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Jack's Story

My name is Jack, and I am a retired racing Greyhound. I have lived with my mum for 18 months when I wrote this, and thought you might like to hear about my life so far…

I was born in Ireland, and came to England to start racing when I was 15 months old. I was pretty good (even if I do say so myself) and because of this I ran almost every week for nearly three years. When I finally retired due to injuries I was moved to different kennels, and for ages no one came to see me or take me out. I lost a lot of weight and became quite stressed, but what happened next was even worse.

A lady came and collected me one day, and took me to a strange place called a house. In this house were lots of grown ups and small people called children. It was full of confusing things like windows and stairs, all of which I had never come across before. There was lots of noise and people coming and going, and I was very confused and frightened. I stayed here for two days and then the same lady came to collect me and take me back to the kennels. In a way I was quite relieved, but before long I was off to another new home, and over the next few months I had three more of these (none of which lasted longer than two weeks). I did try very hard to understand what was expected of me, but no one seemed to have much patience and they always ended up shouting so I had to growl to protect myself.

After those four homes I thought things couldn't get much worse until once again I found myself on the move. This home started off well, as I was finally beginning to get used to this strange environment, so after a few weeks I began to put on weight and feel a lot better. I became quite lively and rather attached to my new humans, so when they started to leave me all day to go to a place called Work I was a bit upset. When they came home I would run to the door to greet them, so I could show them what I had been doing while they were out. They got very cross about all of the mess I had made, and started to put me in a cupboard under the stairs whenever they went out. Sometimes they left me there even when they got home, and I didn't understand why no one seemed to remember to feed or walk me anymore. I became very frightened and when I was taken out of the cupboard I always fought when they tried to put me back in. Finally the same lady came back, and took me away to kennels again. I should have been relieved, but now I just didn't care anymore. I was frightened of everyone because I never knew if they were going to try and hurt me, or lock me in the dark. I started to chew my leg and tail, and walk endlessly in circles.

One day another woman I had never met before came to kennels and took me for a walk. She had treats in her pocket and spoke very gently, but I still wouldn't let her touch me. She said I was the ugliest, saddest dog she had ever seen, which was obviously a good thing to be, because a few days after that she came back and got me.

© Travelling Light Photography

At her house there was a big duvet on the floor in a corner, and just her and me. There was food and water, and for that whole first day we just sat in the same room while she talked to me. Whenever she moved I followed her, because although I didn't like to be touched, I wanted to see what she was doing. Later in the evening, someone else came home and I got frightened, but he didn't try to touch me or anything so I started to feel a little better. At night she explained I was to sleep downstairs which I didn't like because she went upstairs and I couldn't see her anymore. I came to the bottom of the stairs and cried, and my new mum kept coming down and sitting where I could see her again. Eventually I worked out that she was still there and went to sleep.

From then on more good things kept happening. There was always food just for me, no one ever shouted or hit me, and we started going to lots of interesting places in the car like woods and fields. I met one of mum's friends called Alyson, who had two greyhounds like me, and we all started going for long walks together.

After a few weeks when all of us were in the woods one day, mum let me off the lead for the first time. I disappeared into the wood at the top of the hill to look for squirrels with Alyson's dogs. At some point they must have gone back, but I had never been off the lead before and was very excited. Next thing I knew was my mum was calling from a long way off and sounding quite frightened. I found my way out of the woods and stood in the middle of a wide grassy path at the very top of a huge hill. I looked all around, and right down at the bottom I saw mum waving and calling.

I suddenly realised that I wanted to be with her and ran all the way down the hill so fast that I couldn't stop in time, and knocked her over. I then sat on her wagging my tail and barking to show how happy I was to be able to run again. She cried a bit, but I don't think it was because she was hurt. After that I got to be off the lead a lot, and settled down because I was finally getting the opportunity to use up some energy. I always loved to run and now I was fit, well fed, injury-free, safe, and settled in my new home where mum says I can stay forever.

Well that is all for now, because I think it must be nearly time for dinner. Some time soon I will write about the fun we had when Mum decided to start fostering other greyhounds!

Jack.

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