Rainbow Bridge

Taking That Final Journey
Across The Rainbow Bridge

Susie The Awesome Greyhound

Susie the Awesome Greyhound Remembered

We thought and talked about having a dog for a long time and gradually came to realise that we would like to rescue a greyhound. After initial disappointment being told that we would not be suitable as we are out of the house too much, we found Rescued Racers in the form of Sam and Liz who made no assumptions but came and had a chat. The ball was rolling and eventually on 22^nd May 2009, Susie came to live with us in Cardiff. She was quite big for a girl but very quiet and so did not seem to take up much room. She was black and stunning and her coat was shiny and sleek.

Although she seemed undemanding, her personality gradually came through and she was quite a character albeit a lazy one!! The duvet on the floor was soon abandoned for the sofa in the kitchen. Good job we didn’t buy a special dog bed. Susie fitted in to family life from the word go. She came on holiday with us to Donegal , travelling like a dream in the back of the car (we had to buy a trailer for the rest of our holiday stuff!) She enjoyed camping as you will see from the photos and loved nothing better than to run on the beach. She could go like the wind.

She had a second trip to Ireland last Christmas and slept under the Christmas tree! Susie was a lovely girl. She was sociable, gentle, didn’t pester (until it was roast chicken on the menu) coped if we had a lie in, hated fireworks, loved walks and chasing squirrels and cats; her tail was like a whip especially when she heard her lead being rattled prior to a walk.

In May of this year, we took her to the vet and mentioned that she had a couple of lumps. Three were removed and one turned out to be a Mast Cell Blastoma which is not to be desired. Unluckily, despite a lovely summer and more fun on the Pembrokeshire beaches, the blastoma made a reappearance in September. Again all seemed well after the op and we hoped for the best but a few weeks later, Susie was unwell and the vet found a large tumour in her lower abdomen which was probably painful and definitely not treatable. We sadly had to say goodbye in October and we miss her very much. However, despite her time being too short, we are so glad we had Susie for those 2 and a half years. She can be seen on her fan page by “Googling” Susie the Awesome Greyhound. She was a special girl and so many people loved her, including people who don’t “do” dogs and are not keen on greyhounds (strange but true!!)

Throughout our time with Susie we have maintained contact with Sam and Liz who provide wonderful support and advice. They are true greyhound experts.

We will always remember our happy times with lovely Susie.

Caroline, Essex, Patrick and Conor

Jack Gone But Not Forgotten

Hi Liz

Just wanted to let you know that sadly Jack was put to sleep on August 2nd. Unfortunately we don't know what was wrong with him, he stopped eating and drinking and found it painful to get up. The vet did many tests but everything came back ok - we felt we couldn't put him through anymore pain and discomfort
Here are some photos of Jack with our 'Scrumpy' cat (with a lot of patience and consistency who says greyhounds can get on with cats and other small furry critters too) and in the sea with Oscar and their friend
We live out in the country now and have 3 chickens and 2 ducks and Jack will be missed by all of us - Oscar our black dog (a little white around the mush now) especially misses him.
Hope everything is going ok with you and your dogs

Thank you for letting us have Jack he was a wonderful boy

Jenni and Dave Freeman

Morse - They Broke The Mould

Morse came into our lives in April 2002 when my children were 5 years old. He was a big laid back boy, and always gentle as a lamb with them even curing my daughter Simone of her fear of dogs. He was a rascal in his earlier days, chewing the kids toys instead of his own, Kieran's wrestlers were a particular favourite and he loved to chew their heads off!! The dining room chair legs was his other passion with his teeth marks visible to the end. Morse was not your average greyhound, preferring to lie on the cold kitchen floor or even in the garden on the concrete rather than on his comfy bed in the living room. Morse was a champion fund raiser in his younger days, always ready to be petted by one and all and would lie down sprawled out on the pavement waiting for treats and hugs.
Up until just 3 months ago he would still enjoy a little run off lead most days and he enjoyed his walks with firstly the late Phantom and for the past 3 years with Otto. We all have very special memories of Morse and he has left some very big paw prints on our hearts.
On Sunday July 24th, 6 days after his 12th birthday his heart could take no more and he left us for the Rainbow Bridge to join his friends.
Goodbye Old Man Morse R.I.P.

