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Kennel Report - 04.05.08
On Monday morning we set about planning the week to restore some order and routine, and on the whole we have achieved it. The couple of hounds out on trial completed their adoption paperwork and so we were able to get the end of April paperwork sent off to Head office. 39 of our lovely hounds left us in April, which is our best month ever, beating August 07's figure of 38. That's great news for the hounds on the waiting list because we are able to keep it moving. The trainers at the track have started to get the hounds neutered and then take them back to their kennels to recover, which means that when they come to us they are ready to put up for rehoming straight away. April’s Sponsor Dogs Raffle winners were: No. 51 – Denise - Bottle of wine, Thanks to everyone who came to the kennels last week and bought a raffle ticket. We hold these events on the last Saturday and Sunday of each month, the proceeds from which help to pay the vet bills for our sponsor hounds. On Tuesday 25 students from Pershore College visited the kennels with their tutor and Kim Holmes. They spent an hour with us learning about the breed, as well as travel and kennel regulations, etc. After a period of time meeting the hounds they went off to the track to view the racing side of the business. This was followed by an information video and Question & Answer session. They all had a good time. On Friday Alison went to meet David and his staff at Pets at Home in Stafford. They are joining Pets at Home at Cannock in becoming their pets initiative link. We welcome their enthusiasm and support towards our work and will be holding more events in store. We are now able to give the new owners of each hound that leaves us a book of vouchers to spend in any Pets at Home store. On Saturday the trailer and hounds went off to the Wergs Garden Centre’s first ever pet show. The Rogers’ family suggested we join in the event and everyone made us very welcome. We took Missy, one of our kennel dogs, along and we’re pleased to say that she’s been chosen and will be going to her new home shortly. As well as raising funds in the buckets, we also entered a number of hounds into different classes. Nero won 2nd place in the ‘Golden Oldies’ category and Jake took 2nd place in the ‘Most Handsome Dog’ category. As there were lots of entries in each class, they really did very well. Today was certainly not a good day weatherwise, but we still have to crack on with jobs around the kennels and our band of volunteers got on with bed changing. Because of the downpours we had to have just two hounds in the paddocks at a time, but we got through it in almost record time and the pooches didn’t come back too soggy!! Each hound was given a good towelling down and went back into their kennels for a romp on their new beds. Whilst they’re not too keen on the rain, they really do enjoy sinking themselves into their new bedding. We also counted up the monies received from our money boxes, which is a grand total of £150. Fantastic! Thank you again. Keep putting that loose change in those boxes – it soon mounts up and every penny helps our hounds. Despite the ‘inclement’ weather, we saw a number of hounds for a gallop and nail cutting and we even had Tigger’s new owners come up to walk him (in between the showers). He’ll be leaving us shortly to go into his new home. One of our volunteers, Nadine, isn’t too well at the moment so we’d just like to send her our best. Hope you’re soon on the mend! Do you have any unwanted items around the house that could go towards our Tombola? If so, we need them now!! We need at least 600 prizes so go have a hunt in your attics/cellars and see what you can find.
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 :
Monday 5th May, Monmore Green Stadium - MAYDAY MADNESS approx 10am to 1pm.
Sunday 11th May, Sandwell Showground B71 4BG - Sandwell Historical Vehicle Show approx 10am to 4pm
Saturday 17th May, Farmers Market - Cannock town Centre approx 9am to 3pm
If you’d like to help out on the day then please contact us at the kennels on 01922 412212.
More details of the 2008 Roadshow schedule will appear here shortly when we have finalised some of the venues.
SPECIAL EVENTS:
* * Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th May 2008 - Monthly Raffle Draw - available at the kennel on the day between 9am and 12.30pm. Tea & Coffee will be available.
