Polly
Julia and Richard, whose previous greyhound Emma is featured on our adoption leaflet, recently adopted Polly. (Julia and Emma also feature on our How to Help page).
"We thought you might like an update on Polly. As you can see from the photos the cat training is going brilliantly! We followed the advice on the leaflets that Graham gave us and Polly is so keen to please that within a few weeks we were able to have them all loose in the same room. You may remember our cat Florence from the photo with our previous Greyhound Emma. In the years that we have had Florence she has been affectionately know as 'the dog botherer' and as you can see from the photos Polly is now being well and truly bothered! The three of them love nothing more than to lie by the patio door soaking up the sun. Polly is really calm and quiet and just loves company and being fussed. Thanks for going out of your way to find us such a perfect dog. We look forward to joining you on your monthly walks."
Retired Greyhound Trust, Nottingham branch home Greyhounds in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and North Leicestershire. If you live in this area please contact our enquiry line
0115 9655434
or email enquiries@rgtnottingham.org.uk
As a small branch that doesn’t have its own kennels we regret we are unable to see personal callers without prior arrangement
Hugo
Sue says"Adopting Hugo in April 2008 was the best decision I have ever made, he has never been any trouble and settled in from day one. I have owned many dogs and loved them all, but I can honestly say Hugo is the dog I have waited for all my life."
Flash
Back in 2006 Flash won a 2nd place at Moorgreen. He went back this year and came away with a 1st in the best greyhound class in the dog show.
Billy and Layla
Are we there yet?
Layla
Layla (now 13 years old) wearing her rosette which she won in the Veteran's class at Moorgreen 2009.
Grace
Sheila and Andrew adopted Grace on 16th August 2009. Here she is with Blondie on the beach at Redcar.
Mona
Cath and Jim and their family adopted Mona a couple of months ago: "She hasn't taken long at all to become a happy and deservedly spoilt girl!"
Blue
Nigel tells us:“We've been lucky enough to have greyhounds in our home for the last ten years. Blue is the latest member of the family and a real character. He is a great family dog, waggy, playful, always interested in what's going on and involved in everything.He likes lots of love and is very affectionate, a great contrast to our independent-minded lurcher. Blue has bags of energy and is always up for a ball game, and he gets more out of a walk than any dog we've known! After two years in kennels and a failed homing he was quite insecure and easily upset, but fortunately he's extremely obedient and a quick learner and has settled down well. He loves visitors, especially since they always tell him how beautiful he is!”
Rappa
Joanne writes: "I've had Rappa for a month now and he's doing brilliantly. He's getting braver by the day, even enthusiastically greeting other dogs and walkers that he recognises when we're at the park.
It took a little while but he's now playing with toys (but hasn't quite got the hang of fetch yet). He's very affectionate and loving and is a great house dog.
I'd recommend anyone to adopt a retired greyhound."
Ginny
Bev and Jock say "We have had Ginny a year now and she is a star, still a little scared at times but a gem. We have loved every moment of her development and we have watched her turn into a loving dog.
She is fast asleep at the moment legs in the air not a care in the world. Thank you all so much for the good work you do to enable these dogs to enjoy a good retirement."
Zoey
Rebecca and Richard adopted Zoey only two weeks ago (14.03.09).'"Yet it feels like she's been here a lifetime. She's a beautiful, caring and loving lady. She spends most of her time snuggled up with one of us on the sofa, enjoying kisses and cuddles.Zoey instantly took to our two children, giving them lots of love. She never jumps up at them and seems to realise that they are little people, so is gentle when around them. Already Zoey has brought so much enjoyment to our lives, we simply could not imagine being without her. She's definitely a *big* part of our family now. We would also like to thank Becky for spending so much time meeting and talking to us about adoping a greyhound and advising us about which dog would suit our family best. Although from the first time I saw Zoey's picture on the internet I knew she was the dog for me, so it's all turned out fantastically. We think that you all do a fantastic job, you are very thorough in choosing the right homes for these special dogs".
Murphy
Jeff and Phyll write: "We've been adopted by Murphy now for the past 2 weeks (since 7th March 09). We knew he would change our lives but didn't quite know to what extent. Murphy is just an absolute delight.
