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Kennel Report - 16.11.08 The week started with our RGT Committee meeting at Monmore Green Stadium which as usual saw a useful and informative exchange take place. Everyone present was unanimous in wishing our secretary Elaine a speedy recovery. One of the stunning things that came from the kennel report is the fact that at the end of October; 280 greyhounds have found safe loving homes this year which is exactly the same number as end of October 2007.
We have a good supply of Christmas cards and 2009 calendars. The cards come in ‘traditional’ and ‘comic’ formats, costing £5.00 for ten cards, whilst the calendars are £9.99. Please remember that in this cold weather when you are walking your hound - if you need to put your coat on to keep warm then so does your greyhound - unlike other breeds of dog they carry very little bodyfat and have no protection from the cold.
That's all for now folks!!! More kennel news next week.
If you have a photo of your greyhound please send it to us at the gallery: gallery@rgtmonmore.co.uk ,we love to see the hounds doing new things and settling into their new surroundings. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Forthcoming Roadshows are as follows :
* Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd November - Dobbies Christmas Event - Gailey Island on the A5
More details of the 2008 Roadshow schedule will appear here shortly when we have finalised some of the venues.
SPECIAL EVENTS:
* * Friday 28th November - Volunteers Christmas Party - phone /email the kennel for tickets and details
* * Saturday 29th November - Owners Sponsor Night - Monmore Green Stadium - please support this important fundraiser
* * Sunday 30th November 2008 - Kennels Sponsor Sunday - Monthly Raffle Draw, Nail Clipping available at the kennel on the day between 9am and 12.30pm.
* * Sunday 14th December 2008 - KENNELS CLOSE for Christmas break - we are open for viewing of hounds but all homing will take place after the New Year re-opening. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Our fabulous walking out hound coats are still available from the kennel. They come in many colours and sizes, they are waterproof, breathable, very cosy, fleece lined and have a reflective safety strip on them. All this is available at the amazing price of only £13.00 (suggested donation) Contact the kennel on 01922 412212 or email (See the contact page) kennels@rgtmonmore.co.uk --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You know you are mad about Greyhounds when............... And the number one reason you know you're a hound lover: is you have been on this website every week to read doggie humour!!! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kim Holmes the Education Welfare Officer from the RGTand Sally (the Greyhound) are available to do talks in schools, colleges, clubs and other groups etc etc - no venue too small. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Living with a greyhound – the cat owners’perspective. In July last year we decided we would like a dog – we have two cats, aged twelve and nine – in fact we have always had cats. We never thought it fair to have a dog while we were both working but as I decided to give up a very stressful job in June last year it gave me both the time and the inclination to start looking. By chance I came across the Monmore Green RGT website and its rehoming page. That was it – all those beautiful dogs just waiting for loving homes. My husband and I were hooked! I had some misgivings – several people said ‘don’t have a greyhound if you have cats’ and ‘all dogs chase cats but a greyhound can catch them.’ Not one for being easily dissuaded I went to meet Alison and Andy who said that an unraced dog would be fine but that if we chose one we should have him for a few days to see how he and the cats got on. The following week two unraced dogs arrived at the kennels and we both went to see them. They were brothers – both blue – both beautiful and the choice was difficult. We can’t explain why but there was just something extra special about Comet. A few days later we collected him for an afternoon – we did not introduce him to the cats at this point mainly because we felt that it would be too much too soon. When the time came to take him back to the kennels we didn’t want him to go. He came to us for a week before we officially adopted him and though he didn’t like the cats he was not aggressive with them - he barked at them sometimes but he had already begun to understand the word ‘no’ which we said very firmly making sure that we had eye contact with him. They were not left together unsupervised because it’s not only the personality of the dog to be concerned about – cats can be very stubborn and unaccepting of strangers. Henry, the nine year old neutered male cat stood his ground and spat at the dog even though the dog was not doing anything wrong – it was a warning. Jasmine, the twelve year old female took a different approach and stayed out of the dog’s way, weighing him up from a distance and not being confrontational. The greyhound, having seen Henry’s claws, seemed more nervous of the cats than anything else – intelligent dog!! We adopted him and changed his name to Mr. Darcy (after the character in ‘Pride and Prejudice – tall, dark and handsome!) Darcy was housetrained within forty eight hours - we had no mess at all. As I said he learned the word ‘no’ – though he is very tall and at eye level with the dining table he no longer even attempts to steal. He knows that we eat first and he is always fed immediately afterwards so mealtimes are not a problem. In fact, there are no problems. He is a wonderful, happy, loving dog who likes nothing better than to please. He will walk for miles if you want him to or he will walk for twenty minutes! He wants to be with you all the time – go anywhere near your coat and he begins bouncing around with delight at the thought of going out. Wherever we go people want to stop and ask about him – ‘where did you get him from?’ We have had Darcy for seven months now and he and the cats have come to an understanding – they wander around when he is there and they eat at the same time. If you have a cat and you are worried about having a greyhound these would be my tips: Have an unraced dog. I honestly believe, in the majority of cases – they will sort themselves out. You will also find that if you have any queries or concerns you can go and chat to Alison, Andy, Gaz or voluteers at the Trust – when you adopt a greyhound you are not just cut adrift. Greyhounds are very intelligent dogs and we found Darcy very easy to train – as I said earlier he is eager to please. As the months have passed his mischievous side has emerged – he has a passion for cushions, fluffy scarves and squeaky toys – he loves to play. He and our daughter’s Manchester Terrier, Percy, are great friends – like children they copy each other, they play together and it’s obvious they are having great fun! Darcy also gets on very well with my small nieces and nephews - I think children should be taught to respect animals. When Darcy goes to have a lie down on one of his beds they understand that that is his quiet place – his space. If you want a dog, we would definitely recommend a greyhound because the greyhound has a superb temperament and has a lot of love to give. Just one word of caution – when you go to the kennels beware - I guarantee you will want to take all of them home with you! Darcy is almost three years old, and after seven months we can’t imagine life without him – he is a joy to have around.
