Stories and postcards...
A letter from Slip...
Hello everyone, my name is Slip and I’ve got one of my many friends, here at Gosling Moor Farm to type this letter up for me. (My paws are too big for the keyboard you see!)
I’ve been here for almost a year now, and although I like it here, and love to see all my many friends and walkers who come to see me, deep down I would love a nice warm comfy home to spend the rest of my life as a retired greyhound.
Lots of people tell me I’m a big, strong, handsome dog! All I know is that I absolutely love people and get on fine with other Greyhounds. I love to walk and play, especially with my bright orange ball, and always try to win! (This is what I was taught from been a puppy) I love to play a bit ruff, but deep down I’m a BIG softie.
I can sometimes be a bit boisterous, so living in a house with those little humans may not be such a good idea. I’ve been told by many people that I walk beautifully on the lead.
The reason I think I’m still here is because sometimes I can get very grumpy with other dogs. I’m unpredictable, if the mood takes me I can just look and walk on, but other times I want to bark at them and pull on my lead. I don’t know why I do this. I need someone who can help me to realise that all breeds of dog are fine and there’s no need to get grumpy with them, but I feel my new owner will have to spend time and patience to help me understand. I will reward them with lots of love and affection.
My uncle Roy (he’s the kennel manager) knows me really well and can maybe tell you more about me. Why not give him a call at the farm or call in to see me.
Thanks for reading my letter
Slip.
stories & postcards...
Hello you lot
I made my break for freedom at the end of last summer (2004) at the tender age of almost 4! To start with I found it all a bit much in the big wide world, even my new garden was a bit scary but once I had conquered that I was very happy until I met what was to become my new best mate. Dad's mum and dad have a Jack Russell called Toby and at first we didn't know what to make of each other but we get on fine now, our favourite game is when we go to the seaside for a run on the beach. Toby chases his ball and I chase him but he cheats coz he can stop really fast and I have to run past or jump over him and turn around in a big arc. Mum's mum has another greyhound called Jess and we get on well but I'm not to sure about the cats that she lives with, one had the audacity to scratch my nose so I keep a good distance from all cats now, be warned, they're scary, honest!
Mum and dad had a house warming party just after I arrived and I found that people were great at slipping me titbits but the thing I like most is bread. I've been nicknamed "the snaffler" due to my ability to nick things when they aren't looking like a mince pie off the table at Christmas, including tin foil wrapper (dad had a panic trying to get the foil out of my mouth) the cheese from the top of pizzas and mum wasn't too happy when I helped myself to half of a Savoy cabbage she was saving. I've mastered the stairs, only falling down them when I'm a bit too eager for breakfast and set off down them before dad can turn the light on and usually end up falling down the last few, again giving dad a heart attack! I sleep upstairs with my mum & dad but sometimes I get a bit of wind and dad usually isn't too happy blaming my mum first, I just keep my head down and don't move. My other beds are in the living room and dining room, don't tell mum and dad but when they go out and don't put anything on the settee I like to settle down on there for an hour or two.
I usually get two walks a day and I love going for a walk in my woods near my house. We usually end up at the pub on the other side but I don't mind coz dad always gets me a bag of crisps and I have been know to have a little sip of his beer on the (very) rare occasion.
Good luck to all of you left and I hope you all get nice homes like mine one day
Love Suzzie
Just a note to tell you I like this retirement lark, lots of walks in the woods in my new coat. Don't wear my muzzle much now. I have been to my training class “a piece of cake” I was a bit worried at first because every one was barking all at once, but then I showed them, I can bark too! I can't do this “sit” or “weave” thing, can't understand what good it is, but I am very good at standing and glaring, especially at one very small noisy little mongrel dog who gets on my nerves a bit. It may be something to do with his breeding. My garden is great too, plenty of places for me to get my nose in and have a good sniff round. I get milk and biscuits for my breakfast. I did try tuna, I liked it but it gave me dreadful wind which isn't very sociable and phew……. did it pong…….. so had to give it up. A small price to pay as I have my greyhound mixer, with lovely tins of doggie beef from Marks and Spencers or maybe sometimes pedigree chum. I also like Ryvita with just a little vegemite on, very tasty. Sometimes I go out in the car and visit family and friends, I am ashamed to say I forgot my manners and peed on their hi-fi. I think I was just a little too excited because they had a cat, and I could smell it but I couldn't find it anywhere. It must have been hiding from me, I can't understand why can you?I do have a party trick, which makes my carers laugh. When I come in from my walk in the rain I dive head down onto my blanket and rub my face dry, I don't like it wet you see. I thought it was rather clever of me. I do like to be tidy so I gather socks, pants, bras anything small I can take to my bed and keep them to play with. I don't chew them but they do smell nice .
