Rainbow Bridge

Sasha

We are very sad to announce that Sasha one of our sponsor dogs left for the bridge on 15th September 2009. We cannot thank her foster family enough for giving her the wonderful love and care they did in her twilight years. Also much love and thanks to Sasha's many sponsors.

Seth

We are very sad to announce that on 1st September 2008 our beautiful sponsor boy Seth left for the bridge.

Seth came to us in 2005 after being rescued from a dog pound situation and was estimated to be around 12 years of age.

On landing in our care it became apparent that Seth had multiple health problems and remained in the care of his foster parents Anna and David who loved and adored him very much.

Our hearts go out to them for their loss and we cant thank them enough for all they did for this boy.

Sleep tight little man.

Tipo

 
Tipo is a 9-year-old saluki cross who came into Greyhound Gap’s care on the 1st of May 2006. Her owner had died and Tipo, along with her companion Ronnie, had to be removed from the property.

Gap’s volunteers stepped in to help and very quickly a transport chain got the pair to a rescue that offered them shelter for a few days until foster homes could be found for them.

I offered Tipo a foster home and when she arrived we found that she was very timid, being scared of loud noises and anything that moved too quickly near her. Although Tipo didn’t like being approached by anyone she was quite happy to go to people when she felt comfortable with them.

At some point in her life Tipo had also suffered a terrible trauma to her face, due to this she has half of her top lip missing and what was left has fused to her top gum, exposing her teeth on one side and pulling her nose a little out of place.

When she arrived Tipo was taken for a full health check and the vet felt her lip injury was old and could only have occurred through being exposed to some form of intense heat, although quite what did happen to her we will never know. Apart from sometimes needing a little wipe after she’s had something to eat this injury causes no trouble to Tipo at all.

At her health check Tipo was also found to have quite a few small mammary lumps, which were dealt with when she was spayed. Whilst all the lumps were removed this was an area of Tipo’s health that would need to be kept an eye on, and so Greyhound Gap decided that she should become one of their sponsor dogs, with any future medical bills being met by the charity.

Although they were in separate foster homes at this time a home for Ronnie and Tipo to go to together was being sought. Unfortunately after 2 months, although there was some interest in them, a suitable home could not be found and so Greyhound Gap had to make the sad decision to try and home them separately.

Even though Tipo was so frightened it was obvious as the days past in her foster home that she was a little girl with a lot of love to give. It took only a short time for her to begin to relax around us and she was soon coming for cuddles. Tipo integrated well with our other dogs Molly, Henry and Roger, and really began to come out of her shell.

Tipo learned quite a few things as the months passed: playing was fun and no one was going to stop her or shout at her for doing so, the best place to sleep was on our bed, especially if we were in it and she could snuggle up, there was no need to be scared of going into the garden, particularly if Molly was there and they could race around, and Roger and Henry where great for sharing a bed with.

Tipo learned to bounce and play, to wag her tail when she was happy, to give small, delicate kisses when she was snuggling, and sitting when asked meant she got a tasty treat, her favourite being a crunchy pig’s ear.

The only thing that Tipo could not get used to was a visitor coming to the house. If someone came in that she hadn’t met or didn’t know very well she would rush straight up the stairs and hide in the bedroom. Even now she will do the same but she has progressed a little to either sitting on the landing and listening, or sneaking down the stairs and having a look around the lounge door. This is something we are still working on at Tipo’s pace.

On 26th July 2006 we adopted Tipo. She had fitted into our family so well and, even though she is still very wary of men, had trusted and loved Brad from the moment she met him. Tipo had become a different dog during her time with us and we could not bear to think of her going to another home and regressing back to the timid little thing she was until she got used to her new surroundings. She had also totally wormed her way into our hearts; Tipo is home for good.