* * Saturday 20th September 2008 - The Great Greyhound Gathering - details to follow. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 £12.00 (suggested donation) Contact the kennel on 01922 412212 or email 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 February the trust has homed a magnificent total of 27 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 "Heart to Art ltd" where they will produce a fabulous oil painting from a photograph. * Please click our link for "Greyhound Megastore" - everything you need for your hound and you. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Kennel News* (Back Issues!) Kennel Report - 27.04.08
We have spent more time out of the kennels this week than in them! After the great roadshow at Walsall on Saturday 19th April, we took the trailer to Wolverhampton Market on Wednesday to join in the St George’s Day celebrations. It was a fantastic time and the Council had worked very hard to put the event together. There were school productions, brass bands and a tea dance; it was lovely to see people on the market in their shopping attire doing a waltz! Of course our hounds and the trailer were the star attraction and, as usual, we created lots of interest. Hounds have been homed from this event so it was very worthwhile. So many kind people have donated bric-a-brac for the hounds’ vet bills that we now have a good supply. We have started to take a few boxes out and about with us and the result is that we have raised over £550 this week. Of course this is a great help and we are very grateful. There are no truer words than “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure”! We have had another end-of-tail amputation. We go for months and have no problems and then have a few in the space of a few weeks. Luckily the hound in question has gone back home to recover and we will be proving support throughout the healing process. Many hounds have left our care this week, but special mention must go to Zola who has been here an age but has now gone off to Hagley with the Brown family. His new name is Dasher. Bless him. Also, Tony Richards, a long-term supporter of the Trust, who lost his beloved hound Shiny a little while ago, has taken Shelley into his home to see how they get on. As Tony is disabled and uses a mobility scooter we are waiting to see how they cope together. The latest reports are good as Tony doesn't mind Shelley dragging her duvet onto his bed to share with him! We will of course keep you posted on their progress. We are now hoping for a "catch-up" week with paperwork, records and kennel maintenance. It's good to be busy but, as we have had to prioritise this week, order needs to be restored.
Kennel Report - 20.04.08
Once again we had to disappoint our ‘Sunday Gallopers’. The field was simply too unsafe to allow the hounds to romp around. Surely this April weather will improve soon? The most important news this week is that all our lovely dogs are fit and well. Whipped tails are healing and neutering wounds are being creamed daily and anti-biotics given. The treatment list is shorter then usual - hope I don't regret saying that! We have hit a lull in the holiday hounds, which is quite nice as we are able to move across some of the reserved hounds and get more in off the waiting list or from other branches. We have picked up three hounds from Sunnyside Kennels this week, and it is important that we are able to get them into a safe kennel space. All three are skinny, but otherwise okay. Craig always looks at their teeth first of all as he is obsessed with clean teeth and healthy gums. They were dodgy but they are not now! The fawn female has already been reserved. We had a litter of five unraced pups aged 19 months from a trainer at the track and have named them all after sweet things. So far Fudge and Treacle have been reserved. Fudge is now called Rosie Lee and is so loved by Kath. She had recently lost her dog and one of our supporters, Sonia, suggested a greyhound. Andy took a couple out to Kath's home, but got no further than getting Fudge off the van. An instant love match! Another successful awareness roadshow took place in Walsall on Saturday and Morgan, who has been in the kennels a while, has found a new home. We received £260 in donations in the collecting bucket which is fantastic. The ferocious wind meant lots of warm drinks and of course the hounds were suitably coated. On Wednesday 23rd April we are in Wolverhampton Market Square from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm, and next Saturday, 26th April, we’re in Dudley Market from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm, both occasions to take part in the St George’s Day celebrations. Thanks to all the volunteers who are helping out, (and of course their hounds). Finally this week, a reminder that we still looking for sponsors for our Sponsored Race Night at the Stadium on Saturday 31st May. Can you sponsor a race for your business for £50, which is a great advertising opportunity, or can you sponsor a dog in a race for a tenner and have a one in six chance of winning a bottle of wine? We need your help to pay our vets bills please.
