English GreyhoundsEbony, Kylie and Tom In July 2009, the day before
we went on holiday to Cornwall, I received a phone call from a retired English
couple, Thelma and John, who had seen a beautiful black greyhound called Ebony
featured on the GIN website as needing a home. Apart from our holiday, the
other two problems were that Ebony had just been homed here in the North
West and the couple lived in Brittany in Northern France!
This was the beginning of a wonderful story of co-operation between volunteers
from the Cheshire and North West branch of GIN, GIN Head Office and
friends across the Channel. As a result three ex-racing greyhounds have found
their forever homes in France and Belgium.
From first speaking to Thelma and John I felt as if we had known each other for
years. They were originally from Devon but now had a beautiful home with an
acre and a half of land in Brittany. It sounded and looked like greyhound heaven !
They were looking for a black greyhound as a new friend for their nervous
rescue lurcher, Sally, whose greyhound friend had recently passed away. They
had previously homed two rescue greyhounds who had both lived long and happy
lives.
When we returned from holiday we learnt that Ebony's home in the North West
was not working out as we had hoped. Ebony, now Bonny, needed to be moved and
we set the wheels in motion to transport her across to France. This was a steep
learning curve as none of us knew anything about Pet Passports or the logistics
of taking dogs across the Channel.
Thanks to our fantastic volunteers,
Bonny went to her new home with
Thelma, John and Sally in September
2009. Bonny has really landed on her
paws and we have received some
beautiful photographs of her settling
into her new life in Brittany. Many
thanks to everyone for the parts they played. Sandra and Graham are now our
experts on Pet Passports after liaising with the vets and DEFRA; Jules and Rob
who fostered Bonny and then very kindly transported her across to France:
Jennifer and Roy who fostered Bonny when she first left the kennels and not
forgetting our now good friends Thelma and John for contacting us to offer a
home to a very lucky greyhound girl.
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