Since I was seven years old we always had at least one dog in the household and I could not imagine the rest of my life without one. My mother was adamant; we could not have a dog in our present circumstances. I am a very badly disabled wheelchair user and she is ninety years old, virtually housebound with a serious heart condition. So I spoke to our vet who has known us for many years. He advised that, providing I could find a dog walker, he would have no hesitation in recommending us to have another dog and he felt an older whippet would be ideal. 

The dog walker was found relatively quickly but a rescue whippet was not easy to come by. Everyone I spoke to started saying “Have you thought about a retired greyhound?” “Greyhound” said I “They are huge and must need a great deal of walking.” The some friends brought round a greyhound they had recently given a home to (Flossy, you will have read about her on this website). She was very gentle, just the right height for me to stroke from my wheelchair and apparently slept most of the time and did not need a lot of walking. 

They gave me the Ipswich Greyhoundhomer telephone number and I spoke to Kevin who duly arrived on Friday evening last October to do a house visit. He was happy with our home situation, the enclosed garden and my walking arrangements but was worried that a greyhound might knock my mother over and for some reason felt something smaller might be better for us. I was sorry but understood his concerns and began to think my mother was right and I would have to forget the idea of another dog. 

Three days later on Monday morning Kevin phoned me. He had been reconsidering his decision and there was an extremely quiet, gentle four year old dog at the Ockendon kennels needing a home and would we like to try him for a few weeks. I would have to decide quickly because he could collect him the next day but after that he would not be able to get there for some weeks! I gave the go ahead, much to my mother’s horror, who said he would be my dog and my responsibility. 

Tuesday afternoon Kevin arrived with a rather timid, sad looking Trevor (now Barney). He had a lot of  sores on his nose from being muzzled and a dull black coat. Considering the dramatic change of life these retired greyhound’s experience I think he settled in very well. From the beginning Barney has been the sweetest natured dog anyone could wish for but obviously we did have some “teething problems” which were made more difficult by my mother’s and my disabilities. During the first few months I did wonder if I had done the right thing, he seemed a little sad, was it unfair to have a dog in our circumstances? Initially he did not want to go out for walks but our walker has been magnificent with him and from the second day he knew our bungalow and wherever she took him he always led her back home. 

My thanks go to everyone who has made this new and extremely precious addition to our family possible. Kevin and Sally, who were willing to give us a chance and who have been very supportive throughout. Our helpful vet who makes house visits so we can be fully involved in Barney’s condition and treatments. Our wonderful dog walker who comes twice a day rain or shine and all our carers who help look after him.