Yarmouth Greyhound Homefinders - Winter Newsletter 2016

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Newsletter

Publisher: Michele Perry Issue Number: 38

Date: Winter 2016

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

Homefinders Homefinders Note from the editor

HETTY’S HELPERS

Welcome to our Winter edition of the newsletter, I’m still wondering what on earth happened to this year. It’s been eventful and emotional for us personally, so we are hoping that 2017 will be much easier for us. I’m looking forward to seeing our little lady growing up, and hoping to put our separation anxiety issues behind us.

With so many puppies and dogs homed this year in the Homefinders family, this will be the first Christmas at home for a great many of our dogs. I’m sure that “Santa Paws” will be good to all our four legged friends. Please see the guide on the back page about foods which could cause them harm. Always good to know the facts and things to avoid.

Be quick, there are only a few calendars left for sale, they feature our photo competition winners. The calendars have a new lower price this year, of £4.99.

They are available at the kennels, and can be posted for a small delivery charge.

DON’T FORGET HOMEFINDERS CHRISTMAS FAYRE

Hetty is jumping for joy (see picture) to tell you that the number of “Hetty’s Helpers” is growing steadily.

A “Hetty’s Helper” is someone who donates via annual or monthly standing order, or once a year by cheque or by a one off gift.

A “Hetty’s Helper” is helping to care specifically for the greyhounds awaiting homes in our kennels.

Hetty regularly meets all of her pals in the kennels and sees the value of the contribution of her Helpers. She invites all of her Helpers to visit the kennels when they can to see for themselves the benefits of their donation.

For more information or forms contact Hetty at jones432@btinternet.com or call on 01263 825139 or ask at the kennels.

Taverham Village Hall, Sandy Lane from 1pm-3.30pm December 10th

Michele

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

Bed Sharing We recently asked some of our Facebook Group to send in photos of their greyhounds sharing beds, what a lovely lazy bunch of hounds we all have!

Indoor Fun by Kathy Berner ADipCbm At this time of year sometimes the weather prevents us getting out for walks as often as we might like. There are a range of indoor games to enjoy with your greyhound and for your greyhound to enjoy independently too.

Snuffle mats - brilliant for sniffing and scent games and hide and seek, you can make your own snuffle mat quite easily.You Tube has many tutorials on how to make them.

Kong stuffing with their favourite snacks - one of the best ways to keep them busy for longer is stuffing the Kong in multiple layers of food, and then freeze it. By freezing the ingredients, it will last much longer and provide more stimulation for your canine companion Try some hand target training for your hounds to help them cope with worry. Get the treat and hide it in your hand, then present back of your hand the moment they sniff your hand reward. Do this few times then say the word “touch” and saying “yes” or click with clicker. Sniffing is calming for dogs so is licking. So all of these ideas are great boredom busters.

Try searching You Tube for “make my own snuffle matt”

Lots of brain games will tire your hound out on rainy cold days.

You can also do indoor trick training games. Look up “kiko pup” on YouTube for tricks you can try. Also a great bit if tech called “Pet tutor” or “manners minder” are good for very busy dogs, but they can be expensive, so hopefully my homemade games will not break the bank.

My motto if it’s raining enjoy some fun training. Keep it short and enjoy!

CO-ORDINATOR’S BIT Well another year draws to a close, Christmas is just around the corner and 2017 will be upon us before we know it.

Our final event of the year will be on December 10th,our popular Christmas Fayre. We always hold it at Taverham Village Hall, Sandy Lane from 1pm-3.30pm as we are lucky enough to be able to use the dog matting kindly supplied by Broadland Dog Training Club enabling us to bring our hounds. We always welcome cakes, tombola prizes and this year bottles, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, for our bottle tombola. All our events throughout the year are well attended so I’d like to thank the great band of volunteers who never let us down and turn up each Open day, in all weathers, and tirelessly help get everything ready and man the stalls and to the ladies who always come up with delicious refreshments and all those who donate gifts for the stalls.

We are so lucky to have such a wonderful group of volunteers who never cease to amaze me. Walkers who turn out whatever the weather to walk either on the field or further afield. Loyal people who drive the van and come with me to various events promoting our lovely dogs and giving up their weekends to find forever homes.

A small band of folk who cover the gates at the Stadium collecting money for us, thank you to their hounds too, we know it can be very cold in the winter fellas! To our Bric a Brac Queen, she knows who she is, for the amazing amount of money you raise for us by going to Car Boot Sales and Craft Fairs. The list goes on and on and Molly, Krista and I couldn’t do it without every one of you.

Thank you from the team and the hounds.

Time to hope Santa remembers to visit our lovely hounds who have been very good all year! We welcome tins of dog food, toys and treats for them. This year a butcher is supplying turkey for their Christmas dinner, lucky hounds. As usual on Christmas morning everyone is welcome to come and walk the dogs.

