Summer 2015

Newsletter

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Publisher: Michele Perry Issue Number: 33

Homefinders

Date: Summer 2015

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

Adder Attack

Hello everyone, welcome to the summer newsletter.

Phew, what a summer it’s been already. With recent weather being very warm, and now suddenly cold again, how are all your hounds coping?

It’s worth mentioning that during these warm, sunny days, you need to be wary of sunbathing adders when walking your pet near the edge of woodlands.

Despite all the years Homefinders have been at Hainford, it’s never happened before.

My elderly boy Blue really does not like the heat, in summer he likes to spend Blue’s way of cooling down his days in front of his own personal fan, or sitting in his favourite river spot for a cool drink. I’ve read that a fan will not cool a dog down, but Blue loves to lie in front of it, and it makes him more comfortable. However, Jack Whippet loves to bask in the sun, and would happily bake outside on his favourite beanbag!

Inside the newsletter you will see the photographic results of when I asked our Facebook followers how they help their greyhound cope on hot days.

Of course it will probably rain for the remainder of summer now!

We have some fantastic “spotted” greyhounds this issue, one of which I found on holiday in New York recently. Keep looking for greyhounds in unusual places, and send me your photos of them along with any stories for the Autumn newsletter: michele_storer@hotmail.com I’ll try to include as many as I can.

Michele

Cally had the worst stroke of luck, after enjoying a walk round the field she was returned to her kennel with her sister Kylie. Lisa returned to the kennel minutes later to find Cally’s head swelling rapidly!

Cally was swiftly taken to the Taverham Vets whose prompt action saved her life, they diagnosed she had been bitten on the head by an Adder - Twice. No one had noticed anything untoward during the walk.

Now back from the vets and in foster care, with her sister Kylie, to aid her recovery, Cally will make a full recovery and both will be seeking a new home in a few weeks time.

The volunteer walkers at the Hainford kennels are keeping the pets well away from the edges of the field, to ensure no sunbathing adders are surprised again.

Cally is recovering well after her ordeal

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

Retired Greyhound Trust’s New Chief Executive Visits Only weeks after she took over, Lisa Morris-Tomkins our new R.G.T. Chief Executive, accompanied by her husband David, paid us a visit on the weekend of May 9th and 10th. Molly kindly showed them round the kennels on a very busy Saturday afternoon, they then visited the Stadium in the evening and came to the Track walk on Sunday, meeting loads of our pet owners and volunteers.

With a broad charity background, Lisa was interim Chairman of Greyhound Rescue West of England, Director of Operations of the Southern Region RSPCA, developing a large network of branches, managed a network of homing centres and Veterinary Hospitals, has experience in public affairs and fund raising, one thing is for sure, Lisa will bring an exciting new perspective to the RGT. At home Lisa and David have quite a menagerie of animals themselves, including goats and horses.

Updated Events list 2015 Sat/Sun 8-9th August

Starting Handle Club Show Marsham

Sunday 16th August

Summer Open Day at kennels 11am to 3pm

Sunday 30th to Monday 31st August

All About Dogs Norfolk Showground all day

Saturday 5th September

Fundenhall Fete and Dog show

Sunday 6th September

Beer Festival Pakefield 1-6pm

Sunday 15th September

Dog Show Trimingham

Sunday 27th September

Autumn Walk 11am at Winterton Beach

Sunday 11th October

Autumn Open Day at kennels and Auction 11am to 3pm

Sunday 22nd November Winter Walk 11am Saxlingham Nethergate NR15 1TD Park at Playing Fields - Refreshments afterwards in Church Room Saturday 12th Dec

Sponsor Our Kennels

Christmas Fayre Taverham village Hall 1-3.30pm

Homefinders needs you!

We have now set up a standing order form for anyone who wishes to donate a monthly amount (from only ÂŁ1) to Homefinders. Simply complete the form and send it to: Lisa Pimble, 77 St Benets Road, Stalham, Norwich, Norfolk, NR12 9DW.

Sponsor Our Newsletter Postage Even after editing the mailing list we need to post nearly 700 Newsletters and the number grows with each issue.

Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

If you can help by supplying 2nd Class Stamps or Donating towards the cost we would be very grateful. Please Post the Stamps or Donation to: Lisa Pimble, 77 St Benets Road, Stalham, Norwich, or Drop them into the Kennels Office

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Thank You

Postcode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(Please Note we are not able benefit from used Stamps)

Name. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

If you are sponsoring as a gift for someone else also provide their details

CO-ORDINATOR’S BIT Is it really July? Having just got soaked two days on the trot with the Home finders stall at Catton Park Country Show I am debating whether to put the heating on for the evening. Nearly collapsing with heat exhaustion at the Lord Mayor’s Procession the volunteers nearly froze the following very wet day at The South Norfolk show. We are attending events almost every weekend now until September 15th. We love meeting any of our rehomed hound at these events and also anyone who is happy to stay and to speak to the general public about these lovely dogs. I have amended the events list as we have been invited to several extra ones including The Blue Cross at Felixstowe and next year The Dogs Trust have asked if we would come to their Open day.

We were pleased to welcome Lisa Morris-Tomkins, Chief Executive of the RGT, on our track walk weekend. Lisa came with her husband on the Saturday and visited the kennels in the afternoon and then came to the Stadium on Saturday evening where she met all the volunteers on the gates and had a tour of the track. On Sunday she came to the track walk and borrowed a dog to walk round! She says she thoroughly enjoyed her weekend with us and gave praise to all the volunteers.

Rehoming is going well with over 70 dogs already on their comfy sofas. Going out each weekend with the stall is tiring but does reap rewards, so far we have had a dog reserved at each event. Thanks must go to Simon Pimble for driving the van for us and to Lisa for keeping us well stocked with sales goods and coming out each weekend.

During the summer months we collect at the stadium on Monday,Wednesday and Saturday as the attendance is increased due to the holidaymakers. If you would like to help please get in touch and we can include you on the rota.

Just recently we have had to use our fosterers many times often at short notice. If you feel you could foster one of the dogs for us please contact me on 0845 4583797 to discuss.

The greyhound walks have been well attended thanks to Lois for taking the Blickling walk, shame about the big black bull spoiling it but I’m sure everyone enjoyed a natter over refreshments. The next walk is at Winterton beach on September 27th.

Dogs homed since last Newsletter Pilot (Rathronan Pilot), Socks (Jell on Jook), Katie (Swinford Katie), Suzie (Effernogue Susie), Droggy (Tina’s Drogba), Frankie (Perfect Frankel), Freddy (Fridaynightblues), Sophie w(Tim’s Star), Sue (Tagalong Sue), Lilly (Burcastle Lilly), Soldier (Cloheena Soldier), Niamh (Perfect Eclipse),Vicky (Artistic Choice), Bruce (Spruce Fantasy), Luis (Marlfield Luis), Star (Tequila Star), Stanley (Maffra Fantasy), Scarlet (Blackrose Scarlet), Nelson (Ardera Nelson), Jerry (Cleveland Spring), Xavi (Tagalong Xavi), Geegee (Gaelic Gem) Roger( Perfect Profile), Lee (Mr Jubilee), Phoebe (Highview Bonus), Britt (Brittanic Impact), Jack (The Street), Billy (Surburian Knight), Jaffa (Born Jaffa), Rumble (Rathronan Rumble), Google (Google Expert), Kenny (Mr Golden Brae), Sheba (Rosies Delight), Buddy (Broadacres Buddy), Lenny (Ramps), Goldy (Rockspirit Goldy),Vark (Ard Vark), Josh (Donewithmirrors), Lucky (Winword Lucky),Vera (Blackrose Vera) Brie (Snow Spiral), Hughie (Mild and Humid), Greg (Perfect Friend), Squirt (Ashley Line), Ed (Sclera), Caesar (Ballynira Sport)

Sadly gone to the Rainbow Bridge Blue (Muntjack Lad), Lark (Cloncunny Lark), Deon (Hartwood Demon), Bob (Bob N Bill), Prince (Honest Ruler), Pete (Cape Crusader), Tilly (Smooth Mover), Devon (Jeffys Spot), Laura( Blue Impulse), Annie (Any Response), Laddy (Echo Lad), Joe (Take Joe), Lucy (Clonluck Back).

Where can you buy 36 Greyhounds for just £8.00?

Only in The 2016 - Yarmouth Greyhound Homefinders Calendar mefinders

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Our next Open day is on August 16th from 11am. There will be the usual stalls, a BBQ and refreshments.

Once again this year we are having our Grand Christmas Raffle we have taken the liberty of enclosing one book with your newsletter. If you require more books let us know and we will get them to you. The raffle will be drawn at the Christmas Fayre at Taverham Village Hall in December.

Corinne

Featuring 36 Homefinders Pet Photos Plus Special Event Days An ideal present for all greyhound lovers If you can’t get to either venue, phone Corinne on the Homefinders number (0845 458 3797) she will post a copy out, for an additional £2.00 to cover P&P.