Morse July 18th 1999 --- July 24th 2011

Liz, Pete & family

Joe's Final Run

Monday April 4th at 11.05 my very brave and handsome boy Joe was PTS I had had a long and difficult consultation with Sebastiano regarding his prognosis and in the end there was only going to be one outcome. With his head in my arms, the injection was administered and Joe drifted off to sleep very peacefully, he passed from this life to go beyond the rainbow bridge where he joins Bella, Cleo and the rest of the clan. Joe and I had been on the beach at Burry Port, doing what he loved, running around, chasing his ball and generally having a really good time. After about 30 minutes we began to walk back up the beach and along the path to the car park where he jumped into the car. About 2 miles up the road he just let out a little cry, thinking he had cramp I tool him home but he didn't seem his usual self. By this stage it was now around 5 o'clock and I let him have a bit of peace and quite, but only 2 hours later he had completely gone off his legs. I rang the vet and was told to bring him straight over. The vet gave him 2 injections and it was decided to leave him in for observation. The next morning Seb had told me he had deteriorated overnight and had now lost all control of his bladder and bowels. From the symptoms he exhibited we believe that he had had a slipped disc which then ruptured, fragmenting and passed into his spinal cord tissue causing complete paralysis. Joe would have been 5 on May 5th, he had the whole of his life in front of him and I was expecting to have him around for more than the 10 months he'd been on my sofa. He was a very intelligent greyhound, he picked things up extremely quickly and I think he could have given the agility dogs a run for their money given half a chance, but on the other hand he could be quite demanding as well, but that was just one of his many traits.
I will miss you so very much; your life was much too short.
Goodbye my handsome boy, dad misses you.

R.I.P.

Bella Joins Cleo At Journeys End

Today is February 1st and this morning Bella was once again reunited with Cleo over the Rainbow Bridge. Bella was the sort of dog, once met never forgot, at times she could be a cantankerous, stroppy, and down right stubborn old mare but she was my cantankerous, stroppy, and down right stubborn old mare, and I loved her for all her faults. She had originally been rehomed in North Wales many years ago but was returned due to an illness in the family and I promised that she would stay with me until her time was up, that promise was kept. She had started to go downhill shortly after Cleo passed away and had been a bit poorly for a while but it was nothing that I could put my finger on, however, a bout of prolonged diarrhoea, excessive drinking and weigh loss prompted a visit to see the vet. I told him of her problems and that the diarrhoea was almost black, after examining her he promptly said it was most likely cancer of the bowel. Sebastian administered the injection and she died peacefully in my arms. At 13 she had had a full life but a life which started with two broken legs and left for dead because she wasn't quick enough, she wanted for nothing and was thoroughly spoilt and it was only in the last year or so that we decided she was getting too old for fundraising and going to the Sunday walks but everyone who met and knew her, understood what an unusual and pretty dog she was.


*Goodbye old girl, you were one in a million!*

A Short Life For Biggles

2009 has ended the with sad loss of Biggles. He had been homed to Dorna earlier in the year, a gentle giant if there ever was one and a greyhound who was the epitome of the breed. His passing at 2 years old has been a major shock and he is the youngest greyhound we have ever homed to loose their life to a terminal illness, that illness was Acute B Cell Lymphoblastic Leukaemia which took his young life in the space of one short week.

