How did you choose your dog? Or did they choose you?

FAJ · Enlightened One

How did you choose your dog? Or did they choose you?

bluesmumanddad · Master

Phil fell for Blue the moment he set eyes on him. Going around the kennels the children were quite scared as the noise was a bit overwhelming. Blue was the only one not barking.

He was a site for sore eyes. Thin and bald from half way down his sides downwards. The kennel owners thought he was 10 because of his bad condition but on checking his ear tattoos he had just turned 5....... but there was something there. Behind his eyes was a little spark that hadn't gone away and we knew what a very special dog he was. We asked to see him out side the kennels and the tip of his tail wagged when he saw the lead. My then 4 year old was smitten and said that Blue was the only dog he had ever wanted so we thought we better reserve him there and then!

We were so lucky to get him. He is our sole mate and we count our blessings every day that we found him.

Missy · Master

Hi
Well our tail began a long time ago when we got Dusty our lurcher - she was such a compromise for my hubby as at the time he wasn't a huge lover of dog fur on his trousers etc. We then rescued Max (labrador) and I thought that would have been the end of our additions to the family but whoa ! my hubby suggested that we should get another dog last christmas and me eyes popped out at the thought but was thinking he might have been joking..... He then repeated the statement in early Feb so I started looking and happened across the GAL website. I looked at the dogs and looked for personalities in the photographs. I went over to Karens asap and looked at Lady first then at Missy and stood there scratching me head for about 15 mins trying to decide at the end of the day with a brute of a Labrador I'm afraid Lady lost out as she was just too unsteady on her pins. I could have taken every single dog in the kennels home but Missy won me over with her playfull antics and especially the nibbling of my hand ! I definately made the correct choice and wouldn't be without her now.... She is still such a cheaky character and loving with it.

Cheers
Katrina.

Christine Young · GAL Newsletter Editor

Hi Fiona

We'd been dogless for 8 years - I suppose because of the heartbreak I suffered when my collie X died, I was kinda reluctant to get another dog for a while. But I didn't go for walks any more and I really missed having a dog about the house.

Strangely, it was Billy who got interested in rescue greyhounds from a friend at work who had homed a dog from GAL. He met Holly and was so impressed that he got all GAL's info from his workmate. We filled in the application form and sent it off, then we had a phone call from Moira to arrange a home visit. She said on the phone that all being well with our home visit, GAL had a dog in mind for us - he was called Vegas and he was a lurcher. Just before our home visit we went to the Summer GALa and met lots of dogs and their owners and talked to them about their dogs. We mentioned that we were getting a home visit and everyone wished us well with it - and they ALL seemed to know Vegas! Of course I couldn't wait to see him.

We met Vegas at Bothwell Bridge and we loved him on sight. He's a lovely boy with a great nature and he's very easy to fall in love with. If I had been faced with choosing a dog from GAL, I wouldn't have known which one to give a home to - they're all SO appealing! I might well have had two or three or more! (I can see Dave with his notebook just now, noting down 'Let Christine choose her own next dog!') But seriously, whoever chose Vegas for us did a marvellous job. He's perfect for our family and what's more, he's changed all our lives for the better!

Christine

Teresa · Enlightened One

well, i'd always been brought up with dogs - usually the mongrel variety. during my first marriage we had two, one border collie and one collie cross. they both lived to aged 17, the last one being PTS two years ago. i vowed then never to have another dog because the pain on losing them is too great.

however, when neil and i got together, we felt we needed something else in our lives. his family had been used to having whippets when he was a child but i wanted something larger so he suggested greyhounds. i researched the breed for months!! by chance, we met a lady with a greyhound at a horse rescue centre open day. she introduced us to Kevin, a greyhound trainer who sincerely cares for his dogs.

the day we visited his kennels changed our life. he seemed to know that i couldn't have chosen from a whole kennel of lovelies wanting homes so he simply brought us two dogs to walk - dave and daisy. neil fell in love with dave, me with daisy. that was it....... we picked them up four days later, having had our home check done successfully.

we go back to the kennels most sunday mornings to walk his retired racers, giving them a little something back, and to see the staff who are bloody marvellous !!!

