Geoffreys page .....Greyhound Memorial Day, 26th July, is a serious
annual occasion - it commemorates the awful discovery in Florida of a
mass grave, filled with the bodies of hundreds of greyhounds.
Greyhound Rescue Belgium mark the day by organising a gathering of
rescued greyhounds in their home city of Antwerp. This year, GIN was
invited to attend and Martin, Carolyn and I journeyed to Antwerp. I
started the trip well, by booking myself onto the train using Carolyns
ticket - this caused Carolyn, last of the trio to board, considerable
trouble as the computer insisted she was already on the train. As I was
unaware of what Id done, the security team were confused, but
somehow Carolyn was allowed to join herself on the train. Eventually we
arrived in Antwerp at about 11pm, to be met by Josephine and Nadine
from GRB, who had kindly found us a comfortable hotel for the night.
On Sunday 26th July we were taken across the Schelde to the new part
of Antwerp to a Windmill by the river. We were surrounded by
greyhounds, some rescued from Ireland but most rescued by GIN from
Spain and transported to Belgium. Carolyns photographic memory now
came into play as she identified many of the galgos and told us their life
stories.
Gradually more and more dogs (and owners) appeared until there were an
astonishing 250 greyhounds and galgos ready for the commemoration.
The day had warmed up and Martin and I went on the Great Walk -
a few miles down the towpath, then back through a fairly thick wood.
We found an English speaking couple to accompany, as we talked about
greyhound rescue and overtook the slower walkers and were passed by
the speedy ones. A huge mass of dogs and dog-lovers all walking happily
together.
At last we found ourselves back at the Windmill and were ushered onto
the river bank-looking down to the very muddy stretch left by the tide.
The Schelde is a great river, making the Thames even at its widest look
small.
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