Missy – a humorous take on our early days by Karen Fordham I chose and adopted Missy about 12 months ago at least that’s what I tell myself. The reality of the situation is that Missy, aka Ard Boiled Egg and prior to that Ard Times, chose me and I adopted her.

I had seen her photo on the Great Yarmouth Greyhound Rehomers website and thought she looked gorgeous but when I arrived at the kennels on that Sunday morning to view the hounds available for rehoming, I was greeted by the sight of 17 beautiful creatures all needing homes and if the truth be known I could have chosen any one of them.

I think Missy had other ideas - she certainly made sure that I would notice her. She performed amazing acrobatic leaps at her kennel door achieving spectacular heights all from a standstill to make sure that I could see her over and over again, she glued herself to my leg when I took her for a walk in the fields and she looked at me in such a pathetic, soulful way that there was no way I could leave without agreeing to have her.

Next came the nerve wracking process of “the home inspection”. The sense of relief and euphoria when I was told that I had “got the job” was up there with getting my first car.

I rushed out and bought all the paraphernalia I thought the new addition to my household would require - I might have bought one or two little extras as well, just in case! I re-read the information about how to introduce my hound to its new surroundings, I purchased a book for people who knew absolutely nothing about greyhounds and which said it would explain everything I would ever need to know about my new acquisition and watched the DVD again just for good measure.

By the time I was due to collect Missy I was feeling confident.

It was very shortly after getting Missy home that I decided books about animals were as useful as books about children i.e.

O.K. for reference but otherwise not very useful at all because they are all different. My hound did not freak out when I started vacuuming or seem confused when I put the TV on and neither did she have any problem with stairs! In fact, upstairs was definitely a place that Missy felt she should be allowed and after a couple of very disturbed and sleepless nights listening to her pacing and whining downstairs I threw my previously held beliefs about dogs and bedrooms out of the window and put her a bed upstairs next to mine. As if by magic my nights were restored to their normal peaceful state. Missy had taught me “Lesson No 1” – dogs are not just for day times but for nighttimes too! I praised myself for being a good student.

Lesson No Two followed very quickly. The special diet dog meal, which I purchased from the kennels along with a nice fleecy lined coat to keep her warm, was not that special according to Missy. It might say on the packet that it provides greyhounds with everything they need for a healthy, balanced diet but she was clearly not impressed by these claims and no amount of encouragement on my part could entice her to eat enough to keep her weight up. I decided to take control - I would supplement her diet. I bought fresh chicken and cooked it overnight in the slow cooker and portioned it up into muffin tins for freezing. That evening I put a small amount over her biscuit along with some stock and with baited breathe I offered her the new improved menu. She loved it and ate all of her meal and I did a silent lap of honour around the kitchen. For the next few days I slaved over the slow cooker and muffin trays preparing my own range of gourmet treats and even

allocated a whole freezer drawer to “Missy’s dinners”. Missy rewarded my efforts by putting on a couple of kilograms which the vet said was perfect and meal times were no longer a sad affair. Missy had taught me Lesson No 2 – a dog cannot live on biscuit alone! Once again I praised myself for being a good student.

Missy and I soon settled into a nice routine but there was one lesson I still needed to master and which was causing me some concern - how could I get my hound to do what I wanted?

In my former dog owning years, adopting an authoritative stance and pointing directionally seemed get the required reaction and response from my canine charges but the only thing this achieved with Missy was a vague, almost confused look and absolutely no body movement at all. This was when the background reading paid off! I remembered reading that greyhounds are “why” dogs. Could it be that Missy understood what I wanted from her but I wasn’t telling her why I wanted her to do it and offer her a good reason to do it?? I decided to give it a go. I went into negotiation with my hound – “why don’t you get off the sofa and come and lie on your lovely soft bed where I have placed a tasty snack for you by darling?” – even my partner didn’t get this sort of treatment – and she looked at me, got off the sofa and lay down on her bed. This had to be a fluke surely but I wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth and spent a good 5 minutes extoling her virtues and scratching behind her ears. Every time we reached an impasse I would take the diplomatic approach and my beautiful hound would respond. I no longer wondered whether she was perhaps not the smartest greyhound in the pack or had mild brain damage from being kicked in the head by a horse or some other event in her past which I didn’t know about. No, Missy was not a silly dog at all in fact it turned out she was a very intelligent, polite lady who happened to like manners and let that be a lesson to me – lesson number 3 to be precise!

A year into the adoption Missy and I have developed a mutual trust and have settled into a fun and loving partnership. Every week-end we go off in the car to different places, carefully researched by me to ensure plenty of off-lead time so she can chase rabbits and squirrels and anything else she thinks might be fun and in return she rewards me with her company and joyful antics to watch while I walk.