Kennel Report - 13.04.08
This week the kennels have been a little quieter than of late. The beginning of the week saw a number of holiday dogs leave us and now we are down to one. This won’t last long though with the summer months approaching and we already have a number of bookings for July through to September. We have had a number of new arrivals and are due more in the coming days, a couple of whom will be unraced dogs. Again we have had a number of hounds leave us to start their new lives with their respective families. These include Kev, Fred, Hannah, Lem Lem, Mac & Cyril. We wish them all the best in their new homes. As some of you will know, Andy’s car went to its final resting place last week! The exhaust had fallen off and the clutch was on its last legs. He’s now got a new little run around which has a particularly loud stereo as he demonstrated today to some of the now slightly hard-of-hearing volunteers who were standing nearby!! Today saw the volunteers paddocking and grooming, as well as talking to owners who brought their dogs up for a run in the field and nail clipping. These included Darcy’s mum – her name’s Carol, but we all know her as “Darcy’s mum”! She and her husband, and of course Darcy, have chosen a new addition to the family in the shape of Barbara, who will be known henceforth as Lizzie. Also chosen were Ben, a lovely calm white and fawn lad, and Whiskey who is a lovely black lad with such a calm and loving nature. Deb and Kay H, two of our volunteers who have developed a particularly soft spot for him, were delighted that he’d been picked, but also sad that he’ll be leaving us. His new mum indicated that she also has horses and that wherever they go in the horsebox, Whiskey will go too, in the cab of course!! On a sad note, two of our homed hounds passed away this week. Nick and Lynn, two of our volunteers, had to say a sad farewell to Khan yesterday whilst Tony Richards lost Shiny, his devoted companion, on Friday. The volunteers and kennel staff would like to send their thoughts and best wishes to them all. On a happier note, Ivor Stocker, Director of the RGT, finally underwent surgery last Monday and he is now doing really well and is in good spirits. All of the staff and volunteers at Monmore Green RGT would like to wish Ivor a speedy recovery. Kennel Report - 06.04.08 It seems much longer than a week since we all got "poshed up" for the Midland Greyhound Ball at the Hilton Metropole at the NEC where the four Midland tracks, ie. Monmore Green, Oxford, Hall Green & Perry Barr, were represented. This is an annual event which celebrates all that’s good in greyhound racing where promoters, owners, trainers and RGT rehoming volunteers all come together. Our Greyhound of the Year belonged to Kenny Meakin’s kennel and was a worthy winner. Chris Allsopp took the accolade of Top Trainer whilst Jade, one of his kennel staff, was awarded Kennel Hand of the Year. Our present Chairman, Neil Holohan, was given the award for services to rehoming. Well done Neil! He and Kay work very hard to keep our fabulous website up-to-date, sorting out all the photos that you send to the Gallery, keeping the Rehoming Pages up-to-date each week by taking "mutt shots" at the weekend, and of course making sense of the kennel news scribble that I present them with each week!! At the end of each tracks awards the Lifetime Achievement Award is handed out. This year Peter Billingham received it as he retired that weekend after more than 40 years in the sport. His chat on receiving the award with Daryl Williams from Sky TV was very entertaining and he well deserved the standing ovation he received as he walked back to his table. His kennels are in good hands though as his daughter, Kim, has taken over. She is a lovely caring lady who helps us out immensely as Trainers’ Representative on the Committee. Monmore provided 4 auction prizes which included a holiday donated by Sharon Crandley in memory of her late husband, Brian. These four items alone raised £2950 of the grand total of £5950. There was also a table raffle and tombola, so the Branch should get a healthy cheque once all the profits are shared out. As soon as all the photos from the evening have been collated we will be adding a link for you to peruse them, so keep checking back each week to see if it is there.
CRUFTS COLOURING COMPETITION
A big “Thank You” to all of the children who entered our colouring competition at Crufts this year. We have had a massive response to the competition, which has now been judged by Kim and Tim Holmes from the Worcester Branch of the RGT. As you know, Greyhounds come in many different colours and nearly all of these were represented in the picture of ‘Homer’ along with some interesting new colours for greyhounds too! The judges had a really difficult job as all of the pictures were excellent, but we are now pleased to report that the winners for the four days were: Thursday: Niamh Mcmanus, from Mold Friday: Claudia Manley, from Solihull Saturday: Alex Stokes, from Whitacre Heath Each of these lucky winners will receive a well-deserved prize of their very own toy Homer. The winning pictures can be seen on this week’s Photo Gallery, but check our web-site (www.rgtwolverhampton.co.uk) over the coming weeks as we will also be printing some of the other excellent entries. Thank you all once again – and we look forward to seeing you at Crufts next year! It was a similar story for Charlie who was reserved by Carla and then went home to fetch her partner. They were reluctant to hand the lead back after a little walk with Charlie along the High Street! We undertook the home visit on Sunday and he is now settling into his new home in Stafford. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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
MAY Fri 9th The Rock Café 2000, Millrace Lane, Stourbridge, DY8 1JN 01384 390918 Fri 16th The Limelight Club, Flag Lane, Hightown, Crewe, CW1 3BP 01270 251929
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| Tel: 01922 412 212 E-mail: kennels@rgtmonmore.co.uk | Registered Charity No - 269668 | |