Nog

It was on the appeals section of the Gap forum where I first read of an old greyhound with health problems that needed a place to be. Lisa offered Gap’s help and things were put in motion for him to come into the Gap fold.
That same night Lisa called to tell me she “had found my old dog” and to ask if the old black lad from the appeals section could come here as my next foster. We didn’t know much about him except he had been neglected, was very stiff in the legs and was struggling to walk.
He was transported part of the way from Wales by Phebe who we met up with in Welshpool. When Jim as he had been called came towards me on the car park I was struck by his size, he was a large hound with a huge head and long body which some how made him seem bigger still. He walked like a wooden puppet, legs held stiff and straight, each step an effort but his tail wagged happily enough. It took two of us to lift him into the boot of the car where he flopped gratefully. As we started on the way home the sound of his ragged breathing could be heard over the noise of the kids in the back, we thought he was stressed or hot and stopped at Lake Vyrnwy so he could have a bit of fresh air and quiet time but we quickly realised that his breathing was always heavy and laboured and made a note to get it checked out by the vets asap. His teeth were also rotten with many hanging out or snapped in half. Despite all this he seemed happy and when I got him home he slotted into the pack already here with no problems. I decided to change his name to Nog, the letters standing for New Old Git.
Nog was a gentle, undemanding dog from the start, he had a cheeky side to his personality but his health problems meant he could do little about it, but he had a lovely smile and would get giddy and excitable from the comfort of his bed while the others bounced around.
He went to visit Ryan the vet the first week he arrived. He needed multiple teeth out, xrays of his legs and to check to see what was going on with his breathing. The outcome wasn’t great. Although there was no arthritis in his legs the x-rays showed that his heart was greatly enlarged and a shadow was present next to it. An operation to determine what the shadow was wasn’t an option, it was too invasive and with the heart problem the probability was he wouldn’t survive.
After a long chat with Lisa we decided that Nog should become part of the Gap Sponsor Dog scheme and would stay here for the rest of his days with Gap meeting all his vet bills.
Once the medication began to work Nog’s quality of life improved greatly, he was able to go for short walks, came with me to the Summer shows, and spent a day in school helping to show people what brilliant pets greyhounds make. Wherever he went he won hearts, he had a personality as big as a house and he made me smile every day with his antics, he was an arch thief and ate every one of the tomatoes from the plants in the garden.
Just before Christmas Nog began to limp. I thought little of it, he had had a nail infection a few moths before which still recurred from time to time. He continued to have problems however and once again visited Ryan. He allowed himself to be prodded and poked without a murmur, he was given medication in case it was ligament damage but things did not improve and he stopped using the leg at all. Still he soldiered on, he would still try and run in the garden and insisted on going upstairs to bed with everyone else.
When the tree went up at Christmas Nog discovered a new joy in life, he loved the lights and would sit for hours watching them twinkle. He loved the Secret Santa presents he received and especially loved his Christmas dinner.
Just after Christmas with no improvement Nog’s leg was x-rayed. The results were not good. The bone had strange lumps and bumps which was either a huge infection or cancer. He was prescribed strong antibiotics. He could no longer climb the stairs so me and the hounds began sleeping downstairs. After a week or so where things improved and hopes were raised sadly his condition began to deteriorate. The strain of prolonged use of only 3 legs was taking its toll on his heart, his breathing was under strain again. It became obvious my big brave bear of a dog was in pain and it was time for us to say goodbye.
Nog was helped on his way on Saturday, he lay on the floor of the vets eating treats and fell gently asleep knowing he was greatly loved.
I feel privileged to have shared my home with Nog, he was a truly gentle hound who did lots in his short time with Gap to help the dogs who follow him, I think he would be very pleased to know he had done his bit.

Sleep well Nog the dog, you will be always in my heart.

Flynn

Flynn's story.....

A few weeks ago there was a post on Dog Pages regarding a ten month old Greyhound boy who had recently come into the pound, the appeal was placed by Alison W.

Flynn was rescued by an elderly gentleman from travellers after seeing them repeatedly beating him to the head. He gave them money and took the lad, unfortunatly it became apparent that Flynn's needs were to great for the elderly gentleman to continue to help him.

Flynn was blind and suffering with lots of violent fits, at the time we didnt have room to help but spoke to Laura and she stepped in and took him there until we had room to help ourselves with foster care and putting him on the road to what we hoped to be a medical recovery.

The plan was for me to take Flynn here after my holiday but on a nightout a couple of weeks ago I had casually mentioned him to Judy, she shocked me by speaking to Mike and although his own Father was seriously ill they felt that Flynn should go to themselves.

