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Post Info TOPIC: BUDDY
Dave


Enlightened One

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BUDDY
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There's lots of ups and downs rescuing Greyhounds, fraid on Thursday evening GAL had one of those downs. Buddy was a 3 year old White and Black Greyhound, surrendered to GAL in late January this year by his owner who was using him for hunting.


Buddy was a funny character, big and bouncy, liked to jump 3 feet in the air when his lead was produced, he just liked to get on with things in his own colourful way.


On Thursday afternoon Buddy was being walked by Rachel at the kennels when, unprovoked, he attacked her. Thankfully due to Rachels vast dog experience she was just able to control the situation although the attack lasted for 10 - 15 minutes. In less experienced hands, due to the ferocity of the attack, serious injury may have been sustained. Rachel was bitten a couple of times but thankfully not too seriously.


We let Buddy settle down for a few hours then he was taken to our vets for a check up, the vet could find nothing physically wrong with him, at this stage GAL took the decision to have Buddy euthanised.


This was a really hard decision for us, he's only the 2nd dog in my 6 years as a GAL volunteer that's been euthanised. As you all know GAL's policy is never to euthanise any dog, regardless of any issues, where we feel there's an alternative solution however in this case given what happened we felt there was no alternative course of action available. Additionally, as all Greyhound owners know, such an event is so out of character for a Greyhound we felt we had take this action.


I felt I should post something here in memory of Buddy and to let you folks that visit the kennels regularly know what happened to him. Some bricks for the GAL Kennel Fund have been bought in Buddys memory.


I'm glad that for atleast the last 5 months of his life Buddy was happy and well cared for in our kennels and not living in the squalid conditions GAL rescued him from.


Buddy (Dooneen Miler) 01/03/2003 - 25/05/2006 


 



-- Edited by Dave at 16:56, 2006-05-27

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greyluvver


GAL Membership Co-Ordinator

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Sorry to hear this.  It is understandable why the decision was taken, difficult though it was.  Hope Rachel is recovering well.   

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Lita
Fiona


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That is very sad news. As you say, it's very unusual for a greyhound to do this.

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Calatria


Master

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That's so sad.  We can only wonder what was going on in Buddy's head.  Having him pts was a horrible decision to have to make but completely understandable.  Hope Rachel is doing OK and recovers quickly.

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Christine Young


GAL Newsletter Editor

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I can only echo what's been said before. Goodness only knows what Buddy had been through to make him attack Rachel in the way he did. Hope Rachel is OK!


Christine



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glendy


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Rachel is physically OK as she was able to control Buddy enough that her wounds are not deep. She's been more affected by the shock of the whole thing and is fighting some understandable fear. I think she's also finding it a bit difficult to come to terms with since Buddy was usually such a friendly, likable boy.

I think this has come as a shock to all of us as it's so contradictory to the normal nature of a greyhound.

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glendy
mabel


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This is really sad news indeed. I'm so glad Rachael is ok and i hope she gets back to her oldself very soon. Buying some bricks for Buddy is such a lovely thing to do but how sad  

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max


Enlightened One

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So sorry to hear about Rachaels experience and very upseting for her. Hope you are OK Rachael and you can get over the shock. Better that this happened with an experienced dog handler than show it,s self after he was rehomed when the consequences could have been a lot worse. Sad that Buddy was put to sleep but completly understandable under the circumstances. BE AT REST BIG BOY.X Nora

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"YOU OWE IT TO YOUR DOG TO BE WORTHY OF IT,S DEVOTION".
GreyGal


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I just wanted to add my own little message for Buddy.  I was the one who took him away from his owner in January and he stayed with us before going to Rachel's.  I was really sad to hear what had happened to Buddy as he seemed like such a good boy.  I have no idea what could have made him "snap" and do such an awful thing but I guess we just don't know what happened to him before he made it to GAL.  He certainly was not looked after by his owner, that was clear.


It must have been a terrible shock for Rachel and I really hope that she is on the mend, emotionally as well as physically.  


Run free Buddy............


Pamela. 



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FAJ


Enlightened One

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A horrible situation for everyone involved. I hope that Rachel recovers mentally and physically very soon. Extremely unlike a greyhound. Poor Buddy. You all did everything that you could for him.

Fiona

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Ambers Mum


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I was really upset to hear about Rachel's terrible ordeal from what must have been a poor mixed up greyhound who had lots of skeletons in his cupboard.  I cannot imagine how Rachel coped for 10 - 15 minutes in, what must have been, terrifying circumstances for her.


I do hope that Rachel gets over this very soon although I can imagine it may take some time.....  Fortunately these things happen very infrequently.  Chin up Rachel, there's all those other 4 legged kids wishing you a happy and speedy recovery xx


I would like to commend those of you who had to make the decision to let Buddy go onto his next life.  You sound like you did all you could to assess whether their was a reason for his change in behaviour before you did the right thing for Buddy and for all other greyhounds and their owners/handlers.


It's so sad to hear the stories of dogs which 'turn', for what seems like no reason at all.  We have to respect dogs, just as we do any animal don't we?.... 


Goodness knows what horrid things must have happened to Buddy in his short 3 year life but at least his last few months were in your environment where he sounds as if he was showered with the love and attention he so deserved from the day he came into this life.


Sleep well Buddy.


Kate x



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glendy


Master

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In Memory of Buddy
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Many thanks to the anonymous donor for contributing to the GAL Forum community fund in memory of Buddy.

The forum has become a vital part of GAL's extended community. Donations to the fund:

* help us to keep the forum ad-free
* allow us to use broadcast messages to contact all our members easily and quickly
* permit our members to use of one of their favourite features - customised avatars!

and in this special case also marks the memory of a dog who sadly didn't make it to his permanent home.

THANK YOU!

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glendy
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