Dogs Homed
TILLY
Colour/Sex: Black Female
Last reg trainer: J M Ray
Last reg. racing owner: Not Known
Races contended: Not Known
Last rec. race: Not Known (poss Henlow)
TILLY (named for racing as Human)
Tilly came into the care of AfG in January 2020.
Tilly was one of several Greyhounds picked up from a Norfolk racing
kennels after concerns by owners who had Greyhounds there as the trainer
had lost her racing license due to animal welfare issues at the kennels.
Many of those Greyhounds were retired by the owners so they could go
into rescue kennels.
Tilly, along with another Greyhound was one of those fortunate Greyhounds.
After a veterinary check and immediate flea treatment with worm
treatment to follow and a start of her vaccination course, Tilly was
able to go into a waiting foster home with another rescued Greyhound boy.
Tilly was very wary of men and of traffic but she settled in happily to
her foster home with hound companion George.
She became quite a bossy girl and was very greedy, always looking for food.
Her foster carers quickly decided she would fit in well and so adopted
her permanently.
AfG paid for her following veterinary treatment and neutering and a dental.
Tilly then continued to enjoy life in a happy comfortable home full of
love and fun.
Tilly has now become the hound boss of the home.. cheeky girl
INGRID
Colour/Sex: White and black Female
Date of birth: 21.04.2009
Last reg trainer: Mr W Bradley
Last reg. racing owner: Mr W Bradley
Races contended: Not Known
Last rec. race: Not Known
INGRID (named for racing as Jessica Lady)
Came into the care of AfG in October 2019, she had already been rescued
and under the care of Clare Greyhound Project (now renamed WAGI..We
Adore Irish Greyhounds).
AfG had already worked with this rescue several times.
We had met a lady on one of our events who said her father had rescued
several Sighthohounds over many years and had recently lost his little
Whippet cross.
She was concerned what would happen to a rescue dog should anything
happen to her dad or he became unable to care for a dog.
We discussed the possibility of AfG arranging for her dad (after an
initial home check) to have one of our hounds on a ‘ permanent foster’
agreement whereby AfG covered the costs of all food, sundries and
veterinary care and if at any time we or her dad decided Ingrid could
not be well cared for then AfG could take her back into one of our other
foster homes.
We agreed if we found an older but fit for age hound we would get back
in touch.
So CGP had an ideal Greyhound, although age 10 she was very sprightly
got on well with children and adults traveled well ate well and got on
with all other dog breeds so this was good as often members of the
family would visit with their dogs.
So once the neccessary procedures were covered in Ireland, Ingrid made
her long journey to Suffolk, she was picked up by AfG and after
stretching her legs and having a drink, she traveled on to her Norfolk
foster home.
After sniffing round the bungalow and pottering round in the large
garden she enjoyed a small meal then got settled on to her bed for a
snooze.
Ingrid, now age 13 1/2 still enjoys her life, her walks meeting many
other dogs along the way and the constant companionship of her doting
foster carer.
Freeda & Berty
FREEDA Named for racing as: Genius Escort
Colour/sex: Blue brindle Female
Date of Birth: 25.11.2010
Last Reg Trainer: unknown ( Poss originated from Australia)
Last Reg. owner: not known ( kept at Canidrome racetrack,Macau, China)
Races contended: not known
Last rec. race: unknown
BERTY Named for racing as Winners Take All
Colour/sex: Black male
Date of Birth: 20.11.2013
Last reg.trainer: not known ( poss originated from Australia)
Last Reg. ownwer: not known ( kept at Canidrome Racetrack, Macau, China)
Races contended: not known
Last rec. race: not known.
FREEDA (so named from FREEDOM) and BERTY (so named from LIBERTY)
As they were just 2 of the hundreds of lucky survivors of the Racing
Industry in China.
On February 16th 2019 Annie and Marylin from AfG made the journey along
with Pete from Kerry Greyhounds UK, to pick up 2 each of the 15 arriving
to Heathrow airport out of the 500+ rescued from the closed down hell
hole, namely the Canidrome racetrack in Macau, China after decades of
campaigning by animal rights campaigners more recently spearheaded by
Animals Australia and Anima Macuas Albano Martins.