Thanks again for finding me a nice home.
From “Helens Hero”
lick lick
I DIDN'T REALLY WANT YOU,
WASN'T REALLY SURE,
AND I'LL ADMIT I HAD MY DOUBTS,
WHEN YOU CAME THROUGH THAT DOOR.
NOT SMALL, OR CUTE, OR FLUFFY,
WITH BIG SOFT PUPPY EYES,
BUT TALL, AND THIN, AND BONY,
WITH BALD, PINK, BULGING THIGHS.
YOU WEREN'T THE KIND I HAD IN MIND,
NOT IN ANY WAY,
“PERHAPS IT WOULD BE BETTER IF I TOOK YOU BACK TODAY,
BEFORE WE KNOW EACH OTHER,
IT REALLY WON'T BE KIND,
TO KEEP YOU HERE FOR ONE MORE DAY,
AND THEN TO CHANGE MY MIND.”
BUT AGAINST MY BETTER JUDGMENT, I DECIDED YOU COULD STAY,
AND QUICKLY I DISCOVERED YOU WERE KIND IN EVERY WAY,
YOUR GENTLENESS AND PATIENCE, THEY REALLY STOLE THE SHOW,
“WHY THESE DOGS ARE WONDERFUL, I MUST LET OTHERS KNOW!”
FOR YOU'RE MY GENTLE GIANT,
WHO JUST NEEDED THE CHANCE,
TO SHOW US ALL WHAT YOU COULD BE,
TO WIPE AWAY THAT HISTORY,
AND DISPEL OUR PRECONCEPTIONS, WHICH PUT US ALL TO SHAME,
AND SO WE COME TO KNOW AND LOVE,
WHAT LIES BENEATH THAT FRAME.
AND NOW I'VE COME TO UNDERSTAND,
WHAT I MISSED RIGHT AT THE START,
THAT GREYHOUNDS NEED THAT BIG DEEP CHEST,
TO HOUSE THEIR GENEROUS HEART.
Written by Denise Dubarbier for her own greyhound who impressed her with his loving and gentle nature that I wanted to share this discovery with everyone.
COME THE DAY I TAKE THAT FINAL BEND,
CAN I COUNT ON YOU TO BE A FRIEND?
TO SEE I'M TREATED JUST AND FAIR,
IT MEANS SO MUCH TO KNOW YOU CARE.
FOR WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS IN STORE,
NOW THAT I CAN RACE NO MORE,
SHOULD BE ADDRESSED FOR EVERY HOUND,
WHO PARTS THE PUNTER FROM HIS POUND.
TELL THEM I DON,T ASK FOR MUCH,
A KINDLY WORD, A GENTLE TOUCH,
SOMEWHERE WARM TO LAY MY HEAD,
A MEAL EACH DAY TO KEEP ME FED,
NOT JUST LIFE – BUT QUALITY,
THIS IS HOW IT AUGHT TO BE.
DO NOT SEE ME SWEPT AWAY,
I LONG TO LIVE ANOTHER DAY,
WITH PEACE OF MIND, TRANQUILITY,
AND THOSE WHO CARE SURROUNDING ME,
SO TELL THEM ALL – YOU HAVE THAT CHOICE,
I BEG OF YOU TO BE MY VOICE.
Written by Denise Dubarbier
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