He is gentle and relaxing but also playful and such a character. He loves his walks and is slowly getting used to other dogs/birds/ducks etc. Today we took him to Rufford Country Park and what a coincidence! We were just coming back to the coffee shop when a lady and her two children came around the corner and one of the children said in a loud voice, He looks like Murphy! We said to them that yes it was Murphy and asked how they knew his name. They then came over to talk to us and told us that they had been looking on the internet site and had fallen in love with Murphy but had seen that he had been recently homed! The children gave him a lot of love and hugs and then went on their way hoping to see him again when we go on the next RGT walk to Burnt Stump Park next weekend. Murphy just loves to be groomed and we have been cleaning his teeth also. He is clean—smells delightful—and has had no accidents in our home. He also loves his car rides and we are looking forward to taking him on holiday in June to a cottage in Devon. He was also such a good boy when we took him to the vets for his follow up injection and microchip he hardly flinched and had his dew claws trimmed without any fuss. Everyone who meets him falls in love with him and he is also so gentle with my mother-in-law who is 84 years old. We just can't imagine life without him".
Jodie and Alfie
Jan and Gordon write "Jodie and Alfie (formerly King) have been living with us for a year and we thought that you would like an update on their progress. You saw them together, of course, at the Great Greyhound Gathering last September.
Jodie has gained in confidence from the very quiet dog that came to live with us early last year. She is gentle, which I find very appealling, and knows how to use her beautiful eyes on her master!
Alfie came to live with us a month after Jodie. He took no time to settle in and is an extrovert dog that wants to lavish his affection on everyone he meets. It's thanks to him that Jodie has been brought out of her shell. He is the most loving of dogs - his tail seems to in perpetual motion! After the death of our last dog, by coincidence a greyhound, our house became very quiet. The arrival of Jo and Alf filled a considerable gap.We do our best to make their retirement comfortable; they, in turn, give us unconditional love. We are the winners in this arrangement. Our lives are so much richer for having these beautiful animals in our home".
Troy
Sharon took Troy home on 20th December 2008 and says he's settled in really well. "He is a great companion to my other 2 dogs (a staffie cross and a Lakeland/Patterdale cross), loving his walks with them in the local forestry"."He travels so well in the car, making himself comfortable on the back seat and just 'chillin'. He has a wonderful personality, one of his characteristics being licking his lips when I head toward him with a treat, always brings a smile to my face :-) He loves the ladies, attracting lots of attention when we are out, enjoying the cuddles and compliments on offer. We are heading to the Lake District for our first holiday in September, we are staying in a log cabin in the hills, think he'll love it".
Lucy
Lynne and Barry adopted Lucy from us nearly 4 years ago and Lynne writes "They've been the best four years ever. Everyone knows me—they look out for the woman with the big black greyhound! Her temperament is exceptional—she thinks everyone is her best friend.Lucy is also a registered PAT dog and goes to old people's homes with me".
Willow
Willow is owned by Terry and Ada
Sprint
Sprint was one of our 250 club dogs and was with us for over a year. This was through no fault of his own, he was often overlooked, we think, because of his size. He now has a lovely home of his own!
Caroline and John say "He's a brilliant dog and he's brought us so much happiness in the couple of months that he's been with us and we're looking forward to many more happy times ahead".
Mr Darcy
This is Mr Darcy, who was previously called William, in his new home. Jane and Craig write: "We have had him 5 weeks now and couldn't imagine life without him. He is such a lovely dog and makes our life worth living, Thanks for making it possible."
Thomas
Sylvia, who adopted Thomas writes: "Thomas came to live with us in November 2006 and he settled in straight away. He loves his walks in Sherwood Forest and then lazing away in his bed.
When he first came to us our mother lived with us and she loved to groom him and tell everyone how beautiful he was.
