Guest IrskasMom Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 VINCENT, (Hard to Spot) 21-11-1994--- 27-10-2008. I had seen Vincent many times on the Walthamstow Retired Greyhound Trust re-homing website without giving too much thought about taking him on. He seemed to be the dog of the week forever, because he was always there, pictured tied to the railings just another 10-year-old black boy desperate for a home. He had it all against him because he was deemed to be disruptive, and a pain in the ars*. The consensus of opinion was that he would cause trouble if put into a home with other greyhounds. At 10 years old, and black, he didn’t have a lot of hope. That was until I took fellow greyhound owner Pauline Stevens over to Harlow Greyhound Stadium to watch the Grading trails one Tuesday morning in October 2004. It was while we were having a cup of tea after the trails had ended, that talk finally got around to me taking on another old boy. It was then Pauline, who herself had been put off taking on Vince by kennel staff because of his alleged bad reputation, suggested Vincent. At the time I was down to just Mooney, Harry and of course if you can remember, Little Black Dog. (LBD is still with my friend Denise who fell in love with him and took over his ownership.) Well I make up my mind pretty quickly if I decide to do something, and that’s how it was that day. We left the stadium, picked up my depleted gang and drove to Johanna Beaumer’s Waltham Abbey Kennels to see for ourselves how this pariah of the greyhound world would react to meeting my little gang, face to face in one of the paddocks. I wasn’t too worried there would any violence when Vince entered the paddock where Mooney, Harry and LBD were waiting, because his whole body language defied the accusations that were laid at his door, he was in fact a pussycat. The only small problem was his high level of testosterone, which induced the old boy to try and mount LBD, much to the indignity of the little old mongrel. When I called his name he came straight over to me with a smile and a wag, so I was smitten. The plan was to leave Vince there until he could be castrated, which fell by the wayside when I was told it would be nearly two weeks before the operation could be performed. So I went back the next day picked him up and brought him home. He had at last got his own family after waiting all those years with a millstone around his neck, due to the ignorance of his previous Trainer who defamed him to such a degree. I know I have said it many times before but the worst Judges of a Greyhound’s character are those that work closely with them in the alien world of a greyhound prison. Which is either a racing kennel or a re-homing kennel. You can’t expect a dog of any description to show its true persona in the totally claustrophobic environment they are asked to endure. Unfortunately there are many greyhounds tarred with this same brush that are destined to die alone and unloved because of these smears on their persons by people unable to see the true greyhound that lies beneath the hound that vies for attention at every opportunity. A greyhound in a kennel block has so very little time to make their presence known to any person peering into their kennel, so it’s not too surprising they are very exuberant with their greeting, all they want, is just to be loved. Sadly, all to often this behaviour is misunderstood by those who set themselves up as greyhound experts to be the actions of an unbalanced hound, instead of a greyhound desperate for affection. To base any assessment on a greyhounds worth by kennel behaviour does not do any hound a service and could like Vincent condemn them to many years, if not all their life incarcerated in a wooden box. How many poor old boys and girls have been stigmatised to this effect by this non-scientific appraisal of their reactions to stress in captivity. I know if you have got to have a holding pen for all these greyhounds needing homes, but for the love of God give these hounds some leeway before there are aspersions caste in their direction that pushes them aside to a life without hope, only despair. All of my greyhounds eventually make it off the lead to socialise with all asunder, some it takes longer than others. Gerry took 8 months, Floyd 5 months and Stevie a couple of weeks, and others in-between. Vincent however was less than a week before it became pretty obvious he wasn’t a danger to man or beast. He was obedient, although he never lost the penchant for harassing hedgehogs. I have had some lovely greyhounds in my time and Vincent must be very near the top of the tree to be the perfect dog as a companion and confidant. It was a scandal that such a nice dog had to wait 10 years to find his forever home. Recently it became a bit of a nightmare keeping him going with both his heart and arthritis causing him problems. If he had, had his way he would have stayed entrenched on his couch, but calls of nature meant I had to regularly take him around the block or into the garden and he steadily worsened. He was on medication up to the hilt but he still struggled to have a decent standard of life, so yesterday I made the heart wrenching decision to send him on to the Rainbow Bridge this morning. At 11.05 he made the short trip to join his pals and wait patiently for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greybookends Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawthorn Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Bless you for giving Vincent a chance. Quote When a relationship of love is disrupted, the relationship does not cease. The love continues; therefore, the relationship continues. The work of grief is to reconcile and redeem life to a different love relationship. ~ W Scott Lineberry Always Greyhounds Home Boarding and Greyhounds With Love House Sitting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vahoundlover Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 I am so sorry for your loss. I hope the beautiful memories you and Vincent made together will help heal your broken heart. Thank you for taking that chance and in doing so, finding a wonderful friend. Godspeed Sweetheart, you are loved Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guinness_the_greyt Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 I'm so sorry! Godspeed Vincent! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreyPoopon Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 I'm so sorry. Quote Standard Poodle Daisy (12/13) Missing Cora (RL Nevada 5/99-10/09), Piper (Cee Bar Easy 2/99-1/10), Tally (Thunder La La 9/99-3/10), Edie (Daring Reva 9/99-10/12), Dixie (Kiowa Secret Sue 11/01-1/13), Jessie (P's Real Time 11/98-3/13), token boy Graham (Zydeco Dancer 9/00-5/13), Cal (Back Already 12/99-11/13), Betsy (Back Kick Beth 11/98-12/13), Standard Poodles Minnie (1/99-1/14) + Perry (9/98-2/14), Annie (Do Marcia 9/03-10/14), Pink (Miss Pinky Baker 1/02-6/15), Poppy (Cmon Err Not 8/05-1/16), Kat (Jax Candy 5/05-5/17), Ivy (Jax Isis 10/07-7/21), Hildy (Braska Hildy 7/10-12/22), Opal (Jax Opal 7/08-4/23). Toodles (BL Toodles 7/09-4/24) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patricia Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Godspeed Sweet Vincent. Run fast and free with all your friends who waited patiently for you sweetie. My sympathy and prayers...I am so sorry. Quote Patti-Mommy of Lady Sophia 7-28-92 - 8-3-04... LaceyLaine 8-2-94-12-5-07... Flash Gordon 7-14-99 - 8-29-09... BrookLynne...Pavé Maria... and 18 Bridge Kids. WATCHING OVER US~SOPHIA~QUEENIE~LACEY LAINE~ CODY ANGELO~FLASH GORDON. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dante2zoe Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 I am so sorry. How I love the black boys! Sympathy to you and yours. Quote Cindy with Miss Fancypants, Paris Bueller, Zeke, and Angus Dante (Dg's Boyd), Zoe (In a While), Brady (Devilish Effect), Goose (BG Shotgun), Maverick (BG ShoMe), Maggie (All Trades Jax), Sherman (LNB Herman Bad) and Indy (BYB whippet) forever in my heart The flame that burns the brightest, burns the fastest and leaves the biggest shadow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5blackgreys Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Godspeed Vincent, run free with the wind at the Bridge. Quote , Phoenix, Okie, Casey, and Ellie the Galga; with Aggie, Alexa, Bear,Cody, Gianni V., Missy B, Babette, Bernice, and BooBoo at the Bridge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GriffinsMom Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 I'm so sorry for your loss. Bless you for giving Vincent a home when so many passed him by. Godspeed to the Bridge Vincent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyhoundlov Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Quote Mary in Houston Everyone has a photographic memory, but not everyone has film. LAND OF THE FREE BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinM Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 I am so so so sorry. Quote ROBIN ~ Mom to: Beau Think It Aint, Chloe JC Allthewayhome, Teddy ICU Drunk Sailor, Elsie N Fracine , Ollie RG's Travertine, Ponch A's Jupiter~ Yoshi, Zoobie & Belle, the kitties. Waiting at the bridge Angel Polli Bohemian Ocean , Rocky, Blue,Sasha & Zoobie & Bobbi Greyhound Angels Adoption (GAA) The Lexus Project Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlies_Dad Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 I am sorry for your loss. It sounds like Vincent is an example of a pup that never was truly known while he was waiting for a home. He did though at last find his forever home with you. Thank you for that. Run free Vincent, run free.... Quote Kyle with Stewie ('Super C Ledoux, Super C Sampson x Sing It Blondie) and forever missing my three angels, Jack ('Roy Jack', Greys Flambeau x Miss Cobblepot) and Charlie ('CTR Midas Touch', Leo's Midas x Hallo Argentina) and Shelby ('Shari's Hooty', Flying Viper x Shari Carusi) running free across the bridge. Gus an coinnich sinn a'rithist my boys and little girl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jurishound Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Godspeed, little one. Many thanks for giving this poor fella a home. It is so sad that he had to wait so long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFullHouse Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Vincent was a lucky boy to have found the perfect mom. Godspeed sweet boy. Quote Judy, mom to Darth Vader, Bandita, And Angel Forever in our hearts, DeeYoGee, Dani, Emmy, Andy, Heart, Saint, Valentino, Arrow, Gee, Bebe, Jilly Bean, Bullitt, Pistol, Junior, Sammie, Joey, Gizmo, Do Bee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAVED2 Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Well said :f_red Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyGreys Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 I am so sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
queenwinniesmom Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 How lucky you and Vincent were to have found each other. I'm so sorry you've lost your very special boy. Quote Nancy, Mom to Evangelina and Kiva Missing Lacey, Patsy, Buster, my heart dog Nick, Winnie, Pollyanna, Tess, my precious Lydia, Calvin Lee, my angel butterfly Laila, and kitties Lily, Sam and Simon My Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Catsburgandhoundtown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ss556 Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShantisMom Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 I am so sorry. He was very lucky to have found you. Someone who truly understood him. Quote The Girls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houndtime Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 I am sorry for your loss. The hard to handle are hard to lose. Quote Irene Ullmann w/Flying Odin and Mama Mia in Lower Delaware Angels Brandy, John E, American Idol, Paul, Fuzzy and Shine Handcrafted Greyhound and Custom Clocks http://www.houndtime.com Zoom Doggies-Racing Coats for Racing Greyhounds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest VelvetEars Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 I have a special place in my heart for the "difficult" sable babies too. My heart goes out to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PiagetsMom Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 I'm so sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest argolola Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Sending prayers for comfort. I'm so sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Annie Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 I am so very sorry for your loss of Vincent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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