Colour/Sex: Black Female

Date of birth: 29.01.2012

Last reg trainer: Patrick McKenna

Races contended: 4 (and 2 trials)

Last rec. race: Harolds Cross /grade A6 / 03.12.2013

DOVE – (named for racing as) PRINCESS SMARTIE

Came into the care of AfG on 11th September 2015.

She was earlier found wandering as a stray and eating from rubbish bins in County Clare and was in very bad condition. Luckily, once the couple who found her discovered what her fate would be had they handed her into the local Ennis stray pound, they contacted Clare Greyhound Project (CGP).

As CGP had no available foster carers or available kennel placements at that time, the couple agreed to foster Dove until CGP were able to take her into their care. With the care of the kind couple and later CGP, Doves health and well being steadily improved.

AfG had a foster home for Dove and she was later brought over to Norfolk. She quickly settled in to her foster home where she was steadily rehabilitated and socialised and enjoying her new life to the full with dedicated care.

When Doves history was traced it was discovered the previous owner had sold or given her away to be used for breeding. Luckily Dove escaped and was lucky enough to be found by kind caring people who wanted to ensure he long term welfare and safety. After her last race, no transfer of ownership paperwork could be found. So Doves fate could have been so much different and she could have so easily ‘ gone off the radar’ as many thousands of greyhounds do, who simply disappear and remain unaccounted for.

Colour/sex: Black Male

Date of birth: 07.05.2013

Last reg owner: Mr Darryl Hopper

Races contended: None found

Last rec. race: None found

ZEN – (named for racing as ) NICE ONE ZOLA

Came into the care of AfG on 07.07.2015.

He had been saved from the notorious Ennis pound in County Clare, Sothern Ireland.

The pound had a high ‘kill rate’ especially of greyhounds and lurchers, who were usually only given 24 hours before they were destroyed.

If it were not for Clare Greyhound Project (CGP) who formed in May 2014 and Rover Rescue in Ennis, many greyhounds like Zen would not have been saved. Zen was one of the ‘very lucky ones’ out of the thousands of young greyhounds who find themselves not wanted by the greyhound racing industry.

When Zen was taken from the pound, he could not bear any weight on his right leg and was treated with painkillers by a vet.

Once he came to AfG, an xray by our vet confirmed the injury was an unusual multi fracture to the wrist joint an old untreated injury of at least 1 year old, caused by a drop or fall from a height.

As no previous history can be found for Zen it cannot be established who was responsible for his mistreatment and abandonment. He is just one more young greyhound, from many thousands bred in Ireland to supply the industry and who was obviously not profitable as a racing commodity.

Zen steadily improved physically and mentally in his foster home with the company of other greyhounds. His leg continues to strengthen with regular steady exercise and he may need the joint operated on at a later stage.

Zyri when she came to AFG

Colour/sex: Black Female

Date of birth: January 2008

Last reg trainer: N. Barnard

Races contended: 1 failed trial-Yarmouth

Last rec. race: none

ZYRI – (named for racing as ) HI HI IRENE

Came into the care of AFG in April 2014.

Judged no good for racing, she was soon offloaded by her owner/trainer. It is believed she spent about three years in a home until she was no longer wanted.

Zyri came to AFG underweight with a lack luster coat. She was neither micro-chipped or neutered and obviously not vaccinated, as she had no veterinary records.

She settled quickly into her foster home in the company of other dogs. A lovely character developed and her health soon improved. Now enjoying life in her forever home.

Lady (rear end) on 18.07.2013

Lady after a bath and wound clean at vets

Lady a few days after rescue in a clean comfotable foster home

Lady well and happy 3 months after rescue

Date of birth: 01.11.2008

Last reg trainer: not known

Races contended: none known

Last rec. race: none known

LADY -(named for racing as) SEASIDE SUNRISE

Lady came into the care of AFG on July 17th 2013. She had been transported in an inadequate vehicle on one of the hottest days of the year. When signed over by a third party, Lady was traumatized and with an alarmingly high temperature. Her coat and skin were filthy and she was crawling with fleas. Her entire rear end was covered in horrendous scars and open infected sores. She was immediately rushed to AFG’s vet where she was instantly admitted to receive urgent veterinary treatment.

After four days of extensive veterinary care, Lady went to her foster home. Here she continued with medication including antibiotics and skin balm. Lady seemed relieved to be in a clean comfortable environment.

After weeks of tender care, Lady’s physical and mental state improved. The foster carers did a great job with Lady but sadly were unable to foster her long term, so she then went on to another AFG foster home, with the company of another greyhound. This new arrangement helped Lady even more as she was so very nervous, but with the companionship of the other hound, she soon blossomed.
Lady’s previous ‘owner’ Anne Marie Reed, from Hartlepool, has never been able to explain why Lady was in such a terrible condition of neglect, neither has she ever provided any veterinary history, we therefore believe that Lady had never received any treatment from a licensed vet.

All the information of Lady’s neglect with the back up of full support from AFG’s vet were given to the RSPCA who chose not to take any action.

All Lady needed was proper care which she received as soon as she came into our care, so we feel that her condition was a case of severe neglect.

Lady can still be very wary of certain things and prefers a life without much change, so unless the type of home she has in her foster home comes along, she is likely to stay there where she is happy and settled, in a permanent foster home with AFG covering the cost of her care.