I have already included a list of next year’s Open days.

I have not included a list of walks. Would you like to organise a walk in your area? I’m sure many of you have a favourite walk you’d like to share with us all. Just send me when and where and I will send out the list to all our owners. Postcode is always useful. We will, of course, have our track walk in May. May I take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy Christmas and a Greyt 2017, thank you to everyone and keep up the good work.

Corinne

Dogs homed since last newsletter.

Henry (Famous Walk), Koby (Rydal Pirate), Todd (Watch the Black), Sam (Salmon Fishing), Billy (Whats the Truth), Pop (Conlig Pop), Bull (Moors Bull), Saskia (Active Dame), Jessie (Stonepark Jet), Livi (Rondun Olivia), Kimmy (Tuckers Legacy), Katy (Kelva Kate), Olly (Camsendjo), Flower (Juranium), Mikey (Velvet Big Mike), Troy (Handy Bill), Biddy (Biddys Duffys), King (Jacks King), Pride (Moors Pride), Ace (Ven Jura Ace), Millie (Perfect Spirit), Mac (Mad Mac Mad), Romeo (En Cad Blue), Michelle (Rockspirit Baby), Sky( Rockspirit Blue), Amanda (Highview Blaze), Joker (Blue Joker).

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 just let me have where, when and directions and we can put it into our programme. The choice of venue is yours!

Open Days 2017 March 5th Kennels 11-2pm Stalls, refreshments including homemade soup

May 21st Greyhound Show 1st Class 12 midday Trophy for 1st Place and Rosettes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each class.

Stalls refreshment + BBQ

July 9th Kennels 11-2 Stalls, refreshments, BBQ

September 30th Auction Starts at 12 noon Stalls, refreshments

December 9th Christmas Fayre Taverham Village Hall 11-3.30pm

Puppy Update

They all enjoyed a small cuppa to celebrate teddy having his final vaccination today, accompanied by his bruvs.

He also met his sister willow too.

Ps. Noting the cups lined up, later....Exactly their personalities

Noel and Liam decided to play “how many greyhounds can get into a Smart car” before brother Teddy left for his forever home in Scotland.

L to R Noel, Teddy and Liam. Regards, Angie Clarke

ITV news correspondent Nina Nannar says farewell to her beloved greyhound Biscuit, who changed her life forever. (Taken from the EDP with kind permission from Nina) We have just had to say farewell to our beloved greyhound Biscuit. His hind legs have been giving up, letting the rest of his beautiful body down. It’s a neurological thing the vets in Norwich told us.

There was nothing to be done, but we knew that. We took the only decision we could. He went painlessly. We hurt like hell. This former champion racer had helped shape our future.

resume London life. Biscuit tolerated the mean streets of Queens Park and even forgave us when we had a slight mishap with the car boot and the tip of his tail one dark night. Then, and again I can’t recall who said what to whom, we found ourselves moving to Norfolk, Biscuit’s county. He loved beaches. Two nil to Biscuit.

When you make a decision about moving cities, you do it considering your whole family. Norwich was right for us but we knew it would be better for Biscuit too. Families should be a democracy. His vote mattered.

The years of chasing squirrels, of doing the school run, hanging around outside, waiting for his fan club of school children to cuddle him: “Biscuit, Biscuit” they would squeal. We stood by proudly.

I still can’t quite remember the sequence of events, the conversations that somehow lead this London family – us – to a greyhound rescue charity in Hainford seven years ago.

The long beach walks when he would sprint a bit – as a greyhound these were brief dashes, they’re a breed that don’t like to exert themselves.

We had only popped up to Norfolk for the weekend, something we were increasingly doing, and I can’t recall who said what to whom, but we found ourselves at the Yarmouth Greyhound Homefinders.

The times he would secretly jump onto the sofa when we were out, and then dive back down when he saw our car coming up the drive. Poor Biscuit, we could see what he was up to through the window, but chose to pretend that we hadn’t sussed him out. Three nil to Biscuit.

Greyhounds, those bred to run, can have a hard life. And it’s these rescue centres, whose volunteers hang around racetracks on race days, that offer them a respite when the legs have gone, when the urge to chase the pretend bunny around the track, has waned with age.

Or just plain laziness. They are after all the couch potato of the dog world. So there we were. And there he was. Grab The Biscuit. Mr Happy as he was dubbed at the centre.

He bounded up to us and with that one bound he had us.

We always said Biscuit chose us. And he did. One nil to Biscuit.

So, we had a dog. Packed into the car, we drove back to

The times as a Pets as Therapy dog, we’d take him around a local care home, meeting people with dementia. My embarrassment as he decided to sit down, when they were trying to reach him from wheelchairs so they could pat him.