I'm convinced that Kevin knew which dogs would be best for us, and us for them so, never do i regret getting our kids.

Chas · Old Hand

Out of our three the only one we actually picked was Barney.......

I grew up in a house where pets weren't really "done". My dad had tropical fish

It was Sharon who really wanted a dog and I just went along with it! We adopted a terrier x from Cardonald Cat and Dog home which only stayed with us for three days. It nipped Sharon on the back of the leg and we couldn't take the chance it would do the same to the kids - who were very young at the time - so she went back to Cardonald.

Not quite sure how we found out about GAL - might have been just as we happened to be at Bothwell one day (can't honestly remember).

We went to an awareness day at Bothwell and I was sure we wouldn't come away with a dog. Hazel asked me to take Freddy for a walk to give her a break (a likely story, but so many of us have been there.......). Apprently Freddy had shown no interest in anyone all day, apart from me. It would seem that we were hooked. Freddy went home with us that day.

Wilma also chose us. We wanted something a bit different for our second dog...... To be honest I wasn't keen so asked for a fawn and white bitch - had done some research to see how often certain types of dogs appeared on the website, and this colour and sex seemed to be rare!!. Didn't have to wait long and the phone rang. Glenda had found an ideal dog, but was pure white - "don't get many white greys......" was the story!! Anyway we met Wilma and Freddy was his usual "not interested in anything" self. Two muddy paw-prints on my shoulders from Wilma and we were hooked again! Unfortunately she had just gone into season so we couldn't take her that day, so she went off to a foster home till we came back from holiday.

So being not a doggy person, we went from one dog to two. We had talked about a third but weren't really ready for another one. Not so long later we went along to the awareness day at Strathaven and Denise handed me Barney. I'm not very keen on black dogs so wasn't too sure he was the the one for us, until the sun shone and his coat appeared more brown than black. So we were hooked again!!

Three will be our limit - we have no more car space or anywhere for a fourth to sleep. UNLESS we ever manage our big house in the country............

Chas

anna · Old Hand

i dont know if i picked her or she picked us but it was love at first sight for me couldnt get the out of my head (no kylie jokes plz) thats all i spoke about till the day we got her out of rescue centre.it was the way she sat a grey was 2 kennels up from her going bonkers in a pick me .....pick me frenzy but there was something about her dont ask me wot maybe it was her blazy attitude if ur gonna take me take me i aint got all day im going for a wee snooze till u make ur mind up kinda way.

we dont go to bed without saying goodnight to her with kisses and hugs.shes found her voice barking when she wants cuddles n clapped her ears she loves then getting scratches and ruffled.taking her for walks down the cemetery near me shes hunting for bunnies she knows were to go to find the rabbits nesting she goes bonkers when she spots one.

oh heres me going on shes our baby and we all love her she taken to our hearts so fast.

and u kinda know when shes needing to got out for no -2`s her passing wind is another story.

not for the easily turned.

BOWGANG · Master

Jim has had dogs all his life..mine was a cat family! We got our first dog together in 1991 - a border colli/lab cross called Thor. He was a super dog and was brought up with our 4 girls. In 1997 he suffered a spinal haemorrage (is that how you spell it?)and we sadly lost him in Feb 2005. I vowed NO MORE DOGS but I really missed that welcome when you com home and the walks and the cuddles etc etc.

We had often talked about adopting a greyhound and Jim came across the website and we spotted Gambol. He just had a specil look about him so I immediately phoned Denise who brought him with her for our home check(she was fostering him at the time).He went straight to Jim and by the end of the visit was lying on the floor with Moppet (one of Denise's many) with my eldest daughter in between cuddling into them!! We were in love!We then waited what seemed like the longest week in the world before we picked him up.

