Yarm
und ho
h Grey t ou
Newsletter
Publisher: Michele Perry Issue Number: 39
Homefinders
Date: Spring 2017
Kennels situated at 51 Cromer Road, Hainford, NR10 3AU (on A140) and are Open from 10am until 2pm every day. www.yarmouth-greyhound-homefinders.co.uk Telephone: 0845 458 3797
Note from the editor Hello everyone, welcome to the Spring edition of the newsletter. At the moment the beautiful balmy summer nights seem a long way off. But hopefully we will soon start to think that Spring is on the way. My two have been enjoying crispy morning walks in the frost, we think that snow a few weeks ago was the first Bella had seen! She loved it for the short time it was on the ground, zooming round like a puppy possessed. We feel like we are finally turning a corner with her separation anxieties, this week I left the twosome at home to go to a meeting with a new customer. I did this without feeling too stressed about them. We have managed 2 hours with only a few minutes of howling when looking at the video footage. So for any other owners struggling with this issue, hang in there, keep building up the times you leave them, keep them distracted with stuffed food toys, and hopefully you will get there too! On a final note, thanks for all the photos and letters that get posted to me for the newsletter, please remember that the kennel address is in Hainford (at the top of this page), and that I only work on the newsletter. I received a couple of Christmas cards at my address with cheque donations to Homefinders, of course I passed them on, but please use my address for newsletter items only. Please send me your stories for the Summer newsletter: michele_storer@hotmail.com I’ll try to include as many as I can.
Michele
Restraining your dog in the car - by Linda Johnson When I see unrestrained dogs in cars it always worries me. There are two very good reasons for restraining your dog. Firstly it is all about safety, theirs and yours. Did you know that the risk of dying in an accident is 5 times more likely if there is an unrestrained back seat passenger. In a head on collision that rises to 6 or 7? A typical rear seat passenger is flung forward at 30mph with a force of 3.5tons.Your average greyhound might not weigh as much as a human but it is enough to put you at risk if they are catapulted forward in a collision or on hard braking. Perhaps just as importantly, having them unrestrained puts them at risk of death or severe injury. The second reason - Section 58 of the Highway Code deals with travelling with pets “When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly” Breaching the Highway Code is not an offence in itself but driving with an unrestrained dog may amount to driving without due care and attention and if you are in an accident it may be dangerous driving. The Highway Code recommends that dogs are restrained by using a seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard. Pet stores sell harnesses but these don’t work if, like me, you have the back seats down or you transport your dog in the boot area of your car. You need access to the seat belt clip. Car manufacturers make guards for their models but these can be expensive. However, you can buy adaptable guards that fit onto the front or rear seat headrests. The one I use has been in everything from a Clio to a Rav is £34.99 at Halfords. There is a cheaper one at £26.99. For the safety of both you and your dog please think seriously about restraining your dog in the car.
Yarmouth Greyhound Homefinders, a branch of the Retired Greyhound Trust Registered Charity No: 269668
Editor: michele_storer@hotmail.com 25 Vanguard Chase, Costessey, Norwich NR5 0UG
Boxing Day
Admin and Requests Are any of our owners a Chartered Accountant? Would you be able to audit our accounts which are prepared by the accountant at the Stadium? If so please ring Corinne on 08454 583797
Email Newsletter
Stephen Franklin, our Chairman,presenting the cup to the winner of the Homefinders Veterans Race with Corinne, Marley and Tanya.
If you would prefer to receive an email version of the newsletter, instead of a printed and posted version (to keep costs down), could you please email: michele_storer@hotmail.com even if you have previously opted out of the post version. We are creating a new email list.
Winter Walk
The Winter Walk at Saxlingham Nethergate was very wet! The hot soup in the village hall afterwards was very welcome.
Greyhound training video by Kathy Berner ADipCbm As some people are aware I’ve decided to make a simple training film specific to a Greyhounds needs when they go in to a pet home. I’m making it on a budget. I’m hoping that this will help people new to Greyhounds as pets. It will cover basic training and talk about their anatomy in brief a bit about food and how they are different from other dogs to train. It will touch on behavior problems and how to prevent and work on them safely. This is a protect for me this year. I’m grateful to all the owners that have come forward so far to take part. If you would like to take part please email me (bernerk38@gmail.com). Any proceeds of the training film will be donated to Yarmouth Greyhound Homefinders..
