As part of my never ending internet search into my hounds, trying to get a glimpse into their world before it was also our world, I came across this race card from a day at Swindon.
There are some names on there that aren’t necessarily familiar to me but the hounds are so familiar and so much loved by me and their humans.
Miss Zippy – our dearly loved special fawn friend, Sams girlfriend and the goofiest girl I’ve ever met.
Hydepark Bolt – the beautiful elegant Miss Hollybobs, connoisseur of blankets and all of the comf.
Feora Fiadh – our Pippa ‘nana loaf fren who does the best sits and bows and smacks for some pate.
My own beautiful ever missed girl Mohican Ennis – Queen Bea, the smallest sassiest most loving girl.
Mohican Kingsley – our special baby dinosaur Sam.
Mohican Eric and Mohican Penny – Sams littermates, one of whom he has had the pleasure of spending time with since.
These dogs.
All listed on a race card together.
Now they have play dates together where their humans dote on their hounds and all of their friends.
I wonder if they knew each other, were kennelled with each, trained with each other, competed with each other.
I wonder if they were surprised when their humans brought them to a strange place that had other hounds that they may have recognised the sight and scent of, but rather than muzzled and raced, they got to sniff together freely in a garden or a park, shared dog beds and snacks, got fussed and adored by all the humans.
Friendship is the most wonderful thing. Having someone you can rely on for support, for help, for advice and reassurance and confidence, for fun and laughter and good times.
The hounds have connected humans in this way too. We chat, we share photos, anxieties, look for advice, for support, help each other through bad times and fun times.
This week we had a local GGGW, a small private walk because we have a couple of hounds that would not do well with non greyhounds attending. The walk was half an hour in duration – the socialisation was over an hour, with humans and hounds taking the opportunity to catch up, share treats and generally enjoy each others company.
Having a rescue dog is a special thing, having a rescue greyhound admits you to a unique cult where you find like minded people that you have so much more in common with than you would think on the surface.
These hounds on that race card from a place 80miles away have found themselves all happily homed and loved within a few miles of each other, with humans in constant contact to arrange walks and play dates and movie and pizza evenings and book clubs that everyone partakes in (because books can be chewed and pizza bones consumed at speed).
I hope and wonder and pray that the others listed on that race card have known the love and comfort of home and family and people that love them. I’m thankful for the hounds on my sofas, the hounds that they love to play with and their humans, that I count amongst my dearest friends.