We believe Freeda and Berty originated from Australia though we still
have no information on this and we have no information of how long they
spent at the Canidrome.
Luckily AfG had a very knowledgeable foster home for the 2 hounds to go
straight into with one foster carer Marylin, being involved with them
right from the pick up at Heathrow.
Berty was in dreadful condition when he arrived at Heathrow, which did
not go un noticed by the other rescuers present, we knew straight away
he had suffered greatly at the ‘hell hole’.
He had open infected sores on his ear tips and tail tip and was very
emaciated.
It was a long wait and journey home but the hounds were all so good.
A couple of days after settling into their foster home with plenty of
comfort good food and drink, we took them to our vets.
Freeda hadn’t fared as badly as Berty (which being much older was
surprising!), she had tendon and muscular injuries which our vet
believed to have been caused by repetitive strain injuries from being
raced too hard and for too long, she had bald sore areas on her elbows
and back end and she had a slight heart issue which the vet treated with
a course of medication.
Berty had suffered far worse (as you will see on the first photos) and
was obviously traumatised his teeth were worn down to the gums (obviously from boredom and worry chewing on the kennel walls!!), his tail
was cleaned up and bandaged (and later on was to have 1″ amputated from
the end). The vet said he was at least 10kg underweight for his age and
build, he had liver failure (very concerning at such a young age of 5
years), which was treated with a very effective new medication (whereby
a few months later he recovered well so no longer needed it).
It was a concern that both hounds were not neutered and as we had no
information of when Freeda was last in season and with Bertys health
condition we decided to have Freeda neutered first.
When Berty recovered to full health he was neutered and had the tip of
his tail amputated as no amount of daily cleaning and bandaging would
heal it as it had been damaged for too long.
His foster carers straight away decided there was no other option but to
adopt the 2 adorable hounds immediately.
They had lots of space to run and play safely and though Berty was
fearful of seeing other dogs on his walks, Freeda showed no bother.
The pair gradually got used to the resident chickens (safely in an
enclosure of course) and eventually shared the paddock with the resident
goats Polo and Scarlet.
In 2021 Freeda and Berties adopters decided to sell up and move nearer
to Norwich and it wasn’t long before Freeda and Berty settled in to their
new home and environment.
Freeda was always a ‘ happy go lucky’ hound and just took everything in
her stride, however Berty had a more ‘sensitive’ nature’ relying on his
adopters, always needing one of them in sight etc but this did improve
greatly over time…and although he was fed so well ending up at a
weight of 38kg he was always looking to steal food so his adopters are
always mindful to put food well away from his reach.
Both these adorable, cherished hounds continue to live a happy
comfortable life full of love, fun and adventure, they certainly deserve
the lives they now have.
Soli (now Oscar)
Dogs Name: Soli
Date of Birth: Approx 2014/2015
Breed: Lurcher (poss Saluki/Deerhound/Border Collie)
Date came to AfGs care: July 2018
How dog was acquired: A lady concerned for his welfare was given him by
the owner who wanted rid of him, she was unable to keep him so she
signed him over to AfG.
SOLI (NOW OSCAR)
So named as he came to our attention and care during the Summer solstice.
He was in a very poor physical and mental condition when he came into
the care of AfG ( as seen on the photos).
We had a temporary foster home for him to go straight into where he
received veterinary treatment, later including neutering.
His foster carer managed to bath him, treat his dry skin and other
wounds daily ( these were caused by living in a ramshackle shed outdoors
in all weathers).
We then had a permanent foster home for him as we knew he needed a lot
of care and socialisation etc before we could consider him suitable for
adoption, due to his lack of care, neglect and abuse before he came into
our care.
Soli settled quickly into his 2nd foster home with the company of a
lovely cross breed hound.
Both enjoyed playing and running in an enclosed park every day which
allowed Soli to burn up his energy and get used to his new found freedom.
