Happy when he came to Afg on 17.09.15

Colour/Sex: Black Male

Date of birth: ?.08.2009

Last reg trainer: Irene Barnard

Races contended: 34

Last rec. race: Yarmouth/ grade A5 / 29.08.2012

HAPPY (named for racing as ) LESS THAN ZERO

Came into the care of AfG September 17th 2015.

He was in a terrible state of neglect, weighing only 23 kg emaciated and dehydrated. His entire body smelt of stale smoke, he was crawling with fleas, with hair loss and sore infected skin over 50% of his body. He had been kept in a second floor flat in Yarmouth, not far from the track where he was used for racing. Neighbors had been concerned for Happy (who was then named Jamie) as they had noticed his condition deteriorate over the years and more so over the past months as they noticed he was not being taken out of the flat.

One neighbour finally managed to convince the previous owner that Jamie would be much better off in another home and sought the help of AfG who acted immediately with the help of the neighbor to take him as we were concerned he may change his mind about giving him up. The conditions in the flat were awful, all windows closed, curtains drawn and the entire flat full of cigarette smoke. Even though his condition was so bad, he managed to wag his tail and could not wait to get out of the flat.

He was given just one small bowl of food a day and was allowed a small drink of water after and it is believed he was forced to wear the dirty, yellow, plastic muzzle (which he was wearing when we entered the flat) all day every day to stop him nibbling and itching his sore skin. He was very depressed by how uncomfortable his condition was and ravenous for food and water.

He stayed with our vet for the next 24 hours and was treated for the flea infestation, fed many small meals regularly and his sore skin was gently bathed.

Once in his foster home, he was very eager for his food and drink, but over the days that followed, he soon realized the food and water would be regularly available to him and he became less ravenous for them. He enjoyed the attention and company of his foster carers and his comfy bed and gentle walks.

It became apparent that Happy enjoyed meeting people and other dogs over the weeks and months which followed and he steadily improved physically and mentally. Once Happy had gained several kilos and was down to 2 good meals a day he went into a new foster home with the company of 2 other rescued dogs. All 3 hounds get on very well and Happy enjoys many walks and is able to run off lead with many other dogs.

It has taken many weeks to get Happy to the healthy condition he has now reached and his exercise is still being built up steadily. Unbelievably, the only action the RSPCA chose to take against the previous ‘owner’ was to issue him with a ‘severe verbal warning’, even though our vets were willing to back up a cruelty prosecution case.

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.