Old girls

[Spardo]

When the dreaded time comes, we'd like to take 1 or 2 adult dogs as they're harder to home than puppies.

Always been my policy, puppies are like grandchildren, ok for a visit, if watched carefully, but wouldn't want to live with them.
But a further consideration as we age ourselves, is that they may well outlive us, and young ones who have known no other 'parents' could be more adversely affected. Older, adopted, dogs may be less troubled by the change in circumstances

[Sparkle]

Some friends who have now returned to the UK always took in retired greyhounds and whippets. We met two of their whippets who sadly have since died and they were both lovely dogs, very friendly and calm dogs that just like lazing about in their doggy beds. Our cat would walk around the doggy bed looking at them before walking off with a look of disgust on her face as if to say oh no not you again you lazy mutts but she didn't bother them nor them her - thankfully

[Spardo]

@Sparkle

Some friends who have now returned to the UK always took in retired greyhounds and whippets. We met two of their whippets who sadly have since died and they were both lovely dogs, very friendly and calm dogs that just like lazing about in their doggy beds. Our cat would walk around the doggy bed looking at them before walking off with a look of disgust on her face as if to say oh no not you again you lazy mutts but she didn't bother them nor them her - thankfully

I just love Greyhounds, and Levriers in general, but my offer to foster/adopt one from an asso here was refused because of my habit of training dogs to recall out in the wild. They said it wasn't possible with Levriers despite my experience with 3 of them trained to do just that, including a Lurcher who stopped in his tracks in full flight after a deer, then turned and came straight back to me on my command. Fun in the outdoors, calm couch potatoes in the house.

[tagh]

Associations always know better than you, Sparkle!

[L Austin France]

I couldn't imagine living without a dog, the place would seem so dead to us and I can't bear the thought of the emptiness ours will leave behind them one day. When the dreaded time comes, we'd like to take 1 or 2 adult dogs as they're harder to home than puppies.

That was our decision when, after 14 years, our rescue dog Maxi had to be helped to doggie heaven.
We've been told our latest mate Bob is 10-14 years old. He was found wandering by the dog catcher & eventually deposited at the SPA in a 'right old state'.
He's been with us for just over year now & is truly the most endearing, gentle 'old' mut you could wish for.
We've no idea how long he's got but we cherish every day & will certainly consider giving another old codger a great 'rest of life' when his time is up.

[Sparkle]

@L Austin France "We've no idea how long he's got but we cherish every day & will certainly consider giving another old codger a great 'rest of life' when his time is up." what a lovely sentiment brought a lump to my throat! Although we have always said never again after our cats have gone to 'cat-haven' we still do. We love dogs but due to both working full time all of our lives we have never had a dog only cats and cat flaps! but we do enjoy our friends mutts when they arrive and that is why we support Association Les Chiens Guides and some UK animal charities.

[Sparkle]

@Spardo oh that's sad to hear you were rejected - retired racing dogs need a home too and I know they would find a lovely home with you. Our friends adopted theirs in the UK and then brought them over to France - they were big fans of greyhound racing in the UK too always going to the race courses and my friends surname just happens to be that of the furry animal that comes out of the trap

[Spardo]

@Sparkle Not much chance of adopting an ex racer in France, or even a Greyhound, mostly here it's Galgos that are on offer, very similar though.

While I was still transporting I made several trips to southern Spain to collect Dobermanns, the refuges were full of beautiful, sad looking Galgos and I was sorely tempted, but, short of putting them on the roof, there was little I could do.

Getting a little old now for a speculative journey down to Albacete.

[Blaze]

The fate of dogs used for racing is generally sad - just as it is with horses. It's appalling how they are treated, and are often thrown on the scrap heap very young.

[Blaze]

The old girls did very well yesterday. A beautiful afternoon - can you believe that Bimbo (the black one) is 15 and a half ??

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