Rescue not reject…

We are all about diversity here at Forever Hounds Trust, we take dogs of all shapes and sizes into our care, as well as dogs with different levels of disability, or other health issues. Sadly being rescue dogs, many might have injuries sustained in their previous lives, but every single one of them deserves a chance at a happy life, just like Rory who came into our care in a bad way in 2015. His lovely mum Clare picks up the story…

In October 2015 I applied to Forever Hounds Trust (then GRWE), for a greyhound as I had just lost my old boy. I had all the usual checks done, and then received a phone call from the homing officer at the time, Laura, who, when going through those available who were a match said, “You may not want that one”, “What one?” I asked, and there the story started…

Rory had come from Ireland, having been left at the pound at around 6 months old with an over stretched tendon at the back of his right front leg (hyper carpal extension). His Irish rescuer had enquired with Forever Hounds Trust whether they had space, at which point he promptly broke the same leg! This obviously had to be fixed straight away, so he was transported to the UK in July 2015 at just a year old for it to be repaired.

I went to meet him in November 2015 and fell for his lovely sweet face and personality. Laura and I had a lot of conversations about his treatment going forward – she wanted to make sure I knew what I was taking on. He was assessed by three referral vets who recommended everything from doing nothing to taking the leg off! Forever Hounds Trust had agreed to fund the operation and we decided on a fused wrist called an Arthrodesis. This would leave him with a permanent limp but able to walk. He came home in November 2015 and was booked in for his Arthrodesis in January 2016…it was becoming quite urgent by this stage.

He had the operation, followed by 2 weeks of garden rest before all the dressings were taken off and then eight weeks of slow walking, before going back to be signed off. In April 2016 he started physiotherapy which has been the saving of him. He still has it now, although we are down to every six weeks or so, rather than weekly as it was at the start! He cannot walk as far or as fast as other dogs (his toes were also quite badly damaged in whatever caused the tendon injury), and I do have to try to choose an appropriate surface for him as he doesn’t do well on anything too stony or uneven such as gravel, but other than that we just adjust our activities to what he can do.

Having a disabled dog has been a joy, he has been on Forever Hound Trust social walks (usually a shortened version), playgroups, and has represented Forever Hounds Trust at collections, meets and greets and even volunteers twice a week in the Greyhound Shop Bournemouth where he is chief ‘Meeter & Greeter’ !

He is now eight years old and on a monthly Librela injection, he has also been on supplements since a very early age. I really cannot ask for a better companion – he is the friendliest dog, loves people, a little nervous of big dogs due to feeling a bit vulnerable but that’s easily managed.

Clare

This was potentially a dog that other people could have overlooked due to his injury, but he deserved as much opportunity to have a happy and long life as any other dog. We work with closely with adopters who take on dog with injuries, health issues etc to ensure they have absolutely the right level of care, and to see a hound like Rory thrive, is testament to this, as well as the love and dedication of his wonderful mum!

If you’re lucky, you can meet this gorgeous boy here: The Greyhound Shop