Todd demonstrating the stand stay exercise in a distracting area for the DVD
CO-ORDINATOR’S BIT Are you like me and glad when the days get longer again? You’re either walking the greys in darkness or no sooner have you completed one walk it’s time to get wrapped up and go out again! Christmas seems a million years away now. Once again the Christmas Fayre was well received and thank you to everyone who helped or contributed in some way. The hall is booked again for this year as it is one of the few halls allowing us to bring the dogs with us. It never ceases to amaze us the generosity of folk at Christmas (and the rest of the year too). Not only will the dogs have plenty of extra treats but the Staff were well supplied with biscuits and sweets to keep them going. Thank you everyone for your generosity. We are about to redo our lists of fosterers, home checkers and Stadium collectors this year. Further in the Newsletter you will find a form, if you could complete it and send to the kennels if you are interested in helping in any of these ways we will add you to our lists.
Dogs homed since last newsletter. Wilson (Kelva Wilson), Koby (Rydal Pirate), Captain(Sparkle Jack), Nobby (Perfect Nemesis), Senni (Montis Sienna), Laddy (Country Lad), Dillon (Moors Billy), Thor (Pride of Jura), Poppy (Swanley Girl), Archie (Strike Two),Vayron (Come on Pilgrim), Teddy (Fair Play Paul), Pongo (Boulick Pine), Josie (Marlfield Josie), Summer (Some Flyer), Whizzy (Dr Whizz), Penny (Pennys Lucy), Will (Alanwill).
VOLUNTEER FORM I would like to be added to the list to: Foster. I can foster a dog
or bitch
Tick as appropriate Homecheck. Areas I can cover.
We generally only foster dogs short term for several reasons. 1. T hey have had some surgery and need to recover from anaesthetic.
Stadium collections
2. T hey are elderly and have been returned due to various circumstances i.e. Death of owner, owner too sick or in hospital and the family are unable to care for dog.
Personal Details Name
3 They have injured themselves and need to recover. We cannot guarantee you will not join the ‘failed fosterer ’club as several of us have!! Home checking is a lovely way of meeting prospective greyhound owners. There is a form to complete and you can chat about our wonderful breed to a captive audience. We collect at the Stadium gates on Saturdays from March until December and on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays during school holidays. We meet at 6pm, collect until about 7.45pm after that you are free to go or carry on and watch the racing. It works out you are on the rota about 6 weekly at your convenience. A list of some of the events we will attend this year is in this letter. This is by no means complete as further invites will be received. The Walk list is not complete at all as I am waiting for offers to organise a walk in your area. We hope to welcome you all to our first Open day on March 5th especially some of our newer owners. Look forward to meeting you all then.
Corinne
Address
Phone
Please post to:Yarmouth Greyhound Homefinders, 51 Cromer Road, Hainford, NR10 3AU
Puppy Update
Stanley has settled in well although he occasionally thinks he’s an Andrex puppy!
Willow has settled in wonderfully well she is a joy to have. She is funny, intelligent, and loving. She loves having her teeth cleaned. We are so lucky to have her.
After a leisurely stroll around the paddock, Noel offered to get the refreshments. Mum slave at your service boys!
Ray and Jo Howes
Liam and Noel have perfected their poses!
Some action from Stanley on the beach, he even had a swim in a rock pool that was deeper than he expected
Homefinders Greyhound Walks Could you organise a walk in your area? Have you a favourite walk you would like to share? Next year we would like our owners to show us where they like to walk their hounds. If you could organise a walk please contact Corinne, to let her know where, when and directions and we can put it into our programme. The choice of venue is yours!
Christmas Fayre
Four of the puppies turned up to visit their first Christmas fayre
Hetty’s Helpers Hetty wishes her sponsors a very happy new year. She would like you to know that her new year wish came true and she now has a new boyfriend called Romeo. He is currently being put in his place (see the photo) but they are settling down very well together. So if she seems a bit distracted from her Hetty’s Helpers role you will know why!! Hetty’s many sponsors come from near and far and she is thrilled to have sponsors as far away as Switzerland. Noam and Miles, who live in Zurich, have been sponsors for a while and this year particularly wanted to sponsor Arty. Of course Arty will directly benefit from their sponsorship and I know that a picture of Arty now has pride of place in their home. Why not become a Hetty’s Helper, it is easy.You can set up a standing order for anything from £1 a month, make an annual donation, or send a one off donation to Hetty via the kennels. All donations go directly to the welfare of those dogs awaiting homes. Contact Hetty on jones432@btinternet.com or ask at the kennels.
Letters to the editor Hello Michele, Memories of summer.