Thomas was so careful around mum, especially when she was walking slowly.""Unfortunately, 
in May 2007, mum fell very ill with liver cancer and Thomas' first year with us was a little traumatic. He visited her in the Hospice every day (he was loved by all the patients, staff and carers) and was there when she died in October 2007. He has been our greatest help since then and recently we all went on holiday to Kelso (Scotland). This was Thomas' first holiday and he had a Riverside Lodge on the banks of the river Tweed, with private grounds and his own private 9 acre island to play on. The photos show him enjoying exploring the island and then sleeping and dreaming after a hectic day of adventures. Thank you so much for letting Thomas come into our lives".
Shadow and Lucy
Margaret and Chris say "During the last greyhound walk, someone asked if we would take a photo of Shadow and Lucy together to show how Greyhounds can be fine with smaller dogs. We've spent the last week trying to get the best shot and I think this one wins."
Breeze and Brogan
John and Mavis have sent these photos of Brogan and Breeze. Brogan, a blue and white dog, sadly died suddenly on 18th June 2008. "We enjoyed the company of this wonderful dog for only 13 months."
Within 3 weeks they had adopted Breeze. "He has proved a great replacement for Brogan although totally different."
Sparrow
Claire writes "We've had her for 7 months already and she is just a pleasure to have around the house!"
"She is now developing a really cheeky personality and greets everyone who comes to the house with one of her special 'smiles'! She has been to the seaside, although she did not know what to make of the sea that completely shocked her! She has such a placid personality that she has taken most new experiences completely in her stride. She is just wonderful and is an ambassador to greyhounds wherever she goes. We can't imagine life without her now!"
Dolly
Sonia and Ben tell us "We've had her almost five weeks and she's doing fantastically. Thank you so much for all your support, we couldn't have asked for more! Dolly's just the dog we wanted and we couldn't be without her!
Frankie and Layla
The photo shows Layla, along with the late Frankie and cats Jet and Fizz, all sadly missed by George and Lindy.
Jemima
Heather says: "We have now had Jemima or Mimes as she has become abbreviated to, since mid February. She has settled in so easily and made herself totally at home. She has a lovely temperament, and likes to play with other dogs.
Mr Dibbs
Mr Dibbs was 9 years young on 16th February 2009, and Robert and Ann have been privileged to share their home with him for the past 5 years. They say "He has graced no less than three calendars, and this picture of Mr Dibbs enjoying the February snow may well be a contender for next year's calendar".
Molly and Scooby
This is Molly and Scooby taking up their place on the settee. After moving all the covers round they finally settled down to a bit of a snooze. What a hard life!
Sam
Gavin and Sarah, who adopted Sam in October 2004, say he has been a great, if lazy, dog ever since!
ee. After moving all the covers round they finally settled down to a bit of a snooze. What a hard life!
Bonnie
This is Bonnie with new friend Chloe
Ebony
Ebony is the Ward's first dog, and this is her enjoying her first Christmas with them after rehoming in October 2007
Lulu
Stan and Audrey say that Lulu has settled very well and is a very loving little girl and they love her dearly.
Lisa
Antony and Delia say that she has settled in very well into her new life with them. "She has brought us nothing but joy and we can't really remember what it was like before she came to live with us."
Bale
Tony, who adopted Bale, says he can't believe how smoothly Bale's transition from racing life to retirement has been.
Blondie
Blondie has been with Jen and Rod since 2001. Once a very nervous girl she now enjoys everyone's company and loves to have a mad five minutes round the field when on her morning walk. Everybody knows her in the village and she is always welcome even at the weekly service in the village church, St Peters, in Farndon, Notts!
Rod writes: "When Blondie first entered our home, she was helped greatly by her companion Barnaby. She settled well, and adored Jen. Although I walked her every weekend, for 3 months, she legged it out whatever room I walked into with her tail between her legs. She was allowed to find her secure area without any pressure on her. When she finally entered a room that I was in, I took to sitting on the floor, and gradually, very gradually, she came to me. Now, she knows the car engine, and when I return from work, she is in the porch, waiting to greet her Dad. In Farndon, all the regular people in the village know Blondie, and she knows them, women and men alike, and as such, she receives a lot of affection, and is really enjoying her retirement. She runs in 3 fields, and has the interest of squirrels in the village and rabbits around the ponds. Through sponsorship of the village, we hope to raise £100 for The Woodborough Branch of RGT at The Great Greyhound Gathering".
