We always love to hear what impact our adopted dogs have on their forever families. Gorgeous Wally sadly may no longer be with us, but we wanted to share this heart-warming story of just how special he was.
We hand over to his lovely mum….
Wally (was Kelso) arrived on a very wet and windy day in February 2016. We drove down to Devon, and our first greyhound, Star, said ‘OK this is my new pal’. Wally adored children; his most favourite human was our youngest daughter, Hollie. He sat with her constantly when she was very poorly with tonsillitis.
We sadly lost Star in September 2018, but six weeks later Evie-Bean joined us from Norfolk Greyhound Rescue (Evie and Wally were actually related – Wally’s mum was the full sister to Evie’s dad). Twelve weeks after Evie arrived, she was diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy, but again, Wally was marvellous with her. Sadly, we lost Evie to epilepsy on Valentine’s Day 2021, and I said, ‘no more hounds! However….ten months after losing Evie, Daisy arrived (December 9th 2021). Shell-shocked and bewildered, she didn’t know how to be a dog, so Wally taught her everything, including the fact that humans were nice (Daisy is a safeguarding case – rescued by adult social services).
Wally’s favourite thing to do was prove his vet wrong at any given opportunity! In October 2017, we were told he wouldn’t live to see Christmas of the same year after being diagnosed with early-stage kidney disease. We then had huge issues with his ears, and in the end, I asked the vet to do a dental (we thought he’d lose eight teeth, he actually lost 18). We then found out he had a clotting issue, high blood pressure and didn’t react well to anaesthesia. Yet again, he fought back to prove Uncle Oliver (vet) wrong!
In July 2021, he suffered a sudden onset vestibular episode. The vet gave him three days before I would have to make the decision, and yet again, my wonderful wonky chap fought back! In early January 2023, I took him to the vet for a blood and wee test (we he was due another dental), but sadly, I was given the news he was in kidney failure. He battled for another 18 days before he said he’d had enough.
Wally was a gobby boy, and he very much went on his terms (the vet went to get the nurse, Wally sighed as if to say ‘bye mum’ and popped off before the vet got back).
We loved Wally the wonky donkey so much.”
Wally’s mum
We are recruiting!