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I have a different subject for this month’s newsletter, one that is close to my heart. It’s not an IP-related subject… it’s greyhounds. And I want to make a positive recommendation for you!
We adopted our first greyhound in 2010. His racing name had been “Droopys Alonso”, which we thought was ridiculous, so we named him Shadow as he was completely jet black all over (apart from the toes on one paw).
He was 4 years old, he had just retired from a racing career, and had lived his entire life in kennels. Hi first reaction on walking into a house was sheer amazement – so huge! So many soft surfaces to lie on! So many interesting smells! He did actually come in via the back door, into the kitchen, where he sniffed out the herbs & spices in one corner and promptly jumped onto the worktop to investigate further. Rescuing a 30kg dog who is panicking after discovering that a granite worktop offers zero traction was certainly an interesting introduction!
We then had the joy of watching Shadow slowly open up from the closed, quiet, introspective personality that he had adopted while in kennels, realising that he was secure in this house, that he was welcome in the group, and that he could be himself. And he turned out to be a very affectionate and devoted chap indeed.
After a couple of years, we wondered if he was lonely during the day while we were at work/school/etc, so looked for another greyhound to keep him company. After a false start with a young lady greyhound who made it very clear that she DID NOT appreciate Shadow’s attention, we found Benson. He was a 2-year-old reject from greyhound training school, apparently due to a gammy leg but we never saw any evidence of that. We grew to suspect that the more likely reason was that Benson was a goofy bundle of friendliness who probably kept forgetting which way the racetrack went.
Benson adored Shadow to the point of hero-worship. Shadow was everything Benson aspired to but was not – successful racer, poised, elegant, clever. Shadow initially wondered why we had brought this grinning idiot into the house, but grew to accept him over time and they became inseparable.
We said goodbye to Shadow in 2020 in the midst of lockdown, and to Benson the following year. A few months later, we met Anna – her racing name ‘Slaney’s Anner’ was easier to convert to post-race life. Anna was - we initially thought – quite cold and insular, but that turned out just to be the sign of a nervous little one. As she blossomed in her retirement, she turned into a small bundle of affection who would faithfully defend us against any intruders – including our own children until she learnt that they were also part of her new pack, at which point she welcomed them in with joy. Her time with us was cut short, sadly, and we said goodbye just before Christmas.
Which brings me to my recommendation, which is to go and adopt a greyhound. They make superb pets – loyal, affectionate, and (to most people’s surprise) very low maintenance. There’s an assumption that as ex-athletes they will need lots of exercise, but a short walk once or twice a day is enough to exhaust them. They really are the world’s fastest couch potatoes, happy to spend up to 23 hours a day snoozing, stretching, yawning and keeping an eye on you to check for any sign of treats. I’m not alone in this view – for a YouTuber’s view you could look at the excellent video at youtube.com/watch?v=s5NhQGv9xTw.
They also need good homes. The racing industry, love it or hate it, produces a steady stream of dogs who are ready to retire, and there is always more demand for suitable homes than can be met. The ex-racers might have the odd ding or dent, but they are well-trained, obedient dogs who are keen to please and very clean.
I’m a bit of an evangelist for greyhound adoption. So far, in addition to Benson and Anna, Shadow’s example has encouraged the adoption of at least 4 other greyhounds who I know have brought joy to their new families. So many potential adopters are put off greyhounds because of their size, their age, and that so many of them have dark fur, but you really shouldn’t. Give it a try – and let me know how you get on!
Until next time.
Michael