This is a picture of my lovely dog Alfie (Sligo Too) with two of his friends who had come to visit. Black dog is Lucy (Athlacca Lucy) and the white one is Bonzo (Days Demanc). After the initial excitement of seeing each other they decided to have a siesta in the garden.
Hello Michele, It is with an aching heart and tears that won’t stop that I have to report the passing of my darling Zina (Breezy in kennels, Tomscabin Breeze) tonight, 16th January 2017. Zina chose me eight years ago when I came to the kennels looking for love. She gave this to me in buckets and I gave it back to her. She was my constant companion and best friend. I don’t know how to go on without her. She trusted me and I had to let her go. Arthritic legs, poor heartbeat, bad tummy causing her extreme distress made my decision necessary but so, so difficult. I have no family and she was it for me. She could never, ever be replaced. Everyone who met her loved her. Small dogs bit her legs, her tail, her tummy and she never, ever retaliated. She walked my village always off lead and ignored the many, many cats except for one – Willow, who became her best friend. When we walked the farmer’s field we saw many rabbits but she never chased them. She wanted to be friends with them but they didn’t understand. I understood her and she understood me. A sharp “wait” from me always made her stop in her tracks and not move until I told her OK. This is why no vehicles ever touched her, nothing ever hurt her and she will be in my heart forever. This photo was taken at Christmas showing her in her old age. She just made 12.
From Carol Booth, Lowestoft Hi Michele, Here is Tanya being a PAT dog at my Saxlingham Monday Mardle meeting. The elderly folk love her.
Lora Meredith Dear Michele
Marley prefers to take it easy and the ‘slaves’ come to him. He’s an old hand been doing it for 7 years.
Asher and Gad (also known as double trouble or the chuckle brothers) came into our lives 2 years ago on February 7th. Whether it’s Asher barking to make his entrance everywhere we go or ‘shy little Gad’ barging his brother out of the way for a cuddle, they make us smile every day. We love our noisy monster (Asher) and little monkey (Gad) and are so very grateful to Yarmouth Homefinders for letting us become devoted slaves to this loopy pair of hounds. Sarah and Steve
Corinne
Dear Michele
Hi Michele,
When my parents Tina and Andrew said they were going to the kennels to get a new coat for Katie we all joked they would come back with a friend for her and by the next day Nobby was reserved to come home with them!
Here is my Sean enjoying the recent snow.
Katie and Nobby have both become partners in crime and in true Greyhound style there is no grass left in the garden from all the playing! Katie still has full control over the sofa but Nobby being so relaxed is quite happy with this. He has also been fantastic with his extended family their granddaughter Lottie who is three. Katie has always loved Lottie giving her loads of kisses (sometimes to many!) and Nobby has been so kind and gentle with her too. He has met a new friend Bobby the black Labrador, it got very playful with the three of them! A few things have been chewed but he is most definitely part of the family.
Kathy Berner
Long Stay Residents Arty, Impey and Cecil are three of our kennel hounds who have been with us a long time. They are still looking for their forever sofas. Could you offer any of them a home?
Dear Michele Thought I would send you a photo of my two girls Kiki (Niblock Keiana) and Sooty, sharing the sofa.
Arty
Debbie
Impey
Cecil
2017 Events Sunday 5th March: New Year Open Day at the kennels 11am to 3pm April 23rd: Greyhound walk - Beccles 11am Meet at free car park opposite Morrisons Sunday 7th May: Stadium Track Walk. 11am to 3pm Sunday 21st May: Spring Open Day Greyhound Show Sunday 28th May: RGT Greyhound Extravaganza Dullington Sunday 4th June: Greyhound walk with Lois - Details To Be Confirmed Sunday 11th June: GB Greyhound Walk, various venues Sunday 2nd July: Discover South Norfolk Long Stratton 11-4 To Be Confirmed Sunday 9th July: Summer Open Day at kennels 11am-3pm Sunday 30th July: Wells Next the Sea Fete All Day Sunday 27th Monday 28th August: All About Dogs Norfolk Showground Sunday 1st October: Autumn Open Day 11-2 Auction. 12 noon Saturday 9th Dec: Christmas Fayre Taverham Village Hall 1pm -3.30pm
Spotted!
Greyhounds on the gate at Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire, original home of Clumber spaniels, now National Trust.
Outside an art gallery “Tanner & Lawson” in Burnham Market. Michele Perry
By Juliet Blaxland Designed and Typeset by Michele of www.px2co.net Design for print and web Printed by www.blackwellprint.co.uk