Keera followed shortly after...she was being fostered by Charles and once she had been deemed cat safe,Charles brought her to visit. We fell in love immediately with this very proper young lady and Gambol took to her straight away. She stayed with us from that very first night!

We are now fostering Jamie. We went to the awareness day at Strathaven and my eldest daughter Lori fell for him straight away. Every time prospective adopters came on the scene she took him for a walk so they could't see him! We picked him up a fortnight later and we have been one BIG happy family since!! (Think he'll probably become permanent member after our holidays as we couldn't part with him now!)

Jim would take more but our house and car are not big enough...maybe when we win the lottery

Shirley

Jay · Old Hand

When we were home checked by Denise, we sisn't really have much preference in mind. When asked about colour we sai we'd prefer blonde or brindle (like everyone else...) but didn't mind about colour as long as we got the right dog for us. Some days later and a phone call from Denise and off we went to meet Lita.

She was in Dave's boot at Bothwell, and as soon as we saw her it was love. Those big eyes and pretty face were the initial selling points. We hadn't really thought about a black greyhound, but her coat with white flecks through was stunning, even if she was baldy at the hind legs! We took her a walk to the racecourse where it started bucketing rain, and of course no one had a jacket! Poor Lita was wringing, as were we, but she was definitly going to be ours.

Once she came home, her personality came out and that was selling point no.2! Stubborn, very "girly," occasionally grumpy, but a big sook underneath. Who couldn't love her?? All her other selling points, too: her scavaging, the way she took over the bed and lay with her head on the pillow and body down the bed. Love of greyhounds had begun.

We went to Strathie Park for the sponsored walk, and there met Boston. He was the only GH that Lita would tolerate, and they ended up drinking from the same bowl. Denise handed over the lead and off we all went for a walk, and that was that... We had GH #2! Boston took a while to settle but eventually turned into the most mature dog of our bunch, the father figure... A big gentleman who will happy talk to any other dog despite Lita and Denver's protests. He keeps Denver in line and they are pretty much inseperatable.

Denver was meant to be a foster dog... But his puppy like ways, rolling on his back for a belly rub every other minute and generlly being a big softie at heart meant he stayed. He has some issues outside the house but who couldn't love him? He is as daft as a brush, and has got a real "father/son" bond with Boston. Huge, black with white specks, major prey drive, frightened of his shadow but wanting to go for it anyway sums him up...

So we didn't really pick any of our dogs, Lita was the first GH we met, she picked Bo, and well, Denver kind of invited himself in!

FAJ · Enlightened One

Jay - Denver sounds just like Harry, from his puppyish ways and love of tummy-tickling to his bolshy-feardyness outside! Maybe they're twins!

Fiona

Dave · Enlightened One

Out of our current gang of 7 we picked the first two - Archie was first, we needed catsafe at the time and he was the only prospect that day when we visited Bothwell and got talking to the GAL volunteers there, he came home with us and was great with the cats.....Ruby was next, a few months after Archie, again we needed catsafe, GAL were cat testing 3 hounds that day and Ruby was the only one that passed so she came home with us (Iguess it was more of the right place at the right time for her!)

The remaining 5 have all been foster dogs that kinda just 'stuck'. George was next, we picked him up after a GAL event in Glasgow, in the hour it took us to drive home he'd gotten out of the car harness and into the passanger seat and onto my lap, by the time we arrived home he'd most certainly picked me so we decided he was a keeper. Wizard was next, I think he kinda picked our mostly carefree home and didn't want to leave after a few weeks. Ivor was next, because of his behavioural problems I did a huge amount of work with him and we bonded pretty quickly so that was him staying aswell, I guess we picked each other(!) Then came Rebel, he picked Glenda right away but took a while to pick me! Finally Suzie, she basically picked the comfiest bed and hasn't moved since!

