I left the grown ups to their beers. I have had my first bath, (I did not like it ) my Mum had to help me up the stairs, and then lift me into the bath , four times I tried to escape  and failed. I have made a new doggy friend with Samson, one of my Mums workmates and we both go walkies together in the park, I have had a couple of accidents since I have been here, not my fault (honest),

they either did not get up quick enough to let me out, or they don’t understand doggy talk I swear I did try to tell them. My first encounter with the t.v. was watching Crufts, all those silly dogs running around jumping over fences, it made my tired just watching them, mind I would have made a great supreme champion, I mean with my charm, good looks, a dog can dream can’t it. The best time of my day is when my Mum and Dad get home from work , then we have a silly 10 minutes or so chasing around the garden, playing with my soft toy they bought me, Then we go walkies and sometimes we meet my Mums work bus or we go down to my Dads work place. I must say in closing that it great here, learning to be a dog, and to be loved as a family pet, they give me as much love, as I give them, Now they want to get another greyhound from you Pat, a playmate for me. They must be mad, but as I know what to do , I can help with the house training.  Must sign off now, my paws are beginning to hurt, using the keyboard and I have to get ready and go to scouts with my Dad ,while my Mum goes to choir practice.

best wishes for now love Bruce

p.s. best wishes also from Carl, Sally. Mathew and Martyn

p.p.s. hope you like my photo