The dogs listed below are some of our longest stayers who are constantly overlooked - and we have no idea why!  They wait patiently for a home of their own.  Could you find it in your heart to offer a long term rescue dog a home?

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Salsa

Salsa is a 4 year old greyhound girl who came into Greyhound Gap's care in May 2009.  When she arrived at the kennels she was a pathetic sight, she was painfully thin and covered in open pressure sores.  She quickly moved into a foster home and has been waiting for her very own home ever since.    Her foster Mum has this to say about Salsa.

When Salsa first arrived at my house she was very shut down but immediately got on well with the other dogs in the house, however, it didn't take long for her cheeky personality to shine through.

In the house she is very busy and loves to play, unfortunately for her the resident dogs are not very playful so she has to make do with playing on her own.  She loves a variety of toys from the plush squeaky toys, which she loves to de-stuff,  to a simple tennis ball which she will run round the garden with and throw in the air.  For a dog who has had an appalling start she is full of joy and it is lovely to watch her gain such pleasure from the most simple things.

She is a very cheeky girl and, if you are not careful, she will happily play with anything that might be lying around from mobile phones to CDs.  I have learned very quickly to tidy up after myself!  When she first came here she had no manners around food - human or canine and had to be watched like a hawk. She now knows not to steal food but can still try to take advantage of unsuspecting, kindly strangers!

While out and about it was clear to see how under socialised she was.  She showed herself to be very confused and bewildered by the outside world.  She would bark and lunge at other dogs and was clearly nervous at being out.  Although she still has a nervous edge when out she has calmed down a lot around medium to large dogs, however she is still very keen with small dogs and cats.  It would be fair to say that whilst outside she will never be completely safe with small dogs but she is walked in a head collar and a harness which help enormously.  It is worth noting that she currently lives with a medium sized crossbreed and this has never been a problem for her, even when they are walked together and he is off lead she has never reacted to him when he runs.

In the house she is much more relaxed and has accepted smaller dogs through the doors without a moments bother.  She's a very tactile dog who loves to cuddle up to you and the other dogs.  Sadly for her the other greyhounds in the house will not tolerate her cuddling up to them but my crossbreed and some of the other fosters have obliged her.  That is when you see her at her most vulnerable, when she needs contact from others.  I feel that sometimes that due to her horrific past she is scared to be alone and isolated.  That said Salsa seems to exist in her own little world where the sky is green and the grass is blue!  She is always so happy and is always pleased to see you.

Poor Salsa has been in foster nearly 2 years without any serious interest.  She has seen numerous other foster dogs come and happily go off to their forever homes while she has been waiting patiently for so long.  She is not always the easiest dog but her antics have me laughing every day and she is a pleasure to have around.

If you think you could be the home Salsa has been waiting for please get in touch.

Salsa is vaccinated, treated for parasites, microchipped and spayed. For more information or to offer her a home please call Lisa on 01782 544728 or Liz on 01473 623343.

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