SALLY

Dave · Enlightened One

SALLY

JENNY · Big Cheese

I'm sure everyone would agree that you were right to inform us of the truth behind these events. We are a small group of people with a common love of greyhounds and discuss all manner of issues on here in good faith. To have someone make up stories particularly in relation to the welfare and safety of a GAL dog is an affront to the good nature of others here and to the work GAL does.

-- Edited by JENNY at 20:15, 2007-03-07

Amanda · Master

Wow not quite sure what to say! At least Sally is well and was re homed quickly. Just goes to show we never know what is going on behind the scenes and it can be all to easy to believe everything you read.

weeewelamb · Old Hand

Dave, you're a star! Firstly for sussing out what was going on and secondly for following it up and making sure Sally is in a good home now.

Well done you.

Julie

Valerie · Guru

Gosh Dave, agree with the sentiments of Jenny here. Many of us were duped and tried to send good wishes thru the various threads, however it is really sad that you and the other volunteers and the dogs have come out with "fingers burnt". As always, you have put Sally first, and hope she will have a new and good life with her new family.
I'm just sorry GAL's fantastic volunteers have had so much taken out of their precious time, and I know you will take heart from the fact that you got to the bottom, and set Sally up right.

niccimac · Old Hand

I guess myself being an unknown to you all, I shouldnt really comment, but I am glad you informed forum members, Dave. Regarding the time spent helping with the dogs alleged problems, perhaps if there was that level of need for attention, the dogs might have suffered if you hadnt put the time in, so from that point of view, at least their welfare was being monitored. The words 'Munchausen' and 'proxy' spring to mind. I'm glad Sally landed on her feet and got a nice new home quickly, and just hope the other dogs are also ok. But the importance of a forum such as this is the tremendous sense of support it provides, we are not alone with these wonderful but fragile, accident prone animals and we are all constantly reminded, when the news stories of sickening cruelty and neglect keep rolling in, that there are still plenty of people who care and who are willing to do their bit to try to improve the world. So I feel it is very important not to become cynical or suspicious, and I certainly appreciate the sense of belonging to a group of people who enjoy my dogs as much as I enjoy theirs, and who will be there for me and mine through the happy times and the sad times, as I hope to be there for them. I do hope this isnt too presumptious.

scoobcleecook · Master

How sad. It sounds as if Gail is obviously a troubled soul. Thank goodness Sally is now in a safe and settled environment, and hopefully she'll thrive and live a long and happy life. Hope Gail's other dogs are also okay.

It's so unfortunate that yourself and the other GAL volunteers have had to put so much time into this case - just proves once again how dedicated you all are.

Hopefully things will quieten down now and you'll be able to get on with the more mundane day to day tasks.

Jean

Calatria · Master

I hardly know what to say. I thought there was something wrong when Dave closed Gail's thread but had no idea about any of this.

Like everyone else here, I tend to take what's said at face value and sympathised with Gail over her troubles. I do hope she gets herself sorted.

And it's a happy ending for Sally, thanks to the GAL team. You're brilliant, you are.

Jax · Master

Thanks for letting us know Dave. I too was a bit concerned when Gail's thread was closed, it seemed strange. Hopefully this episode won't damage the trust and honesty that I certainly believe is a backbone to this forum. Well done to all the volunteers who got to the bottom of the situation. Glad Sally is safe and well in a new home.

-- Edited by Jax at 18:34, 2007-03-08

max · Enlightened One

Thank you Dave for your honesty, After the post was closed it seemed odd how things had ended. To say I am deeply shocked by this is an under statement as I myself PM Gail on numerous occcasions to give her support. It saddens me to think that Gail took those steps with Sally but if is she is now in a happy home that is all that matters thanks to GAL stepping in. I cannot even imagine life without any of my dogs and cannot begin to understand why Gail did this, though I am sure she has her own reasons what ever they maybe. Thank you again for telling the truth.

Nora

tootsmazza · Enlightened One

How sad that someone would take advantage of the GAL volunteers and many supporters on the forum.
I am glad Sally is safe and to hear that Chess was not as troubled as suggested.Incidents like this are rare I am sure and highlight the need for GAL and the good work done.