On arrival although on medication Flynn was still fitting and on that first day he had 9 fits in a 40 minute period, thankfully the vets managed to get him stabalised with high doses via IV and we managed to get the fits under control. He came home and remained fit free and we thought that it was eplilepsy and that we were getting it under control. Flynn was such a loving boy and so very easy to fall head over heels with, one of our vets Natasha was interested in offering him a home. She spoke to an optomoligist for us about his eyes which were junior cataracts from birth and he agreed to operate for us at cost and give him the sight back in one eye. Hydrotherapy was also planned for his wasted back leg muscles. Things were looking up and at last we felt Flynn had a chance of a future.

On Bank Holiday Monday, Judy and Mike met a group of us up at Talacre beach, and although un co ordinated and taking large steps, Flynn soon realised that on the beach there was nothing for him to fall over or hurt him and his confidence built and he was soon walking well and listening intently to the roar of the sea. For the first time his tail was up and he looked to come alive.

When we made our way back to the pub after the walk we put him in the car expecting him to be tired but no he wanted to be out with us all and the other dogs and spent two hours begging for food and cuddles and then went home and trotted down the garden into the house.
We felt that he was working with us and we were winning.

Sadly during the course of the week as Flynn gained strength we saw a change in his behaviour, he became angry very easily and he began to get extremely aggresive and uncontrollable. If he had his eye sight he would have caused serious damage to his carers, he didnt seem to understand what he was doing, it was heartbreaking for all involved.

He returned to the vets Saturday morning who we cannot thank enough for levelling with us and telling us how they felt things were for Flynn. The fitting was so severe that he had to be heavily drugged to control it and wasnt being able to be lucid enough, they didnt feel with fits that severe in a dog so young that we were dealing with epilepsy and more likely a brain tumour, it was the news we knew was coming but hoped so much not to hear. He couldnt remain so highly medicated because it was affecting other organs and with pressure already put on for the fits there was no way forward for this lad, he had one battle too many to fight. It was decided that for the first time in his life at least we could give the lad peace, with love in his heart and good memories of a fabulous week surrounded by people who truly did love him.

Flynn left for the Bridge on Saturday and I know that he was met by Mike and Judy's Benson whose birthday it was.

I wanted to write this all down because the lad deserves to be remembered.

Mike, Judy you are amazing people and what you did for Flynn was more than ANY dog could ever hope for. Sadly Mike's Dad also lost his own battle this week and passed away so they have had a terribly sad time.

Flynn you may be gone but you will never be forgotten sweetheart.

That Other Land
by Anne
It is not far away, the place to which they go.
It is just beyond the starlit skies;
it's where the moonbeams grow -
And night is day and day is night and sorrow
comes no more.
Where love abides beyond the tides upon a
golden shore,
And we must wait here for awhile - until it's time
to go.
Although we carry on, we mourn, because we miss
them so;
And through the years, GOD dries our tears...
He said, "My peace I give".
Oh GOD... We thank you for your help and
the chance to live

Rest easy now boy, free from the pain and cruelty inflicted on one so beautiful and so young. Be at peace. So sorry we couldnt make it right for you big lad.


Some dogs take a piece of your heart with them when they go, Flynn has taken a massive chunk.

Flynn is being cremated and we will be taking him back to the beach at Talacre to set him free finally. The place that he probably spent the happiest day of his life.