Paul and Rose Boulton have sent these pictures of Bob and Grace. Bob and Grace met by fate when they shared the same kennel. They really complement each other's personalities. Bob—so laid back he's horizontal, and Grace—a real live wire. Here they are playing “tug of war” in the garden, and asleep after wearing each other out. Two little love birds!
Baz relaxing in his new home. Sarah tells us that Baz has settled in great and after only a few weeks was enjoying his new home with Tinks the cat and the family's two rabbits!
This is Bee on the left, and Gypsy on the right. Bee is 11 and we are told she still loves to jump about. She has to fetch her special football whenever she gets excited! Gypsy is a real water babe—she loves to swim, otherwise eating and sleeping are her usual activities!
Lily and Charlie in their normal position on the settee. The Dining family say that they are much loved members of the household and they can’t imagine life without a greyhound now. Lily was the 100th greyhound homed by Robert and Kathryn.
This picture of contentment is Scooby. Jo, Paul, Leigh and Luke love him to bits!
Glen, Lynne, James and Sophie sent these photos of Flash being paraded in the greyhound class at the 2006 Moorgreen Show and bringing home a rosette for second place.
Cara and Paul who adopted Harry say he has settled in very well, has a lovely temperament and is very laid back. He likes nothing better than lying in his bed and watching the world go by
Polo lounging in the garden. James and Jayne who adopted Polo write “He has settled in to his new home extremely well and it feels as if we have owned him for years”.
Alfie on his first holiday, in typical Greyhound pose
Angie surrounded by her cuddly toys
Ruby playing football in the garden. Ruby, like an increasing number of greyhounds, has been through the Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme, and achieved her Gold Award.
Rosie
Here is what Sue Morgan, who adopted Rosie, has to say:
“I adopted Rosie from you nearly 17 months ago now (as of May 2005). She was completely neurotic about unknown sounds at first—the slightest crack would send her scurrying off— but I enrolled her on a little ‘dog psychology’ course at the vet’s which included a CD of all sorts of noises. I think Phil said he’d used it too. After a few months she was showing improvement, then on January 1st this year we were out walking and a bird scarer suddenly went off. Instead of racing back to the car she just looked up at me, saw I wasn’t panicking, (a lot of the course was about training me!) and has not been remotely phased by anything since. I would certainly encourage people to use this method. I swear she decided her New Year’s resolution was to be brave! (Also on that walk she found an injured bird that I was able to take to a friend who looks after them).
Also I must tell you about a strange occurrence: Rosie accepted my old cat completely right from the start when she came here but he died in January and is now buried in the garden. About a month later I found a bit of an attempt at digging round his grave had happened and thought it was a fox. Except that a bit later I found Rosie gently putting her favourite toy and one of my slippers on this patch that she had obviously dug! She often steals things out the house and puts them in the garden (my purse once—I eventually found it dropped behind a log!) but usually brings them in again. These have been out there ever since and every so often she checks on them! It wasn't as if she and the cat were best buddies but it’s like she’s made a little shrine for him! She really has been a complete delight, as well as being the most mischievous animal I’ve ever owned! She has a definite sense of humour!”
Dylan
Zoe
Jasper
Millie (with her motto!)
Jack & Meg in Norfolk
Flossie
Sprint
Happy New Year for 2010 from Sprint
Homed Hounds
Some of our happily homed hounds....
Wanda
Wanda was returned to the branch through no fault of her own at the age of 12. Not wishing to put her through the trauma of being kennelled she was fostered by Kath and Pete and despite having a traumatic start to their relationship, as Wanda had to have all but three of her teeth removed and a lump taken off her leg, she has settled in brilliantly. Kath says she is a lovely dog who is happy to meet eveyone, her tail is constantly wagging, she loves her food and although occasionally a little unsteady on her back legs really looks forward to her trips in the car and her walks. Kath and Pete have been so taken by Wanda that they have subsequently adopted her. Proof if any were needed that adopting an older dog can be really rewarding.
The two photos show Wanda enjoying the New Years Day sunshine on Saundersfoot beach and with her new mates Bob and Grace
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