Andy · Old Hand

After Charles had completed our house check, Dave recommended four dogs to us. We went down to a GAL awareness day at Rachel & Eddie's in Langbank where we talked to loads of owners and met all their dogs. We walked a few of the hounds but Fiddie stuck - literally! He was doing the greyhound lean so hard that I nearly fell over, and that was us. We picked him up a couple of days later and have never looked back.

At the Strathclyde Park walk in June it happened again. We weren't looking for another dog, but Steve gave us his new foster dog to walk. We walked her all day and her and Fiddie got on famously. Hey presto Joy will be joining our family this weekend.

Lesley · Guru

I had said I would like a 'big black male' since they are harder to home - but the most important thing was that the dog must be cat tolerant. Dave suggested three to us: Sim and two girls. Sim is not black, but I kind of focussed on him because he is male and they are still harder to home.

We went to the Christmas GALa to meet him and poor Sim did absolutely nothing to win us over - he was very nervous and whined a lot. However - our minds were made up and on 1st December he came to live with us. [I'm not sure what it would have taken to put us off!]

A couple of months later Charles (who had fostered Sim) sent me an email telling me about his latest foster girl: Suzie, who he said was a lovely, quiet, well mannered, older girl, who was very good with his cat, and who just needed a nice quiet home with a garden, no kids, but perhaps a younger dog for company! We had just started to think that Sim would benefit from company, especially if he had to go in kennels when we go on hols - so Suzie's fate was sealed and at the end of March she came to live with us.

We luv-em!

-- Edited by Lesley at 22:04, 2005-06-20

Dawn · Guru

How did I choose my dogs??

Firstly my beautiful old gentleman Greyhound Kaz: Denise (founder member of GAL) suggested, way back in the early days of GAL, that I adopt Kaz who was at the Vet College - a blood donor, and I took her advice and brought the old boy home. Kaz became the love of my life, but I did spend 3 wonderful years with him! Sadly I no longer have Kaz, (for the newcomers, I lost Kaz to Rainbow Bridge in Dec 04). Then through GAL, I asked a guy, who has forgotten more about Greys than I will ever know, to find me a cat safe dog - who is this man? - Dave - he found me Mac, who is not only drop dead georgeous, but cat safe and fortunatley loves his new mum! So, I guess if I had not found GAL I wouldn't have had my two lovely boys - past and present. Thanks Dave and Denise, for finding me my perfect partners!!

xx

takecon · Master

Hi Everyone,

Many of you will know know that my first experience of greyhound genes began on 31 December 1992. I rescued a lurcher type girl from Cardonald Dogs Home. She was all skin and bones. I wanted a comapnion for my labrador girl, Raisa, - I inherited her from my deceased mother.

Rosie. won my heart and over the next 12 years with Raisa we has many wonderful experiences.

Raisa was the country, polite lady, Rosie was the brash Glasgow City girl

Raisa passed on at he age of 14 in late 2002 and Rosie in late 2003 at the earlier age of 12.

I'd been thinking of greyhounds, due to Rosie's genes. So in December 2003 I was thinking greyhounds as I walked through Glasgow Botanic Gardens - as I walked out of the Kirklee gate I spotted a GAL car sticker on an estate car - noted web site. Did not register -so went back next dat to check sticker. it was .org not .co.uk.

Anyway checked web, filled out form, pestered Dave - I wanted 2 hounds I had to have ac at safe hound. Anyway just after Christmas 2003 Snap became available - She had been bounced from a new home as shewas being bit aggressive to a a labarador in a new home. She would not have been my first choice - why I jsut did not connect with her photograph- Anyway, Denise arrived with Snap. Quick intoduction etc sharp exit by denise before I could say yes or no!

But as you know you fall for your hounds - Snap and me bonded within 5 minutes of Denise's departure.

So then we were on look out for a companion for Snap - we spotted Mickey on the GAL site - he fitted all of our requirments so we arranged a meet.

Mick was a foster GAL dog who was doing great in a foster home - but wee bit of friction with foster home top dog. Sanp was great with Mick and vice versa - think he was looking for his own pack to dominate

So Mick came to say in January 2004 - he settled in right away - jsut loved being top dog with Snap.