Soli accompanied us on many of our street collections and charity stalls
and it was here after almost 1 year in our care that Solis new family
met him on the charity stall in Norwich City Center.
They came back to see him again before they went home and that evening
they emailed us with details of the home they could offer including them
having a little Bedlington cross and a visiting family Chihuahua cross
who would be Solis companions.
So we did the home check and the home was perfect for dear Soli (later
named Oscar), he gradually settled in to his new home very well and his
adopters even found a nearby large enclosed disused tennis court where
he could be let off to run around to his hearts content.
Dear Soli/Oscar so deserved the great life he had been waiting so long for.
BLOSSOM
After a long journey from Romania Blossom arrived timid and bewildered and judging by her poor condition and a number of scars over her body she had obviously endured much rough treatment and neglect during her young life.
Luckily we had a very experienced foster home for her to go straight to where she was made very welcome by her human family and two resident rescued hounds a Greyhound and Lurcher who all helped her tremendously to gain her confidence.
Blossom soon learnt of the many home comforts she could enjoy and soon made herself comfy on the sofas and the choice of beds in each room upstairs.
She enjoyed her walks and soon bonded with her foster carers and once her body condition had built up she was able to be let off lead for lots of free running and socialising with other dogs large and small and enjoy the puppyhood she has missed out on.
She is also very good with the resident rescued Guinea Pigs, Ferrets and a Tortoise who also share her home.
Her foster family did an amazing job building Blossom up physically and mentally over the weeks which followed her arrival and…as is often the case… they could not imagine her not being part of their family and so decided to adopt her permanently.
Blossom continues to flourish and enjoys many great experiences, her life is now full of love, comfort, fun and adventure.
OCI
MERVIN
Colour/Sex: Black Male
Date of birth: 24.12.2014
Last reg trainer: K. Blackbird
Last reg. racing owner: Dean Blackbird
Races contended: 40
Last rec. race: Sunderland /A2/ 15.05.2018
MERVIN (named for racing as) BALMORAL ERIN
PEARL
Colour/Sex: Black Female
Date of birth: 04.10.2008
Last reg trainer: L.D.Wallington
Last reg. racing owner: Delahunty-Syndicate
Races contended: 61
Last rec. race: Swindon /A3/ 18.04.2012
PEARL – ( named for racing as) STIR OF ECHOS
Came into the care of AfG October 6th 2018.
She was picked up on October 4th the day of her 10th birthday, so she had waited all those years to finally find the loving home she so deserved.
It was obvious by her emaciated condition, her rotten teeth, her overgrown nails and general bad overall condition, including being of a very nervous disposition, that this poor dear hound had suffered many years of abuse and neglect.
History of any previous ‘owners’ since her last race on a GBGB licensed track 6 years earlier are not available as she had no microchip when she came to us.
The people who had her for the past months admitted they had no knowledge of how to adequately meet her care and welfare needs but they had taken her in after seeing her in such a bad state living outdoors, and learning she had been used for breeding, had been beaten and was no good so was going to be shot, so they took her out of sympathy.
They were not willing to divulge any information of where they acquired her from for fear of any repercussion, but were relieved she would be going to a knowledgeable home and would receive the care she really needed.
Over the months which followed after being neutered and receiving much needed dental treatment Pearls physical and mental condition improved gradually and being in a dedicated knowledgeable foster home with the company of other rescued Sighthounds her confidence improved too.
Her foster carers decided to adopt her permanently and hope she will enjoy many happy years ahead of her.The information and photo evidence was sent to the GBGB with an inquiry from AfG as to why one of the Greyhounds bred and used for their industry should end up in such a state of neglect and why she was not micro chipped and what action they were likely to take against the previous owner, but sadly the response we received from them was to inform us she was sold by her owner in 2012 and they could give us no more information about her.
So it seems the GBGB choose to shirk their responsibility for the future welfare and safety of their racing greyhounds once they leave their race tracks and incidentally they made no remarks on her awful condition or asked after her current welfare.