I had no idea when I adopted Missy just how much I had to learn in order to achieve an harmonious existence with a greyhound but fortunately I had a very good teacher and I like to think that I was a good student.

DOG SHOW CLASSES 2015 - Results 1: MOST HANDSOME DOG 1st Boris, 2nd George, 3rd Blue

5: BEST BRINDLE OR FAWN 1st Bryn, 2nd Honey, 3rd Alice

2: PRETTIEST BITCH 1st Ellie, 2nd Lisa, 3rd Fizzy

6: BEST BLUE OR WHITE 1st Dean, 2nd Whiskey, 3rd Dooey

3: GOLDEN OLDIES- DOGS OVER 11 YEARS 1st Rosie, 2nd Lizzie, 3rd Topaz

7:YOUNG HANDLER WITH OWN DOG 1st Zena, 2nd Honey, 3rd Bella

4: BLACK BEAUTIES 1st Asher, 2nd Cracker, 3rd Todd

8: HAPPIEST FAMILY OF GREYHOUNDS 1st Martins, 2nd Strangs, 3rd Pimbles

9: DOG WITH MOST APPEALING EYES 1st Legend, 2nd Splash, 3rd Honey 10: BEST GREYHOUND TRICK 1st Gibson, 2nd Prince, 3rd Todd 11: BEST IN SHOW - ALL DOGS WITH 1ST PRIZES 1st Boris, 2nd Bryn

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Dealing with the summer heat - photos from our Facebook friends From a roach, to an ice cream, a wet towel, or a sit in the shade, our hounds all have their own unique ways of keeping cool.

Letters to the editor Dear Michele,

Hello Michele, It is with great sadness that we have to tell Homefinders that Chuffy was recently put down, quietly in his own bed at home, at the good age of nearly 13. Chuffy’s racing name was Chuffy’s Pal, and he was a veteran of 96 races.

We adopted Chuffy in 2008 when he was already 7 years old, so he was remarkably adaptable in adjusting to domestic life after such a long time as a kennel dog. He had a happy and active retirement, living on a clifftop farm and romping along the beach near Southwold every day, until age eventually caught up with him. He was a tough old boy, but a bit of liability with other dogs, so his blue plastic muzzle became his warning flag and something of a trademark. We will miss our ‘brindle bomber’ terribly.

My partner Phil restores vintage and classic cars.

The radiator cap on the pictured car is priceless because it’s the only one left in the world. So the owner have asked Phil to repair this greyhound radiator cap so it can be put on the car when it’s parked.

If anybody is interested, the car is French and called a Delage. Built in the 1930’s.

Regards, Angela Clarke Dear Michele, We thought that you might like this photo of our greyhound, Leon, who has taken a great liking to our new bedding!

Chuffy was our second ex-racing greyhound (the first being Speedy, as in the RGT books), so I suspect another hound may somehow find its way to us before too long.

Best wishes, Juliet and Giles Stibbe Regards Barry and Pam Jackson Dear Michele I have attached a photo one of the volunteers took of Monday walker Jonathan and his favourite dog at the time, Pepper

Regards, Molly

Di’s Greyhound Tips Here is a tips from Diane Wrights website, she offers a new tip each week at: www.dispetservices.co.uk

Does your dog get

bored???

of of summer games e pl u co a e ar re he ... ze our hound....... Free stimulation for y ..Or te food in a Kong... your dogs favouri l of urite toys in a bow put your dogs favo ock h a dog friendly st water flavoured wit fun trying to get ve ha l il w e ..h ... ze and free ave fun his toys out!! ....H

Spotted!

Prince Albert’s greyhound,Eos, statue at Osborne House IOW, by Corinne

Town hall Oslo Norway, See the letter from Angela Clark where the Nobel prizes are presented, by Corinne

Hotel lobby in Manhattan, New York, by Michele Perry

Thanks to the volunteers who took part in the Lord Mayors Parade this summer To celebrate 40 years of the RGT Norwich City Council gave us permission to take greyhounds in the parade. The dogs had VIP treatment with their own steward.

Big thanks to Aidan Rees our own Homer who wore the suit on the hottest evening of the year.

Newmarket Greyhound Extravaganza

We had a great day at the RGT Greyhound Extravaganza at Kentford near Newmarket. Lisa Pimble entered Cracker in the Missing Body Parts Class, taking first prize, even though Cracker tried to pretend to the judges he still had all four legs!

Homefinders dogs also took all three places in the Beautiful Blacks category. Well done to all dogs that entered.

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