Beau when he came to AFG

Beau and friend Yeats June 2013

Date of birth: 03.01.2006

Last reg trainer: S.Smith

Races contended: 23

Last rec. race: Hull/Grade 5/31.05.2008

BEAU – (named for racing as) JO BLUEBIRD

Beau came into the care of AFG in February 2013 from his previous carer of 4 years, whose change of circumstances meant she was unable to keep Beau and give him the care he was used to. Unlike many people happy to offload their pets without any care for their future welfare and safety, Beau’s was her priority.

He was not neutered but was in great physical condition and was very friendly.

As we had no foster home available straight away, Beau was placed into private boarding, where he was adored and thoroughly spoiled by staff. Here we realized he was sociable with all other breeds too.

A lovely couple who had adopted Lurcher Joey from AFG several years ago, had sadly lost him at the end of 2012 at the grand age of 13. They had another rescued greyhound, Yeats. Once Beau and Yeats met and got on very well, Beau joined him in his home to be fostered.

He was neutered and had a dental and once it became apparent that the pair were inseparable and his carers couldn’t bear to part with him either, Beau’s foster home became his forever home, where he enjoys his great life with Yeats.

Mini when she came to AFG

Mini when she came to AFG

Mini 2013

Date of birth: ?. 06. 2011

Last reg trainer: Paul Garland

Races contended: Failed trial at Brighton & Hove December 2012

Last rec. race: As above

MINI – (named for racing as) GOBBY COBBY

Mini came into the care of AFG June 3rd 2013 as an unclaimed stray at just 2 years old.

She was bewildered, underweight and generally in poor condition for such a young hound and had also not fared well in the stray kennels. Her racing history showed a failed trial at Brighton & Hove stadium. It seems she was then passed around, until she was picked up as a stray in Norfolk in May 2013.

Mini was able to go straight into a foster home with a little Jack Russell for company, which helped her settle in quickly. The pair became best friends and Mini’s health and well being improved rapidly. After the initial settling in period, Mini was spayed.

She is now a happy, lively, cheeky girl who is full of fun, as a young hound should be. Mini was adopted by her foster mum in July and will now have a bright future ahead of her.

Wilf weighing only 36 kilos with a scabby tail

Wilf 2013

Colour/sex: Blue Male

Date of birth: ?.11.2007

Last reg trainer: D.E. Freeman

Races contended: 26

Last rec. race: Perry Barr/ grade A5/ 10.10.2010

WILF – (named for racing as) PHELPS

Came into the care of AFG in August 2012, after he was advertised as a ‘Free Giveaway’ on an internet site.

The advert stated “our greyhound has got to go, as he is too big and my child is hurting him”.

Wilf had been picked up a short while before after being handed over at a car park somewhere near Shropshire. Now, once more he was being quickly and cheaply offloaded, with no regard given to what would become of him.

Once he came to AFG, he was in a bewildered state, he had an upset stomach and was reluctant to eat and drink at first. He is a very big lad, so being 32 kilos, he was quite underweight.

After a short while, Wilf was neutered and whilst under anesthetic his spine was X-rayed as we were concerned about the visible ‘dip’ towards the top of it. The X-rays confirmed that 2 vertebrae were damaged as the result of pressure being forced down on his back for a long period. It had previously been established that the child had been using Wilf as a pony to ride on, using his ears as reins!! So the x rays confirmed the fears we had that Wilf’s spine may be damaged.

Wilf slowly improved over the months which followed and enjoyed the company of the other dogs in the home, where it made sense for him to stay, so was adopted in November 2012.

Wilf is now in great condition and is at what we believe is the ideal weight of 42 kilos, for this giant of a lad.

Although the problem with his spine means we cannot let him race around at full pelt, we are able to let him exercise freely in the garden and in a small enclosed park, and he gets good long walks daily which have toned him up well and have strengthened the areas surrounding his spine.

Skinny Mable, the day she came to AFG, meeting Frankie

Mable 2 weeks after coming to AFG

Mable in her forever home with Floyd

Colour/sex: Blue Female

Date of birth: ?.05.2005

Last reg trainer: G.E.Hebden

Races contended: 31

Last rec. race: Oxford/Grade A9/11.09.2007

MABLE – (named for racing as) OAKS ANGEL

Came into the care of AFG in August 2012. She was a ‘Free Giveaway’ on an internet site.

The reason for her being unwanted was the ‘owners’ said their other greyhound had died so they didn’t want her anymore.

They had acquired her sometime ago from a trainer and once again she was now being offloaded a second time with no regard for her future welfare and security. Mable was not neutered, or micro-chipped and her general condition was poor with a dull scurfy coat. Her breath smelt awful and several decayed teeth were visible.

After settling Mable into her foster home with another rescued greyhound, Frankie, she soon gained condition and was able to be neutered and receive a dental, whereby several decayed teeth were extracted.

Mable continued to improve and enjoyed her adventures with Frankie.

Being an outgoing and comical character, she also brought nervous Frankie out of his shell. At the end of November, Mable joined lurcher Floyd who had been adopted from AFG 2 years earlier. The pair became best friends and are enjoying a great life together.

Mable was returned to AfG in October 2014 after her carers marriage ended (with Floyd being re-homed to another family member and Mable going to an Afg foster home).

After a few months in foster care, Mable found what is hoped to now be her forever home with Gene who sadly lost her beautiful greyhound Belle at age 13 (who she had adopted from AfG 3 years earlier). Mable is enjoying a great life, photographed here at age 11 1/2 years.