Dorna explains

Sam, I have written this as a remembrance of Biggles it was very difficult but I have finished it, thanks for your kind words and help.
Regards Dorna

Dear Biggles, when you first came into my life you were a handsome brindle and white enormous dog, so shy and nervous it was painful to watch, you were terrified of everything, you were the most gentle and respectful dog I have ever known, but you had a strength and determination, if there was something that you wanted.
I remember when you had only been here two days and we went down the garden and you saw a bumble bee, you ran very fast back to the house because you were terrified of the bee, but you gradually started to come out of your shell especially when Dotty arrived, you blossomed and the two of you became very good friends, Dotty misses you very much.
I have never had such an affection for a dog before although I have loved them all, you were special, friends fell in love with you even those who were frightened of dogs petted you, when I walk in the park with Dotty now so many people asks “where is Biggles” you touched so many people in you short life.
It was a privilege to have known you Biggles you beautiful dog, I will miss you and you will be in my heart forever.

Biggles and Dotty enjoy a snooze

Your loving friend Dorna

A Goodbye To Shannon

On Wednesday, 9th September, I said a very emotional and tearful goodbye to my beautiful boy Shannon. I was lucky to be given him when he was 8 years old. This gentle, loving, special boy was my constant companion for 6 1/2 years and the loss of not having him in my life is indescribable. He was happy, content, and his spirit was willing but sadly he was suffering from Spondylosis and his back legs were no longer strong enough to give him the quality of life he deserved.

With the loving support of Sam, and the kindness of Sebastiano, Shannon passed away peacefully in my arms in his favourite place on my couch. As my tears fall writing this, I take comfort that across the Rainbow Bridge he is now running and playing, pain free, with his lovely greyhound friends, Phantom, Toby and Cleo.




I miss you terribly and I'll never forget you, my beautiful boy.

Jan Baxter

In Memory Of Cleo

This morning, Thursday September 3rd 2009 at 12.22AM I said a very tearful and heart wrenching goodbye to my lovely, special little girl Cleo. At 11 years old she had been a faithful and loyal companion for over 7 years. She had taken ill late Wednesday morning and had very quickly deteriorated over a period of a few short hours. At just before Midnight I had the call I was dreading. The vet said she was slipping away before their eyes. He administered the injection and she passed away very peacefully in my arms. She was diagnosed with Rapid Supraventricular Tachycardia.



Happier days. Goodbye my pretty girl, you were very special and will be sadly missed.

Sam

Toby, Gone But Not Forgotten

On Thursday 20th August 2009, our beautiful brindle boy, Toby, died aged just six years. Just two weeks before he developed a limp, so we took him to the vet, hoping it was just a sprain or some kind of injury from running around as he had done right up to the previous day. The vet was Edward who we know and trust and he told us the pain and the location of the pain indicated something more serious. X rays confirmed the worst, bone cancer. Toby was given strong pain killers and we took him home to make him as comfortable as possible for whatever time he had. Sadly, it was only a few days, the pain increased and so did the pain killers until Toby was on maximum dose. In those two weeks Bob and I took it in turns to stay with Toby at all times as he made it plain he wanted our company. He died peacefully just after noon in his own home with Billy our black and white greyhound lying by his side. Bob and I were with him too and Edward our vet. Even our two dachshunds remained quiet. It is unthinkable that our beautiful boy, so healthy and strong, could be diagnosed as having cancer and die within the space of two short weeks. The are no words to describe how much we miss him, but he needed to find peace from the pain he was in. Toby was loyal and faithful, he loved his friend Billy and he loved his people. Wherever I was in the house, that's where Toby would be. We had wonderful days out together. Just five days before he died, we took Toby in the car to a local beauty spot, Mallards Pike. With the help of a neighbour and a makeshift ramp he got in the car quite comfortably. I knew that day would be the last time we could take him out. He had an ice cream and enjoyed it so much he licked his lips. We will always remember him.

Billy misses his friend Toby terribly, it is awful to see him so sad.



At peace now, our lovely boy, it was a pleasure to have known you, we were always so proud of you. You lived with us just less than three years but will always be loved and missed.

Bob & Nancy