Since July 2004 we have had 9 foster dogs. No 8 foster dog Cleo stayed - Why? She reminded me of my Rosie - full of spirit, up and go, intelligent and so inquisitive.

So the story contiues

Charles

Suzanne · Guru

well, what seems like a long time ago I went to the Edinburgh cat & dog home looking for a whippet...small enuff for my flat I thought - knew their temprement was fab with kids (my little bro Michael who is special needs was my no 1 consideration when it came to choosing a dog).....no whippets there & the whole place was frankly very scary...they did however give me GALs no when I asked them whereelse I could look - they may have some whippets I was told....(well according to Dave most of them are all whippet size but thats a diff story!! lol)

So phoned up...'you dont want a whippet - you want a greyhound'!! bit big surely....homecheck done & passed & I was told a puppy was waiting for me. Blimey!! Ive never ever had a dog b4 never mind a puppy!....loads of research later & all I knew was that the pup was black & a little boy of 4mths old....

I was sooo nervous....I arrived at his foster home (Dannyboy! - thankyou!) expecting a little bundle to appear - cripes!! He was all legs & careering about with the other dogs - flippantly came over for a sniff & then offski again....I was in shock. He was HUGE for a 4mth pup in my eyes.....

I wasnt smitten I dont think....took him home & named him Murphy as he was jet black with 4 white tips to his paws....I went to work that night & left him with my flatmate. When I got home at 1am they were all still up as he was crying being shut in the kitchen to sleep so I got my duvet & joined him on the kitchen floor & the wee lamb curled up in my arms & zonked out til 9am. NOW i was in love!!!

3 mths later I laminated the whole flat as every carpet had been pee'd on a hundred times - but I still loved him!! & enjoyed learning as he learnt & taking him to puppy class etc & seeing him grow into the true gentleman he is today (21mths old now!).

Happy & content with my family of 2 (me n murf) - I would occassionally (ok - quite a lot) coo over various dogs in the adoption pages... I fostered Erin for a week (a record surely!) & thought - nah, as lovely as she was -I couldnt share Murf as he was really down having to share his mum with Erin....

Then Dave sent me an email one day with a picture of Pretty Lady on it - Sha had taken it the day she went to see her at the kennels shortly b4 picking her up to foster her.

She looked an absolute mess - huge open sores on her thighs, bald & utterly utterly miserable & ready to give up on life. My heart bled.

I couldnt get her out of my head & went up to Sharons as often as I could to visit her - each visit just wrenched at my heart even more. Im not sure if it was very clever planning on Sharons front or just 'the right time' but Sha asked me to take her overnight a few weeks ago & take her to the Hot Dog Show to meet any potential families....she always did get on well with Murf, but staying over at a strange house that Friday night didnt faze her at all & she was just a total joy to look after....day of the show....I just couldnt bear the thought of anyone adopting her & Id never be able to see her again.....

Im sure a lot of you prob saw the turmoil going on in my head that day....it was all I could do not to cry half the time.....

and the rest, as they say, is history!!!!

GAL - you have changed my life & made every single minute of it shine!! Thankyou from the bottom of my heart for my two beautiful best friends!!! And Sharon....words just dont exist for just how special a person I think you are!! Thankyou.

.....someone pass the tissues.....

-- Edited by Suzanne at 23:15, 2005-06-20

FAJ · Enlightened One

Okay, I'm blubbing now...... Not such a good look for a Tuesday morning at work!

Suzanne popped round to our place last night and Maisie and Murphy had a wee tootle round our garden. They are just the cutest, sweetest, most darling little poppets together. Thoroughly adorable and so cuddly-uppy together that I'm amazed Suz gets any work done of a day for looking at them!

Maisie is coming on great guns, and was happy to take treats and even seemed fine with Steve. For a little lass, she doesn't half have big feet! Just gorgeous.

Nicki · Big Cheese

lol nicki and janie.x