Walking down the road in Norwich just seems weird without him beside us. The dog poo bags are still in every pocket of every jacket I have.

There’s a Biscuit sized hole at home now. He seemed to suddenly enter our life. Fill it. And now he’s gone. He wasn’t just a dog to us. He was a gamechanger. And we’re so grateful for that.

Winterton Walk

Open Day at the Kennels

Letters to the editor Dear Michele,

Dear Michele, We have had Legend for 5 years and Tallulah for 4 1/2 They have 3 large beds between them. Never have they shared a bed until last week this happened,notice there is no touching.

Maureen and I lost our boy Finn recently. He was 2 months short of 14 years old and remained a grumpy old man all his life. Although he was not an easy dog and generally kept us on our toes he is greatly missed and life has certainly changed for us without his somewhat eccentric behaviour. Hetty missed him very much From an amazed Sandy for quite a while. Rest peacefully Finn.

Hi Michele, David In her 13 years of life, my little terrier Titch has only truly liked about 4 dogs, one of which was a greyhound. I had always hoped that one day I might be able to have one.

When our much loved house rabbit passed away I started to give it some serious thought. Could I find a dog that was okay with the children (aged 3 and 6) and that my dog Dear Michele, would like? Would it be fair to introduce another dog at I thought it would be another couple of years before I this stage in her life? had to write this email, but I lost my lovely gentle girl I had a little yesterday and I feel at this moment my heart will break. look on the She had been slowing down quite a bit over the past website and few months and she started having seizures and since lo and behold, Wednesday of this week, she didn’t come out of her den the most much. The seizures got quite bad and my vet came out gentle looking and she went over the rainbow bridge, where I know greyhound her best friend Finbar was waiting for her. I held her I’d ever seen and she went peacefully to sleep. looked straight back at me.

His description in itself was enough to bring a tear to your eye.

He ticked all the boxes and then some. It was a Friday evening in August when I had my first conversation with Corinne and by lunchtime on Monday he was home laying on his bed next to my dog as if he’d always been there.

My lovely girl Titch RIP Oct 2004 - 16th Sept 2016.

Two months on, I struggle to talk about him without crying. Quiet, gentle, impeccably behaved, he has given Titch a new lease of life and she looks better than she has in years. The girls adore him, we all do. He is without doubt the best thing that has ever happened to our family.

Kindest regards, Kathleen (Austin)

Hannah Colbourn

She had the most marvellous nature and adored children. Much to my surprise also, she had made friends with a neighbour’s cat.

Dear Michele

Woody and I became buddies on 24th September 09 and straight away became a family favourite. He was the laziest and most lovable dog I’ve ever homed. He preferred floor level comfort on his duvet, to the sofa or settee. He loved travel and car trips. Sadly Woody passed on his last journey on 19th September 16. He’ll be remembered by my family with great affection.

Dear Michele

One of our volunteers, Nicole, has been taking Arty, our long-stay, out and about for walks recently. She wanted to show how he’s enjoying trips out and is socialising well!

Molly

R.I.P. Big Fella

Hi Michele,

John Speik.

Here are Deano and Buddy with their slaves at Homefinders stand at the All About Dogs show in August this year.

Hello Michele Enclosed is a picture of Mally who had to be put to sleep on 12th October after breaking his elbow in a fall. The X-rays revealed extensive damage and other complications including severe arthritis. Mally was 7 this month and he had been with me for two and a half years.

He’s the third grey I have adopted and is certainly the most unique.

There was something about him that attracted everyone to him, adults and children in equal measure. I’ve never known a dog to be stroked and fussed over as much as Mally. Hope this photo is usable for the newsletter.

Kind regards, Chris Roberts

Felicity Lefeve Thank you for the bumper crop of letters and photos sent in or this edition. Please keep sending your news and photos to michele_storer@hotmail.com

Danger Foods Caffeine Mince pies (anything with grapes or raisins)

FESTIVE FOOD DANGERS

Alcohol

Chocolate

Christmas pudding

Dairy Turkey Bones

Nuts

Spotted!

In the Bronte Parsonage Museum at Haworth, West Yorkshire. Sculpture entitled ‘An African Greyhound’ and created

by Joseph Leyland, friend of Branwell Bronte, brother of Charlotte, Emily and Anne.

Lad says he wasn’t allowed in the Museum, but his humans took it in turns to look after him and he took them on a nice walk to Penistone Hill instead.

Jane Bramham-Jones and Addermount Lad

Radio Times Clipping received from Deirdre Botsford, who sent it to us her greyhound, Hondo’s 7th Birthday. Hopefully we can look forward to seeing a greyhound in future episodes of Victoria.

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