==================================================================== A plea on behalf of "OUR BLACK BEAUTIES" Monmore is one of 70 branches of the RGT which cover the whole of the Right this moment we have gentle, docile, cat-tested and unraced hounds that would be ideal for any family situation, be it a family with young children or mature owners, but they are continually overlooked because of their colour. If you and your family are looking for a retired greyhound and you have no particular preference with regard to colour, PLEASE, PLEASE consider one of ‘our black beauties’. Like all of our hounds, all ‘our black beauties’ want is a loving family home. Please help our kennel make a difference to their lives. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * The minutes from the last meeting of the Trust committee are now available - anybody who would like a copy please contact the trust on: 01922 412212 or email: kennels@rgtmonmore.co.uk . * During October the trust has homed a magnificent total of 22 hounds. * We have included an updated "gig guide" for the fantastic FRED ZEPPELIN who kindly support the trust on their web site and advertising. *There is a new link available now for "Silver Peacock" who produce some wonderful house collars for your hound. * Please click our link for "Greyhound Megastore" - everything you need for your hound and you. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Kennel News* (Back Issues!) Kennel Report - 09.11.08 Autumn means cold nights and so we have got the winter plastic roof out in the barn. Lowering the ceiling keeps the hounds much warmer, which is a priority. Also, the older residents are wrapped up in their warm fleecy coats overnight to keep them cozy. Craig and Alison spent Wednesday at Warwick attending the PetPlan Seminar. It was an interesting day, covering topics such as Infection Control in the Kennels, Managing Conflict with Clients, and Behaviour Patterns in the Kennels. It was an informative day and good to meet folks from other rehoming establishments. It was good to see one of our old hounds this week. Ernie/Patch, AKA Engine Breaker, is now 12 years old, but he still looks a picture. He has a number of health issues, but his lovely family take great care of the old man (see his picture on the Gallery). Although the kennels are still very quiet, we have booked a number of awareness roadshows between and now and the end of 2008. If you can help at any of these, just for a couple of hours, with your hounds then please give the kennels a call or e-mail via the contact pages. With Christmas rapidly approaching it’s time to remind you about:- Christmas Cards & 2009 Calendars We have a good supply of Christmas cards and 2009 calendars. The cards come in ‘traditional’ and ‘comic’ formats, costing £5.00 for ten cards, whilst the calendars are £9.99. With a number of you buying your food from us now, please let us know asap what you will need to last your hound(s) through until January 2009 as the kennels will be closed for the Christmas break from 14 December 2008. Waterproof, breathable, fleecy-lined coats for the hounds are also now in stock and cost £13.00 (suggested donation). The Volunteers Christmas Party will be held on Friday 28 November 2008 at Monmore Green Stadium, tickets for which are available from the kennels at a cost of £5.00 per head, including disco and buffet. Come and get your tickets as soon as possible as it’s sure to be a good night. Finally, just to mention that the next Committee Meeting will be held at Monmore Green Stadium on Monday 10 November 2008, 6.15 pm for a 6.30 pm start. If you would like to come along then you will be more than welcome.