Jennifer · Master

SHOCKED

Kathye · Old Hand

Wow! I'm so sorry to hear that you have all had so much time and emotional energy wasted this way. I know it's hard to recover trust after something like this happens. A similar type of event happened in an international community I belong to where a person pretended to have cancer for well over a year. For myself though I feel wiser, I also know that six years on I am still very cautious about getting close to people in an internet setting.

I hope everyone can settle down and enjoy the community and support here again soon and I'm very pleased that Sally herself had a happy ending.

Kathy

silverhippo · Master

Hi Dave,

Thanks for letting us know.

I realise that as a GAL dog Sally is your primary concern but what about the other two Neo and Logie are they both OK? I don’t really know anything about this but if the episodes with Chess were not as stated what did happen to Neo’s tail?

I also hope that someone is looking out for Gail, she may not have had the problems that she wrote about but it is evident that something is wrong to make her want to post the things she did. If we look at our wonderful dogs we forgive them a lot because some of them come to us damaged. But we accept that life has made them the way they are and we make allowances. I would hope that we would extend that to people as well.

I like Dave hesitated to make comment on this topic but as people feel let down and shocked by this incident I would like to put things from a slightly different perspective. Although I am no expert I have a friend who also has this kind of problem. My friend truly believes that the things that she thinks have happened are real. Even in the face of overwhelming evidence to disprove her recollections they are still as real to her as other peoples experience of the same event.

Just my thoughts.

Claire

-- Edited by silverhippo at 15:58, 2007-03-08

MojoTilly · Master

Thanks for letting us know Dave. I was so shocked that for someone who appeared to love her dogs so much that she could give one of them away and be so dishonest about it all to everyone who had been there for her on a number of occassions over the last few months. Obviously it's great Sally has a great new home and hope that she'll be very happy there but I do worry about Neo and little Logan too. If she really couldn't keep Sally for whatever reason then she should have contacted Dave or anyone else at GAL and they could have rehomed her. It is worrying that someone has no scupples about making up such stories and think that they won't get found out - I really hope that she can get the help she needs.

Debbie

yvonne · Master

This is all very downheartening. Gail is, too me anyway, really quite unwell and in need of some serious help. I'm glad that Sally is safe and GAL know where she is. I do worry about the rest of her household tho.

Teresa · Enlightened One

what a real shame for everyone - dogs and human - involved. here's hoping Gail gets sorted soon.

Isla · Enlightened One

It is a real shock to read your post Dave. Like Max, I had also PM'd Gail on a number of occasions to offer moral support. I too hope that this does not damage the trust and support that we can all fall back on in the forum. I hope everything works out for Gail, her family and her dogs.

-- Edited by Isla at 19:43, 2007-03-08

moptop · Master

I am the same as everyone else. Shocked and saddened. I thought she sounded such a caring person and so believable too. But then, I suppose if you suffer from a delusional disorder, you do sound quite plausible. Poor Sally and Chess just getting dumped. Glad they are o.k. now.
I too, am very concerned about her other dogs welfare.
Marian.

Indiana · Guru

Thanks for keeping us posted Dave. I am really saddened that this could have happened and like everyone else offered thoughts to Gail via the forum. I hope Sally has a great new life and a much more deserving family.

C_J · Master

Thanks for updating us Dave. I sort of worked out from some of her posts that things didn't quite add up but I never expected this. I am quite pissed off really. I'm angry that I defended her actions in getting her puppy from a breeder, when it is not something I really agree with, because she said it was best for her son. What kind of example is dumping Sally at a kennels to her children!? I feel sorry for her kids and dogs, I just hope they are ok. I am really glad Sally is ok and she is with a good family now.

-- Edited by C_J at 21:20, 2007-03-08

FAJ · Enlightened One

Even if Gail truly believed that all those things that had happened to her were very real, she must have known that she was doing wrong by handing Sally into the pound instead of to GAL. Why else would she not tell anyone about it? The things that people choose not to speak about are just as telling as those that they do.

I'm glad to hear that Sally is safe and well.