2002 Losing a dog
Monty, part whirlwind, mostly miniature dachshund had been with us for 11 and a half years. Although he was tiny, he was larger than life and an even bigger part of our lives.We still have our favorite Monty stories and were utterly devastated when in 2002, his heart finally gave out and he passed away.
It is kind of funny, but after 10 years without a dog we were finally beginning to toy with the idea of getting another dog.
Life without a dog
Thinking about it, our need for another dog wasn't all that surprising. Our much loved elderly cat had just died, leaving us without any animals and our home was feeling pretty empty.
No dog also meant coming home just wasn't the same.
Not being mugged by a furry tornado hysterically wagging its tail to tell you it really REALLY missed you had taken quite a lot of getting used to.
A big part of our lives had been gone and we felt it keenly.
Let the debate begin
The trouble was we couldn't agree on what sort of dog to get.
My only experience of owning a
dog was Monty, our dachshund. I was keen to stick with a smaller, more manageable breed, but my wife didn't want another dachshund clouding her memories of Monty.
Although I understood her sentiments, we simply couldn't agree on what sort of dog we wanted until a chance encounter along Oriental Bay.
Although I understood her sentiments, we simply couldn't agree on what sort of dog we wanted until a chance encounter along Oriental Bay.
A meeting at Oriental Bay
One evening we were wandering to a
bus stop and bumped into a lady walking a greyhound. I can’t remember its
name, but its gentle manner and silky short fur was amazing. We were both smitten.
Looking back now, I'm pretty sure that was when we were both caught the greyhound bug. We never looked back.
Looking back now, I'm pretty sure that was when we were both caught the greyhound bug. We never looked back.
Hanging with the hounds
Not long afterwards we began to sneak
looks at the Greyhounds As Pets website. Soon MySky was being left on the TAB
channel so we could watch greyhounds racing.
Things finally came to a head at Christmas. Stuck for a Christmas present for my wife, I printed out the Greyhounds As Pets adoption form, and bought her a dog bowl.
It was about as different as a Christmas present could be, and I got more than a few odd looks from workmates when I told them I'd bought my wife a dog bowl for Christmas.
Regardless, we’d finally made that first critical step towards getting our next dog and it was going to be a greyhound.
Things finally came to a head at Christmas. Stuck for a Christmas present for my wife, I printed out the Greyhounds As Pets adoption form, and bought her a dog bowl.
It was about as different as a Christmas present could be, and I got more than a few odd looks from workmates when I told them I'd bought my wife a dog bowl for Christmas.
Regardless, we’d finally made that first critical step towards getting our next dog and it was going to be a greyhound.
The adoption process
Having downloaded, filled out and returned the adoption
form, Leigh, a volunteer with Greyhounds As Pets, and Mr Darcy (her rather dashing black greyhound) came to inspect our property, making sure it was suitably greyhound-proof.
On the plus side, we’d just finished fencing and hit it off instantly with Mr Darcy. Leigh (Mr Darcy's pet human) asked us a series of questions to help match us up with the greyhound of our dreams, also giving us some great tips on life with greyhounds.
Much to our relief it looked like we’d made the grade as potential greyhound owners.
On the plus side, we’d just finished fencing and hit it off instantly with Mr Darcy. Leigh (Mr Darcy's pet human) asked us a series of questions to help match us up with the greyhound of our dreams, also giving us some great tips on life with greyhounds.
Much to our relief it looked like we’d made the grade as potential greyhound owners.
We also learned that there was a big waiting list for cat friendly greyhounds
(cat friendliness was a priority - even if it did mean a wait of up to four
months).
We’d already waited 10 years for another dog, and decided that a a few more months wouldn't hurt.
We’d already waited 10 years for another dog, and decided that a a few more months wouldn't hurt.
A pleasant surprise
Several days later our phone
rang. It was Danielle from Greyhounds As Pets and she’d found a greyhound that
might be a good match.
Her racing name was Lotto Profit and she was a brindle greyhound of a slightly nervous disposition who needed to be around quiet owners without kids who could spend as much time as possible with her.
About the only real gotcha was that she was what GAP called a cat question mark, which meant Greyhounds As Pets weren't sure if she was cat friendly (turns out that cats make her anxious so the neighborhood cats were safe).
With no kids, a fenced section and my wife working from home, it turned out that we were the perfect potential Lotto Profit owners.
Danielle wanted to know if we’d drive up to Shannon to check Lotto Profit out while we were in turn checked out. We jumped at the chance.
Her racing name was Lotto Profit and she was a brindle greyhound of a slightly nervous disposition who needed to be around quiet owners without kids who could spend as much time as possible with her.
About the only real gotcha was that she was what GAP called a cat question mark, which meant Greyhounds As Pets weren't sure if she was cat friendly (turns out that cats make her anxious so the neighborhood cats were safe).
With no kids, a fenced section and my wife working from home, it turned out that we were the perfect potential Lotto Profit owners.
Danielle wanted to know if we’d drive up to Shannon to check Lotto Profit out while we were in turn checked out. We jumped at the chance.
Arriving in Shannon, we were introduced to Lotto Profit who walked straight up to where I was sitting, rested her head in my lap and gazed straight up at me with her big soft brown eyes. I was instantly hooked.
Thankfully so was Lotto Profit. We agreed to pick her up next week, once we’d ordered some essentials (such as a soft dog bed, a warm coat and food).
On the way home we agreed that Lotto Profit was not a great pet name and that we'd call her Lottie (it'd also be easier for her to learn).
2 weeks in
Lottie has been with us for 2
weeks and turned 4 the day we picked her up. She’s settled in amazingly well
and it feels like she’s been with us forever.
We’re still at the stage of everything being a first.
Watching Lottie run at the dog park is nothing short of incredible. She goes from 0 to 45MPH almost instantly. In fact, she's so fast, we've nicknamed her the “brindle rocket”.
The house feels full again. Coming home is a real occasion, and most important of all, Lottie is a happy girl. As for us, we're both over the moon.
We’re still at the stage of everything being a first.
Watching Lottie run at the dog park is nothing short of incredible. She goes from 0 to 45MPH almost instantly. In fact, she's so fast, we've nicknamed her the “brindle rocket”.
The house feels full again. Coming home is a real occasion, and most important of all, Lottie is a happy girl. As for us, we're both over the moon.