Kennel Report - 02.11.08
It's the time of year when families with children love attending bonfires and fireworks, whilst families with dogs dread the unease it causes to their pets. Any pets, including greyhounds, can be terrified of loud noises. During firework season, where possible, DON’T leave them alone. Take your greyhound out for their walk before dark, draw the curtains at dusk, and turn the radio or TV up a little. Your greyhound will look to you for your response to the sounds so try not to react. Let the dog go where it feels safe and do not keep pampering them - they will only respond more to the sounds around them. Dap diffusers, available from vets, are very good for calming the dog. This plug-in device emits "dog appeasing pheromones" similar to those produced by a puppy’s mother soon after birth. The vet may also prescribe medication to help for a short while. Some families successfully use homeopathic remedies such as Bach Rescue or Kali-Phos. quiet summer. At the end of October we were heading towards a figure of 300 rehomed greyhounds for the year, which is fantastic and due solely to the number of volunteers giving so freely of their time. As with last year, the kennels will close for rehoming in early December. The Awareness Roadshow List for November and December has now been confirmed and the volunteers will be e-mailed details this week. If you want to be added to the list then e-mail kennels@rgtmonmore.co.uk and we will keep in touch with you. Remember you don't have to help at every roadshow, just ones that fit in with your family schedule and each one for only 2 hours maximum. went very well and there were no ill-effects from the donations. We have been given goodie bags for the hounds for when they are rehomed. The new owners will also be encouraged to allow their pets to continue donating blood at their local participating vets. Stipendiary Steward. As we also hold a racing licence we come under the care of many different bodies. No problems were found and all the relevant paperwork was signed. Our paperwork is always bang up-to-date so we never panic when we see Jack's car pull up! with some paddock maintenance, as one of the concrete paddocks has started to break up, together with an area of pathway. This is due to the amount of bleach solutions and so on that we use daily to keep them clean and bug-free. With such an uneven surface now it is obviously more of a breeding ground for bacteria and so we are getting quotes to get the work sorted. It will mean a bit of an upheaval but it is important to get it sorted sooner rather than later. the cash reserves on a larger advertising campaign. We have bought an advertising board at our local football club, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and we are waiting to approve the artwork. We will keep you updated so you can check it out next time you are supporting the lads up at Molineux. when they complete paperwork to consider taking a collecting box for their loose change. If you already have a greyhound from us, next time you come up to the kennels please ask for one as these pennies will help us to get more hounds into safe loving homes.
Kennel Report - 26.10.08
We have had a very productive week and got loads done! With the winter supply of waterproof coats being ready for collection, the van was rapidly filled up with numerous boxes of the same, different colours and sizes. So for those of you, who have been ringing up for coats, come and get them now!! They are still great value at £12, which is what we buy them in at. Remember……… if it's cold enough for us humans to be wearing a coat, our hounds need them too.
Kennel Report - 19.10.08 We have had a case of mange in the kennels this week, the first for a long time. Red patches where the fur leaves the skin is the first sign and it quickly spreads to other parts of the dog and of course to any other animal it comes into contact with. We assume it has come from the sand paddocks where a late night fox was a visitor! We have of course moved the 2 hounds into isolation and treated the condition with a special shampoo. All bedding has been burnt and the kennel has been disinfected with the appropriate cleaner. Both dogs are responding quickly to treatment and the redness has already gone. They will however remain isolated until we are happy that they are no longer contagious. We are keeping a close eye on the rest of the kennels and have treated the sand paddocks as well. We had the last car boot of the year on Thursday and raised £50 towards the funds. In addition two families have been to select a greyhound from meeting Sally and Jake on the day. Thanks to Kim and to Peter & Josie for bringing them along. We have now sorted what we want to keep for the Spring ‘09 campaign. Some items have had to go to a local charity shop, however, so they don’t go damp over the winter. Kev, Craig’s dad, has kindly worked on the chicken house roof to seal the joints that have been leaking in. Pete, the gardener, is getting the conifer tree stumps out this week and then we can edge the family lawn and plant a small hedge. It will look much tidier and stop folks driving into the fence or trees!! We had a visit from the company coming later in the month to collect blood from the hounds. It was good to meet them and they seem very professional in their approach. Greyhounds’ blood can safely be given to any other breed of dog and due to their size they make it up very quickly. We are happy to help and if all goes well it will become a regular event on the calendar. Next weekend, on both Saturday and Sunday, we are visiting Dobbies Garden Centre on the A5 at Gailey. We have 16 families and hounds helping out over the weekend which is fantastic and we hope to get some hounds into homes as a result. If you have never helped at one of these events please consider giving just 2 hours of your time in the future. We need new, enthusiastic volunteers to help the campaign. The tickets for the Christmas Party have not arrived as yet, but have been promised for Wednesday. They are just £5 a head to cover the cost of the buffet which the stadium is laying on for us. It will be a fun night with no fundraising at all - we do enough of that all year! We hope to see you and your family there so come and buy some tickets from the kennels. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You may have had one of our money boxes through your door with the latest Homer magazine. Please, as soon as you have read this magazine, put the money box together and start saving your loose change. You can return your full box to the kennels where we have a supply of new ones ready to exchange. We use this cash to pay for advertisements to spread the word that ‘Greyhounds Make Wonderful Pets’. The last small ad, which was in every week for a period of six months, cost £600.00. Help us to continue to help our wonderful hounds.......... Thank you.
Please check out the Fred Zeppelin website at http://www.thefredz.com MOBY MUSIC proudly presents: Fred Zeppelin FRED ZEPPELIN
SEPTEMBER OCTOBER
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| Tel: 01922 412 212 E-mail: kennels@rgtmonmore.co.uk | Registered Charity No - 269668 | |