Izzy the dream dog who broke our hearts

Izzy came into our lives less than a year ago. Little did we know then, that within the year he would break our hearts. Still there we were last July 15th, my youngest son’s birthday as it happened, with beautiful, gentle Izzy striped and coloured exactly like a Tiger. He was one half of a pair. His running mate was Nigel or “Nige” as he soon became known a big, strong Irish lad with a coat the colour of marbled chocolate and striped with blue. Utter stunners.
We had toyed with having another dog for a year. Rescued types were our speciality having decided a long time ago that as cute as puppies are, surely there are so many older dogs out there needing TLC. We had lost Penny two years previously. She was a bonkers and beautiful white greyhound cross whippet who we took in at ten months and she bowed out at 18 years. Ella May the little rough haired golden lurcher left us the following year, aged about 15. Although we were never really sure how old she was. Rescued after living rough for six months when she was dumped by travellers she had been burnt and beaten and came with a bald body and serious stealing habit but in the end love was all she needed…and a full bowl…and a warm bed. Still didn’t stop her tea leafing though – she once opened the oven door and stole a leftover joint of beef.
But back to the boys. We decided to go for it. Lisa said they were a pair of crackers and so it proved. They settled in like a dream with our two elderly cats – Kitten (nearly 20) and Buster a handsome golden tabby gent of 13.
Apart from Nige eating for England and having a snout which was a little too near the kitchen worktops - a slice of beef whipped off the sandwich I was making under my nose and strange greyhound nostril shaped marks mysteriously appearing in the butter – they made themselves very much at home.
They proved to be gentle, affectionate, undemanding, clean, funny and just fab. Izzy and Kitten would share a bed, Buster would tolerate these long legged interlopers and Nige would just eat anything that was on offer.
No sofa, bed or comfy cushion was left untouched. Izz just adored climbing into beds, getting under the duvet and throwing the pillows around so he could rest his head at just the right angle. And Nige would squeeze his bulk into the smallest armchair.
Tony, my husband, was the walker and early morning routine was doggy breakfast and walks across the neighbouring fields. Izzy staying close by, Nige buggering off when he got the whiff of a rabbit or muntjac but he soon calmed down and stayed closer.
Those bare buttocks – a sign of stress I believe – started to grow downy fur and they proudly paraded their furry bums like a WAG in Baden-Baden bar – a sign of total luxury.
Our sons (all grown up and living away from home) just loved them. The youngest had two Jack Russell puppies which we dog sat whilst they went on holiday. To say it was chaos was an understatement. Buster took to the garden hedge. Kitten just socked them with an extended paw whenever they came near. Nige had to be watched as they were all over him and he was a bit put out. But beautiful Izzy just let the little perishers – Pickle and Freddie – sit on his head and chew his tail – his patience was endless.
So the months wore on. The cane sofa in the conservatory became Izzy’s personal property. Nigel would sneak on if Izz got off, but it was definitely Izzy’s. Nige took to hijacking cushions and beating them up. Izzy knew the sound of the biscuit barrel lid even when opened in what I thought was total silence.
There was a downside. Wind! Lots of it, almost gassing my mother when she stayed last Christmas. The pair could clear the room when they started farting.
They became local celebrities too, gaining admiring remarks. One afternoon a gang of little boys passed them out walking. As they went past one lad turned and said: “Those dogs are so cool!” You bet!
It has been a joy to see their wet noses and once dull coats turn glossy and sleek and to be given big sloppy kisses by them or whipped by their wagging tails.
But it was to be a short lived joy. Last Friday morning Tony took them onto the gravel pits for a change of scenery. It’s alive with rabbits and the dogs picked up the scent and chased together. Suddenly Izzy foamed at the mouth, his back legs collapsed and within minutes had died in Tony’s arms (we now know it was cardiac arrest). With him went a very bright light from our lives.
There must have been something undetected wrong with him and (who knows what or why) and we’ll never know but we have been left with a real feeling of being cheated of a wonderful companion who should have had years left to enjoy.
And he too has been cheated of his chance of his forever home. Even with the various dogs we’ve had, when it’s been time for them to go there has been sadness but also a feeling that it’s been a life well lived. Izzy has left us feeling so empty, as if we failed him, though I know we didn’t.
I said to my distraught husband: “If you had known last year when we collected these two that one wouldn’t be with you at the end of that year, would you still have done this?” I don’t need to tell you the answer. For a short time that tiger-striped boy brought us huge pleasure. He knew love, he knew security and at least his last months were happy and not spent in fear or distress and I hope we gave him far more than he gave us…which was immense.
Nigel sat and cried mournfully when I brought him home after Izzy died. He is quiet but seems OK and is getting extra TLC and I bought a pretty blue and clear glass light catcher from the church shop at the weekend which hangs over Izzy’s sofa in the conservatory and dances and jingles in the summer breeze.
Sadly our 20-year-old Kitten had been euthanized two weeks beforehand. The feisty tortoiseshell didn’t want to go but she had so many things wrong with her, it was time.
Where do we go from here? Who knows? Nigel is our first concern but I have no doubt whatsoever that before long there’ll be another Greyhound Gap friend coming to play.
And I like to think that Izzy is cuddling up with Kitten somewhere in a doggy and cat heaven…they both deserve a long, peaceful sleep.

Anne Harper
June 26th 2006